From Kelly Wade | NHRA
MADISON, Ill. (Oct. 01, 2023) – Clay Millican powered to his third win this season and sixth in his career, defeating Leah Pruett in the championship round with a pass of 3.75 at 331 in his Parts Plus/Comp Cams dragster for Rick Ware Racing. He jumped up to eighth in points in the process, tying Antron Brown for the second-most wins in Top Fuel in 2023.
Millican reached the final with round wins over Austin Prock, Mike Salinas, and Tony Schumacher, then outran Pruett in a thrilling side-by-side duel. It is Millican’s first career victory at World Wide Technology Raceway, and the veteran was thrilled with his team’s performance in the heat.
“Man, what a day. This is huge,” said Millican. “He gave us a hot weekend and man, [crew chief] Jim O [Oberhofer] just showed again that when it's hot out, look out. We got away with a couple, but we outperformed the cars we raced, and I am so proud. I mean, this was huge. Jim O will quickly tell you, give me a track above 90 degrees and look out. Needless to say, with this perspiration on my face here, it's above 95 degrees out there, and it was all day. I am already talking to the man upstairs, bring on the heat in Dallas, baby.
“Our goal is obviously top 10, as far as we can possibly get. It's way too big a gap to think about chasing down No. 1, but three wins for this Parts Plus team is huge.”
Pruett reached the final for the fourth time this year and the 23rd time in her career, driving past Shawn Langdon, points leader Doug Kalitta, and Steve Torrence. She also jumped to second in points and now trails Kalitta by 47 points at the halfway point of the Countdown to the Championship. Torrence is 51 points behind Kalitta, and Justin Ashley is 77 points back.
The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship continues with race four of six at the Stampede of Speed at Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Texas for the NHRA FallNationals Oct. 13-15.
See the latest from the NHRA:
NHRA Midwest Nationals Saturday Gallery:
Unofficial Camping World points standings:
Photo's: NHRA