CLAY MILLICAN & SPEED™ ORIGINAL PINKS ALL OUT RETURN to MAPLE GROVE to SHOOT SEASON FOUR EPISODE

 MILLICAN SAYS: “WHEN THE WEATHER IS RIGHT, IT IS ONE of THE FASTEST RACE TRACKS in THE WHOLE UNITED STATES OR THE WORLD - FOR THAT MATTER.”

      You could almost write a book about Clay Millican and his relationship with Maple Grove Raceway. But the NHRA standout and former IHRA Top Fuel multi-time champion hopes to add another chapter when popular SPEED original series, PINKS All Out, shoots an episode on Saturday, May 15 for Season Four.

      Hosted by Rich Christensen, creator of the PINKS property, and joined by his on-air technical advisor team, the television show returns to central Pennsylvania for the first time since May of 2008. The popular original series invites more then 500 grassroots racers to compete on national cable television network, SPEED, for the lion’s share of $25,000 in cash and prizes.

      While searching for a sponsor that would re-energize another NHRA Top Fuel campaign, Millican has focused full attention on his role as on-air technical advisor for the show. Having also hosted SPEED original series, Drag Race High, the very affable and energetic Millican has flourished in his role as the show’s aspirational character.

       “I get to talk to the drivers before they head down the race track off of Rich’s arm drop,” said Millican, on his PINKS All Out role. “You can just tell when some of the drivers get just a little wound up. We might calm them down a little bit. If they feel like their a little too down, we try to pump them up a little bit. I’ve been on both sides of the coin, where I’ve been a little too excited. Then there have been times where I think we have no chance of winning, but in reality you do because any time you go down the race track you have a chance of winning.

         “That’s probably one of the things I talk with them the most about,” Millican added. “I tell them to forget about the television cameras and forget about the tens of thousands of people there in the grandstands – its still you, you’re race car and Rich Christensen starting the race. You really have to zoom in on what’s going on. Its something you have done time and time again – even if it’s a brand new car you built for PINKS All Out – you still have made passes down the race track before you’ve gone for the cash.”

           But his current television prowess is only part of the story. In one of the more memorable moments in NHRA history, back in 2002, Millican and fellow Top Fuel competitor Doug Herbert played out a starting line battle for the ages.

           “The first thing people think of when they think of me and Maple Grove is something that has come to be known as ‘The Burn Down,’ Millican said. “Doug Herbert and I kind of had a little hard time figuring out who was going to stage first. That evolved into the official starter from the NHRA (Rick Stewart) shutting us both off on the starting line. That rolled right into a little bit of a shoving match between the two of us, and it was caught live on television for everyone to see. It turned into quite the rivalry. Doug Herbert ended up coming out of it with a nickname, becoming ‘Dougzilla.’”

             Both have since made up, so much so that their little spat has been turned into a public service announcement in support of Herbert’s B.R.A.K.E.S. Foundation – a non-profit driving school for teenagers. The foundation was created in memory of Herbert’s two high school-aged sons whom were killed in a tragic car accident. Millican has been a big advocate for safe driving and proponent of anti-street racing campaigns throughout the country. You can view the BRAKES PSAs and story behind ‘The Burn Down’ at the following link: www.putonthebrakes.com/component/k2/item....

              According to Millican, Maple Grove Raceway is one of the sport’s best race tracks.

              “The surface is really good at Maple Grove,” Millican said. “Especially with its location, it’s near sea level atmosphere, not to mention the track surface is really smooth and level. The primary reason (for the great atmosphere) is there is so much vegetation and big trees; making a lot of oxygen which makes these cars thrive. At Maple Grove, there’s extra oxygen already there. When the weather is right, it is one of the fastest race tracks in the whole United States or the world - for that matter.

                “The cars in that area are also really fast,” Millican continued. “I think part of that is how strong the family ties are to the sport as each generation receives a strong level of information, with each successive generation finding and knowing how to make their cars that much faster.”

                 The Maple Grove Raceway episode is set to premiere in August. The television shoot is open to the public and tickets are available at www.maplegroveraceway.com. For more information on PINKS All Out, please log onto www.SPEED.com.

MARATHON FINAL ROUND to WRITE ANOTHER CHAPTER in DRAG RACING  HISTORY as PINKS ALL OUT RETURNS to zMAX DRAGWAY

 MARCUS SMITH: “THIS NEW FORMAT at PINKS ALL OUT IS YET ANOTHER ‘GAME CHANGER.’”

 NASCAR’S KURT BUSCH SPECIAL GUEST; SHOOT SET FOR SAT., APRIL 24

            The first-ever ‘Last Man Standing’ final-round marathon is set to write another chapter in  ‘four-wide’ drag racing history as SPEED grassroots original series, PINKS All Out, returns to zMAX Dragway on April 23-24, just outside Charlotte, N.C.

            With a ‘sold out’ house of more than 35,000, last year’s PINKS All Out shoot was a ‘game changer’ on two fronts for the sport; introducing the first-ever, four-wide drag racing competition to a national television audience and the integration of a high-speed ‘Flycam’ to the production mix.

