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LAS VEGAS (April 12, 2008) - Cory McClenathan saved his best for last, qualifying the FRAM Top Fuel dragster in the No. 5 position for the NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in his final qualifying attempt.
Coming into the final session, McClenathan was solidly in the field in No. 6 after posting three passes of 6.905/113.69, 4.606/325.30 and a 6.018/137.78. A straight, solid run down the quarter-mile under good conditions resulted in his best pass of the weekend, a 4.597-second lap at 323.97 mph, second in that round only to No. 1 qualifier and Don Schumacher Racing teammate Tony Schumacher's 4.577/327.43.
"I think the track started to come around for everybody there for the last session," said McClenathan. "I think Mike (Green, crew chief) and the FRAM guys did a great job of changing things around for the car to adapt to the race track and I really think that has a lot to do with how the car ran and how it performed early in the run.
"To run that number in that round was a very good thing. I'm happy. It puts us in a good spot for tomorrow."
McClenathan faces J.R. Todd in the opening round of Sunday's eliminations.
McCLENATHAN RUNS STRONG IN VEGAS, COLLECTS NO. 5 IN QUALIFYING
LAS VEGAS (April 12, 2008) - Cory McClenathan saved his best for last, qualifying the FRAM Top Fuel dragster in the No. 5 position for the NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in his final qualifying attempt.
Coming into the final session, McClenathan was solidly in the field in No. 6 after posting three passes of 6.905/113.69, 4.606/325.30 and a 6.018/137.78. A straight, solid run down the quarter-mile under good conditions resulted in his best pass of the weekend, a 4.597-second lap at 323.97 mph, second in that round only to No. 1 qualifier and Don Schumacher Racing teammate Tony Schumacher's 4.577/327.43.
"I think the track started to come around for everybody there for the last session," said McClenathan. "I think Mike (Green, crew chief) and the FRAM guys did a great job of changing things around for the car to adapt to the race track and I really think that has a lot to do with how the car ran and how it performed early in the run.
"To run that number in that round was a very good thing. I'm happy. It puts us in a good spot for tomorrow."
McClenathan faces J.R. Todd in the opening round of Sunday's eliminations.
