Joliet: Cory McClenathan Friday summary

Cory Mac 10th after First Day at CarQuest Nationals
FRAM Boost Dragster Runs 4.576 Seconds

JOLIET, Ill., June 9, 2006 -- Cory McClenathan and the Carrier Boyz FRAM Boost Top Fuel team were relieved to leave Route 66 Raceway Friday night solidly in the field for Sunday's Carquest Auto Parts Nationals.

After his first run was disallowed when the dragster made a hard right-hand move just before the finish line, McClenathan guided the orange and black machine flawlessly down-track in 4.576 seconds at 327.98 mph on a cool, overcast evening to grab 10th place. Two more qualifying runs are scheduled on Saturday although rain is predicted to last most of the day.

"We had to get into the show on that run because we don't know what the weather will be like Saturday," McClenathan said. ""The guys did a great job. The car went straight down the track and got us into the lineup. I'm real happy. Wes (Cerny, team crew chief) and Tony (Shortall, assistant crew chief) did the smart thing . . . making sure we got in."

McClenathan said the car was on a "very, very good run" in the first session when it moved to the right. "I couldn't get it to move over and the right rear tire scraped the guard wall."

Because contact with the barrier took place just before the finish line, the run was automatically disqualified.

"I hope we have a chance to make two more runs Saturday so we can move up even more."

-cbr-