MCCLENATHAN GUIDES FRAM DRAGSTER TO NO. 4 IN VIRGINIA QUALIFYING
<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/c_mcclenathan_9771.jpg" alt="c_mcclenathan_9771" align="right"borders="0"/>
DINWIDDIE, Va. (Oct. 11, 2008) - Cory McClenathan qualified the FRAM Top Fuel dragster No. 4 today for the third annual Virginia NHRA Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park. He made his quickest run since the class began racing to the 1,000-foot mark with an elapsed time of 3.815 seconds at 309.20 mph on his final qualifying pass. It's the 14th time he has qualified in the top half of the field this 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series season.
In addition to the 4.81, he posted consistent runs both days, including a 3.871/312.64 (No. 7) and a 3.846/312.13 (No. 7) on Friday, and a 3.870/303.78 (No. 10) on his first run today. Second place in the Countdown to 1 point standings, McClenathan also gained two points on third-place Antron Brown by out-qualifying him by four spots. He now leads Brown by 15 markers. McClenathan's Don Schumacher Racing teammate Tony Schumacher claimed the pole position and now leads by 169 points.
If McClenathan wins the first round of eliminations on Sunday over Morgan Lucas, Schumacher will be unable to clinch his sixth Top Fuel championship this weekend.
"The track here at Virginia Motorsports Park looks the best it has in a long time," said McClenathan, a four-time winner at this track. "I've always had good luck here and I’ve always been able to do well on race day. I think they've got two good, even lanes that anybody can go down, so there's not going to be a problem with lane choice tomorrow. We proved this FRAM dragster can go down either side. It will be an interesting and important first round, that's for sure.
"We have a lot of employees here from Honeywell, one of our sponsors that are based about 10 miles from the track," added McClenathan. "So I can't think of a better place to win. Hopefully we can put on a good show for them.
"(Crew chief) Mike Green and (assistant crew chief) Neal Strausbaugh have done a great job with this FRAM dragster. It's been very consistent. We're kind of showing our hand now by running that 4.81. I think we can do even better tomorrow. Mike will just pick away at the tune-up. That's what he does best."
<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/c_mcclenathan_9771.jpg" alt="c_mcclenathan_9771" align="right"borders="0"/>
DINWIDDIE, Va. (Oct. 11, 2008) - Cory McClenathan qualified the FRAM Top Fuel dragster No. 4 today for the third annual Virginia NHRA Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park. He made his quickest run since the class began racing to the 1,000-foot mark with an elapsed time of 3.815 seconds at 309.20 mph on his final qualifying pass. It's the 14th time he has qualified in the top half of the field this 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series season.
In addition to the 4.81, he posted consistent runs both days, including a 3.871/312.64 (No. 7) and a 3.846/312.13 (No. 7) on Friday, and a 3.870/303.78 (No. 10) on his first run today. Second place in the Countdown to 1 point standings, McClenathan also gained two points on third-place Antron Brown by out-qualifying him by four spots. He now leads Brown by 15 markers. McClenathan's Don Schumacher Racing teammate Tony Schumacher claimed the pole position and now leads by 169 points.
If McClenathan wins the first round of eliminations on Sunday over Morgan Lucas, Schumacher will be unable to clinch his sixth Top Fuel championship this weekend.
"The track here at Virginia Motorsports Park looks the best it has in a long time," said McClenathan, a four-time winner at this track. "I've always had good luck here and I’ve always been able to do well on race day. I think they've got two good, even lanes that anybody can go down, so there's not going to be a problem with lane choice tomorrow. We proved this FRAM dragster can go down either side. It will be an interesting and important first round, that's for sure.
"We have a lot of employees here from Honeywell, one of our sponsors that are based about 10 miles from the track," added McClenathan. "So I can't think of a better place to win. Hopefully we can put on a good show for them.
"(Crew chief) Mike Green and (assistant crew chief) Neal Strausbaugh have done a great job with this FRAM dragster. It's been very consistent. We're kind of showing our hand now by running that 4.81. I think we can do even better tomorrow. Mike will just pick away at the tune-up. That's what he does best."
