The allure of an unprecedented ADRL triple crown was certainly there for standout Dan Millen. Instead, Millen and the Dearborn Heights-based Z-Matrix Solutions Livernois Motorsports race team are focused on an entirely new challenge.

Fresh off a magical 2011 season that will go down as one of the best in ADRL Extreme 10.5 history and ended with his second straight world championship, Millen is ready for the next chapter in his ADRL racing career.

That chapter will begin in 2012 – and in a new class – as Millen and his talented team will move into the Pro Extreme class for the 2012 ADRL Tour, which begins March 30-31 with CarSafe Dragpalooza VIII at Royal Purple Raceway in Houston.

With the blessing of sponsors Bob and Lauri Zdravkovski from Z-Matrix and Carl Robinson from Mickey Thompson tires, the decision turned into a no-brainer for Millen, whose dominant 2011 season included an Extreme 10.5 championship, the “Battle For The Belts” title and four event wins.

The allure of an unprecedented ADRL triple crown was certainly there for standout Dan Millen. Instead, Millen and the Dearborn Heights-based Z-Matrix Solutions Livernois Motorsports race team are focused on an entirely new challenge.

Fresh off a magical 2011 season that will go down as one of the best in ADRL Extreme 10.5 history and ended with his second straight world championship, Millen is ready for the next chapter in his ADRL racing career.

That chapter will begin in 2012 – and in a new class – as Millen and his talented team will move into the Pro Extreme class for the 2012 ADRL Tour, which begins March 30-31 with CarSafe Dragpalooza VIII at Royal Purple Raceway in Houston.

With the blessing of sponsors Bob and Lauri Zdravkovski from Z-Matrix and Carl Robinson from Mickey Thompson tires, the decision turned into a no-brainer for Millen, whose dominant 2011 season included an Extreme 10.5 championship, the “Battle For The Belts” title and four event wins.

“Some people might wonder why we would leave the Extreme 10.5 class when the car was so dominant, but the answer was easy for us. Like any professional sport, if you go out on top you will always be remembered for what you did and having the E.T. record (3.82) and winning back-to-back championships, we are ready for the next challenge,” Millen said.

“We are very much looking forward to the 2012 ADRL season.”

The huge announcement comes with a number of exciting bits of information.

Millen will debut a new 2012 Pro Extreme Mustang built by Jerry Bickel Race Cars, a stunning car that has been built under the radar since January.

The car will utilize some exciting new technology and Millen will continue to use the Brad 8 HEME with a PSI Screwcharger that helped bring him two straight championships, four event wins and numerous other accolades racing in Extreme 10.5.

Millen has also been working with Carl Robinson and Jason Musson from Mickey Thompson on testing the new Mickey Thompson 3190w tire. Unlike other PX cars, Millen will elect to race on the new 34.5×13.5x16w tire.

It may be a risky move to run the small tire compared to others that are available, but Millen and his team started racing Mickey Thompson tires and feels obligated to at the least to run their tires.

“Mickey Thompson has treated us so well over the years and we look forward to running this new tire,” Millen said. “Before the PRI show in December, we tested the new Mickey Thompson tire and after only a few hits the car went faster to the 60 and 330-foot than ever before.

“The most convincing point was the car was not set up correctly to achieve the times. At that point, we knew we would be running this tire for the 2012 ADRL season.”

Millen and his team would also like to thank the following sponsors for their continued support: VP Racing Fuel, Cleveite Bearings, MSD Ignition, M/T Tires, Pac Springs, PSI Superchargers, NGK Spark Plugs, Ford Racing, Ross Pistons, Neal Chance Converters and Race Pak Systems.