How To Drive A Top Fuel Car

[@MrGaryjames1]

50 years of wondering explained in just under 11 minutes thank you clay.

[@ericzikmanis6116]

Agreed

[@xs-1b415]

😂

[@romes19]

Not that long but same lol

[@NovemberFoxtrotRC]

30 years of wondering how long the throttle pedal throw was finally answered. Try to find a video on that subject on KZbin lol.

[@jimthompson129]

Ditto!!

[@papaburf7275]

Hands down the best explanation any of us viewers have likely ever seen. "and now you can drive a top fuel car too" I love your enthusiasm about us keyboard drivers!!!! Thanks so much for sharing.

[@durango8882]

Agree 💯 %

[@rickwomble6868]

Id racing go kart my 40th yrs 1971 to 2011 retired blacktop😮

[@BakerSTEMLab]

Steering it like "the back's trying to outrun the front" is the best explanation I've heard in a long time! Brilliant! :)

[@CreativeScalpsUSA503]

I’ve been watching drag race since 1974. I’ve met a lot of the best drivers in the world and that is the absolute best explanation I’ve ever heard. Thank you so much that was awesome.

[@daveinvictoriavirginia7959]

John has f/c, Clay IS top fuel without a doubt! Met him at 4wide Charlotte. Wish he was my neighbor.😅😅 10:53

[@roywoodhurst7764]

Easiest way to drive a top fuel car…hire Clay! You’re the best

[@roywoodhurst7764]

You’re so good at the top fuel car I’m willing to bet it required a lot more thought to explain than it is to do. Thank you for taking the time to do that!

[@randyporter3491]

Absolutely the very best explanation and demonstration ever filmed on this. This is something that EVERY fan has wondered and now explained by one of the best drivers of all time. Thanks Clay for taking the time and sharing this with us !

[@scottburrow8717]

Clay you are amazing in the way you let your fans “US” see what you do in your top fuel car. I have been following NHRA for a lot of years and nobody has ever done that before that I have seen we appreciate your videos more than you know thanks Clay.

[@scottmarshall6766]

Thanks Clay, I don't think anyone has done that before. Great job!

[@baizeoglory8214]

Thank you sir! I’ve been a fan of these for over 30 years and never knew how all this worked! Awesome! We’re so fortunate to have you on the KZbins 🤘

[@jeffsmall4947]

Being a big fan of NHRA drag racing , this was very cool . Learned things about a run that I never knew before . Awesome job Clay .

[@Bricklinsv1970]

He gets the coolest guy on the planet award.

[@garywoods797]

Clay, what a truly nice guy. Super focused, super professional and super fast! He really wants us, the fans to be part of the top fuel experience. I have been a fan of all sorts of drag racing for 45 years, but top fuel is the daddy!

[@larrrs3]

Another great video. All these years watching NHRA never knew how involved it is to send a top fuel car down the track. I've gained a whole new respect for what you and your team do for that 3.6 seconds your foot is on that loud pedal. Good luck I'll be watching now that I know the sequence to launch you car.

[@HardlyRavinSon]

And BAM! you're off, at which point my stomach still somersaulted!!! I'll leave the driving to you guys! Brilliant video, saved to watch again and again.

[@1AMERICANWORKER]

WOW!! What a difference 50 years makes. I bought a 130 inch Woody Gilmore car from Sammy Miller in 1972. I was moving up from modified production and really needed help with the learning curve. We set up the car to run B/FD in Pro Comp Eliminator with Sammy's help. Back then we only had a fuel shutoff, clutch pedal, steering wheel (the only thing in my car that looks like yours.), hand brake, loud pedal. chute release and an oil pressure gauge. When I asked Sammy why just oil pressure he answered me in typical Sammy Miller fashion, " That's all you need to know. If the motor makes a funny noise, you glance at the O.P., if it's at 0, DUCK!!"

