Cory McClenathan qualifies No. 8 in Pomona

DON SCHUMACHER RACIING
2008 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
NHRA WINTERNATIONALS
Pomona Raceway
Pomona, Calif.
Feb. 7-10, 2008
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Contact: Bill Walters, 561-964-2195; cell 561-632-5713; plus320@aol.com
 
McCLENATHAN QUALIFIES NO. 8 IN POMONA
 
POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 9, 2008) ­ FRAM Top Fuel dragster driver Cory
McClenathan, who recently joined the Don Schumacher Racing stable, rode a
wave of consistent performance to qualify in the No. 8 position for the NHRA
Winternationals after posting his quickest elapsed time of 4.532 seconds at
329.58 mph in the third of four qualifying sessions this weekend.
 
McClenathan also recorded elapsed times of 4.539 and 4.536 seconds with a
top speed of 330.23 mph before smoking the tires in the final qualifying
session. He will face Brandon Bernstein in round one of eliminations on
Sunday.
 
"The FRAM crew guys did a great job," said McClenathan. "They had the car
well prepared. Everything is brand new, including a new back-half on the
car. To come out swinging like that was great and we had a very consistent
car during qualifying. We ran 4.53 three different times but we weren't
aggressive enough during that last round. The track came around and it was
actually very good and we underestimated it and now we know what we can and
can't do. 
 
"I think the guys have done a great job and (crew chief) Mike Green has got
a good handle on the fuel system and we're not hurting parts," added
McClenathan. That's really the main goal here.
 
"I just want to go from A to B tomorrow. We've got to race Brandon Bernstein
and it¹s been a long time since I beat Brandon, but I would have to say
right now we've got a good chance."
 
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