Millican, 36, of Drummonds, Tenn., tied his own single-season IHRA Top Fuel win mark established last year. His latest victory, over Bruce Litton, moves him to within one victory of establishing yet another new record.

"This was just a great weekend for us," explained Millican. "The track was brutal all day. It was a tuner's race and a driver's race, which is a scary thing. I'd rather it just be a tuner's race and go down the track every round and set low elapsed time.

"This was a struggle from the start. The asphalt was tough and we had enough (power) at the finish line to run 320 miles per hour. We were lucky to run 280 at times because we were spinning the tires that much. We had the wings at different places than we ever have had at any time and still couldn't get it to hook up."

Millican may have won the battle, but lost the war over oildown penalties. In his wins over Bobby Lagana, Louie Allison, and Litton, he was cited for oildown infractions, costing him 45 points. He earned 111 points, but only gained 66 points for the weekend.

In Pro Modified, the nitrous-oxide domination of hot-weather events continued when two-time IHRA World Champion Shannon Jenkins wheeled Mike Castellana's Awesome Motorsports 1968 Camaro to its first victory of the season. The Tuscaloosa, Alabama-based driver successfully defended his Empire Nationals title at the expense of Ed Hoover. Hoover is the only other nitrous driver to win a national event this season with victories at Shreveport and Grand Bend.

"With the exception of getting lucky in the first round, it all turned out good," said Jenkins. "You have to get at least one lucky one and I did. I just adjusted the clutch and let it ride on the rest of the day. We got faster every round and I knew Hoover was on. It was just my day today and I'm happy for it."

Jenkins scored the victory with a 6.343, 221.72, as Hoover lifted early with a 6.371, 208.91.

The Screamin' Eagle Nitro Harley-Davidson final provided the closest finish of the day with Stordeur defeating Doug Vancil. Both riders recorded superb reaction times of .444 (Stordeur) and .475 (Vancil) and provided fans with a side-by-side, front wheels in the air pass, won by Stordeur at 6.455/215.31 to Vancil's losing 6.451/216.97.

"I qualified in the number one slot four times this year before New York but was unable to get a win," said Stordeur. "I was beginning to think that qualifying number one was a curse, but today it call came together. What a great weekend." The win was Stordeur's second of the 2002 IHRA Hooters Drag Racing Series, his first coming at last month's ACDelco Nationals in Virginia.

In addition to taking the win from pole position, Stordeur also recorded low elapsed time of the Empire Nationals (6.370) and top speed (217.81).

"Steve did a great job this weekend," stated team owner and teammate Johnny Mancuso. "I think I'm going to give him his paycheck this weekend."

It took a former IHRA Funny Car World Champion to become just the second Funny Car winner of the 2002 season. Newberry, of Schenectady, NY, recorded his first victory since the 2001 ACDelco Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park by stopping Dale Brand in the final round.

"I was happy to be running here," said Newberry. "This track is only a few hours from my home and I really didn't have any problems. Everything just fell into place. When we got down to the last four cars, it was very tight."

Newberry overcame quicker reaction time from Brand and scored the victory with a 5.947, 239.10, while Brand encountered problems and slowed to a 6.993, 141.37.

Brand ended Jimmy Rector's 2002 season Funny Car winning streak at five consecutive events during the quarterfinals.

Brian Gahm became the first two-time winner in Sunoco Race Fuels Pro Stock, defeating Jason Collins 6.697/208.76 to 6.656/210.57. Collins beat Gahm off the line, but superior horsepower helped the Lucasville, Ohio driver at the top end.

"This was a tough win," said Gahm. "My hat's off to Cliff Moore (Gahm's crew chief), he had this track in his back pocket all weekend. We had the burndown with Carl Baker in the second round and didn't get a computer reading and he told me that was okay because we didn't need one. We went to the winner's circle and like I have said many times, you don't have to be the fastest to win. You have to be the best on race day."

Gahm's victory was noteworthy, because he suffered heat exhaustion following the qualifying session Friday night. He was taken to a local hospital where he was given fluids and told to get some rest. He sat out Saturday's first qualifying session and after being cleared to race by doctors, he returned to action.

The next race on the 2002 Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series schedule is the CARQUEST Auto Parts Northern Nationals at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park, Martin, Mich., July 26 - 28.

LEICESTER, N.Y. -- Sunday's final results from the 14th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Empire Nationals at New York International Raceway Park. The $900,000 race is the sixth of 12 in the Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series:

Top Fuel -- Clay Millican, 4.954 seconds, 246.03 mph def. Bruce Litton, 11.522 seconds, 80.78 mph.

Pro Modified -- Shannon Jenkins, Chevy Camaro, 6.343, 221.72 def. Ed Hoover, Chevy Corvette, 6.371, 208.91.

Nitro Harley -- Steve Stordeur, 6.455, 215.31 def. Doug Vancil, 6.451, 216.97.

Funny Car -- Bob Newberry, Chevy Camaro, 5.947, 239.10 def. Dale Brand, Pontiac Firebird, 6.993, 141.37.

