Millican led the record-shattering parade, twice dipping into the 4.40s at the wheel of Kenny Koretsky’s Werner Enterprises Top Fuel dragster en route to his ninth consecutive victory at Rockingham.

The veteran from Drummonds, Tenn., applied an exclamation point to his fifth straight series championship by dropping the IHRA record to 4.484 seconds, bettering the old mark of 4.534 seconds set on the same track the year before by Australian Andrew Cowin.

“Since we already had (clinched) the championship, we came in here with one goal in mind,” Millican said, “and that was to get our IHRA world record back.  That was a big deal for the whole team.”

As a bonus, Millican also bumped the track speed record from 322.81 miles per hour, a mark he established back in 2000, to 323.19 mph.

Nevertheless, Millican wasn’t the whole show, nor the only record-setter.

In Pro Modified, Asheville’s Mike Bell drove Roy Hill’s 1966 Ford Mustang through the timers in 6.046 seconds to better the 6.050 second IHRA record set two months ago by Steve Bareman.

Hill’s plans to make a final competitive ride at the World Finals were nixed by his doctor.  However, Bell’s performance managed to mollify the disappointment.  Unfortunately, Bell wasn’t able to follow Millican’s lead, losing in the semifinals to eventual winner Mike Janis.

In Pro Stock, 2005 series champion Steve Spiess dropped the record to 6.364 during qualifying only to have former champion Robert Patrick steal it away during eliminations with an incredible 6.360 second effort in his Purvis Ford-sponsored Mustang.

The most dramatic finish of all, however, was that provided by Canadian Rob Atchison.  In danger of losing his championship to New York’s Jim Sickles, who had won three consecutive races leading into the World Finals, Atchison responded by winning for the first time at Rockingham, a track on which he historically had struggled.

In addition, he lowered the national record to 5.685 seconds, becoming the first IHRA Funny Car driver to break the 5.70 barrier.  The win – and record – sealed a third consecutive championship for the veteran from London, Ontario.

IHRA World Records set at the Udderly SMOOth World Finals at Rockingham Dragway:

Top Fuel – 4.484 seconds by Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn.  Old record, 4.534 seconds by Andrew Cowin, Sydney, Australia, 2004, Rockingham, N.C.

Pro Modified – 6.046 seconds by Mike Bell, Asheboro, N.C., 1966 Ford Mustang.  Old record, 6.050 seconds by Steve Bareman, Holland, Mich., 1963 Chevrolet Corvette, 2005, Budds Creek, Md.

Pro Stock – 6.360 seconds by Robert Patrick, Fredericksburg, Md., 2004 Ford Cobra Mustang. Old record, 6.380 second by Steve Spiess, Manhattan, Ill., 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2005, Epping, N.H.

Funny Car – 5.685 seconds by Rob Atchison, London, Ontario, Canada, 2002 Pontiac Firebird.  Old record, 4.702 seconds by Fred Tigges, Holbrook, Mass., 1997 Chevrolet Camaro, 2005, Epping, N.H.

Additional Rockingham Dragway track records set at the Udderly SMOOTH World Finals:

Top Fuel – 323.19 mph by Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn.  Old record, 322.81 mph by Millican, 2000.

Pro Stock – 218.55 mph by John Nobile, Dix Hills, N.Y., 2003 Ford Escort ZX2.  Old record, 215.88 mph by Daniel Seamon, Bellevue, Ohio, 2005 Ford Escort, 2005.

Pro Modified – 235.43 mph by Mike Janis, Lancaster, N.Y., 2005 Dodge Stratus.  Old record, 234.53 mph by Fred Hahn, Elma, N.Y., 1954 Chevrolet Corvette, 2000.