"Underdog" McClenathan ready to get season started in Pomona

(EDITORS: Attached is an all-new digital image of Cory McClenathan, taken at
the recent NAPA AUTO PARTS National Time Trials in Chandler, Ariz.., for
your use during the 2009 NHRA season. Photo credit: Les Welch. Additional
images available upon request.)

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series
Round 1 of 24
NHRA Winternationals
Auto Club Raceway at Pomona
Pomona, Calif.
Feb. 5-8, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Judy Stropus, 203-438-0501; cell 203-243-2438;
jstropus@earthlink.net

³UNDERDOG² McCLENATHAN READY TO GET SEASON STARTED IN POMONA

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Feb. 3, 2009) - Cory McClenathan is ready to take the FRAM
Top Fuel dragster to a higher season points finish in the 2009 NHRA Full
Throttle Drag Racing Series following his solid third-place result in 2008.
And the battle for supremacy begins this weekend at the NHRA Winternationals
at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, Calif.

McClenathan will begin the season with an all-new crew, including crew
chiefs Todd Okuhara and Phil Shuler, and a strong push to shed the
"underdog" image he seems to have acquired before the season has even begun.
The big news stories so far this year have been about his teammate Tony
Schumacher's former crew chief Alan Johnson leaving to start his own team
with Larry Dixon driving, McClenathan's crew chief Mike Green moving over to
Schumacher's team, and rookie Spencer Massey taking over Dixon's seat. But
don't count out McClenathan. The man who scored one victory in three final
rounds, was low qualifier twice in 2008 and came close to earning the No. 2
spot behind his teammate Schumacher is geared up for a charge following
recent test sessions in West Palm Beach and Phoenix.

"Testing for us was kind of an up-and-down process," said McClenathan, who
is recovering from a recent bout of pneumonia. "We had a very good day
staying later in the week in Phoenix and made some very big strides in our
performance and getting down the track. We weren't really trying to make
full passes. We found a few things wrong with the car and corrected those
and the car seemed to be very consistent at that point.

"We would have liked to have made some full passes, but we decided not to.
The conditions weren't perfect for us, so we're going to go ahead and wait
for Pomona.

"I'm eager to get this season started," added McClenathan, who turned 46 on
Jan. 30 while recuperating from his illness. "I think the whole FRAM team
has come together. They have worked very hard. Mike Green and the guys over
on the Army team have certainly been there when we needed them. They'll work
very well together with Todd Okuhara, Phil Shuler, myself and the FRAM crew.
So, I'm very excited to see the outcome.

"After reading the reports so far this season, all the news seems to be
about the Army car, rookie Spencer Massey and Larry Dixon. I'm eager to see
how things turn out. It just gives me more motivation to go out there and
beat them all. Since it appears we're being considered the underdog, I guess
we have something to prove. We'll let the FRAM dragster do the talking for
us."

CORY MCCLENATHAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 3 in 2008 Top Fuel point standings
* One win in three final rounds, as well as eight semifinal, six
quarterfinal, seven first-round finishes and two No. 1 qualifiers
* Won the '08 NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas2 for his 30th career Top Fuel
victory in 53 final rounds
* Qualified No. 8 and was runner-up in 2008 season-opening race in Pomona
* First driver to break the 320-mph barrier with 322.17-mph run in Dallas in
1997
* Has recorded 430 career round wins in Top Fuel
* Qualified No. 1 32 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 & 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.; has 17-year-old daughter Courtney
* Joined Don Schumacher Racing in 2008; third season with sponsorship from
FRAM  

SCHEDULE:    
THURSDAY, Feb. 5 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSION at 2 p.m.
FRIDAY, Feb. 6 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 2 p.m.
SATURDAY, Feb. 7 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.
SUNDAY, Feb. 8 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m. FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11
a.m.

TELEVISION:    
Saturday, Feb. 7, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise two hours of qualifying
highlights at 10 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, Feb. 8, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute
news magazine show, at 11:30 a.m. (ET)
Sunday, Feb. 8, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise three hours and thirty
minutes of coverage starting at 6:30 p.m. (ET).
    
SATELLITE:    
Friday, Feb. 6, 10:30 - 11 p.m. (ET), AMC 15 / Transponder 11K (11920 MHz,
vertical)
Saturday, Feb. 7, 10 - 10:30p.m. (ET), AMC 15 / Transponder 11K (11920 MHz,
vertical)
Sunday, Feb. 8, 10:30 - 11 p.m. (ET), AMC 15 / Transponder 11K (11920 MHz,
vertical)

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