Team Press Releases

[coverattach=1]JOLIET, Ill. (June 6, 2010) - Cory McClenathan ended his run at the 13th annual Route 66 NHRA Nationals today in the quarterfinal round after defeating Morgan Lucas in the opening stanza. "Cory Mac" and the FRAM Top Fuel dragster didn't fail to demonstrate the consistency that has become their trademark this season. After qualifying No. 2 with a 3.822-second lap at 320.05 mph, McClenathan posted another solid pass of 3.859/305.15 to dismiss Lucas, then clocked in with a 3.877/315.86 against his second-round opponent Steve Torrence. Torrence, however, crossed the finish line first, winning with a slower 3.888/310.34 to McClenathan's 3.877/315.86 for a "hole shot" victory. McClenathan's more-than-respectable .098...

[coverattach=1]JOLIET, Ill. (June 5, 2010) - Jack Beckman raced the new DSR chassis in the Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger Funny Car to No. 5 in qualifying for the 13th annual Route 66 NHRA Nationals today. He recorded a 4.151-second pass at 297.29 mph in his first run down Route 66 Raceway in Friday's only session because of a rain delay. The pass was good for No. 3 at the time. In today's two rounds, he posted a 4.159/287.78 (No. 4) and finally a 5.154/147.20, to earn No. 5. “You know, it’s the first time we ever brought out this new chassis," said Beckman. "Changing pipe is not a big deal, changing all the weight around that we did was potentially a big deal. We unloaded, we were third low of the first session...

[coverattach=1]Joliet, Saturday: Rain was the master at Route 66 Raceway and it is surprising that any qualifying was run but the teams got in three rounds at the 13th annual Union Plumbers, Fitters, Welders and HVAC Techs Route 66 Nationals. Johnny Gray took advantage of his opportunities and put his NTB, National Tire and Battery Pro Stock in the No. 8 spot. In his three runs, Gray went through three engines but he still made great runs. Friday’s only session was run late at night between the raindrops. Gray posted an impressive 6.707 at 206.04 mph. Saturday also saw rain, but the afternoon was sunny and on his two runs, Gray ran 6.664 at 206.99 mph and followed it with a 6.695 at 205.98 mph. “We didn’t hurt anything too...

[coverattach=1]Joliet, Saturday: Shane Gray may be a rookie but he certainly knows how to drive a race car as once again, he qualified in his Tire Kingdom Pro Stock. He sits in the No. 7 position at the Union Plumbers, Fitters, Welders and HVAC Techs Route 66 Nationals at Route 66 Raceway. The teams had to deal with two days of rough weather and it’s amazing that any qualifying was completed. But they were able to get three sessions in between the rain drops. So, for Gray to qualify under such conditions is satisfying, and then to land in the top half of the field is a true accomplishment. The only session on Friday was late at night and literally was controlled by the on and off sprinkles. Gray made an impressive run at...

[coverattach=1]JOLIET, Ill. (June 5, 2010) - With only three of four qualifying sessions run because of a rain delay on Friday, Matt Hagan ran strong in qualifying for the 13th annual Route 66 NHRA Nationals, placing the DieHard Dodge Charger Funny Car into No. 3. He clocked his quickest lap, a 4.128-second run at 299.40 mph, in the final session, which also topped the charts for that round. Hagan was never out of the top three all weekend, first posting a 4.142/304.53 (No. 2) on Friday's single run, and a 4.740/171.40 (No. 3) earlier today. He will face Tony Pedregon in the opening round of Sunday's eliminations. "This is the best race car the DieHard crew has put under me in three races," said Hagan. "It's up to me now to go...

[coverattach=1]Although Saturday’s predicted rain never materialized, Mother Nature still proved to a formidable foe for Jason Line and the Summit Racing team during the final day of qualifying at the United Association Route 66 Nationals in Joliet, IL. Under the best circumstances, the heat and humidity the racers had to deal with would severely hamper the naturally-aspirated Pro Stock Cars’ performance, robbing them of speed-producing horsepower. However, this particular combination had been a particular torment to the KB Racing crew over the last few weeks. Therefore, there were mixed feelings when Line’s best effort of 6.670-seconds, 206.83 mph earned the three-time Joliet winner the 11th starting spot for Sunday’s final...

[coverattach=1]Conditions at Route 66 Raceway on Saturday defied all the odds, as the predicted washout turned out to be nothing more than a few minor showers, allowing the professional competitors to complete both qualifying sessions for the United Association Route 66 Nationals in Joliet, IL. After opening with a 6.703-second attempt on Friday, Summit Racing Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson closed out his qualifying effort with two runs within six-thousandths of a second of each other, with his 6.664-second, 205.98 mph best earning the three-time champion the ninth starting position for Sunday’s final eliminations. “The good news is that our Summit Racing Pontiac was consistent throughout qualifying, and that we took a step...

[coverattach=1]JOLIET, Ill. (June 5, 2010) - Ron Capps qualified the NAPA Batteries Dodge Charger Funny Car in No. 6 for the 13th annual Route 66 NHRA Nationals with only three of four sessions run this weekend because of a Friday rain delay. By the time his turn came up in the final session today, a day expected to be washed out by rain, he'd been bumped out of the field and in No. 17. A straight and quick run produced his quickest lap of the weekend of 4.172 seconds at 297.75 mph, the third quickest of the round, moving him up to sixth. In earlier passes, Capps expertly pedaled the car to No. 4 in the single evening session on Friday (4.456/294.37), then slowed to a 5.241/140.05 in today's earlier round (No. 9). "Last night we...

[coverattach=1]JOLIET, Ill. (June 5, 2010) - Cory McClenathan, racing the FRAM Top Fuel dragster, will start from second place in Sunday's eliminations at the 13th annual Route 66 NHRA Nationals. With only three rounds of qualifying held because of a rain delay on Friday, McClenathan came out of the box to grab No. 2 in Friday's single session (3.827/320.81), then held it through two more rounds, recording his quickest pass of 3.822/320.05 in his final try, the quickest pass of that session. Today's second pass produced a tire-smoking 5.236/129.44. “You know what, to have only three runs this weekend, I think we’re lucky," said McClenathan, second in season points to No. 1 qualifier Larry Dixon (3.814/317.42). "I think we dodged...