<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/c_mcclenathan_9771.jpg" alt="c_mcclenathan_9771" align="right"borders="0"/>
INDIANAPOLIS (April 30, 2008) – FRAM Top Fuel dragster driver Cory McClenathan will roll into Gateway International Raceway for the NHRA Midwest Nationals this weekend carrying plenty of momentum. McClenathan enters the seventh event of the 24-race 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series fourth in the point standings with one of the most consistent race cars on the NHRA tour.
McClenathan made his only final-round appearance of last season at Gateway, in Madison, Ill., just over the bridge from St. Louis. He lost to Melanie Troxel, but a lot has changed since he last visited this track.
"Obviously, last we year we had some success and did well there," said McClenathan, who joined Don Schumacher Racing this season. "I got beat in the final, but I thought we had the best car there pretty much all race day. But, at this point in time, it’s a whole different place, a whole different car, a different crew chief, a different crew, everything. I'm much more comfortable now than I was last year."
McClenathan qualified No. 1 at last weekend's race in Atlanta, his first top spot of the season and 30th of his career. He advanced to the quarterfinals for the second time this season, but lost on a holeshot advantage to eventual race winner Antron Brown.
"I'm looking forward to St. Louis," he said. "Weather-wise it's right up our alley right now with Mike Green's tune-up and I look forward to getting there and qualifying and trying to redeem myself a little bit from last weekend. Although Antron went on to win, any way you look at it, they're compiling points and we need to step up and go some rounds. I'm hoping we can go to St. Louis and go a few rounds past him and some of the other drivers who are ahead of us in the points and start making a run for this championship.
"Sometimes, week after week, when you have a few days to think about it, it's better to get right back in the race car. And that's how I'm looking at it right now," McClenathan added. "If we win some races I'll be more than thankful, but, at the same time, going rounds has won championships in the past; not necessarily always winning races. That's our mentality and I'm thinking about it that way.
"There are so many good cars out there that you're not going to win a whole bunch of races; I just don't see it happening. I think we have as good a car as anybody and after you get beat on a holeshot you're looking to go back and do well. I'm looking forward to getting in there and getting qualified and hopefully going some rounds on Sunday. I think that is what is going to separate the top five from the rest of the pack. As long as we continue to do that I'm very excited about it."
CORY McCLENATHAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 4 in Top Fuel point standings after six events in 2008
* Qualified No. 1 at last event in Atlanta, first pole of the season and 30th of his career
* Won the NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas April 13, his 30th career Top Fuel victory in 52 final rounds
* Runner-up in 2008 season-opening race in Pomona
* Qualified No. 4 at 2007 Midwest Nationals, lost in the final round to Melanie Troxel
* Finished 2007 season 12th in Top Fuel points, the first time out of the top 10 since 2001
* Has recorded 409 career round wins in Top Fuel
* 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 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 Brownsburg, Ind.; has 17-year-old daughter Courtney
* Joined Don Schumacher Racing in 2008; third season with sponsorship from FRAM
WEEKEND SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, May 2 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, May 3 - Sportsman eliminations begin at 8:30 a.m.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
SUNDAY, May 4 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.
FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11a.m.
TELEVISION:
Saturday, May 3, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 9 p.m. (ET).
Sunday May 4, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will air NHRA Race Day, at 11 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, May 4, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of final round eliminations at 7 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE:
Friday, May 2, 10-10:30 p.m. (ET) - Horizons 2, Transponder 19 K (12140 MHz, vertical)
Saturday, May 3, 7:30-8 p.m. (ET) - Horizons 2, Transponder 19 K (12140 MHz, vertical)
Sunday, May 4, 7-7:30 p.m. (ET) - Horizons 2, Transponder 19 K (12140 MHz, vertical)
MCCLENATHAN ROLLS INTO ST. LOUIS WITH PLENTY OF MOMENTUM
INDIANAPOLIS (April 30, 2008) – FRAM Top Fuel dragster driver Cory McClenathan will roll into Gateway International Raceway for the NHRA Midwest Nationals this weekend carrying plenty of momentum. McClenathan enters the seventh event of the 24-race 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series fourth in the point standings with one of the most consistent race cars on the NHRA tour.
McClenathan made his only final-round appearance of last season at Gateway, in Madison, Ill., just over the bridge from St. Louis. He lost to Melanie Troxel, but a lot has changed since he last visited this track.
"Obviously, last we year we had some success and did well there," said McClenathan, who joined Don Schumacher Racing this season. "I got beat in the final, but I thought we had the best car there pretty much all race day. But, at this point in time, it’s a whole different place, a whole different car, a different crew chief, a different crew, everything. I'm much more comfortable now than I was last year."
McClenathan qualified No. 1 at last weekend's race in Atlanta, his first top spot of the season and 30th of his career. He advanced to the quarterfinals for the second time this season, but lost on a holeshot advantage to eventual race winner Antron Brown.
"I'm looking forward to St. Louis," he said. "Weather-wise it's right up our alley right now with Mike Green's tune-up and I look forward to getting there and qualifying and trying to redeem myself a little bit from last weekend. Although Antron went on to win, any way you look at it, they're compiling points and we need to step up and go some rounds. I'm hoping we can go to St. Louis and go a few rounds past him and some of the other drivers who are ahead of us in the points and start making a run for this championship.
"Sometimes, week after week, when you have a few days to think about it, it's better to get right back in the race car. And that's how I'm looking at it right now," McClenathan added. "If we win some races I'll be more than thankful, but, at the same time, going rounds has won championships in the past; not necessarily always winning races. That's our mentality and I'm thinking about it that way.
"There are so many good cars out there that you're not going to win a whole bunch of races; I just don't see it happening. I think we have as good a car as anybody and after you get beat on a holeshot you're looking to go back and do well. I'm looking forward to getting in there and getting qualified and hopefully going some rounds on Sunday. I think that is what is going to separate the top five from the rest of the pack. As long as we continue to do that I'm very excited about it."
CORY McCLENATHAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 4 in Top Fuel point standings after six events in 2008
* Qualified No. 1 at last event in Atlanta, first pole of the season and 30th of his career
* Won the NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas April 13, his 30th career Top Fuel victory in 52 final rounds
* Runner-up in 2008 season-opening race in Pomona
* Qualified No. 4 at 2007 Midwest Nationals, lost in the final round to Melanie Troxel
* Finished 2007 season 12th in Top Fuel points, the first time out of the top 10 since 2001
* Has recorded 409 career round wins in Top Fuel
* 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 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 Brownsburg, Ind.; has 17-year-old daughter Courtney
* Joined Don Schumacher Racing in 2008; third season with sponsorship from FRAM
WEEKEND SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, May 2 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, May 3 - Sportsman eliminations begin at 8:30 a.m.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
SUNDAY, May 4 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.
FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11a.m.
TELEVISION:
Saturday, May 3, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 9 p.m. (ET).
Sunday May 4, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will air NHRA Race Day, at 11 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, May 4, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of final round eliminations at 7 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE:
Friday, May 2, 10-10:30 p.m. (ET) - Horizons 2, Transponder 19 K (12140 MHz, vertical)
Saturday, May 3, 7:30-8 p.m. (ET) - Horizons 2, Transponder 19 K (12140 MHz, vertical)
Sunday, May 4, 7-7:30 p.m. (ET) - Horizons 2, Transponder 19 K (12140 MHz, vertical)
