<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/c_mcclenathan_9771.jpg" alt="c_mcclenathan_9771" align="left"borders="0"/>
INDIANAPOLIS (May 28, 2008) – FRAM Top Fuel dragster driver and Wichita, Kansas, native Cory McClenathan may be one of the few drivers who is looking forward to racing in the warm weather of summer. He and his Don Schumacher Racing teammates will likely get their first chance at competing in the heat this weekend at the NHRA Summer Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka, the ninth event on the 24-race 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series schedule.
"I'm excited about returning to Topeka," offered the two-time Topeka champion who enters the event sixth in the point standings following one victory this season and first-round losses in the last two events. "I think (crew chief) Mike Green has done just as well as I have in the past at Topeka, so I think together we can get the FRAM dragster back on a good track and start making up some of the points that we've given up the past few races. Obviously, when you've had success at a track you always look forward to going back there. Hopefully the weather will be good and we'll be able to qualify in the upper half of the field and keep lane choice for Sunday."
This weekend's event begins the part of the season where the warm weather comes into play for crew chiefs and drivers alike, but McClenathan isn't concerned when it comes to racing under hot conditions.
"Mike Green and the guys have a great setup for hot-weather tracks so I'm actually looking forward to it," he said. "The hotter the better right now. We're looking forward to getting away from the cool weather until we can get that figured out. If it stays warm in Topeka I think we'll come out on top there and have as good a car as anybody."
McClenathan has enjoyed a long history of success in Topeka, including a pair of victories (1994, 1998) and four top qualifying honors (1992, 1993, 1994 and 2004). He qualified No. 16 at last year's event and upset top qualifier Joe Hartley en route to a quarterfinal finish.
CORY McCLENATHAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 6 in Top Fuel point standings after eight events in 2008
* Won the NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas April 13, his 30th career Top Fuel victory in 52 final rounds
* Runner-up in season-opening race in Pomona
* Three final round appearances in Topeka, including a runner-up in 1993 and wins in 1994 and 1998
* Qualified No. 1 in Topeka four times ('92, '93, '94, '04)
* Qualified No. 16 at last year's event, lost quarterfinal to David Grubnic
* Finished 2007 season 12th in Top Fuel points, the first time out of the top 10 since 2001
* Has recorded 409 career round wins in Top Fuel
* Recorded 31st No. 1 qualifying spot in Atlanta 2008
* Runner-up in St. Louis in only final-round appearance in 2007
* Recorded 400th round win in Top Fuel in Richmond 2007
* Has 30 Top Fuel victories in 52 final round appearances, fourth among active drivers on all-time wins list
* Has finished No. 2 in the standings four times (1992, 1995, 1997 & 1998)
* Finished No. 10 in rookie season in 1991. Made first four-second run
* Made NHRA history with first run in the 4.70s (4.799) at Reading in 1992
* First driver to break the 320-mph barrier with 322.17 mph run in Dallas in 1997
* Swept the three-race Western Swing in 1997 en route to four consecutive wins and career-high six victories in eight final rounds
* Won four of the first six races in 1998. Equaled career-best with six wins in eight finals
* Won the U.S. Nationals twice (1996, 1999)
* Qualified No. 1 at 31 races, including a career-high seven in 1993
* Missed four races in 1993 after crash in Rockingham and still finished sixth in the Top Fuel points
* Age 45 (January 30, 1963); born in Wichita, Kansas, now lives in Brownsburg, Ind.; has 17-year-old daughter Courtney
* Joined Don Schumacher Racing in 2008; third season with sponsorship from FRAM
KANSAS NATIVE MCCLENATHAN PREPARED FOR THE HEAT IN TOPEKA
INDIANAPOLIS (May 28, 2008) – FRAM Top Fuel dragster driver and Wichita, Kansas, native Cory McClenathan may be one of the few drivers who is looking forward to racing in the warm weather of summer. He and his Don Schumacher Racing teammates will likely get their first chance at competing in the heat this weekend at the NHRA Summer Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka, the ninth event on the 24-race 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series schedule.
"I'm excited about returning to Topeka," offered the two-time Topeka champion who enters the event sixth in the point standings following one victory this season and first-round losses in the last two events. "I think (crew chief) Mike Green has done just as well as I have in the past at Topeka, so I think together we can get the FRAM dragster back on a good track and start making up some of the points that we've given up the past few races. Obviously, when you've had success at a track you always look forward to going back there. Hopefully the weather will be good and we'll be able to qualify in the upper half of the field and keep lane choice for Sunday."
This weekend's event begins the part of the season where the warm weather comes into play for crew chiefs and drivers alike, but McClenathan isn't concerned when it comes to racing under hot conditions.
"Mike Green and the guys have a great setup for hot-weather tracks so I'm actually looking forward to it," he said. "The hotter the better right now. We're looking forward to getting away from the cool weather until we can get that figured out. If it stays warm in Topeka I think we'll come out on top there and have as good a car as anybody."
McClenathan has enjoyed a long history of success in Topeka, including a pair of victories (1994, 1998) and four top qualifying honors (1992, 1993, 1994 and 2004). He qualified No. 16 at last year's event and upset top qualifier Joe Hartley en route to a quarterfinal finish.
CORY McCLENATHAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 6 in Top Fuel point standings after eight events in 2008
* Won the NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas April 13, his 30th career Top Fuel victory in 52 final rounds
* Runner-up in season-opening race in Pomona
* Three final round appearances in Topeka, including a runner-up in 1993 and wins in 1994 and 1998
* Qualified No. 1 in Topeka four times ('92, '93, '94, '04)
* Qualified No. 16 at last year's event, lost quarterfinal to David Grubnic
* Finished 2007 season 12th in Top Fuel points, the first time out of the top 10 since 2001
* Has recorded 409 career round wins in Top Fuel
* Recorded 31st No. 1 qualifying spot in Atlanta 2008
* Runner-up in St. Louis in only final-round appearance in 2007
* Recorded 400th round win in Top Fuel in Richmond 2007
* Has 30 Top Fuel victories in 52 final round appearances, fourth among active drivers on all-time wins list
* Has finished No. 2 in the standings four times (1992, 1995, 1997 & 1998)
* Finished No. 10 in rookie season in 1991. Made first four-second run
* Made NHRA history with first run in the 4.70s (4.799) at Reading in 1992
* First driver to break the 320-mph barrier with 322.17 mph run in Dallas in 1997
* Swept the three-race Western Swing in 1997 en route to four consecutive wins and career-high six victories in eight final rounds
* Won four of the first six races in 1998. Equaled career-best with six wins in eight finals
* Won the U.S. Nationals twice (1996, 1999)
* Qualified No. 1 at 31 races, including a career-high seven in 1993
* Missed four races in 1993 after crash in Rockingham and still finished sixth in the Top Fuel points
* Age 45 (January 30, 1963); born in Wichita, Kansas, now lives in Brownsburg, Ind.; has 17-year-old daughter Courtney
* Joined Don Schumacher Racing in 2008; third season with sponsorship from FRAM
