ELKHART, Ind. – Terry McMillen, the 2018 Top Fuel winner of the U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, will return to the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series this year.
McMillen is slated to compete in six to eight NHRA events for Dan Mercier Racing so he can continue to support his son Cameron’s junior dragster career.
“We met Dan in 2017 when he purchased a Top Fuel dragster from us and we have stayed friends,” said McMillen, who has two Top Fuel wins. “He runs a family operation just like us, so it is a perfect partnership. After spending last year with Cameron at the track I knew the only way I would come back right now was if I could race around Cameron’s schedule.”
Dan Mercier Racing purchased the Terry McMillen Racing operation, so the veteran driver will be returning to the same livery that he piloted when he earned his first No. 1 qualifier at the Dodge Nationals in 2020 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
“2022 will certainly be the long-awaited dream year for Mercier Racing,” said Mercier. “There’s no better time to make a serious commitment to the big leagues. Having the opportunity to have Terry as a driver will give the Mercier Racing team a tremendous chance to improve and compete against the best. Our focus now is on winning rounds and national events.”
Last year McMillen spent time with his son attending junior dragster races and pursuing other business interests. As McMillen and Mercier began talking about competing in 2022, McMillen was adamant that he would only race if it didn’t distract or conflict with his son’s racing schedule. Mercier, a serious Top Alcohol dragster racer who has raced a handful of Top Fuel events, also had a request of his own regarding Cameron, which included the youngster coaching Mia Mercier, Dan’s two-year old daughter, in a few years to drive a junior dragster. In return Mercier has offered coaching tips to Cameron if he decides to make the jump to a Top Alcohol Dragster.
“This season will hopefully be just the beginning of a beautiful partnership of passion and performance between our two teams and families,” added Mercier.
The team will be making further announcements in the coming weeks. The current plan includes possible races at the NHRA New England Nationals in Epping, N.H., the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, and the fall NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMax Dragway in Concord, N.C.