Pro Stock -- Brian Gahm, Ford Mustang, 6.656, 210.57 def. Jason Collins, Mercury Cougar, 6.697, 208.76.

Top Sportsman -- Michael Hunt, Chevy Bel Air, 14.524, 77.06 def. Wayne Rogers, Oldsmobile Cutlass, broke.

Top Dragster -- Ricky Adkins, 8.437, 110.14 def. Malinda Bertozzi, foul.

Modified -- Michael Lyons, Dragster, 7.237, 188.95 def. Brian Seward, Dragster, 7.176, 185.49.

Quick Rod -- Jason Lynch, Dragster, 8.913, 161.87 def. Ed McCleaft, Dragster, 8.856, 168.38.

Super Rod -- Greg Slack, Maverick, 9.901, 151.97 def. Bernard Weaver, Daytona, 9.888, 142.78.

Hot Rod -- Rachel Edwards, LeMans, 10.917, 128.29 def. Corinne Rudy, Gremlin, 10.868, 126.10.

Stock -- Brenda Grubbs, Camaro, 11.974, 111.56 def. Terry Taylor, Nova, 10.067, 132.62.

Super Stock -- Larry Jewell, Corvette, 9.772, 136.46 def. Sal Biondo, Firebird, 10.287, 132.13.

LEICESTER, N.Y. -- Final round-by-round results from the 14th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Empire Nationals at New York International Raceway Park, the sixth of 12 events in the Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series -

TOP FUEL:

ROUND ONE -- Louie Allison, 7.452, 110.57 def. Jack Ostrander, 10.840, 84.49; Bruce Litton, 12.180, 78.13 def. Grant Flowers, broke; Paul Romine, 5.081, 275.98 def. Josh Starcher, 7.356, 114.79; Clay Millican, 5.013, 286.44 def. Bobby Lagana Jr, 7.598, 108.35; SEMIFINALS -- Litton, 5.183, 275.56 def. Romine, 12.673, 92.13; Millican, 5.037, 274.22 def. Allison, 5.518, 256.33; FINAL -- Millican, 4.954, 246.03 def. Litton, 11.522, 80.78.

PRO MODIFIED:

ROUND ONE -- Sal Passarelli, Chevy Nova, 6.425, 222.99 def. Paul Athey, Chevy Corvette, 6.411, 220.42; Troy Critchley, Corvette, 6.386, 224.38 def. Thomas Patterson, Corvette, 6.564, 200.93; Ed Hoover, Corvette, 6.370, 219.29 def. Mike Janis, Corvette, 15.524, 55.86; Al Billes, Studebaker, 6.597, 219.78 def. Mitch Stott, Corvette, 7.488, 150.75; Shannon Jenkins, Chevy Camaro, 10.949, 105.47 def. Mike Lockwood, Corvette, broke; Pat Moore, Chevy Bel Air, 6.509, 217.39 def. Harold Martin, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.403, 220.42; Fred Hahn, Corvette, 6.514, 220.31 def. Quain Stott, Corvette, 6.605, 224.21; Alan Pittman, Willys, 7.107, 194.04 def. Steve Vick, Camaro, 8.150, 164.86; QUARTERFINALS -- Hahn, 6.685, 219.78 def. Moore, 6.482, 211.46; Billes, 6.707, 218.23 def. Passarelli, 11.227, 81.64; Hoover, 6.344, 221.67 def. Critchley, 19.559, 40.03; Jenkins, 6.390, 221.29 def. Pittman, 9.035, 108.52; SEMIFINALS -- Jenkins, 6.360, 221.51 def. Hahn, 6.559, 211.66; Hoover, 7.045, 196.37 def. Billes, 13.275, 88.13; FINAL -- Jenkins, 6.343, 221.72 def. Hoover, 6.371, 208.91.

NITRO HARLEY:

ROUND ONE -- Steve Stordeur, 6.370, 217.18 def. Tommy Sloan, broke; Johnny Mancuso, 6.533, 213.32 def. Mike Romine, 7.062, 184.65; Joe Scatella, 7.540, 190.88 def. Ray Price, 8.896, 106.85; Doug Vancil, 6.462, 205.85 def. Mark Conner, 7.207, 168.47; SEMIFINALS -- Stordeur, 6.587, 190.96 def. Mancuso, 7.922, 126.19; Vancil, 6.802, 216.71 def. Scatella, 9.589, 115.87; FINAL -- Stordeur, 6.455, 215.31 def. Vancil, 6.451, 216.97.