[@brianiswrong]

Over here in 🇬🇧 we took an instant love to slamming Sammy miller when he was doing demo passes of vanishing point an oxygen rocket cars. He seemed very at ease with himself (not something alot of racers are) and did a very good Donald duck impression. It's was a sad day when I learnt of his passing, but I believe he lived one heck of a life. 👍

[@steveeddy6876]

If it's at 0 Duck! Ha Ha Ha 😆

[@FromMyEyesToYours]

Just the mention of the old B-fuel dragster class brought me a melancholy smile :-)

[@mikemulvany3325]

🤣

[@WineHouse33]

Sammy Miller is the forgotten GOAT. 3.22 @402mph, with an actual 1/4 mile measure. Not the useless 1000ft measure of todays Karen culture.

[@odoylemccrackin877]

It's like you are from the future and you are an astronaut when you race❗That was so informative and AWESOME ❗Thank you Mr. Millican. 🙂

[@tommiller8714]

Great video! Very informative and very interesting; I didn't know what was involved in piloting these 11,000hp 4wheel missiles. A 3.6-something seconds pass with trap speed around or greater than 330mph! Amazing just to keep one of these engines together under full throttle for 4 seconds; absolutely awesome. You make it look easier than it is, obviously perfect muscle memory, knowledge and experience. Just like flying aircraft, knowing emergency procedures and how to handle one of these beasts when things go south, sideways, etc. on a run is where the experience shines. Thanks for making this video!

[@johnwelch2084]

Clay you have become my favorite driver!!! I’m 53 years old, I grew up watching NHRA drag racing and never knew exactly what was going on in a Top Fuel dragster!! Thanks for a great tour of just what goes on in there!!!!

[@advorsky1]

Mr. Millican Thank You for an in-depth look at a pass in a Top Fuel car! You sir are amazing and your team is as good as they come!!

[@coma13794]

Just finished watching a series of videos this evening. I'm now qualified to go deep sea fishing, cliff dive, perform open heart surgery, and finally drive a Top Fuel car.

[@danielmorskijr411]

I stood next to John Force's funny car at Indy in 1994. It was the most amazing experience to that point. Everyone should experience Top Fuel in their life. There really isn't anything else like it.

[@chrisobrien9334]

Thanks heaps for that clay. It’s all happening incredibly fast mate. Good luck with your future. I live in Victor Harbor South Australia 🇦🇺. We are getting a new drag strip built at The Bend which is so good. We’ve been without one for over 10yrs. Can’t wait to see Top Fuel again and race my street car Thanks mate

[@keithwilkins5387]

That was an amazing step by step how you drive the car. I have never seen it that good before. Thank you Sir!!

[@patcassidy123]

Came over from KSR Luv the videos - thanks for the content

[@Ronaldl2350]

Thank you for bringing us behind the scenes of what it takes to run one of these monsters. Man that's violent when it starts up and blasts down the track.

[@wayner7111]

I,ve been going to drag races for over sixty years and this is the first time I've learned how all this prep for a run and the run itself actually happens. Thank so very much Clay.

[@jonson0721]

I always like watching you jump out of the car and there is no one else around……THAT’S FAST!!!

[@janesmith716]

WOW! I have been watching NHRA forever, never have seen such an excellent explanation on what the drivers are doing.

[@hommie789]

Clay, you forgot the part where when you launch you compress into the seat and almost black out and then at the end you throw the chutes and are thrown into the belts with even more force than that launch. Awesome explanation, thank you,

[@DodgyBrothersEngineering]

think you got that impression when he gestured moving forward so much at the end of the imaginary run. The amount he moved forward indicated that there is a huge amount of G's being placed on the body at that speed. That is the only part of the run I could imagine... I once made the mistake of sitting up on my bike at 160mph on the highway (didn't feel like I was going all that fast), and nearly blew myself of the back of my bike (just held on with my finger tips), could imagine that is what it feels like in reverse.

[@hommie789]

@@DodgyBrothersEngineering No I have driven many many fast cars over 35 years on the track and also a dream drive in Larry Dixon's Nitro X2. The G's experienced at the starting line are not even the most of the run, it is actually about the 330' mark when the clutches lock up. But the g-force experienced when the chutes deploy are so much more, like eye sight starts to go black type of g force. I used to have a gsxr 1K7 and rode it to 307 so I know the force you are talking about but believe it or not, that is nothing compared to the kick in the ass of one of these and the sledgehammer in the chest when those chutes deploy.

