[coverattach=1]MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Oct. 2, 2009) - Cory McClenathan had a brief taste of being the Top Fuel points leader in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series this year after his victory in Concord, N.C., the first time he had led the standings since 1998. Now in third after the Texas race last Sunday, the Countdown to 1 playoffs could easily re-shuffle again as the NHRA circus continues at this weekend's NHRA Mid-South Nationals at Memphis Motorsports Park for the third of the final six events before a champion is crowned.
McClenathan, who is only 54 points out of first place, is a two-time winner in Memphis, in 1992 and 1995, and No. 1 qualifier in 1994 and 1997. Driving the FRAM Tough Guard Top Fuel dragster for Don Schumacher Racing, his goals are simple.
"We're just trying to go round by round and try to keep up with (first-place) Tony Schumacher and (second-place) Larry Dixon and try not to worry about who's behind us,” he said. “But, at the same time, we have some people right on our tail, (Antron Brown, Shawn Langdon, Brandon Bernstein, et al), so we need to go in here, qualify well, and try to go to the semis.
"That's our thing, to go to the semis. Everything else is just icing on the cake. So, we're going to work hard and I'm sure (crew chiefs) Todd (Okuhara), Phil (Shuler) and the FRAM Tough Guard boys are ready for this weekend as well as I am."
* No. 3 in Countdown to 1 playoffs standings with a victory in Concord, N.C., the opening round of the playoffs
* Just 54 points out of first place
* Four final rounds so far in 2009 (one win)
* No. 5 in 2009 "regular season" Top Fuel point standings, with three runner-up, three semifinal, nine quarterfinal and three first-round finishes in first 18 events of season
* Qualified No. 10 in 2008 Memphis event, lost second round to Hillary Will
* 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 31 career Top Fuel victories in 57 final rounds
* First driver to break the 320-mph barrier with 322.17-mph run in Dallas in 1997
* Has recorded 461 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:
Cory Mac | Facebook
Cory Mac Fanatics Group:
Cory Mac | Facebook
On Twitter he may be followed on Cory Mac (Cory_Mac_TF) on Twitter
SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, Oct. 2 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 2:15 and 4:45 p.m.
SATURDAY, Oct. 3 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 11:15 a.m. and 2:15 p.m.
SUNDAY, Oct. 4 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m. FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11 a.m.
TELEVISION:
Saturday, Oct. 3, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 10:30 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, Oct. 4, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute news magazine show, at 11 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, Oct. 4, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of eliminations at 7 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE (Analog feed) :
Friday, Oct. 2, 8 - 8:30 p.m. (ET), AMC 16 / Transponder 14K (11980 MHz, horizontal)
Saturday, Oct. 3, 7:30 - 8 p.m. (ET), AMC 16 / Transponder 14K (11980 MHz, horizontal)
Sunday, Oct. 4, 7 - 7:30 p.m. (ET), AMC 16 / Transponder 14K (11980 MHz, horizontal)
Video news release contains race action highlights each day and winners’ interviews on Sunday.
McClenathan, who is only 54 points out of first place, is a two-time winner in Memphis, in 1992 and 1995, and No. 1 qualifier in 1994 and 1997. Driving the FRAM Tough Guard Top Fuel dragster for Don Schumacher Racing, his goals are simple.
"We're just trying to go round by round and try to keep up with (first-place) Tony Schumacher and (second-place) Larry Dixon and try not to worry about who's behind us,” he said. “But, at the same time, we have some people right on our tail, (Antron Brown, Shawn Langdon, Brandon Bernstein, et al), so we need to go in here, qualify well, and try to go to the semis.
"That's our thing, to go to the semis. Everything else is just icing on the cake. So, we're going to work hard and I'm sure (crew chiefs) Todd (Okuhara), Phil (Shuler) and the FRAM Tough Guard boys are ready for this weekend as well as I am."
* No. 3 in Countdown to 1 playoffs standings with a victory in Concord, N.C., the opening round of the playoffs
* Just 54 points out of first place
* Four final rounds so far in 2009 (one win)
* No. 5 in 2009 "regular season" Top Fuel point standings, with three runner-up, three semifinal, nine quarterfinal and three first-round finishes in first 18 events of season
* Qualified No. 10 in 2008 Memphis event, lost second round to Hillary Will
* 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 31 career Top Fuel victories in 57 final rounds
* First driver to break the 320-mph barrier with 322.17-mph run in Dallas in 1997
* Has recorded 461 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:
Cory Mac | Facebook
Cory Mac Fanatics Group:
Cory Mac | Facebook
On Twitter he may be followed on Cory Mac (Cory_Mac_TF) on Twitter
SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, Oct. 2 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 2:15 and 4:45 p.m.
SATURDAY, Oct. 3 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 11:15 a.m. and 2:15 p.m.
SUNDAY, Oct. 4 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m. FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11 a.m.
TELEVISION:
Saturday, Oct. 3, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 10:30 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, Oct. 4, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute news magazine show, at 11 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, Oct. 4, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of eliminations at 7 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE (Analog feed) :
Friday, Oct. 2, 8 - 8:30 p.m. (ET), AMC 16 / Transponder 14K (11980 MHz, horizontal)
Saturday, Oct. 3, 7:30 - 8 p.m. (ET), AMC 16 / Transponder 14K (11980 MHz, horizontal)
Sunday, Oct. 4, 7 - 7:30 p.m. (ET), AMC 16 / Transponder 14K (11980 MHz, horizontal)
Video news release contains race action highlights each day and winners’ interviews on Sunday.
