MCCLENATHAN SEEKS SECOND CAREER VICTORY AT FRAM-AUTOLITE NATIONALS
<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/c_mcclenathan_9771.jpg" alt="c_mcclenathan_9771" align="right"borders="0"/>
SONOMA, Calif. (July 22, 2008) – If there were one race that Cory McClenathan would love to win for his team's sponsor it would be this weekend's 21st annual FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals, the final stop on the Western Swing (Denver, Seattle and Sonoma, Calif.) and the 15th of 24 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series events. The driver of the FRAM Top Fuel dragster wants to present the winner's trophy to FRAM and earn his second career victory at Infineon Raceway.
He enters this weekend's event fifth in the Top Fuel point standings following a quarterfinal effort last Sunday in Seattle, one victory this season in two final rounds, and four semifinal finishes in the first 14 events of the year.
"Infineon Raceway is a fantastic track," said McClenathan, who won the FRAM-Autolite Nationals in 1997 and was runner-up in 1993. "It's going to be hot there and that's right up (crew chief) Mike Green's alley and I think that's going to be good for us. The FRAM dragster seems to run really well in hot weather and I think we're going to see some this weekend.
"The folks at Infineon Raceway treat us great. We're going to a lot of Children's Charities events this week and making appearances on behalf of FRAM, so it's going to be a little crazy. We'll arrive Wednesday and go right to work and we'll stay very busy. But after that we're going to head to Cabo San Lucas down in Mexico and take a little vacation. But it's very important for us to do well in Sonoma this weekend."
CORY McCLENATHAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 5 in Top Fuel point standings after 15 events in 2008 (one win in two final rounds, four semifinal, three quarterfinal, five first round finishes)
* No. 13 qualifier at last year's FRAM-Autolite Nationals, lost first round
* Two final round appearances in Sonoma: winner in 1997; runner-up in 1993
* Qualified No. 1 in Sonoma in 1992
* 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 416 career round wins in Top Fuel
* No. 1 qualifying twice in 2008 (Atlanta and Denver), has 32 career top qualifiers
* 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
<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/c_mcclenathan_9771.jpg" alt="c_mcclenathan_9771" align="right"borders="0"/>
SONOMA, Calif. (July 22, 2008) – If there were one race that Cory McClenathan would love to win for his team's sponsor it would be this weekend's 21st annual FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals, the final stop on the Western Swing (Denver, Seattle and Sonoma, Calif.) and the 15th of 24 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series events. The driver of the FRAM Top Fuel dragster wants to present the winner's trophy to FRAM and earn his second career victory at Infineon Raceway.
He enters this weekend's event fifth in the Top Fuel point standings following a quarterfinal effort last Sunday in Seattle, one victory this season in two final rounds, and four semifinal finishes in the first 14 events of the year.
"Infineon Raceway is a fantastic track," said McClenathan, who won the FRAM-Autolite Nationals in 1997 and was runner-up in 1993. "It's going to be hot there and that's right up (crew chief) Mike Green's alley and I think that's going to be good for us. The FRAM dragster seems to run really well in hot weather and I think we're going to see some this weekend.
"The folks at Infineon Raceway treat us great. We're going to a lot of Children's Charities events this week and making appearances on behalf of FRAM, so it's going to be a little crazy. We'll arrive Wednesday and go right to work and we'll stay very busy. But after that we're going to head to Cabo San Lucas down in Mexico and take a little vacation. But it's very important for us to do well in Sonoma this weekend."
CORY McCLENATHAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 5 in Top Fuel point standings after 15 events in 2008 (one win in two final rounds, four semifinal, three quarterfinal, five first round finishes)
* No. 13 qualifier at last year's FRAM-Autolite Nationals, lost first round
* Two final round appearances in Sonoma: winner in 1997; runner-up in 1993
* Qualified No. 1 in Sonoma in 1992
* 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 416 career round wins in Top Fuel
* No. 1 qualifying twice in 2008 (Atlanta and Denver), has 32 career top qualifiers
* 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
