Indy ORP: Cory McClenathan Sunday report

MCCLENATHAN ENDS U.S. NATIONALS QUALIFYING IN NO. 2

CLERMONT, Ind. (Sept. 5, 2010) - After posting a No. 1 track-record run of 3.784 seconds at 323.66 mph on Friday night at the 56th annual U.S. Nationals, Cory McClenathan had to settle for No. 2 when Larry Dixon bumped him down on Saturday night with a new track record of 3.776/324.36.

In today's two final qualifying sessions, under a warm Indianapolis sun, McClenathan recorded a round-quick pass of 3.864/313.15, and a tire-smoking 5.023/140.23. He earned 11 bonus points for his and the FRAM Top Fuel dragster team's solid effort.

"It's kind of nice coming to a weekend where you have five runs," said McClenathan, who entered this first race of the Countdown to the Championship No. 2 in points. "Obviously, the Countdown and coming to Indy all in one weekend can be overwhelming, but we came out of here with 11 bonus points, which really helps us a lot. We're all greedy, we'd like to have more but, at the same time, I think we did well here. We're qualified No. 2. That's a big deal for us. It puts us on opposite sides of Dixon and that's big.

"(DSR teammate) Hot Rod Fuller ran good the last session (quickest of the round and No. 9 qualifier), and Tony Schumacher (No. 3) and Antron Brown (No. 5) are going to be right there.

"I see a lot of parity going into this first race of the Countdown."

McClenathan, of Fishers, Ind., faces Terry McMillen in the opening round of Monday's eliminations.

-source: dsr