[coverattach=1]BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Aug. 20, 2009) - Now that Cory McClenathan has clinched a berth in the Countdown to 1 playoffs, which begin following the U.S. Nationals on Labor Day weekend for the final six events of the year, he couldn't be more eager to win his first national event of the season. And this weekend's 25th annual NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway, outside of Reading, Pa., would be a perfect venue for that victory.
With only two events remaining before the Countdown kicks in - Reading and the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis - McClenathan has a strong chance to move into fourth place in the standings driving the FRAM Tough Guard Top Fuel dragster. He's only 13 points out of that position and a strong result in Reading could accomplish that for him.
"I'd like to be in fourth place when I leave Reading," said McClenathan, the 1997 Reading Top Fuel champion. "It's attainable, it's right there. We just need to go out and do what we've been doing, and that's going rounds, going to the semifinals and the finals. Maybe we can get into our fourth final of the year in Reading and win the race. Winning right before we go to Indy would be fantastic.
"It's going to get really busy for everybody here pretty quickly," he added. "And I'd love to start the weekend off by qualifying well, then rolling into Indy with a win under our belts.
"We're going to be testing at the track in Indianapolis next week, so we have a lot going on before the Countdown begins. There's a lot of people dancing for position out there, and we realize that. But now that we're in the Countdown it does take some pressure off.
"It would be perfect if we could win again in Reading. I'm one of those people who does not like to go a year without a win and it's been well over a year now since the Las Vegas 1 win last year. So, we need to step up and win one for Don Schumacher Racing, FRAM Tough Guard and all the sponsors, and that's what we're going to try to do."
McClenathan was also low qualifier in Reading in 1992.
CORY MCCLENATHAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 5 in 2009 Top Fuel point standings, with three runner-up, three semifinal, seven quarterfinal and three first-round finishes in first 16 events of season
* Thirteen points out of fourth place in standings
* Reading winner in 1997
* Reading low qualifier in 1992
* Qualified No. 10 in 2008 Reading, lost first round to Antron Brown
* No. 3 in 2008 Top Fuel point standings, including one win in three final rounds, as well as eight semifinal, six quarterfinal, seven first-round finishes and two No. 1 qualifiers
* Has 30 career Top Fuel victories in 56 final rounds
* First driver to break the 320-mph barrier with 322.17-mph run in Dallas in 1997
* Has recorded 454 career round wins in Top Fuel
* Qualified No. 1 32 times, with a career-high seven times in 1993
* Recorded 400th round win in Top Fuel in Richmond 2007
* Has finished No. 2 in the standings four times (1992, 1995, 1997 and 1998)
* Finished No. 10 in rookie season in 1991; made first 4-second run
* Made NHRA history with first run in the 4.70s (4.799) at Reading in 1992
* 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)
* Missed four races in 1993 after crash in Rockingham and still finished sixth in the Top Fuel points
* Age 46 (January 30, 1963); born in Wichita, Kansas, now lives in Brownsburg, Ind.; daughter Courtney (10/25/90)
* Joined Don Schumacher Racing in 2008; 2009 is fourth season with sponsorship from FRAM
Cory Mac Facebook Fan Page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brown...N/Cory-Mac/74199417179?v=wall&viewas=14308109
Cory Mac Fanatics Group:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brownsburg-IN/Cory-Mac/74199417179?ref=ts#/group.php?gid=73981312612
On Twitter he may be followed on Cory Mac (Cory_Mac_TF) on Twitter
SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, Aug. 21 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 3 and 6 p.m.
SATURDAY, Aug. 22 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
SUNDAY, Aug. 23 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m. FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11 a.m.
TELEVISION:
Sunday, Aug. 23, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 1 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, Aug. 23, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will telecast NHRA Race Day at 11:30 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, Aug. 23, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of final round eliminations at 10 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE (Analog feed):
Friday, Aug. 21, 8:30 - 9 p.m. (ET), AMC 15 / Transponder 6K (11820 MHz, horizontal)
Saturday, Aug. 22, 6:30 - 7 p.m. (ET), AMC 15 / Transponder 6K (11820 MHz, horizontal)
Sunday, Aug. 23, 6:30 - 7 p.m. (ET), AMC 15 / Transponder 6K (11820 MHz, horizontal)
Video news release contains race action highlights each day and winners’ interviews on Sunday.
