Sonoma: Cory McClenathan Saturday notes

MCCLENATHAN IS NO. 13 IN QUALIFYING AT FRAM-AUTOLITE NATIONALS

SONOMA, Calif. (July 26, 2008) -- FRAM Top Fuel dragster driver Cory McClenathan qualified No. 13 at the FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals at beautiful Infineon Raceway today. McClenathan recorded his quickest elapsed time of 3.988 seconds at 301.67 mph during the final qualifying session after entering today's rounds outside the top 12 on the Top Fuel ladder.

He recorded runs of 7.259/82.03 (No. 16) and 3.950/293.09 (No. 15) on Friday, and a 5.605/112.79 (No. 15) earlier today before moving up to 13th on his last attempt. With clear blue skies and a hot California sun beating down on the racing surface throughout qualifying the track proved to be tricky for the FRAM team.

"We've been off this weekend," said McClenathan, who won the FRAM-Autolite Nationals in 1997, sweeping the Western Swing that year, and was runner-up here in 1993. "It was a combination of things. Mike Green (crew chief), Neal Strausbaugh (assistant crew chief) and Alan Johnson (crew chief U.S. Army dragster) sat down and put their heads together and they got it figured out.

"I think we've got a good solid race car. That 3.98-second elapsed time during the last session was up there with the best of them, so I'm happy. We've got Doug Herbert first round and I'm good with that. Doug is a good competitor and I've known him a lot of years. He's had a pretty good car lately and we have a good car also, but it's a FRAM race and I'd like to put the FRAM Top Fuel dragster in the winner's circle."

-credit: dsr