JOLIET, Ill. – Born in Chicago, Terry McMillen’s first trip down the race track came in the Chicago area. It is also why the Route 66 NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway, July 7-10, means so much for the Top Fuel standout.

It’s a chance for McMillen to come home and he plans on delivering a big performance in his 10,000-horsepower AMALIE Motor Oil dragster XTERMIGATOR. McMillen went to his first career final round earlier this season in Gainesville, an event where Amalie is also the title sponsor, and he hopes to recreate that impressive showing at another race that remains incredibly important to him.

“Chicago is home to me and we’ll have a lot of family and friends there,” McMillen said. “I’m looking for a very big weekend at the track. We’ve got a ton of marketing partners from that area and it’s going to be an exciting weekend showcasing what we do.

“We’re continually building our team and I’m just proud of what we’ve done. By the same token I want to do well. Chicago, Indy and Gainesville are our three key spots. I’m stoked to go in there and, racing at night, I’m looking to be in the (3.70s) quite a bit there.”

Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel), Tommy Johnson Jr. (Funny Car), Allen Johnson (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana Jr. (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winners of the event that will for the first time be televised nationally on FOX Sports 1. The fan-favorite event at the state-of-the-art motorsports facility will mark the official start of the second half of the 2016 season as the 13th of 24 events on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series circuit.

The race means a great deal to McMillen but it’s also an opportunity to get his season back on track after a string of first-round defeats. McMillen and his team, led by crew chief Rob Wenland, started the year strong, posting five round wins, including the final round appearance in Gainesville, through the first three events.

But a myriad of struggles have followed and McMillen, who has dropped from fifth to 11th in the Top Fuel points standings, has not won a round since. That’s a string of eight straight races, but McMillen and his crew are diligently working to stop this stretch as soon as possible.

“This season has been a roller-coaster but I know we’re working extremely hard,” McMillen said. “We believe we had solved it going into Bristol, but no matter what we did, the car didn’t respond. I feel confident going into Norwalk (this weekend) that we’ll go right back to that consistent car. To win rounds, you have to be consistent on raceday. We can’t change our gameplan and we have to stay on that path.”

That path got decidedly more difficult after McMillen’s dragster went up in flames in Houston. They quickly got a new car, but it’s been a learning process over the last five races.

“We really like the new car and feel like it’s a better car, but the way it reacts is just totally different,” McMillen said. “We changed a lot of stuff at Bristol and threw a lot at it, so hopefully we’ve located the culprit and we’ll just get back to what we do, and that’s running A to B and getting down the track.”

Through all of the struggles McMillen has kept his head held high, knowing better days are ahead. It’s been difficult at times, especially after the promising start, but McMillen remains right in the thick of a top 10 spot in Top Fuel and his first playoff berth in the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship. Only five races follow the Route 66 NHRA Nationals before the NHRA’s six-race playoffs begin and McMillen sits just five points back of Leah Pritchett, who won earlier this season in Phoenix.

“There’s a lot of tough competition behind us and in front of us,” McMillen said. “We’re not desperate by any means but the will to do better and perform is there. The best thing we can do is stay on track with our gameplan. We just have to figure out to go rounds. We can do that and we’ve certainly proven we’re capable.”

McMillen dipped into the 3.70s for the first time in his career in Topeka, running 3.762 at 324.59 mph, something he hopes to replicate at Route 66 Raceway. But doing so means getting his dragster to perform better off the starting line and getting back to its consistent ways.

He will also have to do it against the likes of fellow Chicago native and defending event winner Tony Schumacher, an eight-time world champion. Other challenges in the loaded Top Fuel class will come from points leader Doug Kalitta, who has three wins in 2016, two-time 2016 winner Brittany Force, Steve Torrence, who also has two wins this year, J.R. Todd, Richie Crampton, defending world champion Antron Brown, Shawn Langdon, who won in Bristol, and Clay Millican.

“Rob is a pretty calming factor and that’s big because our team is really young,” McMillen said. “We help them understand this is what happens in racing. It’s imperative we keep everybody motivated. But I have a strong belief in my team and I know we’ll be okay.”

In Funny Car, Tommy Johnson Jr. sprinted to victory in Chicago by outlasting Matt Hagan in last year’s final and has plenty of momentum by picking up his first victory this season in Bristol. Hagan, a three-time Chicago winner, has two victories this season, while everyone is chasing points leader Ron Capps. The rest of the star-studded field includes 16-time world champion John Force, three-time event winner and defending world champ Del Worsham, two-time season winner Tim Wilkerson, Jack Beckman, Courtney Force, Robert Hight and Alexis DeJoria.

