MCCLENATHAN LANDS IN QUARTERFINALS AT THE FRAM-AUTOLITE NATIONALS
<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/c_mcclenathan_9771.jpg" alt="c_mcclenathan_9771" align="left"borders="0"/>
SONOMA, Calif. (July 27, 2008) – FRAM Top Fuel dragster driver Cory McClenathan advanced to the quarterfinals today at the FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway. It was the second time in three races that McClenathan has reached the quarterfinals, maintaining his No. 5 position in the Top Fuel point standings.
He began the day with an elapsed time of 3.869 seconds at 312.42 mph to defeat Doug Herbert in the opening round after Herbert red-lighted and was disqualified. McClenathan smoked the tires just off the starting line against quarterfinal opponent Hillary Will and slowed to a 4.957/165.29 pass. Will also smoked the tires further down track, but scored the win with a 4.479/223.25 run.
"Our weekend just didn't start off the way (crew chief) Mike Green and I had hoped," said McClenathan, who qualified 13th. "We thought if we could go down the track on the first qualifying run and run better on the second run on Friday night that we could work on the race-day tune-up on Saturday. But we had some difficulties with the FRAM car. Mike and the guys made the changes we needed to make and the car ran flawlessly during the first round today and we were just trying to do the same thing in the second round, but it was just a little bit too aggressive. The FRAM dragster got loose and I tried to pedal it, but about the second or third time it threw the blower belt off and it ended our chances right there.
"Once again we had the right people (around us in the point standings) go out early today, but we couldn't take advantage of the points and we didn't lose in the points. It's a give-and-take take deal. We're still in fifth, we're in a great position, and we're ready for the Countdown (to the Championship, which begins following the U.S. Nationals Labor Day weekend). By the time it comes we're going to have a good race car. But with this being FRAM's race, I really wanted to win. We're just going to have to wait until next year."
The next race for McClenathan and the FRAM Top Fuel team is the NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minn., Aug. 8-10.
UNOFFICIAL TOP FUEL POINT STANDINGS, after 15 of 24 events:
1. Tony Schumacher, 1414 (winner today)
2. Antron Brown, 1018
3. Larry Dixon, 953
4. Rod Fuller, 905
5. Cory McClenathan, 891
6. Brandon Bernstein, 890
7. Hillary Will, 843 (runner-up today)
8. Doug Herbert, 773
9. David Grubnic, 651
10. Doug Kallita, 629
<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/c_mcclenathan_9771.jpg" alt="c_mcclenathan_9771" align="left"borders="0"/>
SONOMA, Calif. (July 27, 2008) – FRAM Top Fuel dragster driver Cory McClenathan advanced to the quarterfinals today at the FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway. It was the second time in three races that McClenathan has reached the quarterfinals, maintaining his No. 5 position in the Top Fuel point standings.
He began the day with an elapsed time of 3.869 seconds at 312.42 mph to defeat Doug Herbert in the opening round after Herbert red-lighted and was disqualified. McClenathan smoked the tires just off the starting line against quarterfinal opponent Hillary Will and slowed to a 4.957/165.29 pass. Will also smoked the tires further down track, but scored the win with a 4.479/223.25 run.
"Our weekend just didn't start off the way (crew chief) Mike Green and I had hoped," said McClenathan, who qualified 13th. "We thought if we could go down the track on the first qualifying run and run better on the second run on Friday night that we could work on the race-day tune-up on Saturday. But we had some difficulties with the FRAM car. Mike and the guys made the changes we needed to make and the car ran flawlessly during the first round today and we were just trying to do the same thing in the second round, but it was just a little bit too aggressive. The FRAM dragster got loose and I tried to pedal it, but about the second or third time it threw the blower belt off and it ended our chances right there.
"Once again we had the right people (around us in the point standings) go out early today, but we couldn't take advantage of the points and we didn't lose in the points. It's a give-and-take take deal. We're still in fifth, we're in a great position, and we're ready for the Countdown (to the Championship, which begins following the U.S. Nationals Labor Day weekend). By the time it comes we're going to have a good race car. But with this being FRAM's race, I really wanted to win. We're just going to have to wait until next year."
The next race for McClenathan and the FRAM Top Fuel team is the NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minn., Aug. 8-10.
UNOFFICIAL TOP FUEL POINT STANDINGS, after 15 of 24 events:
1. Tony Schumacher, 1414 (winner today)
2. Antron Brown, 1018
3. Larry Dixon, 953
4. Rod Fuller, 905
5. Cory McClenathan, 891
6. Brandon Bernstein, 890
7. Hillary Will, 843 (runner-up today)
8. Doug Herbert, 773
9. David Grubnic, 651
10. Doug Kallita, 629
