Memphis: Cory McClenathan Saturday summary

Cory McClenathan No. 4 for tomorrow's eliminations MILLINGTON, Tenn. (August 20, 2005) -- As both air and track temperatures soared to triple digits, this weekend's 18th annual NHRA O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals ranked among the hottest at Memphis ...

Cory McClenathan No. 4 for tomorrow's eliminations

MILLINGTON, Tenn. (August 20, 2005) -- As both air and track temperatures soared to triple digits, this weekend's 18th annual NHRA O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals ranked among the hottest at Memphis Motorsports Park.

Trying to keep pace with the heat, at the end of four qualifying passes -- two on Friday and two today -- Cory McClenathan placed the Carrier Boyz Racing FRAM AirHog Top Fuel dragster in the No. 4 spot for tomorrow's eliminations.

Prior to the race, McClenathan indicated that "the high heat changes the way the car runs and how hard you can push it," and that crew chief Todd Smith and clutch specialist Bob Bauer would "back the tune up down and try to run some easy numbers the first pass."

Smith and Bauer did just that, as McClenathan recorded an opening qualifying run of 4.865 seconds, placing the FRAM AirHog in the top half of the field at No. 8. The tuning duo then begin to step the set up back up running an elapsed time of 4.673 seconds in the cooler night session, ending the first day of qualifying No. 6.

In Saturday's first session, in the brutal heat of afternoon, Todd Smith was shooting for a pass in the high 4.60s. McClenathan was on pace for that number when he hazed the tires around 900-feet and crossed the finish line in 5.268 seconds at a slowing 190 mph.

The final session was McClenathan's best -- a run of 4.640 seconds.

"That's what we've been looking for," said McClenathan, at the top end following the pass. "We hazed the tires earlier today and the Todd and Bob made a few changes and we drove right through it that time. In the heat all the crew has done a good job under tough conditions."

"In closing, I would like to say hi to the guys from PurePower and Fabtech back home. I love you guys. Thanks for all your help."

Entering tomorrow's eliminations for the O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals, McClenathan is No. 9 in the NHRA POWERade Top Fuel point standings.

McClenathan will square off against Mitch King in the opening round tomorrow. King qualified No. 13 with an elapsed time of 4.901 seconds.