MCCLENATHAN EYES MOVE UP IN STANDINGS IN READING
<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/c_mcclenathan_9771.jpg" alt="c_mcclenathan_9771" align="left"borders="0"/>
INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 12, 2008) – With only two races to go until the beginning of the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series' Countdown to 1 playoffs, Cory McClenathan has already clinched a berth and is now looking to gain ground in the Top Fuel point standings.
The driver of the FRAM Top Fuel dragster for Don Schumacher Racing comes into the 24th annual NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway outside of Reading, Pa., fresh from a runner-up performance in Brainerd, Minn., last Sunday which moved him up one spot to No. 4 in the tight class point standings, just one marker out of No. 3.
McClenathan has tasted success at Maple Grove in the past, where he became the first driver in history to break the 4.70-second barrier (4.799) in 1992 and won the event over Kenny Bernstein in 1997.
"We've had some success there and it's always nice to go to a track where you've done well in the past," he said. "(Crew chief) Mike Green and I have also done very well there before and having him on my side right now is a great thing because we always seem to do well during the latter part of the season.
"I'm very confident right now. I know I have a good hot rod under me and I just want to go out there and drive it and have some fun and not look back right now. We had a great race points-wise last weekend and we clinched a spot in the Countdown so we just want to keep on going and forget about the rest of the people and race our own race and race the race track. It's just about going rounds right now and trying to better our position when they shuffle the points after Indy (the U.S. Nationals on Labor Day weekend)."
McClenathan will kick off his weekend in Reading by participating in the NHRA Softball Classic, a charity game between NHRA drivers slated for Aug. 14 at the Reading Phillies’ FirstEnergy Stadium. "I'm looking forward to the softball game this week," he added. "It's for DRAW and it’s a great cause with the proceeds going to all the injured racers and anybody that really needs help in the drag racing arena. They do a great job helping us all out. I just want to go out there and put on a good show and have a good time. I'm looking forward to it."
Game day will begin with an autograph session from 5 to 6 p.m. and continue with the first pitch at 7 p.m. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit DRAW (Drag Racing Association of Women), a group that in addition to providing emotional support has since 1985 given more than $3 million to injured drag racers.
Tickets for the NHRA Softball Classic may be purchased through the Reading Phillies ticket office at FirstEnergy Stadium, by visiting readingphillies.com <http://www.readingphillies.com> or by calling (610) 375-8469.
CORY McCLENATHAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 4 in Top Fuel point standings after 16 events in 2008 (one win in three final rounds, four semifinal, three quarterfinal, five first-round finishes)
* No. 11 qualifier at last year's Brainerd event, advanced to the quarterfinals
* Reading TF winner in 1997 (Kenny Bernstein)
* Qualified No. 1 in Reading in 1992
* Won the NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas April 13 this year, his 30th career Top Fuel victory in 53 final rounds
* Runner-up in 2008 season-opening race in Pomona and in Brainerd
* Finished 2007 season 12th in Top Fuel points, the first time out of the top 10 since 2001
* Has recorded 420 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 53 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="left"borders="0"/>
INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 12, 2008) – With only two races to go until the beginning of the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series' Countdown to 1 playoffs, Cory McClenathan has already clinched a berth and is now looking to gain ground in the Top Fuel point standings.
The driver of the FRAM Top Fuel dragster for Don Schumacher Racing comes into the 24th annual NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway outside of Reading, Pa., fresh from a runner-up performance in Brainerd, Minn., last Sunday which moved him up one spot to No. 4 in the tight class point standings, just one marker out of No. 3.
McClenathan has tasted success at Maple Grove in the past, where he became the first driver in history to break the 4.70-second barrier (4.799) in 1992 and won the event over Kenny Bernstein in 1997.
"We've had some success there and it's always nice to go to a track where you've done well in the past," he said. "(Crew chief) Mike Green and I have also done very well there before and having him on my side right now is a great thing because we always seem to do well during the latter part of the season.
"I'm very confident right now. I know I have a good hot rod under me and I just want to go out there and drive it and have some fun and not look back right now. We had a great race points-wise last weekend and we clinched a spot in the Countdown so we just want to keep on going and forget about the rest of the people and race our own race and race the race track. It's just about going rounds right now and trying to better our position when they shuffle the points after Indy (the U.S. Nationals on Labor Day weekend)."
McClenathan will kick off his weekend in Reading by participating in the NHRA Softball Classic, a charity game between NHRA drivers slated for Aug. 14 at the Reading Phillies’ FirstEnergy Stadium. "I'm looking forward to the softball game this week," he added. "It's for DRAW and it’s a great cause with the proceeds going to all the injured racers and anybody that really needs help in the drag racing arena. They do a great job helping us all out. I just want to go out there and put on a good show and have a good time. I'm looking forward to it."
Game day will begin with an autograph session from 5 to 6 p.m. and continue with the first pitch at 7 p.m. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit DRAW (Drag Racing Association of Women), a group that in addition to providing emotional support has since 1985 given more than $3 million to injured drag racers.
Tickets for the NHRA Softball Classic may be purchased through the Reading Phillies ticket office at FirstEnergy Stadium, by visiting readingphillies.com <http://www.readingphillies.com> or by calling (610) 375-8469.
CORY McCLENATHAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 4 in Top Fuel point standings after 16 events in 2008 (one win in three final rounds, four semifinal, three quarterfinal, five first-round finishes)
* No. 11 qualifier at last year's Brainerd event, advanced to the quarterfinals
* Reading TF winner in 1997 (Kenny Bernstein)
* Qualified No. 1 in Reading in 1992
* Won the NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas April 13 this year, his 30th career Top Fuel victory in 53 final rounds
* Runner-up in 2008 season-opening race in Pomona and in Brainerd
* Finished 2007 season 12th in Top Fuel points, the first time out of the top 10 since 2001
* Has recorded 420 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 53 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
