Rick Ware Racing (RWR) has paired veteran crew chief Rob Wendland with Top Fuel driver Clay Millican beginning with this weekend’s NHRA Great Lakes Nationals at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park.
Wendland joins RWR from Shawn Reed Racing, where he had served as crew chief for Reed’s Top Fuel car in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series since 2023.
“Rob brings a tremendous amount of experience to our team, and more importantly, he knows what it takes to win races. We believe Rob’s approach can help bolster our program immediately,” said team owner Rick Ware.
Wendland’s career began in NHRA’s Top Alcohol division, and his extensive background includes time behind the wheel. Wendland won two Top Alcohol races in 1999 at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois, and at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois.
Since hanging up his helmet, Wendland has become a prolific tuner, serving drivers in Top Alcohol, Funny Car and Top Fuel. He is widely known for his time leading Johnny Gray’s Funny Car effort from 2011 to 2013 while at Don Schumacher Racing, as well as the Top Fuel program for driver/owner Terry McMillen from 2015 to 2020. Wendland helped Reed establish his Top Fuel program and celebrated the organization’s first NHRA national event victory at the 2025 NHRA Reading Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, Pennsylvania.
This story was originally published on September 18, 2026. 
