McClenathan takes provisional Richmond pole

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2009 NHRA FULL THROTTLE DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 4 of six in Countdown to 1 Playoffs
Round 22 of 24 for season
Fourth Annual NHRA Virginia Nationals
Virginia Motorsports Park
Dinwiddie, Va.
Oct. 9-11, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

MCCLENATHAN TAKES PROVISIONAL RICHMOND POLE

DINWIDDIE, Va. (Oct. 9, 2009) - Cory McClenathan drove the FRAM Top Fuel
dragster to the provisional No. 1 position after two rounds of qualifying
for the NHRA Virginia Nationals, earning three bonus points.

If it holds up through two more rounds of qualifying on Saturday, he will
claim his second No. 1 of the season, 34th of his career.

McClenathan and the FRAM team took advantage of nearly ideal conditions in
the cooler second session to post a 3.815-second pass at 318.24 mph for top
speed of the day. His first attempt produced a 3.898/308.38, good for No. 7
at the time.

"We need those three points," said McClenathan, who is third in the
Countdown to 1 playoffs standings. łThat's nice to see, but we're also
looking at cooler conditions tomorrow. Even if we donąt have any  - I hate
to say it - rain whatsoever, then there are still opportunities to run
quicker and obviously my teammate (No. 1 in points) Tony (Schumacher) will
try to do so.

"We come here and for some reason we just happen to do well and it's good
mojo,˛ added the winningest Top Fuel driver at Virginia Motorsports Park,
with four victories. łThat's a good thing."

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