Gérard Milette Captures Diamond Wally at Thunder Valley Nationals
Nearly a decade after his last NHRA national event victory, Canadian Drag Racing Hall of Fame inductee Gérard Milette returned to the winner's circle in impressive fashion, capturing the Top Sportsman title at the 25th annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tennessee.
Milette and Poirier celebrating with their 1963 Corvette in the winner’s circle.
The Saint-Étienne-des-Grès, Québec racer piloted his self-built 1963 Corvette to victory through a talented field of Top Sportsman competitors, adding another prestigious achievement to a career that has already earned him a place among Canada's drag racing elite.
Milette's road to victory began with a first-round win over Vince Hoda before advancing past Mark Roberts in the quarterfinals. In the semifinal round, Milette delivered a nearly perfect .001-second reaction time to defeat Allen Firestone and secure his place in the final.
There, he faced Jeff Brooks with the coveted Diamond Wally on the line. Rising to the occasion once again, Milette matched his semifinal performance with another remarkable .001-second reaction time, defeating Brooks to claim the victory.
The win carried special significance for Milette and his longtime partner, Suzanne-Ghézabelle Poirier, who have spent decades building and developing the Corvette that carried them to victory in Bristol.
"When Suzanne and I saw the Diamond Wally, I said, 'I want it.' And then, my first race, Diamond Wally," said Milette following the victory.
Milette and Poirier also took time to thank the many friends, collaborators, and supporters who contributed to the success of their racing program over the years, emphasizing that the accomplishment would not have been possible without their help.
The victory adds to an already distinguished résumé for the 2017 Canadian Drag Racing Hall of Fame inductee. A former NHRA Top Sportsman national event winner, Milette claimed victory at the NHRA Nationals in 2016 and has recorded numerous divisional victories throughout his career. Known not only for his driving ability but also for his engineering expertise, Milette and Poirier personally built the Corvette that continues to compete at the highest levels of NHRA competition.
Ten years after his last national event triumph, Milette proved once again that experience, preparation, and determination remain a winning combination, earning one of the sport's most coveted trophies and adding another memorable chapter to an already remarkable drag racing career.