FUNNY CAR:

ROUND ONE -- Dale Brand, Pontiac Firebird, 5.943, 238.03 def. Mike Etter, Firebird, 6.179, 198.01; Bob Newberry, Chevy Camaro, 5.922, 239.74 def. David Rowe, Oldsmobile Cutlass, 6.096, 230.94; John Vouros, Firebird, 5.934, 237.46 def. Fred Tigges, Camaro, 6.008, 240.64; Mike Comella, Dodge Avenger, 6.023, 234.74 def. Charles Gambino, Chevy Corvette, 14.651, 81.33; Tony Bogolo, Oldsmobile Achieva, 6.003, 238.79 def. Chris Foster, Avenger, 7.197, 140.49; Ronnie Midyette, Camaro, 6.020, 234.13 def. Rob Atchison, Firebird, 6.054, 232.79; Laurie Cannister, Camaro, 5.995, 240.38 def. Terry McMillen, Avenger, 6.092, 232.07; Jimmy Rector, Camaro, 5.920, 240.12 def. Mark Thomas, Avenger, 6.076, 232.85; QUARTERFINALS -- Brand, 5.914, 238.91 def. Rector, foul; Newberry, 6.029, 221.45 def. Cannister, 6.116, 240.44; Midyette, 6.082, 230.76 def. Vouros, 6.083, 233.28; Comella, 6.009, 234.49 def. Bogolo, 5.986, 239.23; SEMIFINALS -- Brand, 5.915, 238.34 def. Comella, 12.763, 84.59; Newberry, 5.926, 238.72 def. Midyette, foul; FINAL -- Newberry, 5.947, 239.10 def. Brand, 6.993, 141.37.

PRO STOCK:

ROUND ONE -- Steve Spiess, Pontiac Grand Am, 6.713, 207.85 def. Elijah Morton, Ford Mustang, 10.234, 127.17; Carl Baker, Mercury Cougar, 6.673, 208.67 def. Chris Holbrook, Cougar, 6.693, 209.54; John Montecalvo, Chevy Cavalier, 6.695, 208.42 def. Jeff Dobbins, Ford Probe, 6.725, 208.86; Billy Huff, Cougar, 6.770, 208.81 def. Ron Miller, Cavalier, foul; John Bartunek, Grand Am, 6.669, 208.18 def. Charlie Peppers, Mustang, 6.686, 208.96; John Konigshofer, Cougar, 8.876, 181.45 def. Rick Jones, Dodge Neon R/T, foul; Brian Gahm, Mustang, 6.665, 210.08 def. Larry O'Brien, Dodge Avenger, 9.932, 114.08; Jason Collins, Cougar, 6.700, 210.13 def. Wally Stroupe, Grand Am, 6.786, 206.51; QUARTERFINALS -- Collins, 6.712, 209.59 def. Spiess, 6.706, 207.27; Montecalvo, 6.698, 208.23 def. Konigshofer, 7.075, 207.61; Bartunek, 6.728, 207.18 def. Huff, 9.531, 100.50; Gahm, 6.676, 209.35 def. Baker, 6.684, 209.10; SEMIFINALS -- Collins, 6.711, 209.39 def. Bartunek, 6.690, 207.56; Gahm, 6.666, 209.64 def. Montecalvo, 6.710, 207.80; FINAL -- Gahm, 6.656, 210.57 def. Collins, 6.697, 208.76.

LEICESTER, N.Y. -- Unofficial point standings (top 10) for IHRA professional categories following the 14th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Empire Nationals at New York International Raceway Park, the sixth of 12 events in the Hooters IHRA Drag Racing Series -

Top Fuel

1. Clay Millican, 720; 2. Bruce Litton, 613; 3. Paul Romine, 549; 4. Louie Allison, 401; 5. Roger Dean, 301; 6. Donald Reed, 297; 7. Josh Starcher, 283; 8. John Sipple, 177; 9. Jack Ostrander, 168; 10. Grant Flowers, 160.

Pro Modified

1. Al Billes, 439; 2. Ed Hoover, 417; 3. Mike Janis, 368; 4. Shannon Jenkins, 366; 5. Mitch Stott, 318; 6. Harold Martin, 268; 7. Fred Hahn, 265; 8. Alan Pittman, 250; 9. Quain Stott, 212; 10. Steve Vick, 161.

Nitro Harley

1. Doug Vancil, 670; 2. Steve Stordeur, 642; 3. Ray Price, 603; 4. Johnny Mancuso, 534; 5. Mike Romine, 477; 6. Mark Conner, 409; 7. Jay Turner, 232; 8. Mark Cox, 204; 9. Joe Scatella, 157; 10. Mark Revels, 74.

Funny Car

1. Jimmy Rector, 626; 2. Dale Brand, 531; 3. Mark Thomas, 370; 4. Laurie Cannister, 364; 5. Mike Comella, 259; 6. Terry McMillen, 232; 7. Ronnie Midyette, 226; 8. Rob Atchison, 221; 9. John Vouros, 190; 10. Tony Bogolo, 143.

Pro Stock

1. Brian Gahm, 514; 2. Carl Baker, 374; 3. John Montecalvo, 370; 4. Jason Collins, 338; 5. Jeff Dobbins, 291; 6. Ron Miller, 282; 7. Chris Holbrook, 250; 8. John Bartunek, 249; 9. Doug Kirk, 236; 10. Tim Nabors, 211.