IHRA at Grand Bend By Ian Tocher Photos by Roger Richards 6/17/04

y now, it’s business as usual to report that Clay Millican won another IHRA Top Fuel race, thus preserving a perfect 4-for-4 record in 2004. But Millican has company in the unbeaten category this year, as Funny Car ace Mark Thomas also scored his fourth win June 13, at the 5th annual Mopar Canadian Nationals presented by Castrol at the Grand Bend Motorplex in Grand Bend, ON. Joining them in victory lane were Pro Mod veteran Quain Stott and Elijah Morton, who picked up his career-first Pro Stock title.

TOP FUEL

Millican led the nitro contingent with a 4.658 at 304.25 mph in qualifying, while Rick Cooper rounded out the eight-car at 5.001 seconds. Fourteen teams made the trip to Grand Bend, near the Michigan-Ontario border, but only 13 made qualifying attempts as the lone injected nitro entry, owned by Bob Leverich, failed to make a lap.

Millican easily disposed of Cooper in round one, but almost forfeited the win to a tire-smoking Todd Paton in the semi-finals when his car swerved dangerously close to crossing the center line toward the top end. Millican narrowly avoided the line and disqualification, however, setting up a final round match against Tim Cullinan, who beat John “Doc” Sipple in round one, then took out Bruce Litton in the semis thanks to a .054 holeshot.

“I almost gave away that semi-final round,” Millican said. “I was back to my bracket racing days where you look back to see your opponent as you approach the finish line. And you go where your eyes go and I nearly crossed the center line.”

In the big money round, Cullinan obviously felt the need to push the tree again, but left .223 too soon, handing the event win to Millican, who left with a stellar .052 reaction, then went 4.744 secs at 299.90 mph to cap off his weekend.

"I am so proud of this Werner team," Millican said. "We love coming to this race since it is the place where we got our first-ever Top Fuel win (in 2000), so it's always special to come back and win again."

After four of 11 races on the 2004 schedule, Millican leads the IHRA Hooters Top Fuel points chase with 544 points. Litton is second at 406 and Cullinan follows with 291.