FRAM Top Fuel dragster driver Cory McClenathan qualified No. 6 today at the 44th annual NHRA Finals at Pomona Raceway, the final race of the 2008 POWERade Drag Racing Series.
The two-time event winner made his best run on his final attempt with an elapsed time of 3.855 seconds at 314.31 mph to qualify in the top half of the field for the 16th time this season. His other qualifying runs included a 5.734/110.04 (No. 17) on Thursday, a 3.895/306.40 (No. 9) on Friday and a 3.903/311.20 (No. 10) on his first try today.
“The FRAM dragster has been stepping up a little bit on each run,” said McClenathan, who is No. 4 in the points and aiming for No. 2 to finish out the year. “We’ve run pretty well this weekend so far. Considering the overall points, I would have liked to have qualified ahead of Larry Dixon and Hillary Will, but it just wasn’t going to happen that way.” Will, No. 3 qualifier, is second in points and Dixon, No. 2 qualifier, is in fifth, just one point behind McClenathan.
With Antron Brown, who is No. 3 in the Countdown to 1 standings, not qualifying today, McClenathan has a strong chance to move closer to his goal. If he defeats his first-round opponent Doug Kalitta, he could face Will in the second stanza. Dixon is also on the same side of the ladder.
“We’ve got some tough customers on our side of the ladder tomorrow. Doug Kalitta is a great driver, probably one of the best, if not the best, Top Fuel drivers out here. The FRAM dragster has its work cut out for it, but if you’re going to race them, why not race the tough ones and Doug is obviously a tough customer.
“We’ll just take it one round at a time, but our goal is to go farther than anybody else tomorrow. Hopefully that’s the case.”
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