[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 reaction time (.000 is perfect) was aced by Torrence's .036.
“You just hate to get beat on a hole shot, no matter where you go," said McClenathan, who slipped from second to third place in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series point standings. “But when it’s (team owner) Don Schumacher’s hometown (Chicago) and we had the better car, you just feel like you let the team and Don down. We’re better than that, I’m better than that. We’re going to have to pick it up and go on.
"I guess it’s a good thing we have four in a row right now," he said of this event and the next three consecutive races in as many weekends. "We’ll be back in the car in a few days and back at it.
"It's tough to lose this way but, at the same time, we just keep going down the track with consistent and quick runs. Our competitors have to step up to beat us, and that's what they did today. The 'kid' (27-year-old Torrence) took a shot at it, and that's how he got it."
Next up is the 41st annual NHRA Supernationals in Englishtown, N.J., June 10-13.
As of 3:10 p.m. CT, rain has stopped racing action after two rounds at Route 66 Raceway. Final Top Fuel point standings will be distributed following the completion of the event.
"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 reaction time (.000 is perfect) was aced by Torrence's .036.
“You just hate to get beat on a hole shot, no matter where you go," said McClenathan, who slipped from second to third place in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series point standings. “But when it’s (team owner) Don Schumacher’s hometown (Chicago) and we had the better car, you just feel like you let the team and Don down. We’re better than that, I’m better than that. We’re going to have to pick it up and go on.
"I guess it’s a good thing we have four in a row right now," he said of this event and the next three consecutive races in as many weekends. "We’ll be back in the car in a few days and back at it.
"It's tough to lose this way but, at the same time, we just keep going down the track with consistent and quick runs. Our competitors have to step up to beat us, and that's what they did today. The 'kid' (27-year-old Torrence) took a shot at it, and that's how he got it."
Next up is the 41st annual NHRA Supernationals in Englishtown, N.J., June 10-13.
As of 3:10 p.m. CT, rain has stopped racing action after two rounds at Route 66 Raceway. Final Top Fuel point standings will be distributed following the completion of the event.
