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INDIANAPOLIS (March 26, 2008) – As most drivers do, Cory McClenathan likes certain race tracks more than others, and he especially likes the ones where he's been successful. That's why the driver of the FRAM Top Fuel dragster is excited about competing in this weekend's NHRA Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park.
McClenathan will be gunning for his third career Top Fuel victory at the famous Texas facility, the fourth stop on the 24-event 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series schedule.
The driver known as "Cory Mac" has reached the Top Fuel final round four times at HRP, winning in 1998 and 2000 (at the discontinued fall event) and finishing runner-up in 2003 and 2005. He also qualified No. 1 in 2006. Reunited with former crew chief Mike Green and racing under the Don Schumacher Racing umbrella in 2008, Top Fuel's most tenured driver is off to a solid start this season.
"Sometimes you go to these race tracks where you've done well and you're not exactly sure why," said McClenathan. "Houston would be one of those places for me. It doesn't matter what kind of year I'm having. For some reason when we get to Houston all of a sudden things turn around. We've won there a couple of times and we've lost there in the final a few times. It's one of those places on the tour I like strictly because we've run well there and we've enjoyed lots of success."
McClenathan began the 2008 season with a runner-up finish at the Winternationals in Pomona, Calif., and enters the Spring Nationals eighth in the point standings. Crew chief Mike Green and the FRAM Top Fuel dragster crew are currently running one of the most consistent Top Fuel cars on the tour.
"It seems like we're one of those cars that are just a win waiting to happen," added McClenathan. "We'd love to go to Houston and win a few rounds, make it to the final and win it all. But in all reality we need to take one round at a time and qualify one round at a time. I'm excited about the opportunity to do well this weekend and get back up in the top five in points, which is where we should be.
"The FRAM car stays very consistent and that’s what wins races. But we do want to pick up our performance a little bit. We want to be able to run with our teammate Tony Schumacher and some of the top guys and be able to do it consistently. Mike is not a crew chief who's going to make big changes, so we'll take a little bit at a time."
Rain washed out half of qualifying at the last two races and also a full day of qualifying at last year's Spring Nationals. Cory Mac realizes the importance of getting all of qualifying completed this weekend.
"We need four good qualifying runs. Mike gets a lot of good data that way. From our standpoint, confidence is everything and the more runs you make the better you feel. We just hope it stays dry. There are a lot of good fans there in Texas and we're looking forward to seeing them all."
CORY McCLENATHAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 8 in Top Fuel point standings after three events in 2008
* Runner-up in season-opening race in Pomona, appearing in 51st final round
* Qualified No. 16 at 2007 Houston Spring Nationals, lost first round to Whit Bazemore
* Two-time Houston winner (1998 at Houston 1, 2000 at Houston 2)
* Two-time Houston runner-up (2003, 2005)
* No. 1 qualifier in 2006 in Houston
* Has recorded 403 round wins
* Finished 2007 season 12th in Top Fuel points, the first time out of the top 10 since 2001
* Runner-up in St. Louis in only final-round appearance
* Recorded 400th round win in Top Fuel in Richmond 2007
* Has 29 Top Fuel victories in 51 final round appearances, fourth among active drivers on all-time wins list
* Has finished No. 2 in the standings four times (1992, 1995, 1997 and 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 30 races, including a career-high seven 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
EVENT SCHEDULE: Pro qualifying sessions are scheduled for 2 and 5 p.m. on Friday, March 28. Qualifying continues at 11:15 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 29 and final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, March 30.
ON TV: ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise qualifying highlights at 4:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, March 29. ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute pre-race show, at 11 a.m. (ET) on Sunday, March 30. ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise the race beginning at 4:30 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, March 30.
ON THE WEB: Get live timing, scoring, multimedia and the latest news updates from every NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event on the Internet at NHRA.com.
MCCLENATHAN LOOKING FOR THIRD HOUSTON VICTORY
INDIANAPOLIS (March 26, 2008) – As most drivers do, Cory McClenathan likes certain race tracks more than others, and he especially likes the ones where he's been successful. That's why the driver of the FRAM Top Fuel dragster is excited about competing in this weekend's NHRA Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park.
McClenathan will be gunning for his third career Top Fuel victory at the famous Texas facility, the fourth stop on the 24-event 2008 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series schedule.
The driver known as "Cory Mac" has reached the Top Fuel final round four times at HRP, winning in 1998 and 2000 (at the discontinued fall event) and finishing runner-up in 2003 and 2005. He also qualified No. 1 in 2006. Reunited with former crew chief Mike Green and racing under the Don Schumacher Racing umbrella in 2008, Top Fuel's most tenured driver is off to a solid start this season.
"Sometimes you go to these race tracks where you've done well and you're not exactly sure why," said McClenathan. "Houston would be one of those places for me. It doesn't matter what kind of year I'm having. For some reason when we get to Houston all of a sudden things turn around. We've won there a couple of times and we've lost there in the final a few times. It's one of those places on the tour I like strictly because we've run well there and we've enjoyed lots of success."
McClenathan began the 2008 season with a runner-up finish at the Winternationals in Pomona, Calif., and enters the Spring Nationals eighth in the point standings. Crew chief Mike Green and the FRAM Top Fuel dragster crew are currently running one of the most consistent Top Fuel cars on the tour.
"It seems like we're one of those cars that are just a win waiting to happen," added McClenathan. "We'd love to go to Houston and win a few rounds, make it to the final and win it all. But in all reality we need to take one round at a time and qualify one round at a time. I'm excited about the opportunity to do well this weekend and get back up in the top five in points, which is where we should be.
"The FRAM car stays very consistent and that’s what wins races. But we do want to pick up our performance a little bit. We want to be able to run with our teammate Tony Schumacher and some of the top guys and be able to do it consistently. Mike is not a crew chief who's going to make big changes, so we'll take a little bit at a time."
Rain washed out half of qualifying at the last two races and also a full day of qualifying at last year's Spring Nationals. Cory Mac realizes the importance of getting all of qualifying completed this weekend.
"We need four good qualifying runs. Mike gets a lot of good data that way. From our standpoint, confidence is everything and the more runs you make the better you feel. We just hope it stays dry. There are a lot of good fans there in Texas and we're looking forward to seeing them all."
CORY McCLENATHAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 8 in Top Fuel point standings after three events in 2008
* Runner-up in season-opening race in Pomona, appearing in 51st final round
* Qualified No. 16 at 2007 Houston Spring Nationals, lost first round to Whit Bazemore
* Two-time Houston winner (1998 at Houston 1, 2000 at Houston 2)
* Two-time Houston runner-up (2003, 2005)
* No. 1 qualifier in 2006 in Houston
* Has recorded 403 round wins
* Finished 2007 season 12th in Top Fuel points, the first time out of the top 10 since 2001
* Runner-up in St. Louis in only final-round appearance
* Recorded 400th round win in Top Fuel in Richmond 2007
* Has 29 Top Fuel victories in 51 final round appearances, fourth among active drivers on all-time wins list
* Has finished No. 2 in the standings four times (1992, 1995, 1997 and 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 30 races, including a career-high seven 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
EVENT SCHEDULE: Pro qualifying sessions are scheduled for 2 and 5 p.m. on Friday, March 28. Qualifying continues at 11:15 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 29 and final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, March 30.
ON TV: ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise qualifying highlights at 4:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, March 29. ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute pre-race show, at 11 a.m. (ET) on Sunday, March 30. ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise the race beginning at 4:30 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, March 30.
ON THE WEB: Get live timing, scoring, multimedia and the latest news updates from every NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event on the Internet at NHRA.com.
