Video: How to Drive an 11,000-Horsepower Top Fuel Dragster

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What’s it like to drive a 330-mph Top Fueler? The job is a lot more complicated than we may imagine. Here’s professional wheel man Clay Millican to give us a lesson.

 

One of our regular tasks here at Mac’s Motor City Garage is introducing people who really need no introduction—for instance, veteran Top Fuel driver Clay Millican. A Tennessee native, Millican is the most prolific Top Fuel winner in IHRA history and an accomplished veteran on the NHRA circuit as well, with three national event wins under his belt. As the driver of Doug Stringer’s Parts Plus Top Fueler, Millican recently launched a second career as a social media content creator, which brings us to this very cool video.

On his popular YouTube channel, Millican has provided some exceptional close-up views of the NHRA Top Fuel scene. In this clip, he provides a fascinating briefing on the driver’s duties over the course of a run, from initial startup to the shut-down area. And there’s a whole lot more to the job that we might think, with fuel, ignition, and clutch systems to manage along with the formidable task of keeping the 11,000 horsepower monster pointed more or less in the right direction. Here he provides an instructive and engaging driving lesson. Video follows.

 

5 thoughts on “Video: How to Drive an 11,000-Horsepower Top Fuel Dragster”

  1. 1st, let me thank MCG for this, it’s my #1 racing venue. There is a recent fascination with top fuel dragsters lately, possibly as a shot in the arm for sagging attendance, kind of ironic, as I feel we’re toward the end of drag racing. EPA concerns, “NIMBY’S”, and the cost, for spectators and car owners. It takes an average of almost $8 MILLION+ dollars to run a top fuel dragster for 24 races. Many tracks are closing, Old Bridge, the grand daddy, in NJ closed, I read, AZ, next year is the last, and Pomona, the heart of NHRA, also in trouble. Also, 11,000 hp, is an estimate. For years, these put out about 8-9,000hp, but has been updated to 11,000, if that’s true. These typically use 16 gallons of nitro( @ $16/gal) in 1,000 feet for about 90 seconds of running time,including rebuild warm-up, burnout, and run and require a complete rebuild after every run, if it doesn’t explode Typically about $50,000 per run, almost $250 THOUSAND if the block and other parts are ruined, so not for the faint of wallet.
    2nd, Clay Millican is one of my favorite drivers. He was a forklift driver for a grocery warehouse, and hooked a ride somehow in one of these, and his smile should bring world peace. Sadly, he lost his 22 year old son couple years back, but I’ve talked to Clay at races, and a nicer guy I don’t think you’ll find. He did not include a couple things, the clutch on these is centrifugal, yep, just like the old minibike, so the clutch is actually slipping until he floors it. Also, these use fuel pumps that can man a fire hose, 64 gallons a minute, pumping through 32 fuel nozzles( 4 per cylinder), they are amazing machines.
    It should be noted, top fuel and funny cars have been limited to 1,000 feet since Scott Kalittas deadly crash in 2008. What’s odd, is they are going faster now in 1,000 feet, than they did in the 1/4 mile. As the cars get faster, shut down is a big concern, and many places simply don’t have the room. The video doesn’t do the noise justice, but it’s ear splitting, and the nitro fumes will choke you, they jiggle your guts, and if you’re reading this and haven’t ever been, I URGE you to go. You won’t forget it anytime soon. Thanks again, MCG.

    • Atlanta Dragway closed up at the end of 2021. NHRA had been trying to sell it for a couple of years previous. The recent construction of a battery factory nearby made the land more valuable for home construction than any other use.Now the closest 1/4 mile strip to metro Atlanta is Silver Dollar in Reynolds (central Georgia), about 2 hours south.

      Sad times for a drag racer as I had made 100’s of passes at Commerce (Atlanta Dragway).

  2. I hope the casual drag racing fan gets a better understanding of what goes on during a T/F run (not just ‘stab-it and steer it). It was very informative even for me, and I’ve raced in the lower classes for over 20+ years. Thanks, Art

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