Get FRAM Boost Dragster Back into Top 10

Cory Mac, Carrier Boyz Racing Look for Comeback at Torco Racing Fuels Nationals after First-round Finish at Maple Grove Sunday.

That was the position taken by Cory McClenathan and the FRAM Boost Top Fuel team Sunday afternoon following their first-round finish in the rain-delayed Toyo Tires Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway.

They don't have to wait long. NHRA's return to Virginia Motorsports Park near Richmond for the first time since 2000 begins with Friday afternoon qualifying at 3:30 and 6:30 p.m.

"We need to rebound going into the last three races of the year," said McClenathan following his disappointing loss to J.R. Todd. That result, coupled with Todd's race victory dropped McClenathan into 11th place in POWERade Series points with 857. Todd is 22 points ahead of him.

McClenathan was very successful in his earlier trips to the Commonwealth State, winning in 1995, 1998 and 1999 and finishing second in 1997.

"I'm excited to be going back to Virginia because I have run really well there and because Evan Knoll's Torco Racing Fuels is the race sponsor and an associate sponsor on our team. We need to get things turned around so we can get back in the top 10 and time is running out," added McClenathan.

"We put together two good qualifying runs in the mid-4.50s at Reading but we just gave it away in the first round Sunday. We didn't get 60 feet before the tires lost traction and went up in smoke. We all know we can do a better job . . . and now is the time to start."

Todd won Sunday with 4.595-second run at 316.01 mph while Cory Mac coasted through in 13.254 seconds at 79.33 mph.

"Twenty-two points are just a little more than one round of racing," McClenathan concluded. "We aren't that far out of the top 10 and there are still 12 rounds of racing remaining in the season."

Races at Las Vegas (Oct. 27-29) and Pomona, Calif. (Nov. 9-12) are the last 2006 series stops.

Torco Racing Fuels Nationals qualifying concludes Saturday with attempts at 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. and eliminations get underway Sunday at 11 a.m.