Pro Stock racer Allen Johnson raced to his first victory of the 2015 season in Chicago and will have the chance to shake things up in the Pro Stock class this year in the new look Pro Stock class, which features fuel injected engines, 10,500 RPM rev-limiters, flat hoods and shortened wheelie bars. Summit Racing Equipment Chevy Camaro teammates Jason Line and Greg Anderson have been dominant in 2016, as Line has six wins and the points lead, and Anderson is right behind with five victories. Drivers like back-to-back world champ Erica Enders, five-time world champ Jeg Coughlin Jr., Vincent Nobile, 2015 top rookie Drew Skillman, Chris McGaha, veteran driver Shane Gray, and rising stars Alex Laughlin and Bo Butner are eager to get their hands on the elusive Wally trophy as well.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Hector Arana Jr. raced to first victory of the season and second consecutive Route 66 Raceway victory by defeating Matt Smith in the final round at the track last year. Standing in his way of a three-peat at the track is points leader Eddie Krawiec, who already has two victories, and his teammate and defending world champion Andrew Hines. Others to watch in the two-wheeled category include Jerry Savoie, three-time world champ Angelle Sampey, who won in Englishtown, LE Tonglet, Pomona runner-up Hector Arana Sr. and Karen Stoffer.

The Route 66 NHRA Nationals will also feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, including the popular and highly-competitive JEGS Allstars bonus event.

As always, fans will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers as they’re granted an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. This unique opportunity in motorsports gives fans direct access to the teams, allowing them to see firsthand how the highly-skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds, and get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers.

Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 5:15 and 7:45 p.m. on Friday, July 8, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, July 9, at 3:15 and 6 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, July 10.

To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call 888-629-RACE (7223) or 815-722-5500. Tickets also are available online atwww.route66raceway.com. Kids 12 and under are free in general admission areas with a paid adult. For more information about the NHRA visitwww.NHRA.com.

Before heading to Route 66 Raceway, the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series will make a stop at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio for the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, June 23-26. Keep up with all the NHRA action on FOX Sports 1.

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ROUTE 66 NHRA NATIONALS FACT SHEET

WHAT: 19th annual Route 66 NHRA Nationals, the 13th of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. Drivers in four categories – Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle – earn points leading to 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships. The NHRA Lucas Oil Series also will be featured at this event, including the popular JEGS Allstars.

WHERE: Route 66 Raceway, Joliet, Ill.  The track is located 30 miles southwest of Chicago on Route 53 (historic Route 66), approximately three miles south of  I-80 in Joliet. Take I-80 to exit #132A (Route 53 south) to the track.

COURSE: Championship drag strip; Track elevation is 632 feet above sea level; Track direction is west to east.

WHEN: Thursday through Sunday, July 7-10

SCHEDULE:        

Thursday, July 7- LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying

FRIDAY, July 8- LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying

MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 5:15 and 7:45p.m.

SATURDAY, July 9- LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations

MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 3:15 and 6 p.m.

SUNDAY, July 10 – Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.

MELLO YELLO SERIES eliminations begin at 11 a.m.

TELEVISION:      

Saturday, July 9, FS1 will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 10 p.m. (ET).

Sunday, July 10, FS1 will televise three hours of live finals coverage at 2 p.m. (ET).

2015 EVENT WINNERS: Tony Schumacher, Top Fuel; Tommy Johnson Jr., Funny Car; Allen Johnson, Pro Stock, Hector Arana Jr., Pro Stock Motorcycle.

MOST VICTORIES: Jeg Coughlin, 5, PS; Tony Schumacher, 5, TF; Kenny Bernstein, 4, TF; Tony Pedregon, 4, FC; Whit Bazemore, 3, FC; Larry Dixon, 3, TF; John Force, 3, FC; Matt Hagan, 3, FC; Doug Kalitta, 3, TF; Kurt Johnson, 3, PS; Jason Line, 3, PS; Del Worsham, 3, FC.

TRACK RECORDS:            

Top Fuel – 3.729 sec. by Anton Brown, July ’15; 328.78 mph by Dave Connolly, July ’15.

Funny Car – 3.966 sec. by Cruz Pedregon, July ’15; 322.50 mph by Courtney Force, June ’14.

Pro Stock – 6.528 sec. by Drew Skillman, July ’15; 211.83 mph by Greg Anderson, July ’15.

PS Motorcycle – 6.856 sec. by Chip Ellis, July ’15; 196.82 mph by Hector Arana Jr., July ’15.

NATIONAL RECORDS:    

Top Fuel – 3.676 sec. by Brittany Force, May ’16, Topeka, Kan.; 332.75 mph by Spencer Massey, Aug. ’15, Brainerd, Minn.

Funny Car – 3.862 sec. and 335.57 mph by Matt Hagan, May ’16, Topeka, Kan.

Pro Stock – 6.455 sec. by Jason Line, March ’15, Charlotte, N.C.;  215.55 mph by Erica Enders, May ‘14, Englishtown N.J.

PS Motorcycle – 6.728 sec. by Andrew Hines, Oct. ’12, Reading, Pa.; 199.88 mph by Hector Arana Jr., March ’15, Charlotte, N.C.

TICKETS: For tickets, call (888) 629-RACE (7223) or purchase online at www.route66raceway.com.

Story and photos courtesy of the NHRA