BROWNSBURG, Ind. (April 14, 2010) - NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Top Fuel points leader Cory McClenathan aims to keep up the momentum he and the FRAM team have enjoyed this season at this weekend's 11th annual NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
McClenathan has two season victories in as many final rounds under his belt and leads Larry Dixon by 28 markers in the standings. The FRAM dragster has been running consistently strong throughout the season and he anticipates nothing less at The Strip this weekend following his semifinal finish in Houston last Sunday.
"We've done very well in Vegas, and we look forward to getting to Vegas this weekend and getting right back in the car," he said. "It's the nice thing about back-to-back races. You don't have much time to worry about what happened in the week prior.
"We've had such a good car this year, I can't find any reason to complain, that's for sure.
"The FRAM guys have a lot of work ahead of them after last weekend and I'm sure they're looking forward to getting back out and start qualifying again. It looks like the weather is going to be good in Vegas and we always know the track will be good there. It's another Bruton Smith track, so we're looking forward to it."
Last year at this event, "Cory Mac" qualified No. 5 and lost second round to his Don Schumacher Racing teammate Tony Schumacher.
CORY MCCLENATHAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 1 in 2010 point standings, after two semifinal finishes and two victories (in two final rounds) in the first five races; 28 points ahead of Larry Dixon
* Is the 2002 and 2008 Las Vegas 1 champion
* Qualified No. 5 in 2009 LV1; lost second round to Tony Schumacher
* No. 4 in 2009 year-end standings with a victory in Concord, N.C., the opening round of the playoffs
* Had one win in four final rounds in 2009, plus five semifinal and six quarterfinal finishes
* Has two No. 1 qualifiers so far in 2010
* Qualified No. 1 once in 2009 (Bristol);
* No. 5 in 2009 "regular season" Top Fuel point standings
* No. 3 in 2008 Top Fuel point standings, including one win in three final rounds, as well as eight semifinal, six quarterfinal, seven first-round finishes and two No. 1 qualifiers
* Has 33 career Top Fuel victories in 59 final rounds
* Career-best elapsed time to 1000 feet: 3.784 seconds (Richmond '09)
* Career-best speed to 1000 feet: 322.50 mph (Gainesville 2010)
* First driver to break the 320-mph barrier with 322.17-mph run in Dallas in 1997
* Has recorded 479 career round wins in Top Fuel
* Qualified No. 1 35 times, with a career-high seven times in 1993
* Recorded 400th round win in Top Fuel in Richmond 2007
* Has finished No. 2 in the standings four times (1992, 1995, 1997 and 1998)
* Finished No. 10 in rookie season in 1991; made first 4-second run
* Made NHRA history with first run in the 4.70s (4.799) at Reading in 1992
* Swept the three-race Western Swing in 1997 en route to four consecutive wins and career-high six victories in eight final rounds
* Won four of the first six races in 1998. Equaled career-best with six wins in eight finals
* Won the U.S. Nationals twice (1996, 1999)
* Missed four races in 1993 after crash in Rockingham and still finished sixth in the Top Fuel points
* Age 46 (January 30, 1963); born in Wichita, Kansas, now lives in Brownsburg, Ind.; daughter Courtney (10/25/90); engaged to Debi
* Joined Don Schumacher Racing in 2008; 2010 is fifth season with sponsorship from FRAM
SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, April 16 - FULL THROTTLE SERIES qualifying at 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, April 17 – FULL THROTTLE SERIES qualifying at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
SUNDAY, April 18 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m. FULL THROTTLE SERIES eliminations begin at 11 a.m.
TELEVISION:
Saturday, April 17, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 6 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, April 18, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute news magazine show, at 10 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, April 18, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise three hours of coverage starting at 7 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE: Friday, April 16, 9:30 - 10 p.m. (ET), AMC 1 / Transponder 18K (12060 MHz, vertical) (Analog feed)
Saturday, April 17, 8:30 - 9 p.m. (ET), AMC 1 / Transponder 18K (12060 MHz, vertical)
Sunday, April 18, 10:30 - 11 p.m. (ET), AMC 1 / Transponder 18K (12060 MHz, vertical)
Video news release contains race action highlights each day and winners’ interviews on Sunday.
