Kent, WA – DENSO returns as a primary sponsor with the Straightline Strategy Group owned, Clay Millican driven Top Fuel Dragster this Friday through Sunday, August 2-4 at the Magic Dry Northwest Nationals in Seattle, Washington.

DENSO previously supported the Parts Plus team at the Las Vegas and Charlotte 4-Wide events. Both events, the Mike Kloeber-lead team made it to the final quads.

“This is our third race with DENSO in 2019 as our partnership continues to grow,” mentions SSG co-owner Scott Gardner. “We tend to perform pretty well when they join us and look forward to a great event in Seattle.”

With a runner up finish in Sonoma last weekend, the time has come for Millican to hoist a Wally with DENSO.

“We’re honored to have Clay fly the DENSO flag at the NHRA Northwest Nationals this weekend in Seattle,” says Fran Labun, vice president of Aftermarket Sales and Product Management Group at DENSO Products and Services Americas. “Clay is a tough competitor and a tremendous role model for the sport.  We look forward to watching him raise that Wally in the Winner’s Circle!”

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SONOMA, CA – After an incredible runner-up finish in the Top Fuel Dragster category at the NHRA Mopar Mile High Nationals, Clay Millican awaits his return to the winner’s circle this coming weekend at the NHRA Sonoma Nationals in Sonoma, California.

To the surprise of many who had expected this year to be a rebuilding season for the team, Millican, who drives the powerful Parts Plus dragster, has gone to four final rounds in 2019 in Gainesville, Las Vegas, Charlotte and Denver. Wholesale changes over the winter months including a new ownership group, a new crew chief, and an all new crew was the basis for those predictions.

The team hasn’t been without challenges with six first round losses and some struggle during qualifying including this last weekend where they failed to reach the finish line under power.

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National campaign engages with popular sporting event to drive home importance of car data access and control

BRISTOL, TN – The national education and advocacy campaign Your Car. Your Data. Your Choice. will be a major sponsor of the Clay Millican-driven Top Fuel Dragster for the upcoming NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, TN, June 14 – 16. The campaign is a co-sponsor with Parts Plus for the Straightline Strategy Group dragster.

The campaign’s sponsorship helps bring urgent attention to an issue that has implications for car owners and drivers nationwide. Newer model cars today are equipped with advanced technologies that enable real-time, wireless transmission of data related to driver behavior, GPS location and vehicle health, including maintenance and repair information. As this technology advances, carmakers are locking in exclusive access to and control of car data, which could lead to greater inconvenience, greater cost and fewer options for repair and maintenance services for car owners.

Accessing and controlling data from the dragster allows crew chief Mike Kloeber to identify and solve potential problems in real time, which allows Millican to shave crucial milliseconds.

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CHICAGO, IL – The Chicago White Sox will team up with the Straightline Strategy Group owned, Clay Millican driven Parts Plus Top Fuel Dragster as a major sponsor at the NHRA Route 66 Nationals, May 30 – June 2 in Joliet, Illinois.

“Anytime we can cross-market two iconic brands like the Chicago White Sox and NHRA drag racing, it brings another level of passion and excitement to the fans of both sports,” says Steven Cole, SVP Marketing and Sales for SSG. “From Clay throwing out the first pitch to driving his Parts Plus/Chicago White Sox sponsored Top Fuel Dragster, this program is destined to be a home run!”

The White Sox have an incredible history as they are one of eight charter members of the American League, having played in Chicago since the inaugural 1901 season. Additionally, they have won six American League pennants and three World Series Titles.

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RICHMOND, VA – Heading into the Virginia Nationals, the Straightline Strategy Group, Parts Plus Top Fuel pilot Clay Millican continues to fight at the highest level of NHRA drag racing for win in 2019. A first round loss in the last event in Atlanta hasn’t dampened the spirits of the likeable Tennessee based driver.

Millican lost a close first round battle that featured his number eight qualified entry against Antron Brown’s number nine qualified entry in one of the best side by side runs of the day. Clay  clocked in a 3.779 at 320.89 mph, but Antron rolled through with a 3.771 ET for the win light.

“It was great to have the second quickest E.T. of eliminations day, but not against guy who had the best,” said Millican. “I would have preferred to face Antron in the final round, but that’s not the way it played out as we were both off a bit in qualifying that lead to our first round matchup.”

