Clay Millican has maintained a long-term partnership with Parts Plus, part of the Pronto Network, as the primary sponsor of his NHRA Top Fuel dragster. The Parts Plus logo and signature orange-red color scheme appear prominently on Millican’s car, hauler, crew uniforms, and team gear.
The sponsorship program extends beyond NHRA Drag Racing. Team owner Rick Ware said Parts Plus “has been an amazing marketing partner” and uses Millican’s popularity across NASCAR, IndyCar, IMSA sports cars, and flat-track motorcycle events to broaden brand exposure.
Pronto Network CEO Robert Roos said Parts Plus affiliates “are extremely proud to be associated with Clay and the entire RWR team,” reflecting the value they place on Millican’s image. Millican has described the partnership as a deep collaboration. “It’s been a special partnership… We hope to elevate it to a whole new level,” he said of the ongoing campaign.
Parts Plus has also used Millican’s racing platform for dealership and fan events. The 2012 sponsorship announcement described affiliates hosting Millican’s dragster and driver for in-store promotions and hospitality at tracks nationwide. Those coordinated promotions expand Millican’s visibility while closely linking the Parts Plus brand with his racing program.
| Fact | Details |
| Full Name | Clay Millican |
| Born | Feb 9, 1966 |
| Birthplace | Tennessee, USA |
| Clay Millican Net Worth (2026) | Not publicly disclosed |
| Profession | NHRA Drag Racer |
| Titles | 6× IHRA Champion |
| NHRA Wins | 8 national wins |
| Fastest Time | 3.628 sec, 338 mph |
| Team | Rick Ware Racing |
| Income Sources | Racing, sponsorships |
| Net Worth (2026) | Not publicly disclosed |
Clay Millican in action during an NHRA Top Fuel event, showcasing the skill, consistency, and championship-winning experience that define his long-standing drag racing career. Millican has competed in NHRA Top Fuel since the late 2000s and recorded eight career NHRA event victories by 2025. His wins include major events such as the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis in 2024 and the NHRA Winternationals in Pomona in 2025.
Under NHRA’s official payout structure, Top Fuel event winners typically earn tens of thousands of dollars: approximately $51,000 to $54,000 at standard four-round events and up to about $96,000 to $100,000 at longer five-round events. Runner-up finishers receive roughly $21,000 to $30,000, depending on the event format. Across his career, with 28 final-round appearances and eight wins, Millican’s share of NHRA purses from victories and runner-up finishes likely reached the high six-figure range, though exact earnings are not public.
NHRA’s purse scale is documented. In 2026, NHRA announced that the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series would distribute more than $27 millionin total purses and payouts for the season, including the event purses noted above. Season-ending bonuses further increase potential earnings. NHRA’s year-end fund awards the Top Fuel champion $500,000, with $100,000 for second place and descending amounts down to $20,000 for 10th.
Millican has not yet won a world championship, but his performance in points events keeps him in contention for such year-end payouts.
Clay Millican demonstrates precise reaction timing and controlled driving in his NHRA Top Fuel dragster, reflecting his consistent racing style and strong competitive discipline on the track. Beyond event prizes, NHRA incentive programs reward consistent participation and qualifying performance. The Nitro Touring Fund awards $10,000 to each eligible Top Fuel driver who finishes outside the top 10 in the final points standings, provided the driver meets minimum qualifying participation requirements.
As a full-season racer, Millican would qualify for such bonuses in years when he meets the criteria. NHRA also maintains quarterly race-team funds that redistribute unclaimed first-round payouts to teams based on the percentage of qualifying attempts they completed.
A team like Millican’s earns additional funding by running all qualifying sessions at NHRA events. NHRA does not disclose individual team payouts from these funds, but the programs incentivize drivers to make every qualifying run.
Millican’s frequent qualifying in the Top Fuel field, including his regular low qualifying times, would enhance his share of any race-team bonus distributions.
Top Fuel drivers commonly supplement their income with paid appearances at sponsor-hosted events, though specific contracts are usually confidential. Millican has participated in numerous Parts Plus promotional events over his career.
His 2012 Parts Plus campaign included “pitside hospitality packages at tracks nationwide,” giving franchisees opportunities to engage fans with Millican and his dragster. Parts Plus also arranged for store owners to “host the Top Fuel show car and driver at their businesses” through cross-promotional tie-ins.
Millican’s specific fees are not publicly listed, but appearances such as store meet-and-greets, racing clinics, and exhibition races typically include appearance stipends and expense coverage. These driver visits help sponsors connect with customers and form part of the commercial value Millican brings to his partners.
Millican’s drag-racing record strengthens his endorsement value. Before moving to NHRA Top Fuel, he dominated the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA), winning six consecutive IHRA Top Fuel championships from 2001 through 2006 and becoming the association’s all-time winningest driver with 51 event titles.
Those credentials give him a “champion” pedigree that teams and sponsors can use when marketing his image. His NHRA results add to that legacy. By 2025, Millican had eight NHRA Top Fuel wins after 228 starts.
The combination of historic championships and recent NHRA success makes Millican a proven, marketable talent. Drivers with championship resumes can command higher sponsorship fees than lesser-known competitors because their name recognition and credibility translate into stronger brand impact.
In Millican’s case, Rick Ware and Parts Plus executives frequently cite his track record in their promotional messaging, including statements that stores are “proud to be associated with Clay.”
Clay Millican has not publicly confirmed his net worth as of 2026, and no officially verified figure is available. His income comes from his career as an NHRA Top Fuel dragster driver, including race purse prize money and compensation from his team, Rick Ware Racing.
He also has sponsorship and endorsement agreements with automotive companies, including Parts Plus, a long-term primary sponsor of his dragster, and Strutmasters, which has served as a co-primary team sponsor. Specific figures for his salary and sponsorship payments have not been publicly disclosed.
Clay Millican is an American Top Fuel drag racer from Drummonds, Tennessee. He competes in NHRA’s Top Fuel category and is widely known for his long career in professional drag racing.
Clay Millican is best known for his success in Top Fuel drag racing, especially his dominant IHRA run before becoming a regular NHRA competitor. NHRA describes him as a six-time IHRA Top Fuel champion with 51 wins.
Clay Millican got his first race car at age 16. His official biography says he had been racing as a hobby for much of his adult life before moving into Top Fuel competition.
Clay Millican earned his first NHRA Top Fuel victory at the 2017 Thunder Valley Nationals. NHRA noted that the win came after two decades of effort and in his ninth NHRA final round.
Yes. Clay Millican was inducted into the IHRA’s inaugural Hall of Fame class in 2021, recognizing his achievements in the series.
Clay Millican races in the NHRA Top Fuel category. Top Fuel is one of NHRA’s premier professional drag racing classes.