Memphis: Cory McCenathan preview

TWO-TIME MEMPHIS CHAMP MCCLENATHAN HAS SIMPLE GOALS

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Oct. 2, 2009) - Cory McClenathan had a brief taste of being the Top Fuel points leader in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series this year after his victory in Concord, N.C., the first time he had led the standings since 1998. Now in third after the Texas race last Sunday, the Countdown to 1 playoffs could easily re-shuffle again as the NHRA circus continues at this weekend's NHRA Mid-South Nationals at Memphis Motorsports Park for the third of the final six events before a champion is crowned.

McClenathan, who is only 54 points out of first place, is a two-time winner in Memphis, in 1992 and 1995, and No. 1 qualifier in 1994 and 1997. Driving the FRAM Tough Guard Top Fuel dragster for Don Schumacher Racing, his goals are simple.

"We're just trying to go round by round and try to keep up with (first-place) Tony Schumacher and (second-place) Larry Dixon and try not to worry about who's behind us,” he said. “But, at the same time, we have some people right on our tail, (Antron Brown, Shawn Langdon, Brandon Bernstein, et al), so we need to go in here, qualify well, and try to go to the semis.

"That's our thing, to go to the semis. Everything else is just icing on the cake. So, we're going to work hard and I'm sure (crew chiefs) Todd (Okuhara), Phil (Shuler) and the FRAM Tough Guard boys are ready for this weekend as well as I am."

-credit: dsr