NORWALK, Ohio — Clay Millican has plenty of stops he enjoys on the NHRA Mission Drag Collection tour, together with the latest occasion in Bristol.
This weekend’s fan-favorite twentieth annual Summit Racing Tools NHRA Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park additionally qualifies as one, leaving the Prime Gasoline veteran equal components hopeful and excited heading to the midway level of NHRA’s seventy fifth anniversary season in 2026.
Millican and his Rick Ware Racing crew haven’t hit their stride but this yr within the crew’s 12,000-horsepower Summit Racing Tools dragster, however a breakout efficiency in Norwalk could be welcomed by all.
Millican is assured it’s coming and doing so at a standout facility that has handled him effectively over time could be a large enhance heading right into a essential level of the 2026 marketing campaign.
“We acquired near getting that ice cream scoop (trophy) final yr,” stated Millican, who fell within the ultimate spherical in Norwalk to Justin Ashley final yr. “I positively wish to get it this yr and that Diamond Wally (for NHRA’s seventy fifth anniversary season).
“The Bader household is wonderful. I grew up in a household enterprise and going there jogs my memory of that. It makes it really feel like residence.”
Final yr, Ashley (Prime Gasoline), Austin Prock (Humorous Automotive), Cory Reed (Professional Inventory) and John Corridor (Professional Inventory Bike) all gained the Summit Racing Tools NHRA Nationals.
It’s the tenth of 20 races through the 2026 season and this weekend’s occasion additionally options the GETTRX Professional Inventory All-Star Callout bonus race and the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Problem in Prime Gasoline, Humorous Automotive and Professional Inventory Bike.
For Millican, the weekend represents making an attempt to get on monitor and placing collectively constant runs because the Countdown to the Championship playoffs get nearer. Transitioning to a cover automotive has meant some bumps within the highway via the primary 9 races, because the veteran is presently tenth in factors.
However they’ve made strides in latest weeks, successful rounds in Maryland and Epping after a semifinal look in Valdosta. Bristol didn’t go as deliberate, however Millican believes the crew is on the verge of breaking via in an enormous method.
Millican stays assured his crew could make some noise at America’s Racetrack, which might bode effectively for him for a number of causes.
“I do really feel we’re getting nearer to studying what these cover vehicles like,” stated Millican, who has eight profession NHRA victories. “None of our tuners have ever run one earlier than this yr and it does change the way in which we run our automotive.
“(However) it’s the time of yr to start out getting your geese in a row and making strikes in the direction of consistency.”
