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INDIANAPOLIS (June 25, 2008) – FRAM Top Fuel dragster driver Cory McClenathan is ready to return to competition at this weekend's second annual NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio, as he continues to cope with the tragic loss of Funny Car driver and close friend Scott Kalitta, who died resulting from injuries after an accident at the NHRA SuperNationals last Saturday.
This weekend's race, the 12th of 24 events of the 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, marks the halfway point in the season, with only six races remaining until the cutoff for the top 10 in points who will take part in the Countdown to the Championship, beginning after the U.S. Nationals on Labor Day weekend.
Like everyone else in Englishtown, McClenathan raced with a heavy heart last Sunday, reaching the semifinals before losing to Don Schumacher Racing teammate Tony Schumacher. "Scott was quite a character and I am thankful to have known him so well," he said of his longtime friend.
"First and foremost, I'm glad we're going right back into another race this weekend," he added.
"I think we've got a pretty good race car. The cold hard facts are that had it not been for me not leaving the starting line on time we would have been in the final round in Englishtown and hopefully had gone on to win ourselves another drag race, but it just wasn't the case. Sometimes you leave on time and sometimes you don't and obviously I got beat by my teammate on a holeshot and I don't take that lightly in any way, shape or form.
"The FRAM dragster is running good," continued McClenathan, who maintained a firm grip on sixth place in the Top Fuel point standings following E-town. "I'm glad for that and I think that'll be a good thing going into Norwalk. The FRAM guys have been doing a great job and we just need to try and keep on going rounds. We were able to go a few last weekend and it would be nice to go a few this weekend."
McClenathan has enjoyed success at Norwalk while competing there in the IHRA Series and he is excited to return to the Ohio facility. "We've done well there in the past," he said. "I've raced IHRA there and done very well and we qualified well there last year (No. 5). We just got beat in the first round. It's one of those deals where it's hard for me to respond too quickly on how I feel about Norwalk because we've only been there a few times, but I look forward to it. They did a great job getting it ready for our inaugural event last year and they've spent a lot of time working on the place and I think it'll be even better this year."
CORY McCLENATHAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 6 in Top Fuel point standings after 11 events in 2008 (one win in two final rounds, two semifinal, two quarterfinal finishes, five first rounds)
* No. 5 qualifier at last year's Norwalk event, lost first round
* Won the NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas April 13 this year, 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 413 career round wins in Top Fuel
* Recorded 31st No. 1 qualifying spot 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 READY TO RACE IN NORWALK
INDIANAPOLIS (June 25, 2008) – FRAM Top Fuel dragster driver Cory McClenathan is ready to return to competition at this weekend's second annual NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio, as he continues to cope with the tragic loss of Funny Car driver and close friend Scott Kalitta, who died resulting from injuries after an accident at the NHRA SuperNationals last Saturday.
This weekend's race, the 12th of 24 events of the 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, marks the halfway point in the season, with only six races remaining until the cutoff for the top 10 in points who will take part in the Countdown to the Championship, beginning after the U.S. Nationals on Labor Day weekend.
Like everyone else in Englishtown, McClenathan raced with a heavy heart last Sunday, reaching the semifinals before losing to Don Schumacher Racing teammate Tony Schumacher. "Scott was quite a character and I am thankful to have known him so well," he said of his longtime friend.
"First and foremost, I'm glad we're going right back into another race this weekend," he added.
"I think we've got a pretty good race car. The cold hard facts are that had it not been for me not leaving the starting line on time we would have been in the final round in Englishtown and hopefully had gone on to win ourselves another drag race, but it just wasn't the case. Sometimes you leave on time and sometimes you don't and obviously I got beat by my teammate on a holeshot and I don't take that lightly in any way, shape or form.
"The FRAM dragster is running good," continued McClenathan, who maintained a firm grip on sixth place in the Top Fuel point standings following E-town. "I'm glad for that and I think that'll be a good thing going into Norwalk. The FRAM guys have been doing a great job and we just need to try and keep on going rounds. We were able to go a few last weekend and it would be nice to go a few this weekend."
McClenathan has enjoyed success at Norwalk while competing there in the IHRA Series and he is excited to return to the Ohio facility. "We've done well there in the past," he said. "I've raced IHRA there and done very well and we qualified well there last year (No. 5). We just got beat in the first round. It's one of those deals where it's hard for me to respond too quickly on how I feel about Norwalk because we've only been there a few times, but I look forward to it. They did a great job getting it ready for our inaugural event last year and they've spent a lot of time working on the place and I think it'll be even better this year."
CORY McCLENATHAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 6 in Top Fuel point standings after 11 events in 2008 (one win in two final rounds, two semifinal, two quarterfinal finishes, five first rounds)
* No. 5 qualifier at last year's Norwalk event, lost first round
* Won the NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas April 13 this year, 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 413 career round wins in Top Fuel
* Recorded 31st No. 1 qualifying spot 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
