MILLICAN'S MOTHER SHOT, NOT SERIOUSLY HURT

Martha Millican, mother of Team Werner/104 + Octane Boost/Lehman Racing Top Fuel driver Clay Millican, sustained a gunshot wound to the head on the morning of October 8, 2003, while she was working at the Millican familyís small country store in Drummonds, Tenn. The assailant has been apprehended and is being charged with a number of offenses, including two counts of attempted murder. The attackerís motivation remains unknown.

Mrs. Millican, who is affectionately known as ìMommaî to those closest to her, suffered non-life-threatening injuries. She was transported to the Med Regional Medical Center in Memphis shortly after the attack, and is expected to make a full recovery. After spending Wednesday night in the hospital, she was released this afternoon.

Adhering to his familyís wishes, especially those of Momma, Millican will race in the NHRA OíReilly Fall Nationals in Dallas this weekend as planned. (photo courtesy Millican family. Left to right ‚ Martha, Clay, and Jimmie Millican at the 2003 NHRA Mid-South Nationals in Memphis) (10-10-2003)

DOORNBOSCH WINS SUMMIT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

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Steve Doornbosch has won IHRA's second annual Summit World Championship presented by Pontiac. The 33-year-old from Forest, Ontario, Canada, won the No Box/Footbrake category and with it over $100,000 in cash and prizes. Doornbosch drove his 1968 Pontiac Firebird, the same car he began his racing career with in 1996, to 37 wins and 3 losses, a score he accumulated early in the year. And with his 0.510 average reaction time, he became nearly untouchable by competitors.

Doornbosch won $55,500 from Summit Racing Equipment, a 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP, a Reher-Morrison 555 Super Series Engine, a Ray Price Harley-Davidson Buell Blast sport bike, $1,000 Parts Cleaner from Kafko/Oil Eater, and IHRA Iron Man and a world championship ring. He will be crowned at the 33rd Annual Hooters IHRA Awards Banquet, January 16-17 at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center, Covington, Ky.
[10-9-2003]

MOPAR SILLY SEASON

Some shake-ups may be coming to the factory-backed Mopar Pro Stock teams if what the Agent is hearing comes about. According to a well-placed source, Mopar is re-assessing their involvement in drag racing. The rumor is that one of the current Pro Stock teams may lose their DaimlerChrysler backing with that money heading over to the Dodge Neon SRT-4 Sport Compact teams of Shaun Carlson, Scott Mohler and Mike Crawford.

Looks like the advertising demographics are playing into the decision, since fans and spectators at Sport Compact races are more likely to buy a Neon SRT-4 than a non-existent Dodge Stratus with a Hemi. (Zak Hawthorne photo) [10-9-2003]