Skip to content
https://shop.fervogear.com/cart
Top Fuel’s Clay Millican Counts on Positive Energy to Win NHRA Nationals
Highlights
- Clay Millican prepares for 20th annual NHRA Nationals at Norwalk
- Event marks NHRA’s 75th anniversary season midpoint in 2026
- Millican drives 12,000-horsepower Summit Racing dragster for Rick Ware Racing
- Event airs on FOX June 28, with FS1 qualifying and bonus races
- Notable competitors include Shawn Langdon, Doug Kalitta, Tony Stewart, and others
- GETTRX Pro Stock All-Star Callout features top drivers like Greg Anderson
Clay Millican targets a breakthrough at the 20th Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park, Norwalk, as NHRA’s 75th anniversary season reaches its midpoint on June 28.
The Rick Ware Racing driver campaigns a 12,000-horsepower Summit Racing-backed Top Fuel dragster. Pace has been inconsistent, compounded by the team’s move to a canopy car this season.
Norwalk suits Millican. He finished runner-up here last year to Justin Ashley and now chases the event’s famed ice-cream scoop and a diamond Wally to ignite his 2026 campaign.
The venue’s appeal is broader than results. Millican repeatedly praises the Bader family’s operation, highlighting a community feel that consistently delivers packed grandstands and engaged fans.
Last year’s Norwalk winners were Justin Ashley in Top Fuel, Austin Prock in Funny Car, Cory Reed in Pro Stock, and John Hall in Pro Stock Motorcycle.
Broadcast coverage reflects the occasion. FS1 handles qualifying and the GETTRX Pro Stock All-Star Callout, with eliminations airing on FOX on Sunday, June 28.
Norwalk marks the NHRA’s 75th anniversary season midpoint, increasing the competitive and symbolic stakes for every contender.
Bonus content includes the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge for Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock Motorcycle, offering additional points and tuning data before eliminations.
Competitive context is uncompromising. Points leader Shawn Langdon, reigning champion Doug Kalitta, Tony Stewart, Antron Brown, and Leah Pruett form a potent opposition in Top Fuel.
Millican sits tenth in points. The canopy switch, part of broader NHRA safety moves, is bedding in as setups standardize and the team targets a repeatable, race-day baseline.
There are tentative signs. Rick Ware Racing logged round-wins in Maryland and Epping, then reached the semifinals at Valdosta. Bristol exposed weaknesses, but the trend line remains positive.
Rick Ware Racing’s canopy-car transition is shaping setup direction and sharpening the team’s repeatability under race-day pressure.
Execution will decide the weekend. Clean launches, early incrementals, and clutch wear control must align to convert qualifying pace into multi-round Sunday performance.
The stakes extend beyond a trophy. With the Countdown to the Championship approaching, banked points and procedural consistency now carry as much value as outright peak performance.
Eight career NHRA victories give Millican the reference points to unlock form when conditions tighten late on Sunday.
Norwalk’s program retains fan-centric touches. Pre-race ceremonies, the SealMaster Track Walk, and an expansive Manufacturers Midway strengthen engagement and keep paddock access front-and-center.
Qualifying begins Friday afternoon, with eliminations Sunday morning. The GETTRX Callout opens Friday and concludes Sunday amid a deep Pro Stock field.
Elsewhere, Pro categories add storylines. Austin Prock targets a Norwalk repeat in Funny Car, while Pro Stock Motorcycle contenders include John Hall and champion Richard Gadson.
Millican’s objective is straightforward. Qualify strongly, manage lane calls, and string four disciplined runs to convert promise into a much-needed win.
Visual Summary
Nicholas Rivera delivers NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Car news, including eliminator-round results and reaction-time stats. He brings track-side interviews, contender profiles, and championship-point breakdowns straight from drag-racing’s biggest national events.
