IHRA pro finals at Memphis

Tennessee racers dominate

Words by Larry Crum
Photos courtesy IHRA

While afternoon rains put a damper on the Summit Racing Equipment sportsman championships on Oct. 12, action in the Nitro Jam ranks was as hot as ever as Tennessee’s own Clay Millican and Ron Hope swept the action in IHRA’s professional categories at the Summit Racing Equipment World Finals at Memphis International Raceway.

Millican won for the second night in a row in the world’s most exciting racing class of Top Fuel, joining Ron Hope in Fuel Altered as the only two drivers to take home two Ironman trophies. Joining the duo in the winner’s circle was Peter Gallen in AMSOIL Prostalgia Nitro Funny Car and Jake Stordeur in Nitro Harley.

The biggest races of the weekend, the Summit Tournament of Champions and Summit SuperSeries competitions, were rained out on Saturday and were run to their conclusion on Sunday.

Saturday was all about the boys of the Volunteer State.

TOP FUEL

Millican, from right down the road in Drummonds, Tenn., bested longtime friend and rival Bruce Litton four out of four passes during the weekend. Both drivers struggled to find traction Saturday night as the tricky conditions got the best of them, but it was Millican getting enough of a push to come away with round wins culminating with a final pass of 5.361 seconds at 183.32 miles per hour in the winning effort.

ROUND ONE -- Clay Millican, 5.535, 172.04 def. Bruce Litton, 10.325, 94.49

FINAL -- C. Millican, 5.361, 183.32 def. B. Litton, 10.999, 110.15.