McClenathan goes for broke, qualifies No. 7, helps teammate take No. 1

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2009 NHRA FULL THROTTLE DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 6 of 6 in Countdown to 1 playoffs
Round 24 of 24 for season
45th annual AUTO CLUB NHRA FINALS
Auto Club Raceway at Pomona (Calif.)
Nov. 12-15, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

MCCLENATHAN GOES FOR BROKE, QUALIFIES NO. 7, HELPS TEAMMATE TAKE NO. 1

POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 14, 2009) - Cory McClenathan went for broke in the
final qualifying session for the 45th annual NHRA Finals today, but ended up
smoking the tires and not claiming the No. 1 spot. However, the information
passed back to his teammate Tony Schumacher behind him in the staging lanes
was invaluable.

While McClenathan, driving the FRAM Tough Guard Top Fuel dragster, settled
for seventh place by virtue of the 3.838-second lap at 316.38 mph he
established out of the box in the first session on Thursday, Schumacher shot
to the No. 1 spot, regaining the lead he had lost earlier this weekend over
Larry Dixon by two points before Sunday's eliminations.

McClenathan's other laps this week were a 5.226/128.37 (No. 6), a
3.859/315.49 (No. 6) and finally the tire-smoking 9.257/77.01 in the final
round.

"I think everybody was going for it tonight," said McClenathan of the track
conditions cooling rapidly in the last session due to long oildown cleanups.
"It cooled off so much you could only back it off so much. We decided to go
ahead and leave everything in it and try to go for it, but it didn't work
for us. Obviously, the information we were able to send back to our teammate
worked out really well for him. (Tony posted a track record 3.772-second
pass.)

"At the same time we still have to go three rounds tomorrow to be able to
beat these guys," added McClenathan, third in the point standings, just 61
markers short of first place. "And that's if both Tony and Larry go out
early. So, it is what it is.

"I guess the good thing is we put ourselves on the same side of the ladder
as Larry now instead of Tony. That's a blessing for us. So, if anything, we
can go out and hopefully beat Dixon for Tony so he could win it.

"Maybe Tony and I will just meet in the final and be one and two for the
season. I'll still be happy with that."

McClenathan will meet up with Bob Vandergriff Jr. in the opening round of
Sunday's eliminations and can face off with Dixon in the second round if
both make it through the opener.

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