McClenathan nails down No. 4 in Memphis qualifying

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2009 NHRA FULL THROTTLE DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 3 of six in Countdown to 1 Playoffs
Round 21 of 24 for season
NHRA MID-SOUTH NATIONALS
Memphis Motorsports Park
Oct. 2-4, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

MCCLENATHAN NAILS DOWN NO. 4 IN MEMPHIS QUALIFYING

MEMPHIS (Oct. 3, 2009) - Cory McClenathan earned three qualifying bonus
points and No. 4 in qualifying for the NHRA Mid-South Nationals at Memphis
Motorsports Park.

Driving the FRAM Tough Guard Top Fuel dragster under dry and cool
conditions, McClenathan's quickest pass of 3.862 seconds at 313.80 mph came
in Friday's evening session, which was good for No. 4 at the time. He earned
one qualifying bonus point in the opening round, posting the third quickest
pass of that session of 3.905/313.00.

He claimed two more bonus points, for a total of three during qualifying, in
today's third attempt, which produced a 3.875/310.98. In the final session,
he posted another solid 3.897/313.15.

ŗWešre trying so many things right now," said McClenathan, who is third in
the Countdown to 1 playoffs standings. "Wešre trying to get ahead of the
curve, and I think wešre looking at everyone gaining those extra points. We
want some of those points. So wešre actually having to push our car a little
more. 

"Thatšs good for us, because we know what the race track will handle, but at
the same time we gained three points here in qualifying, where Larry Dixon
(second in points) gained 12. Thatšs tough to take. But, our car goes A to B
every single time, and thatšs what it really takes to win races, so Išll
take that any day. 

"As far as the race track goes, these are better conditions than wešve seen
in years. The weather has been great. Tomorrow is going to be cooler and it
will be a whole new ball game.

"Look out, because wešre going to see some lower ETs, bigger mile-an-hour,
all the way around, so it will be completely different. When it cools off
like it does, and itšs supposed to tomorrow, if that really happens, it will
make it interesting, and Išm excited for it."

McClenathan faces TJ Zizzo in the opening round of Sunday's eliminations.

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