With only two events remaining before the Countdown kicks in - Reading and the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis - McClenathan has a strong chance to move into fourth place in the standings driving the FRAM Tough Guard Top Fuel dragster. He's only 13 points out of that position and a strong result in Reading could accomplish that for him.
"I'd like to be in fourth place when I leave Reading," said McClenathan, the 1997 Reading Top Fuel champion. "It's attainable, it's right there. We just need to go out and do what we've been doing, and that's going rounds, going to the semifinals and the finals. Maybe we can get into our fourth final of the year in Reading and win the race. Winning right before we go to Indy would be fantastic.
"It's going to get really busy for everybody here pretty quickly," he added. "And I'd love to start the weekend off by qualifying well, then rolling into Indy with a win under our belts.
"We're going to be testing at the track in Indianapolis next week, so we have a lot going on before the Countdown begins. There's a lot of people dancing for position out there, and we realize that. But now that we're in the Countdown it does take some pressure off.
"It would be perfect if we could win again in Reading. I'm one of those people who does not like to go a year without a win and it's been well over a year now since the Las Vegas 1 win last year. So, we need to step up and win one for Don Schumacher Racing, FRAM Tough Guard and all the sponsors, and that's what we're going to try to do."
McClenathan was also low qualifier in Reading in 1992.
CORY MCCLENATHAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 5 in 2009 Top Fuel point standings, with three runner-up, three semifinal, seven quarterfinal and three first-round finishes in first 16 events of season
* Thirteen points out of fourth place in standings
* Reading winner in 1997
* Reading low qualifier in 1992
* Qualified No. 10 in 2008 Reading, lost first round to Antron Brown
* No. 3 in 2008 Top Fuel point standings, including one win in three final rounds, as well as eight semifinal, six quarterfinal, seven first-round finishes and two No. 1 qualifiers
* Has 30 career Top Fuel victories in 56 final rounds
* First driver to break the 320-mph barrier with 322.17-mph run in Dallas in 1997
* Has recorded 454 career round wins in Top Fuel
* Qualified No. 1 32 times, with a career-high seven times in 1993
* Recorded 400th round win in Top Fuel in Richmond 2007
* Has finished No. 2 in the standings four times (1992, 1995, 1997 and 1998)
* Finished No. 10 in rookie season in 1991; made first 4-second run
* Made NHRA history with first run in the 4.70s (4.799) at Reading in 1992
* 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)
* Missed four races in 1993 after crash in Rockingham and still finished sixth in the Top Fuel points
* Age 46 (January 30, 1963); born in Wichita, Kansas, now lives in Brownsburg, Ind.; daughter Courtney (10/25/90)
* Joined Don Schumacher Racing in 2008; 2009 is fourth season with sponsorship from FRAM
Cory Mac Facebook Fan Page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brown...N/Cory-Mac/74199417179?v=wall&viewas=14308109
Cory Mac Fanatics Group:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brownsburg-IN/Cory-Mac/74199417179?ref=ts#/group.php?gid=73981312612
On Twitter he may be followed on Cory Mac (Cory_Mac_TF) on Twitter
SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, Aug. 21 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 3 and 6 p.m.
SATURDAY, Aug. 22 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
SUNDAY, Aug. 23 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m. FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11 a.m.
TELEVISION:
Sunday, Aug. 23, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 1 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, Aug. 23, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will telecast NHRA Race Day at 11:30 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, Aug. 23, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of final round eliminations at 10 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE (Analog feed):
Friday, Aug. 21, 8:30 - 9 p.m. (ET), AMC 15 / Transponder 6K (11820 MHz, horizontal)
Saturday, Aug. 22, 6:30 - 7 p.m. (ET), AMC 15 / Transponder 6K (11820 MHz, horizontal)
Sunday, Aug. 23, 6:30 - 7 p.m. (ET), AMC 15 / Transponder 6K (11820 MHz, horizontal)
Video news release contains race action highlights each day and winners’ interviews on Sunday.