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COMMERCE, GA – The Straightline Strategy Group welcomes Laris Motorsports Insurance as a major sponsor of their Top Fuel Dragster driven by Clay Millican for this weekend’s Arby’s Southern Nationals at the Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, Ga.

With a special division dedicated to the racer, Laris Motorsports Insurance offers ‘off track’ as well as ‘on track’ coverage for select classes. They also offer coverage for tow vehicles, trailers, and many other coverages that racers need.

“With our knowledge of the services and products Laris Motorsports Insurance offers and the marketing opportunities we can create through our Top Fuel Dragster program, the Atlanta event became perfect for the official launch of the Laris Motorsports Division in NHRA Drag racing,” said SSG’s Scott Gardner.

“As racers ourselves we understand the challenges in this sport/business and have developed a specialty program specific to those challenges with the customer service that racers want,” said Ross Laris, owner of Laris Motorsports Insurance.

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HOUSTON, TX – Clay Millican will campaign a Parts Plus, Valvoline Oil Top Fuel Dragster this weekend at the NHRA SpringNationals in Houston, TX. After two consecutive final round appearances, Millican and crew chief Mike Kloeber are eager to continue the hunt for an event win.

Valvoline Oil has been a great supporter of the Straightline Strategy Group for many years and the SpringNationals is a perfect time to have some added exposure of the relationship.

“With their high quality products, we are able to fight our way to a Wally for the last several years,” said SSG partner, Scott Gardner. “With the recent success of a new team, we expect Valvoline Oil to keep our dragster going fast and coming back with clean parts.”

Last weekend at the Denso 4-Wide Nationals in Las Vegas, the Part Plus team continued their consistent, clean runs to the final round.

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GAINESVILLE, FL – Clay Millican serves up a runner up finish in the Top Fuel category at the 50th annual Amalie Motor Oil Gatornationals. The Mike Kloeber-led team had an almost perfect day to capitalize on their achievements as a new team for the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello drag racing season.

The Straightline Strategy Group’s Top Fuel dragster finished qualifying with a strong top half of the field #7 position with a 3.74 at 326 mph.

With a weather delay start on Sunday, Millican faced the two rookies of the Top Fuel class in the first two rounds. First, he defeated Austin Prock with a 3.71 at 325 mph and then continued his rookie control with a 3.701 at 325 mph, best ET of the weekend for the team, against Jordan Vandergriff. Millican is one of the best drivers in the series and he proved that right with a quick pedal job to get the win over Doug Kalitta in round 3.

With the hopes of the Winner’s circle so close, the crew hustled and turned the car around as Kloeber delivered a compelling tune up. The Parts Plus/Strutmasters.com team was up against #12 qualifier Richie Crampton. With approximately 18 inches in .0032 seconds as the margin of victory at the finish line, Millican’s 3.75 at 324 mph wasn’t able to turn on the final win light.

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GAINESVILLE, FL – After an off-season with changes in ownership, leadership, and crew personnel, Clay Millican now feels a stronger tide of optimism as he enters the Parts Plus/Strutmasters.com Top Fuel Dragster at the 50th Annual Amalie Oil Gatornationals, March 14-17 in Gainesville, Florida.

“We have accomplished our goals at the first two events with virtually no parts breakage while finalizing a tune up which looks to be very competitive” says Millican. “The team is really starting to jell with some experienced guys taking a strong leadership role.”

Straightline Strategy Group (SSG) understands that walking before you run is the best course of action in the marathon Mello-Yello Points Series.

“We are a conservative company by nature with well thought out plans and have set reasonable goals and expectations” mentioned Scott Gardner, SSG partner. “We do plan on winning races, but not at an unacceptable cost of faith, family and funds.”

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Fresh energy, ideas and enthusiasm is exactly what Clay Millican ordered for the Parts Plus/Strutmasters.com Top Fuel Dragster and the “Unfinished Business Tour” seeking the 2019 NHRA Mello-Yellow Series Championship.

Millican who finished 3rd in the 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Top Fuel standings is looking to pick up where he finished in the championship hunt. With a new ownership group, Straightline Strategy Group, LLC (SSG), and Parts Plus continuing their sponsorship with the addition of Strutmasters.com stepping up their involvement, the outlook is better now than it has been in years.

“Change is a scary word as fear of the unknown can keep people from moving forward, but I’ve fully embraced this change even with the valleys and hills that are expected in the process,” says Tennessee based driver, Clay Millican.

With this plan, the entire team will be sporting a fresh look for 2019.

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