September 30, 2017, St. Louis Region – To quote British business magnate and philanthropist Richard Branson, “Records were made to be broken. It is in man’s nature to continue to strive to do just that.” Clay Millican and Robert Hight must be on a first-name basis with Sir Richard.
National and track records were set Friday evening during qualifying for the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway Motorsports Park in Madison, Illinois. At Thursday’s pre-race press conference, drivers predicted records would fall and they did not disappoint.
Millican, 51, of Drummonds, Tennessee set a new national elapsed time (E.T.) record of 3.631 seconds during the second round of Top Fuel Dragster qualifying. The old record of 3.640 seconds was set by Leah Pritchett in Brainerd, Minnesota, in August.
“That’s the shortest amount of time I’ve ever worked,” Millican said. “That is 100 percent David Grubnic doing his thing.” Grubnic, a former Top Fuel Dragster driver, is Millican’s crew chief. “He does it his way, there is no shared information because this is a one-car team.”
Hight broke the track record for Funny Car top speed during the first round of qualifying. The new mark is 338.60 miles per hour. He then set a new Funny Car track E.T. record with a blistering pass of 3.830 seconds during the second qualifying session. Needless to say, he is on the provisional pole for Sunday’s eliminations.
A new Gateway track record for Top Fuel Dragster top speed was set by Doug Kalitta — 331.85 miles per hour – eclipsing Dave Connolly’s record of 329.99 miles per hour, set in 2015.
Greg Anderson is on the provisional pole in the Pro Stock class, as is Andrew Hines in the Pro Stock Motorcycle category. Two rounds of pro qualifying remain, beginning at 1 p.m. today. Sunday’s eliminations will start at 11 a.m.
Tickets for the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals may be purchased at the gate and kids 12 and under are free. Every ticket is a pit pass, allowing fans to see their favorite drivers and watch while cars are serviced between rounds.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
6:30 a.m. — Parking lots open.
7:30 a.m. — Spectator gates open.
8:30 a.m. — Sportsman class racing begins.
9:30 a.m. — Midway opens.
Noon — Pro Mod qualifying session.
1:15 p.m. — Pro Stock Motorcycle and Pro Stock qualifying session.
2 p.m. — Funny Car and Top Fuel Dragster qualifying session.
3 p.m. — First round of Pro Mod eliminations.
3:30 p.m. — First round of Factory Stock Showdown eliminations.
3:45 p.m. — Pro Stock Motorcycle and Pro Stock qualifying session.
4:30 p.m. — Funny Car and Top Fuel Dragster qualifying session.
7 p.m. — Track closed.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1
6:30 a.m. — Parking lots open.
7:30 a.m. — Spectator gates open.
9 a.m. — Midway opens.
10 a.m. — Pre-race ceremonies.
11 a.m. — First round of Funny Car and Top Fuel Dragster eliminations.
Noon — First round of Pro Stock Motorcycle and Pro Stock eliminations.
12:20 p.m. — Second round of Pro Mod eliminations.
12:45 p.m. — Second round of Funny Car and Top Fuel Dragster eliminations.
1:15 p.m. — Second round of Pro Stock Motorcycle and Pro Stock eliminations.
1:30 p.m. — Semi-final round of Pro Mod eliminations.
2 p.m. — Second round of Factory Stock Showdown.
2:15 p.m. — Semi-final round of Funny Car and Top Fuel Dragster eliminations.
2:33 p.m. — Semi-final round of Pro Stock Motorcycle and Pro Stock eliminations.
2:40 p.m. — Final round of Pro Mod eliminations.
3 p.m. — Final round of Factory Stock Showdown eliminations.
3:30 p.m. — Final round of Pro Stock Motorcycle and Pro Stock eliminations.
3:37 p.m. — Final round of Funny Car and Top Fuel Dragster eliminations.
3:45 p.m. — Track closed.
