Phoenix: Cory McClenathan preview

McClenathan, FRAM/Torco/JEGS Top Fuel Team Look to Rebound at Phoenix

Cory McClenathan believes it is time to update his performance record at Firebird Raceway.

McClenathan grew up in Southern California but now lives in Lake Havasu City, Ariz. While the home of the old London Bridge is about 200 miles away, the veteran driver of the Carrier Boyz/Scott Griffin Racing FRAM/Torco/JEGS Top Fuel dragster is the only professional driver from Arizona competing regularly in NHRA's POWERade Series. And he'll be making his annual stop at Firebird for the Checkers Schuck's Kragen Nationals, Feb. 23-25.

Two of his 29 career victories have come at the Chandler track, but they came in the last century -- 1994 and 1998.

"We wanted to kick off the season on a solid note at Pomona (Calif., Feb. 11), but we didn't," said McClenathan. "It was disappointing to lose in the first round, but we did get to start in the quickest 16-car Top Fuel field in history. We are optimistic about racing at Firebird. We had some good numbers at the track during (January) testing.

"I think Wes and Tony (Cerny, the crew chief, and Shortall, the assistant crew chief, respectively) are looking forward to the race. It would be great for us to get a win at Firebird.

That would be special because one of our new associate sponsors is from Lake Havasu City, Nordic Boats USA.

"I want to thank Randy and Sandy Davis and all the people I've talked to at Nordic Boats for stepping into our drag racing world. They are working with me and Ashley Force this year. Their boats run the spectrum from mild to wild . . . like some of the rides I take in the Top Fuel dragster."

McClenathan qualified 10th and lost in the opening round of the Winternationals. The start was delayed by rain, which changed track conditions.

"We were the second pair out (on race day) and the car smoked the tires almost right away," McClenathan recalled. "It came too soon to get any momentum going. I pedaled the throttle several times but we couldn't catch Whit Bazemore.

"Those circumstances came because we didn't qualify well. We definitely want to improve on that this weekend, too."

Carrier Boyz Racing would like to thank the companies that help us stay competitive: FRAM, Torco Racing Fuels, JEGS, GMC, Mac Tools, Lucas Oil, Nordic Boats, Seelye-Wright Automotive Group and Lucas Cycles.

-credit: cbr