In a next step from within an interesting alliance – Quebec’s Mercier Racing Team – sets to assume higher profile within NHRA….

The 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing season will see the return of a familiar face in the Top Fuel ranks as fan favorite and 2018 US Nationals Top Fuel winner Terry McMillen has announced he will compete on a limited schedule. McMillen, who is from Indiana, will compete in six to eight national events in 2022 — racing under the Mercier Racing Inc. banner.

“We met Dan in 2017 when he purchased a Top Fuel dragster from us and we have stayed friends,” said McMillen, who has two career Top Fuel wins and finished in the Top Ten in 2020. “He runs a family operation just like us, so it is a perfect partnership. After spending last year with Cameron at the track I knew the only way I would come back right now was if I could race around Cameron’s schedule.”

Terry McMillen & Daniel Mercier

Mercier Racing Inc., purchased the Terry McMillen Racing operation so the veteran driver will be returning to the same livery that he earned his first No. 1 qualifier at the Dodge Nationals in 2020 at Indianapolis Raceway Park.

“2022 will certainly be the long-awaited dream year for Mercier Racing,” said Mercier. “There’s no better time to make a serious commitment to the big leagues. Having the opportunity to have Terry as a driver will give the Mercier Racing team a tremendous chance to improve and compete against the best. Our focus now is on winning rounds and national events.”

Terry McMillen’s biggest career win came at Indy in 2018 – when he won the prestigious NHRA US Nationals TF title.

Daniel also revealed that while Terry will drive at most NHRA national event team appearances – he himself will also enter a few.

During the 2021 season McMillen spent time with his son attending junior dragster races and pursuing other business interests. As McMillen and Mercier began talking about competing in 2022 McMillen was adamant that he would only race if it didn’t distract or conflict with Cameron’s racing schedule. Mercier, a serious Top Alcohol dragster racer who has raced a handful of Top Fuel events, also had a request of his own regarding Cameron which included the youngster coaching Mia Mercier, Dan’s two-year old daughter, in a few years to drive a junior dragster. In return Mercier has offered coaching tips to Cameron if he decides to make the jump to a Top Alcohol Dragster.

“This season will hopefully be just the beginning of a beautiful partnership of passion and performance between our two teams and families,” added Mercier.

The team will be making further announcements in the coming weeks. The current plan includes possible races at the NHRA New England Nationals in Epping, New Hampshire, the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, and the fall NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMax Dragway outside of Charlotte with additional events to be determined.

Posted with files by Elon Werner & Bruce Biegler
DragRaceCanada file photos