It is always cool in drag racing when things come full circle. In the case of Clay Millican, that circle involves the Chicago White Sox baseball team. No, he did not grow up a diehard fan, but rather became one in 1998 when he made his first NHRA start in a top fuel dragster sponsored by the iconic team. That race was interesting for Millican and included a bit of a reverse burnout, which we still like to rib him about from time to time.
Last year Millican won the Chicago event and added to what was a career season for the 20 years veteran of the top fuel wars in the National Hot Rod Association. On Thursday May 30th, Millican will have the honors of throwing out the game’s first pitch at Comiskey Park, now known as Guaranteed Rate Field. Fun stuff!
Here’s the full story from the Straight-line Strategy Group on the White Sox –
May 28, 2019 (CHICAGO, IL) The Chicago White Sox will team up with the Straightline Strategy Group owned, Clay Millican driven Parts Plus Top Fuel Dragster as a major sponsor at the NHRA Route 66 Nationals, May 30 – June 2 in Joliet, Illinois.
“Anytime we can cross-market two iconic brands like the Chicago White Sox and NHRA drag racing, it brings another level of passion and excitement to the fans of both sports,” says Steven Cole, SVP Marketing and Sales for SSG. “From Clay throwing out the first pitch to driving his Parts Plus/Chicago White Sox sponsored Top Fuel Dragster, this program is destined to be a home run!”
The White Sox have an incredible history as they are one of eight charter members of the American League, having played in Chicago since the inaugural 1901 season. Additionally, they have won six American League pennants and three World Series Titles.
This will be the second time Clay has piloted a Chicago White Sox Dragster as his last was back in 1998 during his first ever start at an NHRA event in Chicago. Millican has plenty of history of his own, winning six IHRA World Titles before moving to the NHRA where he currently holds the Top Fuel E.T. record at 3.628 seconds and has three NHRA career wins. Finishing 3rd in the highly competitive 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Points Series, Millican has his sight set on winning the 2019 NHRA Championship.
“Starting my top fuel career in the White Sox sponsored car at Route 66 Raceway was incredible,” says Millican. “Then winning the event in 2018 on the 20th anniversary of my start and of the opening of Route 66 Raceway was unbelievable. Now we are coming full circle with having the White Sox back with us on the Parts Plus dragster. It’s going to be a special weekend.”
Millican will also have the honors of throwing out the first pitch at the White Sox game against the Cleveland Indians on Thursday, May 30. The Chicago White Sox bannered Top Fuel Dragster will be on display at Guaranteed Rate Field (known as Comiskey Park).
