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INDIANAPOLIS (June 16, 2008) – FRAM Top Fuel dragster pilot Cory McClenathan is primed and ready to qualify well and win rounds at this weekend's NHRA SuperNationals at historic Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, the 11th stop on the 24-race 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series schedule.
Those goals are always part of the mindset of a man in his 18th year driving in the Top Fuel class - known as "the kings of the sport" - and the most tenured driver in the category. And consistency is what McClenathan and crew chief Mike Green are seeking in order to achieve those goals as the NHRA tour closes in on the midway point of the season.
"We're looking for consistency right now," said McClenathan, who has never won in Englishtown, but has one national-event win to his credit this season, and 30 in his career. "We've been a little bit off lately. We hated losing in the first round in Joliet, Ill. (June 5). That was a rough one.
"We just need to get qualified in the right position so we can go out and do our jobs. That takes going down the track four times on Friday and Saturday; we're going back to the fundamentals. We'll worry about racing on Sunday when the time comes," added McClenathan, who has three runner-up finishes in Englishtown (1992, 1998 and 2004).
McClenathan is No. 6 in the Top Fuel point standings, solidly entrenched in the top 10 on the strength of two final-round appearances in the first five races, including a win at Las Vegas. He's reached the semifinals once and the quarterfinals twice. He also qualified No. 1 in Atlanta - the 31st Top Fuel pole of his career - and has entered eliminations six times this season from the top half of the 16-car field.
"We've been to three finals in Englishtown in the past so we know we can be successful there, but at the same time if you can't win one there it kind of makes you wonder," he said. "This is just one of those races that have eluded me over the years, so it would be fantastic to go there and win one. The weather is supposed to be warm, but we've got a good warm-weather tune-up. We just need to make up some points and hold our ground in the top 10.
"We always get a large following of fans from Honeywell International (FRAM's parent company) that come to Englishtown from Morristown, N.J., and that's a big deal for us. There's been a lot of history there and we'd like to be a part of it this year," said McClenathan, of the fourth oldest race on the NHRA tour. “This is a good race car and we have a lot of good people working on it. We feel extremely confident.
"Englishtown is one of those races where the FRAM team really likes going to. Being so close to New York City, the crew will try to spend at least one day there and try to relax a little bit, and maybe take in a show and have a good dinner."
CORY McCLENATHAN QUICK FACTS:
*No. 6 in Top Fuel point standings after 10 events in 2008: one win in two final rounds, one semifinal, two quarterfinal finishes, five first rounds
*No. 5 qualifier at last year's Englishtown event, lost first round
*Three career-final round appearances in Englishtown, runner-up in 1992 (Joe Amato) 1998 (Joe Amato) and 2004 (Larry Dixon)
*Won the NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas in 2008, his 30th career Top Fuel victory in 52 final rounds
*Runner-up in 2008 season-opening race in Pomona
*Finished 2007 season 12th in Top Fuel points, the first time out of the top 10 since 2001
*Has recorded 411 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 once this season (Atlanta) and a career-high seven times 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
MCCLENATHAN PRIMED TO QUALIFY WELL AND WIN ROUNDS IN ENGLISHTOWN
INDIANAPOLIS (June 16, 2008) – FRAM Top Fuel dragster pilot Cory McClenathan is primed and ready to qualify well and win rounds at this weekend's NHRA SuperNationals at historic Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, the 11th stop on the 24-race 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series schedule.
Those goals are always part of the mindset of a man in his 18th year driving in the Top Fuel class - known as "the kings of the sport" - and the most tenured driver in the category. And consistency is what McClenathan and crew chief Mike Green are seeking in order to achieve those goals as the NHRA tour closes in on the midway point of the season.
"We're looking for consistency right now," said McClenathan, who has never won in Englishtown, but has one national-event win to his credit this season, and 30 in his career. "We've been a little bit off lately. We hated losing in the first round in Joliet, Ill. (June 5). That was a rough one.
"We just need to get qualified in the right position so we can go out and do our jobs. That takes going down the track four times on Friday and Saturday; we're going back to the fundamentals. We'll worry about racing on Sunday when the time comes," added McClenathan, who has three runner-up finishes in Englishtown (1992, 1998 and 2004).
McClenathan is No. 6 in the Top Fuel point standings, solidly entrenched in the top 10 on the strength of two final-round appearances in the first five races, including a win at Las Vegas. He's reached the semifinals once and the quarterfinals twice. He also qualified No. 1 in Atlanta - the 31st Top Fuel pole of his career - and has entered eliminations six times this season from the top half of the 16-car field.
"We've been to three finals in Englishtown in the past so we know we can be successful there, but at the same time if you can't win one there it kind of makes you wonder," he said. "This is just one of those races that have eluded me over the years, so it would be fantastic to go there and win one. The weather is supposed to be warm, but we've got a good warm-weather tune-up. We just need to make up some points and hold our ground in the top 10.
"We always get a large following of fans from Honeywell International (FRAM's parent company) that come to Englishtown from Morristown, N.J., and that's a big deal for us. There's been a lot of history there and we'd like to be a part of it this year," said McClenathan, of the fourth oldest race on the NHRA tour. “This is a good race car and we have a lot of good people working on it. We feel extremely confident.
"Englishtown is one of those races where the FRAM team really likes going to. Being so close to New York City, the crew will try to spend at least one day there and try to relax a little bit, and maybe take in a show and have a good dinner."
CORY McCLENATHAN QUICK FACTS:
*No. 6 in Top Fuel point standings after 10 events in 2008: one win in two final rounds, one semifinal, two quarterfinal finishes, five first rounds
*No. 5 qualifier at last year's Englishtown event, lost first round
*Three career-final round appearances in Englishtown, runner-up in 1992 (Joe Amato) 1998 (Joe Amato) and 2004 (Larry Dixon)
*Won the NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas in 2008, his 30th career Top Fuel victory in 52 final rounds
*Runner-up in 2008 season-opening race in Pomona
*Finished 2007 season 12th in Top Fuel points, the first time out of the top 10 since 2001
*Has recorded 411 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 once this season (Atlanta) and a career-high seven times 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
