(Steve Gruenwald photo)

Terry McMillen, driver of the AMALIE Motor Oil “XTERMIGATOR” Top Fuel Dragster continued adding to the best start of his NHRA career. After winning rounds at the first two races of the year, McMillen backed that up at the third race of the season by racing to the finals.

McMillen defeated Antron Brown (3.850/310.34 to 9.021/75.74), Tony Schumacher (3.945/305.49 to 8.115/87.22) and Clay Millican (3.828/313.66 to 6.537/94.25) for a shot at his first win. He fell short with a loss to Brittany Force in the final round of competition.

“It’s bittersweet,” McMillen said. “I know people have been to many final rounds before winning one, but even though it was our first final we didn’t go up there to lose.

“This was almost the perfect dream weekend,” McMillen continued. “Having the opportunity to get to our first final round - and then a shot at winning it in front of the entire AMALIE family, it was almost a storybook ending to the race for us. I’m so proud of all my guys, the hard work and endless hours they put in is what it took to get us to this point.”

Antron Brown (Adam Cranmer photo)

Woes continued for Don Schumacher Racing's three Top Fuel dragsters. For the second consecutive event, DSR dragsters did not escape the second round of eliminations.

"It is a humbling sport," said two-time and reigning world champion Antron Brown, who hazed the tires in the first round. "Sometimes you're pressing and you're pressing hard because you don't want to take anyone lightly. We thought the track could hold it and it was a little bit aggressive on the starting line and it got us."