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Clay Millican

Clay Millican of Team 104+ Performance Additives participated in Elvis Week at Graceland by unveiling the team's Elvis Presley-themed dragster with a burnout down Elvis Presley Boulevard, which ended in front of the gates to Graceland.

This is the first time such an event has taken place in over 17 years on a U.S. city street. The last time was when "Big Daddy" Don Garlits performed a burnout outside the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.

Jack Soden, president and CEO of Elvis Presley Enterprises, Kevin Kane, president and CEO of the Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Jason Rittenberry, vice president and general manager of Memphis Motorsports Park, kicked-off the event with speeches to the crowd, which gathered on the Graceland Plaza. Millican showed off his blue suede racing shoes to the audience, and then the crew strapped him into the car in preparation for the burnout.

Rippin' up the asphalt. Photo by Phil Bowden, Memphis Motorsports Park

Elvis Presley Boulevard, a four-lane highway, was closed to traffic for the burnout, and fans of Elvis and racing alike gathered in the Graceland Plaza to witness the 6,000-horsepower Top Fuel dragster's engine roar as it shook the tires and left a cloud of smoke in the street. Following the burnout, Millican jumped out of the car and pumped his fists into the air, then threw his racing gloves out into the audience, who soon flooded the streets to get a closer view of Millican and the car.

"That was absolutely awesome," said Millican after the burnout. "I am so grateful for the opportunity to drive this Elvis-themed dragster. It is quite an honor to be able to race it in my hometown."

Center of attention. Photo by Lee Griffin Jr., Memphis Motorsports Park

Millican signed specially-designed Team 104+ Performance Additives/Elvis Presley hero cards in the Graceland Plaza following the burnout, and the Elvis-themed dragster was on display there for the remainder of the day.

The car features an Elvis logo on both sides with the phrase "That's All Right," commemorating Elvis's very first single. "He Dared to Rock" is written on the front wing of the car, and the "50 Years of Rock 'n Roll" logo is on the nose of the car. Lehman Racing crew members wore Elvis-themed jerseys featuring a picture of Elvis on the front and the "50 Years of Rock 'n Roll" logo on the back. The jerseys will be auctioned off by Memphis Motorsports Park following the NHRA O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals, Millican's hometown race, which takes place August 20-22. All proceeds from the auction will benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

In addition to racing the Elvis dragster at the Memphis event in honor of the city's "50 Years of Rock 'n Roll" celebration, Millican will also race it at the 50th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis September 1-6.