Seattle: Cory McClenathan preview

McCLENATHAN 'SWEEPLESS' IN SEATTLE...BUT SET TO WIN A SECOND TIME

KENT, Wash. (July 15, 2009) - Cory McClenathan, who swept the Western Swing in 1997 by winning all three back-to-back-to-back events in Denver, Seattle and Sonoma, Calif., heads to this weekend's NHRA Northwest Nationals without the chance to do it again following a solid semifinal finish in Denver last Sunday. He does arrive, however, with a strong opportunity to win for the second time at Pacific Raceways.

Besides the ‘97 triumph here, the driver of the FRAM Tough Guard Top Fuel Dragster for Don Schumacher Racing also holds a stellar record of three runner-up finishes in America's Northwest corner: in 1993 (as low qualifier), '95 and '98.

"Seattle has always been good to me," said McClenathan, who stands fifth in the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Top Fuel points. “We've won here, we've qualified well here, and I expect no different this weekend."

As for coming off a mile-high experience in Denver down to sea level in Seattle, "These different conditions at race tracks don't seem to affect the FRAM Tough Guard guys whatsoever," said McClenathan. "Todd and Phil (crew chiefs Okuhara and Shuler) go to every single race track with the same attitude that this is our car, we race our car only, we don't worry about the other guy, we go A to B, and we let the chips fall where they may. I expect nothing less from them.

"They just go out there and read the track and get input from our 'track whisperer,' Lanny Miglizzi. Thank God we have Lanny; that helps us a lot.

"The FRAM Tough Guard guys are ultimate professionals. I couldn't dream to have a better team; I really couldn't. These guys are just that good. And I'm really proud of them and proud to be a part of this DSR team.

"I can't wait to get in the car this weekend and in Sonoma (the weekend following the Seattle event) and see what we can do, because we seem to have a good cool weather tune-up and a good hot weather tune-up. My competitors are no dummies. They know we're good and that we're going to be a player."

-credit: dsr