[@DodgyBrothersEngineering]

@@hommie789 I have been in and owned some seriously fast cars (cars you couldn't reach forward to grab the dash), but I still can't even imagine what a top fuel experience would be like because 1G+ is going to be nothing like 7G's they say top fuel experience on take off. Can only imagine that would feel like someone sitting a car on your chest. I can sort of imagine it, but I bet if I ever got a go in one, it would be so much more than I can possible imagine. But even the thought of it brings a smile to my face, and my butt pucker.

[@DodgyBrothersEngineering]

@@hommie789 interesting thought about about the braking... Did it seem so severe because of the direction of force? When you are accelerating you have the entire back of the seat to spread the load of your body against, so the pounds per square inch would be nothing like when the chute comes out, because under deceleration you only have a few small straps to stop the mass of your body. So the pounds per square inch would be much higher even if there weren't as many G's.

[@ScootsMcPoot]

F-22 pilots laughing right now. Fun fact a space shuttle launch is 3gs. Most ever recorded on a top fuel was 5.5gs. F-22 9gs for breakfast. Record of gs ever survived by a human being, 219 g's 219..... was in an indy car race kenny brack got in a accident that recorded 219 g forces. He survived.

[@vetb882]

Wooow. That was SICKKK, duude. :-)

[@texxasal]

Thank you, sir. I've been around this sport for a very long time (when the Greek's hair was really "GOLD"), and Connie was driving. This is the most informative 10 1/2 minutes of video I've ever seen about a Top Fuel Car. Thanks again.

[@MyFakeBrand]

Clay is so calm and collected. I’m watching this for probably the 16th time and I still get butterflies in my stomach. Best explanation ever of what it takes to drive one of these beasts.

[@interceptor4728]

Thanks for that, always wondered what was going on inside the cockpit

[@butchgreenfield1238]

For the few seconds that consists of a top fuel run it's like a well rehearsed play one move reflects on the move beforehand and complements what's to follow, I've followed your career from IHRA to your rise in the NHRA and I think your one of the best to represent the sport. Your always great to the fans! Thank you

[@wideslammer]

Very interesting video. I've always enjoyed seeing you interviewed on the NHRA telecasts, but let me tell you what prompted me to subscribe to your channel so I could spend more time with you. (1.) Despite the disappointment you must have felt after losing in the final round to Mike Salinas in Phoenix, you were your typical positive self congratulating the Scrappers crew and Mike. (2.) You gave 1320 Video and Kevin Smith (KSR Performance and Fabrication) almost unlimited access to yourself as well as your crew and pit area during a busy race weekend. I've got a bunch of your older videos to go back and watch since you're now "my driver." On a final note, while recognizing that I was plenty late in joining your channel, I'm really surprised that you have "only" 35,000+ subscribers to your channel. I don't subscribe to any other professional drag racers channel so I don't know how that compares to others, but I hope others will join me in becoming part of the Clay Millican team.

[@robertpatterson8379]

Hes the bomb.

[@BrickNewton]

I found this channel through Kevin at KSR, when Kevin went to see him the first? time

[@Shadowman444w]

Very humble and modest man - Top guy

[@northvalleyroad4570]

What a great video Clay..I crewed an a TF car many years ago before all this technology...but you still have to drive it.... Great memories..really takes me back....the car belonged to a man named Dick Vest from Dayton ohio....Thx

[@mrs.creature3443]

Clay Millican is so real, and just the nicest person. I love to watch him race.

[@andybecker8]

Absolutely love your Chanel Mr. Clay everything you put into, showing / telling / explaining to us, the inside look into the NHRA Nitro class is amazing and top notch team you have from bottom to top! Briefly had the pleasure of speaking to you and Mr. Mike at Gainesville y’all are an example of what true teamwork is all about! #stomponthatloudpedal

[@tripprogers4814]

A B S O L U T E L Y F A S C I N A T I N G. He does all this with the biggest, scariest monster you could ever imagine sitting in the backseat.

