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INDIANAPOLIS (Feb. 19, 2008) – FRAM Top Fuel dragster driver Cory McClenathan is looking to carry the momentum of his consistent performance at the season-opening Winternationals into this weekend's NHRA Nationals at Firebird Raceway on the outskirts of Phoenix, the second round of 24 of the 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
McClenathan enjoyed a stellar weekend in Pomona, Calif. (Feb. 7-10), making seven runs in the 4.50-second elapsed-time zone en route to a runner-up finish to Don Schumacher Racing teammate Tony Schumacher. The 45-year-old racer left Pomona in second place in the Top Fuel point standings.
"I think we have a very good race car," said McClenathan, the 1994 Top Fuel winner at Firebird against Joe Amato. "With (crew chief) Mike Green back at the helm things have changed radically in my racing career. This is one of those situations where it's kind of mine to lose. I know Mike and the rest of the guys are going to do a great job and that the car is going to go from A to B. We may not have the fastest car on the block yet, but I think we'll be running with everybody very quickly. I think we have one of the more consistent Top Fuel cars out there and I wouldn't trade that for anything.
"Mike is not a guy who is going to make giant changes," added McClenathan. "He's going to make small changes and make sure that everything stays consistent. The way his demeanor is and the way he goes about things I'm very happy with. If we give Mike the same package every time out there it's just going to get better and better. I just want to do my job to make sure I do the same thing every time.
"Being consistent puts the other guys and girls in a position where they have to beat us. They know they have to get to the other end. I'm very confident that we have a great team, a great race car and a great team owner in Don Schumacher."
McClenathan returns to Firebird Raceway after several days of tests at the pre-season National Time Trials in January. "If you look back you'll see that we didn't hurt any parts and our testing went fairly good and obviously Pomona went very well," he said. "So I would have to consider this the perfect start to a great season. Going rounds is what it's all about. We may not be able to go out there and win every single race, but it gives us something to shoot for.
"If we can just keep on repeating and go to the semis and go to a few finals and win some races, we'll know we have a good a car. I know there's a lot more power left in the FRAM Top Fuel dragster and there's a lot more we can utilize in the nitro department, but I'm going to leave that up to Mike. I think he's taking a great approach on that."
CORY MCCLENATHAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 2 in Top Fuel point standings after one event
* Runner-up in season-opening race in Pomona, appearing in 51st final round
* Has recorded 403 round wins
* Finished 2007 season 12th in Top Fuel points, the first time out of the top 10 since 2001. Runner-up in St. Louis in only final-round appearance
* Recorded 400th round win in Top Fuel in Richmond 2007
* Has 28 Top Fuel victories in 51 final round appearances, fourth among active drivers on all-time wins list
* Has finished No. 2 in the standings four times (1992, 1995, 1997 and 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)
*Has qualified No.1 at 30 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 Indianapolis; has 17-year-old daughter Courtney
*Joined Don Schumacher Racing in 2008; third season with sponsorship from FRAM
WEEKEND SCHEDULE: Pro qualifying sessions are scheduled for 1:30 and 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 22. Qualifying continues at noon and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23 and final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 24.
ON TV: ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise qualifying highlights at 2 a.m. (ET) on Sunday, Feb. 24. ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute pre-race show, at 11 a.m. (ET) on Sunday, Feb. 24. ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise the race beginning at 7 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, Feb. 24.
ON THE WEB: Get live timing, scoring, multimedia and the latest news updates from every NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event on the Internet at NHRA.com.
MCCLENATHAN LOOKS TO RIDE MOMENTUM OF FAST SEASON START INTO PHOENIX
INDIANAPOLIS (Feb. 19, 2008) – FRAM Top Fuel dragster driver Cory McClenathan is looking to carry the momentum of his consistent performance at the season-opening Winternationals into this weekend's NHRA Nationals at Firebird Raceway on the outskirts of Phoenix, the second round of 24 of the 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
McClenathan enjoyed a stellar weekend in Pomona, Calif. (Feb. 7-10), making seven runs in the 4.50-second elapsed-time zone en route to a runner-up finish to Don Schumacher Racing teammate Tony Schumacher. The 45-year-old racer left Pomona in second place in the Top Fuel point standings.
"I think we have a very good race car," said McClenathan, the 1994 Top Fuel winner at Firebird against Joe Amato. "With (crew chief) Mike Green back at the helm things have changed radically in my racing career. This is one of those situations where it's kind of mine to lose. I know Mike and the rest of the guys are going to do a great job and that the car is going to go from A to B. We may not have the fastest car on the block yet, but I think we'll be running with everybody very quickly. I think we have one of the more consistent Top Fuel cars out there and I wouldn't trade that for anything.
"Mike is not a guy who is going to make giant changes," added McClenathan. "He's going to make small changes and make sure that everything stays consistent. The way his demeanor is and the way he goes about things I'm very happy with. If we give Mike the same package every time out there it's just going to get better and better. I just want to do my job to make sure I do the same thing every time.
"Being consistent puts the other guys and girls in a position where they have to beat us. They know they have to get to the other end. I'm very confident that we have a great team, a great race car and a great team owner in Don Schumacher."
McClenathan returns to Firebird Raceway after several days of tests at the pre-season National Time Trials in January. "If you look back you'll see that we didn't hurt any parts and our testing went fairly good and obviously Pomona went very well," he said. "So I would have to consider this the perfect start to a great season. Going rounds is what it's all about. We may not be able to go out there and win every single race, but it gives us something to shoot for.
"If we can just keep on repeating and go to the semis and go to a few finals and win some races, we'll know we have a good a car. I know there's a lot more power left in the FRAM Top Fuel dragster and there's a lot more we can utilize in the nitro department, but I'm going to leave that up to Mike. I think he's taking a great approach on that."
CORY MCCLENATHAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 2 in Top Fuel point standings after one event
* Runner-up in season-opening race in Pomona, appearing in 51st final round
* Has recorded 403 round wins
* Finished 2007 season 12th in Top Fuel points, the first time out of the top 10 since 2001. Runner-up in St. Louis in only final-round appearance
* Recorded 400th round win in Top Fuel in Richmond 2007
* Has 28 Top Fuel victories in 51 final round appearances, fourth among active drivers on all-time wins list
* Has finished No. 2 in the standings four times (1992, 1995, 1997 and 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)
*Has qualified No.1 at 30 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 Indianapolis; has 17-year-old daughter Courtney
*Joined Don Schumacher Racing in 2008; third season with sponsorship from FRAM
WEEKEND SCHEDULE: Pro qualifying sessions are scheduled for 1:30 and 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 22. Qualifying continues at noon and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23 and final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 24.
ON TV: ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise qualifying highlights at 2 a.m. (ET) on Sunday, Feb. 24. ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute pre-race show, at 11 a.m. (ET) on Sunday, Feb. 24. ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise the race beginning at 7 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, Feb. 24.
ON THE WEB: Get live timing, scoring, multimedia and the latest news updates from every NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event on the Internet at NHRA.com.