             Hosted by Rich Christensen, the show offered four-wide drag racing during the first round of eliminations, taking the first car to cross the stripe. As 32 cars battled it out, a winner was found from each of the four lanes. On the production side, SPEED integrated the ‘Flycam’ from starting line to finish, traveling up to 107 mph in capturing ‘never-before-seen’ overhead quarter mile action. The spectacle drew rave reviews, was featured in Popular Hot Rodding magazine and set a tone for the sport that could be played out for years to come.

             “Some of the best PINKS All Out events we have ever had have been at Speedway Motorsports, Inc.-owned drag strips – The Strip @ Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Bristol (Tenn.) Dragway, Infineon Raceway and the first-ever nationally televised four-wide event from zMAX Dragway,” said Hunter Nickell, SPEED President. “We are now getting the opportunity to return to some of these great facilities, starting with zMAX Dragway, which has become a real showplace for the sport.”

               This year’s PINKS All Out shoot at zMAX Dragway promises to be just as memorable, as this unique format could have this episode’s champion make five total passes to win the lion’s share of more than $25,000 in cash and prizes. Once the field has been whittled down to the remaining four competitors, the final begins with a four-wide shootout, eliminating the last car through the traps. The next pass will feature three cars battling it out for the final two spots, setting up the show’s now traditional best ‘two-out-of-three’ hot-lap eliminator, where a winner will be determined.

              “We challenge ourselves every day at zMAX Dragway to be bigger, better, different and obviously SPEED thinks the same way,” said Marcus Smith, President and General Manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway. “This new format at PINKS All Out is yet another ‘game changer.’ It pushes the envelope, it’s creative and most importantly it’s going to be an unbelievable show for the fans. Last year PINKS All Out revived four-wide drag racing in a major way and this year they’re going to take it to a whole new level at the Bellagio of drag strips.”

                This final round will be a test of nerves, machinery and mental preparation, expressing what will be the toughest road to winning a PINKS All Out – or any drag racing competition - since the show’s inception on Labor Day weekend of 2006 at the Texas Motorplex. The show is based around one long day of time trials, production and competition. Those cars and drivers that can maintain consistency and hold up the longest are the ones with the greatest chance of prevailing at the end of the night.

                In addition, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series star Kurt Busch will make an appearance during the show. He will drive his ’70 Challenger during a special competition during exhibition time, and will join Christensen and his on-air technical team as an advisor.

                “Consistency, stamina, focused concentration and endurance are the hallmark qualities needed to win this competition,” said Robert Ecker, SPEED VP of Programming & PINKS All Out Executive Producer. “Time and again we’ve seen the hardware give out under the stress and intense demands of making so many passes in a single day. This event is designed to push these drivers and their machines to the very limit of their abilities. It’s the ultimate challenge for grassroots drag racing’s elite.”

                 The popularity of PINKS All Out has spectator tickets going fast. To purchase, log onto www.zmaxdragway.com and www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.

            Kevin Horsley’s 1968 Chevrolet Camaro and Keith Barry’s 2002 Chevrolet Corvette ZO6 are the final two racers vying for full entry into the upcoming PINKS All Out shoot at zMAX Dragway to see who will win the ‘Last Racer Standing’ contest. To vote, choose your favorite at charlotteobserver.upickem.net/engine/Det....

            The ‘Last Racer Standing’ Contest winner will receive a full car/driver entry and crew passes for the April 24 shoot from zMAX Drgway. Last year, more than 35,000 spectators packed into the historic shoot, and tickets are once again going quickly. To purchase tickets, log onto www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or for more information on PINKS All Out, log onto SPEEDtv.com.

THE FINAL FOUR IS SET FOR THE PINKS ALL OUT ‘LAST RACER STANDING’ CONTEST; VOTING UNDERWAY 

FANS CAN ALSO REGISTER to WIN FAN VIP PACKAGE for zMAX DRAGWAY SHOOT

            Attention race fans, voting has begun to find out who the two finalists will be for the PINKS All Out ‘Last Racer Standing’ Contest. The fans choice will be provided a full entry (w/three crew members) into the PINKS All Out shoot at zMAX Dragway, Sat., April 24. Log on charlotteobserver.upickem.net/engine/Det... to vote for your favorite car.

            The final four has a distinct ‘bow tie’ flavor as Keith Berry’s (Clermont, GA.) 2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is matched up with Eric Nandal’s (Egg Harbor City, N.J.) 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle SS, Kevin Horsley’s (Elgin, S.C.) 1968 Chevrolet Camaro and Bruce’s (Lumberton, N.C.) 2008 Chevrolet Corvette Z06.

I received a note from Milton and Warren Womack - owners of the white Mustang - and Warren (the driver) is doing well. Here's a quote from Milton on his condition.

"Warren is still at Parkland Hospital in Dallas in doing good. He has a broken left leg and right knee totally dislocated."

For those that don't know, Warren lost control of his car at the top end during the first time trial session. He crossed the centerline and hit the wall straight on, sliding down the track and coming to a halt in a ball of flames.

Warren was retrieved from the car and helicoptered to Parkland Hospital.