Carrier Boyz Racing: Disappointing ending for Cory Mac at Texas Motorplex
Visit our website at www.carrierboyzracing.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 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 MEDIA CONTACT: Mickey Schultz PHONE: 770-476-8477 E-MAIL: mschultz@bellsouth.net 20TH ANNUAL NHRA O'REILLY FALL NATIONALS Presented by Castrol Syntec TEXAS MOTORPLEX - DALLAS SEPTEMBER 22-25, 2005 (CANCELED DUE TO HURRICANE RITA) RAIN DATE: OCTOBER 6-9, 2005 Qualified: # 9 (4.558 seconds at 325.30 mph) Eliminations: Round 1: McClenathan (5.869/156.19) lost to Doug Kalitta (4.502/328.30) Disappointing ending for Cory Mac at Texas Motorplex ENNIS, Texas (October 9, 2005) - It was a disappointing ending for Cory McClenathan, from Lake Havasu City, Ariz., who qualified No. 9 for this weekend's NHRA O'Reilly Fall Nationals presented by Castrol Syntec at the Texas Motorplex, just outside Dallas McClenathan, behind the wheel of the Carrier Boyz Racing FRAM AirHog Top Fuel dragster, lost traction, pedaled, lost traction again, pedaled again before aborting the run in an opening round loss to Doug Kalitta. McClenathan gained a slight advantage at the green light but his problems immediately set in as Kalitta raced to the finish line in 4.502 seconds, the second quickest pass of the first round. "It's not how you want to start out a Sunday," said McClenathan. "We did come in here and accomplish one thing that we really want to get done this weekend. That was to make sure we were in the Bud Shootout. That's a big deal for us and we don't take that race lightly. We didn't qualify as well this weekend as we have been and by the skin of our butt we made it into the Vegas show. "We've struggled. We've tried some things to correct the problems but nothing seemed to work out for us this weekend. Other than going to the D.R.A.W. auction and buying some bricks of previous wins, we really didn't accomplish want we wanted to do here in Dallas. It was a disappointing ending. "There's only two races left and right now I'm thinking how we're going to get around Scott Kalitta and into eighth in the POWERade point race. Additionally, we're trying to get a handle on things for next year and I feel like we're losing ground and not moving forward. That's a very disappointing feeling. "My apologies go out to all our sponsors - Fram, Autolite, Prestone, Bendix, GMC, Fabtech, PurePower, Mac Tools, American Racing Wheels, Torco Racing Fuels and Skull Gear. "We're a top five car and we don't look like it. We've got to do something to change that." Unofficially, McClenathan remains ninth in the NHRA POWERade Top Fuel point standings with 1031 points. BUDWEISER SHOOTOUT UPDATE: With qualifying now finalized for the Budweiser Shootout, Cory McClenathan clinched a guaranteed spot in the shootout, qualifying No. 6. The field is set for the 21st annual Budweiser Shootout, a special event that will be held on Sat., Oct. 22, during the NHRA ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Eight-drivers will chase a race-day purse of $147,000, with $100,000 going to the winner. The runner-up will earn $15,000. The two semifinalists will earn $6,000 each and the four first-round finishers $5,000 apiece. Tony Schumacher nailed down the top spot and will face the driver who wins a lottery-style drawing from the eighth through 15th qualifiers (8-Dave Grubnic, 9-Doug Herbert, 10-Scott Weis, 11-John Smith, 12-David Baca, 13-Rod Fuller, 14-Melanie Troxel and 15-Clay Millican). The drawing will take place as part of the Budweiser Shootout Draw Party Thursday, Oct. 20, at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Qualifiers Nos. 2-7 (2-Doug Kalitta, 3-Larry Dixon, 4-Morgan Lucas, 5-Brandon Bernstein, 6-Cory McClenathan and 7-Scott Kalitta), who are guaranteed a spot in the shootout, will be randomly placed on the grid by another drawing, again as part of the Budweiser Shootout Draw Party. "We did what we set out to do," said McClenathan, following qualifying in Dallas. "Not too many races ago this Carrier Boyz Racing team was in eighth place, not a comfortable place to be. We knew that we had to qualify this FRAM AirHog dragster high and pick up points on both Scott Kalitta and David Grubnic, who occupied the two places in front of us. The guys did their job and did it well and we ended up in sixth. Now it's time for the Shootout at the next race in Vegas. NEXT RACE: With just two races remaining on this season's NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series schedule, Cory Mac and the Carrier Boyz Racing team now head to Las Vegas. Next up is the fifth annual NHRA ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals which will be contested Oct. 20-23. TELEVISION: ESPN2 will air three hours of same-day television coverage of eliminations beginning at 8 p.m. this evening (Sunday, Oct. 9). The elimination show repeats on ESPN2 early Friday morning, Oct. 14, from 3 until 5 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, Fabtech, 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. -30-