Once Cory McClenathan makes one qualifying pass in the FRAM Tough Guard Top Fuel dragster this weekend at the 28th annual NHRA Nationals at Brainerd (Minn.) International Raceway, he will have clinched a spot in the Countdown to 1 playoffs. That’s a good thing.
Winning the event is what “Cory Mac” is also aiming to accomplish. He’s been close this season in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, having reached the final round three times so far without taking the trophy. That, two semifinal finishes, 20 round wins and one pole position have placed him squarely in fifth place in the points rankings.
“The objective for me is still to go to every race and try to win,” said McClenathan, the 1997 Brainerd Top Fuel champion and runner-up last year, “and if we can end up moving up in points before the Countdown starts, that would be the optimum objective for me.” The playoffs for the top 10 in points begin following the U.S. Nationals on Labor Day for the final six events of the season.
“I’ve always done really well in Brainerd,” he added. “Won there once, been in two finals and was No. 1 qualifier twice (in 1992 and 1998). It’s just one of those places where we’ve done fairly well. Not great, but fairly well.
“It’s always fun to go there. We can’t wait to go to ‘the zoo’ during the weekend nights. That’s always big for the fans. I’m taking my 18-year-old daughter Courtney with me to this event and it will be great to spend some time with her.
“The FRAM Tough Guard guys are ready for it. We have two events in a row now (Reading, Pa., follows next weekend) and we have to concentrate on doing the best we can for these two races. And we have a good hot rod right now. We would have liked to have beaten Antron Brown in the final in Sonoma, but it gave us some momentum going into Brainerd. I don’t know what the weather is going to be like there, but if it’s going to be warm, we certainly have a good tune-up for it.”
Following the Western Swing (three straight events in Denver, Seattle and Sonoma, Calif.), where McClenathan scored semifinal, first-round and runner-up finishes, he and the FRAM Tough Guard team welcomed the two-week respite before Brainerd.
“I spent some time at home with family, tried to relax a little bit, went to the movies, did some yard work at the house - all the stuff most people find so boring but that I like to do.
“It was good for the FRAM guys to have some time off. We’re all now trying to get geared up for the next two events, and then get ready for the U.S. Nationals close to home in Indianapolis on Labor Day.”
CORY MCCLENATHAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 5 in 2009 Top Fuel point standings, with three runner-up, two semifinal, seven quarterfinal and three first-round finishes in first 15 events of season
* 125 points out of third place in standings
* Brainerd winner in 1997
* Brainerd runner-up in 2008
* No. 1 qualifier in Brainerd in 1992 and 1998
* Qualified No. 3 in 2008 Brainerd, lost final round to teammate Tony Schumacher
* No. 3 in 2008 Top Fuel point standings, including one win in three final rounds, as well as eight semifinal, six quarterfinal, seven first-round finishes and two No. 1 qualifiers
* Has 30 career Top Fuel victories in 56 final rounds
* First driver to break the 320-mph barrier with 322.17-mph run in Dallas in 1997
* Has recorded 452 career round wins in Top Fuel
* Qualified No. 1 32 times, with a career-high seven times in 1993
* Recorded 400th round win in Top Fuel in Richmond 2007
* Has finished No. 2 in the standings four times (1992, 1995, 1997 and 1998)
* Finished No. 10 in rookie season in 1991; made first 4-second run
* Made NHRA history with first run in the 4.70s (4.799) at Reading in 1992
* 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)
* Missed four races in 1993 after crash in Rockingham and still finished sixth in the Top Fuel points
* Age 46 (January 30, 1963); born in Wichita, Kansas, now lives in Brownsburg, Ind.; daughter Courtney (10/25/90)
* Joined Don Schumacher Racing in 2008; 2009 is fourth season with sponsorship from FRAM
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