Clay Millican is well versed in the vast history of Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, a facility that has hosted the Toyota NHRA Summernationals for the past 44 years and every NHRA legend along the way.
Millican had his own small part in the rich history, once match racing legendary Top Fuel champion Shirley Muldowney years ago on a Wednesday evening. Despite the seemingly odd mid-week placement, Millican recalls the amazement of the atmosphere that night.
“I kept saying, ‘That’s kind of weird to have this on a Wednesday night,’ but I got into the water box and the place was just packed,” Millican said. “That’s just the kind of fans that are up there. The fans are super knowledgeable, they know what’s going on and they always pack that place. It’s crazy how many die-hard fans there are.”
The 45th annual Toyota NHRA Summernationals takes place May 29-June 1 at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, marking the ninth of 24 races during the 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. Shawn Langdon (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) and Michael Ray (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winners of the event that will be televised nationally on ESPN2.
The race is also an opportunity for Millican to pick up his first career win in NHRA Top Fuel. Millican has tasted success throughout his career on a variety of other circuits, but he knows how meaningful it would be to send his 8,000-horsepower Parts Plus dragster to the winner’s circle at a place that has played such a vital role in the NHRA’s history.
“I would certainly love to win at such a historic track,” Millican said. “I really enjoy going there and all of the history involved with it. That track means a lot to the fans there. Seeing that really keeps you charged up and keeps your energy level up. The opportunity to race a nitro car at that place is really a cool thing for me. The race surface there is unbelievable. It’s just a great race track and facility.”
Millican came close to that first NHRA victory numerous times in 2013, advancing to four final rounds in a brilliant season that saw him finish sixth in points. Millican also earned his first No. 1 qualifier of his NHRA Top Fuel career, taking his dragster to the top spot in Englishtown before losing to eventual winner Langdon in the second round.
Millican, who posted two No. 1 qualifiers overall in 2013, hasn’t found the same luck to start 2014, falling in the first round at each of the past five races after joining forces with longtime team owner Dexter Tuttle and Tuttle Motorsports in the off-season. His team, led by crew chief Jimmy Walsh, has struggled to find consistency in qualifying, but Millican believes the team is headed in the right direction.
“It may not show it on the time slip yet but I feel like we’re getting closer to having a good race car,” Millican said. “It’s a steep learning curve with all the brand new people and new pieces. It’s made things a little tougher and it’s been a learning process for us. We’ve had a few races under our belts and it’s getting better. It’s just now a matter of getting the car happier. But it’s been a fun process. I like it and I like the people we have working on the car.”
The Toyota NHRA Summernationals also finishes off a stretch of three consecutive race weekends and comes in the middle of a rigorous span that features seven races in eight weekends. Millican expects everyone’s resolve to be tested in that period but he’s confident good things await everyone on the team.
“It can be tough and you learn real quickly how bad you want,” Millican said. “I want it real bad and I think these guys are the same way. I just want to make sure I do the best job I can for my guys and my team. I just want to keep improving.”
In Top Fuel, Langdon won the event on the way to his 2013 Top Fuel world championship. Langdon is after his first win of 2014 and everyone is chasing points leader Antron Brown, who has three victories this year but has never won at his home track. Others to watch in the Top Fuel field include two-time New Jersey winner Doug Kalitta, 2011 Englishtown winner Spencer Massey, 2008 winner Tony Schumacher, 2012 winner Steve Torrence, defending Auto Club of Southern California Road the Future Award winner Brittany Force and J.R. Todd.
Hagan defeated Don Schumacher Racing teammate Jack Beckman to win the event last year but is chasing his first victory this season. Points leader Robert Hight has been red-hot with five final round appearances in six races this season, but has yet to taste victory in Englishtown. Past Englishtown winners John Force, Cruz Pedregon, Tony Pedregon, Del Worsham, Ron Capps, Tommy Johnson Jr., Bob Tasca III and Tim Wilkerson will all be contenders along with Alexis DeJoria, Courtney Force, and Jack Beckman.
Greg Anderson leads the Pro Stock category with five career wins at Old Royal Township Raceway Park in the factory hot rod class and is looking to make an impact after returning from heart surgery at Houston. Anderson’s teammate Jason Line has three wins in New Jersey, as does five-time Pro Stock world champion Jeg Coughlin. Allen Johnson has two wins this season but nobody has been better than points leader Erica Enders-Stevens, who has two victories in 2014 and is looking for her first at the Toyota NHRA Summernationals. Vincent Nobile, V Gaines and Chris McGaha are other top contenders.
Michael Ray won this event in Pro Stock Motorcycle last season and so far the Star Racing driver has been the No. 1 qualifier at both events in 2014. Points leader and Charlotte winner Andrew Hines has tasted success at Englishtown before, winning in 2004. Last year’s Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion Matt Smith and Eddie Krawiec will both be looking for a second Englishtown victory.
The NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series returns for its fourth race of the 2014 season at Englishtown. Mike Castellana and Mike Janis respectively took the opening events at Gainesville and Houston and both will be threats to take the New Jersey win in the popular doorslammer category.
As always, fans will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers as they’re granted an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. This unique opportunity in motorsports gives fans direct access to the teams, allowing them to see firsthand the highly-skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds, and enjoy some cherished face time and get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers.
Fans also will want to visit NHRA’s popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create a carnival atmosphere, with interactive displays, simulated competitions, merchandise, food and fun for the entire family.