[@howardlaunius7484]

Thanks Clay, this was a very educational video on what goes on in a TF car from start to finish.

[@buddhavb3616]

Just awesome machines, crews and drivers. Thanks for showing us what goes on with you Clay.

[@larsaugust1469]

Thank you so much for making this video! What a fantastic insight into the magic of top fuel racing. Can't wait to see more updates to all your projects and more racing!

[@Bradenclutterbuck]

47years old and never have I ever seen somebody explain something that happens SO DAMN FAST, so bloody well! Perfect job Clay. All the best for your ‘24 season and please keep STOMPING THAT LOUD PEDAL BRO!

[@Mike-xt2ot]

I appreciate you so much for showing this. I shared with many friends because we had no idea how busy you are in the cockpit. Wow. That is a job!

[@maxh3647]

Maybe Clay has answered this on another video, but I'm curious on what the two steering wheel buttons do. That was an awesome informative video of which I don't think I've ever seen anyone else do.

[@deanwharepapa8561]

Thank you Clay, for the inside of how to stage and make a run

[@SC457A]

I love watching these cars make single runs and listen to the sounds of the engine. Each time can hear the load change with the clutch and the fuel get turned on and I am thinking in my head of the driver's steps of what is going on. I think it was Eddie Hill explaining it one time on TV show years ago... changed the way I watched the nitro cars since.

[@glenscheible]

Thanks for the ride. You and your Crew are awesome. Stay safe or as safe as you can with one of those Beasts.

[@durango8882]

Awesome Clay now c’mon man win some rounds and win a championship!! 💪🏻👍🏼 trophy 🏆✌🏻

[@dougtexas]

Always love the behind-the-scenes videos! This is one of my favorites. You've always shown us the nitty-gritty behind making that bad ass machine do it's amazing stuff! Thanks!!

[@adriangalindo3802]

Yes! Thank you! I have been wondering about all the minutiae of the cockpit for years and this video breaks it down perfectly. I'm saving this video and next time I'm at the races, I'm watching the driver more to see if I can follow the sequence. So cool. Thanks again, Clay. You're my new favorite driver for this. Hope to see you race in person sometime.

[@jimc.7121]

Wow! Thank you, Clay. Great, informative video. That's the next best thing to being in the driver's seat. I appreciate how articulate you are and your willingness to share this very cool information with your fans and top fuel enthusiasts.

[@camdix3250]

This video is worth its weight in pure gold. So many questions I've had for so long answered. And you are a GREAT teacher!! Thank you from my heart. Drag racing beats all. Best wishes and safety always.

[@mattychamberlin]

Awesome explanation. Thank you Clay. You have a great KZbin channel

[@allenbeaulieu7077]

Been watching top fuel and funny cars for almost 60 years and this is the first time I have ever seen it done. Thank you so much Clay, continued success to you. Big Al.

[@Cat10980]

Brilliant video Clay (as always). Really well put together with the explanations and the video of the run! Good way to illustrate what you're doing in the car! Keep up the great work.

[@kevinmcmillan4919]

WOW!!!!!!! WHAT A THRILL! Clay your Awesome! Your patient's and skill to explain what you go thru to make one run! Your down to earth laidback explanation is humbling. Thank you and be safe.

[@CourtnRob]

Thanks for taking the time to do this! Was very informative!

[@ronbuckner8179]

Easily the most knowledgeable driver I’ve ever heard. This guy knows what we want to know. Very cool!

[@davekreitzer4358]

Great video Clay, thanks for sharing ! 😎

[@eddy2561]

Nicely done!!

[@johannviljoen64]

Nice one, and you do a large very important part of all that in just a few seconds, at great speed, takes some doing that's for sure! Enjoyed that Clay, always good entertainment on your channel!

[@timothyjohnson7398]

Just like everyone else is saying… THANK YOU! All these years a fan with so many questions and finally hearing how it works in an excellent video. Great job!!!

