Carrier Boyz Racing: McClenathan No. 2 in Chicagoland
CARRIER BOYZ RACING ANDY CARRIER and MARK CARRIER -- OWNERS NHRA POWERADE DRAG RACING SERIES FRAM AIRHOG TOP FUEL DRAGSTER CORY McCLENATHAN -- DRIVER TODD SMITH - CREW CHIEF FIFTH ANNUAL NHRA AMERIQUEST MORTGAGE NATIONALS ROUTE 66 RACEWAY - JOLIET, ILL. SEPTEMBER 29-OCTOBER 2, 2005 Qualifying: Session 1 Friday: 11.713 seconds at 75.96 mph (# 21) Session 2 Friday: 4.466 seconds at 328.14 mph (# 2) Session 1 Saturday: 4.589 seconds at 324.05 mph (# 2) Session 2 Saturday: 9.912 seconds at 78.29 mph (# 2) McClenathan No. 2 in Chicagoland JOLIET, Ill. (October 1, 2005) - Qualifying for the fifth annual NHRA Ameriquest Mortgage Nationals, the final fall race at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill., came to an end today with Cory McClenathan, driver of the Carrier Boyz Racing FRAM AirHog Top Fuel dragster, in the No. 2 position. The opening day of qualifying was a 50-50 proposition for McClenathan. In Friday's opening qualifying session, he shook his big Goodyear tires and quickly shutoff. The evening session was a different story. Using the tuning of crew chief Todd Smith and the expertise of clutch specialist Bob Bauer, McClenathan's FRAM AirHog dragster blazed the Route 66 Raceway quarter-mile in 4.466 seconds, one of four drivers to dip into the 4.40-second range. Excepting the 4.437 seconds run of Tony Schumacher, the third quickest Top Fuel pass on record, McClenathan ended the day No. 2. In the final two qualifying today, it was another 50-50 day. McClenathan, although not as quick or fast as his Friday evening run, ran an elapsed times of 4.589 in the first Saturday pass. Tire smoke in the final session ended qualifying for Cory Mac and the Carrier Boyz Racing team. "This Fram AirHog team is getting better and better as the season is coming to an end," said McClenathan. "While we still are going after a win in these last four races, I think we now have something good to work with for next year. We're getting better as a team. Todd Smith (crew chief) and Bob Bauer (clutch specialist) are getting this car working and reacting to the changes they make. I'm really proud of the whole team. "To be number two here at Chicago is a testimony to them. Everyone knows how fast this track is and this weekend has been no exception. The good news is that we were fast right along with everybody else. Now we need to go rounds tomorrow." BUDWEISER SHOOTOUT UPDATE: McClenathan entered qualifying for the Ameriquest Mortgage Nationals No. 7 in the eight-car field for the Budweiser Shootout, just five points behind David Grubnic in sixth and 10 points ahead of Scott Kalitta in eighth. .By qualifying second here in Joliet, McClenathan picked up 65 points on Grubnic, who qualified 13th, and 50 points on Kalitta, who qualified 10th. This unofficially moves Cory Mac around Grubnic by 60 points and into sixth. He now leads Kalitta and Grubnic, who are tied for seventh, by 60 points. Only one race remains at which drivers may qualify for the Budweiser Shootout, a special event held on Sat., Oct. 22, during the NHRA ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Only the top seven point earners are guaranteed a spot in the eight-car Shootout field, The eighth position will be determined by a lottery-style drawing from the eighth through 15th qualifiers. ELIMINATIONS: McClenathan begins his quest for the Top Fuel title on Sunday with eliminations for all classes getting underway at 11 a.m. Time is local Chicago/Joliet time -- Central Time (CT) - 1 hour behind Eastern Time (ET) -- and subject to change at anytime. TELEVISION: ESPN2 will air three hours of same-day television coverage of eliminations beginning at 8 p.m. on Sunday evening (Oct. 2). The elimination show repeats on ESPN2 Thursday morning, Oct. 13, from 3 until 5 a.m. Also, tune in to NHRA2Day on ESPN2, the weekly show that gives you the latest information about the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. NHRA2Day can be seen on Sunday morning, Oct. 2 at 11:30 a.m. Television times are Eastern Time (ET) and subject to change at anytime. Check local listings. Headquartered in Danbury, Conn., FRAM®, the official filter of the NHRA®, is a unit of Honeywell Consumer Products Group, which manufactures and markets the FRAM AirHog^(TM) air filter and other quality FRAM automotive filters. The Honeywell Consumer Products Group also includes Prestone® antifreeze/coolant and car care products, Autolite® spark plugs and ignition wire sets and Holts® car care products. For additional information visit the following websites: FRAM at www.fram.com and FRAM AirHog at www.framairhog.com or call 1-800-862-7737. For 2005, Carrier Boyz Racing and primary marketing partners FRAM and Honeywell welcome the support of our associate marketing partners: American Racing Wheels, Autolite Spark Plugs, Bendix by Honeywell, Fabtech Performance Suspension, GMC, Mac Tools, Prestone, PurePower Lubricants and Torco Race Fuels/Skull Gear. Visit our website at www.carrierboyzracing.com for the most current team news, race results and team merchandise.