After a pair of dominant back-to-back championships and a stunning all-time class best of 3.78 seconds on the resume, there was little else for veteran heads-up racer Dan Millen to accomplish in the ADRL’s Extreme 10.5 division, and as such, the Dearbon Heights, Michigan-based ace announced this week a whole new challenge for he and the Livernois Motorsports race team.
Rather than chase a three-peat in the Extreme 10.5 class that he’s run roughshod over for the last two seasons, Millen is set to take on his toughest test as a driver yet, joining the ADRL’s premier Pro Extreme division, beginning at the season opening CarSafe Dragpalooza VIII at the Royal Purple Raceway in Houston, Texas, March 30-31.
Not only is Millen moving on to the next chapter of his racing career, but he’ll also step into a brand new 2012 Ford Mustang out of the Jerry Bickel Race Cars shop, sporting the very same Brad Anderson HEMI with a PSI screw supercharger that powered his Extreme 10.5 machine. Millen has acquired backing for the new venture from Bob and Laura Zdravkovski and their Z-Matrix Solutions business, along with continued backing from Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels.
“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.
Through his relationship with Mickey Thompson, Millen has had the opportunity to test the new 3190w tire, and unlike his new competition, plans to run the unique new tire.
“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.”