One of the added benefits of Clay Millican’s heartwarming victory a little over a week ago in Bristol is the motivation it provided to others.

Millican is not the only driver in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series to be suffering through a drought on a smaller team. Terry McMillen, another IHRA alumnus who has found himself competitive, but winless, since his switch to the big leagues, said he felt as if he too had won watching Clay hoist the Wally trophy last week and admits that Millican’s win provides an extra boost of confidence.

“There has always been this standing joke between Clay and I that we want to be in the finals together and, it doesn’t really matter who wins, because we obviously both want to win, but just to get there and one of us get it done would be great,” said McMillen, who has been to one final round in 183 races. “To see him go out there and have the day that they had in Bristol was just overwhelming for me. While we didn’t win, we felt like we won.

“To see a single car team go out there and be the best of the day against the Kalitta’s, the Force’s and the Schumacher’s was incredible.”

So what’s next for McMillen? Keep grinding, and one day he feels he too will be rewarded with the ultimate prize in NHRA competition.

“He’s had a good car all year, but we’ve got a good car as well. Do I think our time is going to come? I think it is,” McMillen said. “I think we are going to get that win this year. We just have to keep pushing forward. It is hard to beat those big teams because of all the background they have. So when you do have that opportunity to get into a final, it is a great thing. I believe Rob Wendland and the entire team will get us there.”