[@adamcasey4184]

I love these types of videos! Thank you and your team for sharing so much info with the us. Keep up the great work and I hope to see you, and your team turn all four win lights on soon! 🤙 Adam

[@wythetrumpet6419]

Clay that was a super video! After watching you guys run for all these years, I always wondered what the driver had to do to make it all happen! Thank you for the great video! 👍💨

[@Eric-nd3mn]

This stuff is great. Thank you

[@HoonTV]

Awesome video Clay. I was lucky enough to be the start line cameraman on the weekend for Top Fuel here in Australia and got to witness your Read Racing friends go 3.72!

[@68dart]

Awesome , Exactly The Same Scenario I Used On My 14 Second Road Runner In 1971 🙃 , Awesome Info Thanks Clay .

[@boumeyers1000]

I'm 41 and I've been going to Brainerd since I was 4 and it was called the Northstar Nationals. I met Clay briefly, not sure when, but he was one of the nicest people you could encounter. I know these guys get a lot of attention from fans (especially at Brainerd) so I didn't do my usual round of questions I ask most drivers I meet. This vid has satisfied a life long curiosity. I've ALWAYS wondered what goes on in the cockpit. As a child, I'd daydream I was in the car haha! Now, with the info from this vid, my childhood and adulthood curiosity is now complete! I'll be in Brainerd with a bunch of nitro virgins, as I do every year trying to spread the gospel of nitro to the unsaved masses, and I'll definitely stop by your pit and hopefully say hi and maybe one day sit in one! Good luck Clay and stay blessed

[@danielslaven2828]

Thanks for that I've been wondering for years what exactly that hand brake movement just before the load pedal is pushed hell wasn't sure if dragsters had a regular gas pedal or like a handle 🤔 😀 😉 thank ya brother Clay

[@1965RonnieP]

You are a gentleman Clay. Thanks for that . I always been a Fan from when you first came to NHRA. God Bless you and may he keep you within his guardrails

[@brandonstone6962]

This very topic has given me so much anxiety over the last month or 2 so thank you for making this video.. My only other suggestion is if you could make a detailed video of how to get in and out of the car would be awesome.. I know it is something very simple but I am hoping to be able to get into one either next season or at some point in my racing career because I will be with any luck achieving my NHRA license this next month so any help with the small things would be GREATLY appreciated

[@michaelhalsall5684]

What NHRA class are you racing in?

[@jayer-su3hu]

Gotta say this is one of the best how to videos on this subject I've ever seen. He really goes into detail step by step. Bad ass

[@jamesgargan4679]

HEY CLAY 🤘🏼 love the insider content of too fuel racing no channel around like it love your work can see your a real genuine team and also really care about the fans just as much as the racing ! I just have one technical question, some teams run a enclose cockpit and other don’t ! With you being one of those teams still running an open cockpit is there any aero disadvantages in being open at those high speeds and short amount of time ?, and what’s your reasoning for staying with and open cockpit? All I can think and see is that you feel safer with and open one so that if any thing goes wrong and you need to exit the car there’s no obstructions or any extra movements or process you have to take to exit the car fast and safely ? Oh and one last thing “STOMP ON THAT LOUD PEDDLE” 🤘🏼

[@justinbrittmotorsports]

Clay is my drag racing hero! I’ve watched this video probably a few hundred times, and never get tired of it, cause it’s spot on education! Thanks Clay!

[@veto8792]

Man during a race, there’s a lot more goin on inside the cockpit than I thought. Didn’t realize you had a hand brake instead of a foot brake. Thanks Clay.

[@tripprogers4814]

It takes approximately 200 horsepower and a road 2 miles long to go 150 miles per hour. It takes another 1000 horsepower and about 5 miles to EVENTUALLY go 250 miles per hour It takes another 10,000 horsepower to go 300mph within a quarter mile from a dead stop.. if you can find someone crazy enough to do it.

[@ccccpa]

Awesome explanation - I always thought you only stepped on the gas 😂 Can you explain why your helmet seems to have blinders on it in a future video? Thank you!

