NHRA: McClenathan Wishing For His First Victory At Bristol Dragway
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May 13, 2008
NHRA
INDIANAPOLIS – For FRAM Top Fuel dragster driver Cory McClenathan Bristol Dragway has been feast or famine. The feast came when he won $200,000 in the Top Fuel-vs.-Funny Car Invitational “Showdown” in 1999. The famine came when his dragster was destroyed in a spectacular accident in 2006.
McClenathan will be looking to turn things around with his first victory at Bristol Dragway this weekend at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, the eighth stop on the 24 race NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series tour.
The driver of the second Don Schumacher Racing Top Fuel dragster this year enters the Bristol event No. 5 in the Top Fuel point standings with one win (Las Vegas) and one runner-up (Atlanta).
“I’m excited about going back to Bristol,” said McClenathan enthusiastically. “The Bristol race has obviously had some very big highs and some extreme lows for me. Although we’ve never won a national event there, it was still the site of the biggest race of my life when I won the Invitational. The lows and highs are to be expected, but anything like the wreck in 2006 I can pretty much leave behind me, hopefully.
“This weekend I hope we can go out there with this FRAM Top Fuel dragster and win us a race. That would be great for the guys, great for me and good for the points and all the way around. We did a little testing when we were off and everything looks a lot better. We’ve had a little time to get caught up on everything, and the FRAM boys are ready to get back after it. It appears the weather is going to cooperate and there’s going to be lots of great fans. It looks like the track is going to be good, so we look forward to it.”
CORY McCLENATHAN QUICK FACTS:
* Won the NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas April 13, his 30th career Top Fuel victory in 52 final rounds
* No. 5 in Top Fuel point standings after seven events in 2008
* Runner-up in season-opening race in Pomona
* Won $200,000 Winston Showdown: Top Fuel vs. Funny Cars in 1999
* Finished 2007 season 12th in Top Fuel points, the first time out of the top 10 since 2001
* Has recorded 409 career round wins in Top Fuel
* Recorded 31st No. 1 qualifying spot Atlanta 2008
* 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 52 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 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
