Top Fuel Driver Clay Millican's Mother Wounded

in Shooting at Family's Store

By Andrea Geurin

Left to right - Martha Millican, Clay Millican, and Jimmie Millican at the 2003 NHRA Mid-South Nationals in Memphis

Drummonds, Tenn. - 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 family's 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 attacker's motivation remains unknown, but it is believed that he was recently released from a psychiatric institution.

Mrs. Millican, who is affectionately known as "Momma" 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.

"Momma is just amazing," said Millican. "To be shot in the head yesterday and checked out of the hospital today is remarkable. She is such a strong woman and we are just so lucky that she is okay. She looks great and is in good spirits. Once everything has healed, she'll be as good as new."

Adhering to his family's wishes, especially those of Momma, Millican will race in the NHRA O'Reilly Fall Nationals in Dallas this weekend as planned. Millican would like to thank all of the people who have sent their best wishes and flowers to the family. Anyone who would like to send a card to Momma may do so at the following address:

Martha Millican

P.O. Box 315

Drummonds, TN 38023

Andrea Guerin