[@slowpoke96Z28]

if he doesn't get a chance to make a video about it, let me know.

[@nicholson227]

One of the most EDUCATIONAL films on KZbin. Thank you SIR

[@ZMacZ]

0:10 How to make people really small really quickly.

[@LauraPolhamus-f9z]

Thank you for a good explanation of how this works. At 73 years of age I have found a new passion. Your explanation makes it more interesting for me to watch and converse with my new friends.

[@kevin666b]

when i was a kid i seen one of these in person for the first time and ill never forget it. any idea what kind of power the engine actually makes running off normal pump gas?

[@slowpoke96Z28]

there is a video on KZbin or FB where they dyno one on gasoline. it sounds so eerie.

[@andy164501]

Entirely TOO COOL. Thank you! I can't imagine the thrill of flying down that track at such insane speeds...6G's on acceleration and 3G when chute deploys (from what I recall when I looked it up). Even after doing it hundreds of times, it still must get your heart pumpin!

[@cylindricalfire]

10:38 Sure 😂

[@ciscoj33]

One of the things that makes NHRA great is when you’ve got drivers that are enough into the fans of the sport that they will carve out and give us a bit of their time to provide some deep insight into what it is they go through. I first saw it with Stevie Fast going in depth into what he goes through in driving a pro mod car. And here we have Happy Clay letting us know about the ultimate big dog, the top fuel dragster. Gotta be big huge balls to sit in front of 11,000 horsepower at 330 mph. Now that’s guts! Keep on doing great things Clay.

[@RoadToTheCup]

Coffin Dragster.

[@TexasHarleyBoy65]

Are are a phenomenal top fuel driver and a phenomenal top fuel coach!!! Thanks for 'the ride' Clay, and may God always keep you safe.

[@prant8998]

That’s exactly how I leave my driveway in the morning when I’m late for work.

[@everettgreen589]

I wonder no more, thank you Clay I’ve watched several cockpit videos trying to see what goes on inside the car during a run and none gave me an answer , now I know. I enjoy watching your videos and your breakdown of what’s happening, good stuff!!

[@DodgyBrothersEngineering]

Thank you so much for sharing that with us. I had no idea how different that was to driving a regular car or bike down the strip. So much to think about you would have to just practice and practice till it become second nature, there is no time to think about what you are doing.

[@Ant1matr]

Fantastic explanation. I was just guessing (badly) at what I was watching when watching top fuel get ready to run and you completely explained it. Thank you.

[@spooney64]

I had no idea how complex the procedure is. Thank you for the details.

[@miketyler49]

This is literally the reason why I love Clay Millican; He is so down to earth, he loves people, and he is such a considerate and nice person. If I ever had the chance to sit down and talk with anyone in the world, He would be the first one. It's no wonder he has an amazing crew. Saw him at Maple Grove Pep Boys Nationals on Sept 14 & 15 2024 & he was the FIRST person to autograph my shirt. Win or lose he is the most incredible driver in the circuit!!

[@robertpatterson8379]

Clay, the gentleman dragster, is an all-time favorite. He is the epitome of how top fuel racing is done. Thank you, Clay Millican.

[@peterottes6900]

I can't add more to what has already been said as everyone else has stated it. But that is the best explanation that I have ever heard of what running one of these monsters is like. Truly wonderful and like everyone else I apprciate you taking the time to talk your fans through the experience. You're really a great person and ambassdor to this amazing sport. Stomp that LOUD pedal!👍

[@Sam590ss]

Yet another AWESOME video!! Several years ago I heard a radio interview with John Force. The question was "what goes through your mind during a run?" His reply was almost 9 minutes long. The fact that our brain can process that much information in less than 4 seconds is absolutely astonishing!

[@outlaw565]

Thanks Clay, your 1st class driver, and representative for your team and sport of drag racing.

[@RayyanAziz-ix9sv]

you gotta respect these guys, staying this calm at 500+km/h is crazy

[@dennisanderson-g6c]

WELL described , Clay--easy to understand--easy to follow --and informative--THANK YOU, Clay