Two-time U.S. Nationals champ McClenathan eager to begin playoffs
DON SCHUMACHER RACING 2010 NHRA FULL THROTTLE DRAG RACING SERIES Round 18 of 23 Round 1 of six in Countdown to the Championship 56th annual U.S. Nationals O'Reilly Raceway Park Clermont, Ind. Sept. 3-6, 2010 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Judy Stropus, 203-438-0501; cell 203-243-2438; jstropus@earthlink.net TWO-TIME U.S. NATIONALS CHAMP MCCLENATHAN EAGER TO BEGIN PLAYOFFS BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Aug. 31, 2010) - Cory McClenathan couldn't be in a better position heading into this weekend's prestigious 56th annual U.S. Nationals and the start of the Countdown to the Championship playoffs unless he was in the lead. He's second in the point standings, is a two-time U.S. Nationals champion (1996, 1999), and is fresh off a hugely successful test session at O'Reilly Raceway Park last week. Driving the FRAM Top Fuel dragster, "Cory Mac" ran quicker than both ends of the track record (3.790 seconds at 324.28 mph) during the NHRA open test session at the same track on which the U.S. Nationals will be held this weekend. It will also be a hometown event for the 20-year veteran who is seeking his first NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Top Fuel crown after four career runner-up finishes. He makes his home in Fishers, Ind., just a stone's throw from Clermont, Ind., site of the U.S. Nationals. "I'm really excited to be racing in the Indianapolis area, where also Don Schumacher Racing is based (in Brownsburg, Ind.)," said McClenathan, who has earned three national event wins this year in six final rounds. "I'm also excited to be starting the Countdown in second spot, especially after we had such a great test session. It's a prime opportunity to get out there and try to keep pace with not only (points leader) Larry Dixon but my teammates Tony Schumacher (third in points) and Antron Brown (fifth in points). It's time to go toe-to-toe. It's going to be GO time for the final six races. "Starting the Countdown off in Indy is something we're not used to," added McClenathan. "We have a lot on our plate this week in advance of this first race of the playoffs, with the Riley Hospital visit on Wednesday, the Full Throttle appearance on Thursday, and the DSR Open House on Friday. The Open House also benefits Riley Hospital for Children, so there are a lot of good things happening this week, which we are privileged to be a part of. "At the same time, our first qualifying session on Friday night is not far away. It's on my mind and I want to make sure we get out there with that FRAM Top Fuel dragster and do well this weekend. "It would be huge to win this event and try to make a statement. We need to go into the rest of the playoffs with some momentum and nobody has more momentum than Larry Dixon right now. He's won Indy three times, we've won it twice and Tony's won it eight times. And there's a lot of talented drivers in the top 10 who are going for the championship this year. I think our chances are great right now and I feel good about it. "The better we can do this weekend and the more momentum we carry into the Countdown the better. It's going to start with qualifying. We're going to take it one step at a time. Right now, my eyes are on the prize." CORY MCCLENATHAN QUICK FACTS: * No. 2 in 2010 point standings entering Countdown, after three victories (in six final rounds) and five semifinal finishes in the first 17 races * Is 30 points behind leader Larry Dixon * 1996 and 1999 U.S. Nationals champion; runner-up in 1997 * No. 1 qualifier at U.S. Nationals in 1993, 2002 * Qualified No. 6 at 2009 U.S. Nats, lost second round to Brandon Bernstein * Has four No. 1 qualifiers so far in 2010 * Qualified No. 1 once in 2009 (Bristol) * Has 34 career Top Fuel victories in 63 final rounds * Has finished No. 2 in the standings four times (1992, 1995, 1997 and 1998) * No. 5 in 2009 "regular season" Top Fuel point standings * No. 4 in 2009 year-end standings with a victory in Concord, N.C., the opening round of the playoffs * Had one win in four final rounds in 2009, plus five semifinal and six quarterfinal finishes * No. 3 in 2008 Top Fuel point standings, including one win in three final rounds, as well as eight semifinal, six quarterfinal, seven first-round finishes and two No. 1 qualifiers * Career-best elapsed time to 1000 feet: 3.752 seconds (Englishtown '10) - the quickest ET in NHRA history racing to 1000 feet * Career-best speed to 1000 feet: 324.75 mph (Englishtown 2010) - second fastest in NHRA 1000-foot era * First driver to break the 320-mph barrier with 322.17-mph run in Dallas in 1997 (quarter-mile) * Has recorded 501 career round wins in Top Fuel (500th won in Brainerd 2010) * Qualified No. 1 37 times, with a career-high seven times in 1993 * Recorded 400th round win in Top Fuel in Richmond 2007 * 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 47 (January 30, 1963); born in Wichita, Kansas, now lives in Brownsburg, Ind.; daughter Courtney (10/25/90); engaged to Debi Dixon * Joined Don Schumacher Racing in 2008; 2010 is fifth season with sponsorship from FRAM SCHEDULE: FRIDAY, Sept. 3 - FULL THROTTLE SERIES qualifying at 5:30 p.m. SATURDAY, Sept. 4 - FULL THROTTLE SERIES qualifying at 3 and 6 p.m. SUNDAY, Sept. 5 - FULL THROTTLE SERIES qualifying at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. MONDAY, Sept. 6 - Pre-race ceremonies, 9:30 a.m. FULL THROTTLE SERIES eliminations begin at 11 a.m. TELEVISION: Sunday, Sept. 5, ESPN2 HD will televise one hour of qualifying coverage at 10 a.m. (ET). Sunday, Sept. 5, ESPN2 HD will televise NHRA Race Day, a 30-minute magazine show at 11 a.m. (ET). Sunday, Sept. 5, ESPN2 HD will televise two hours and 30 minutes of qualifying coverage at 11:30 a.m. (ET). Sunday, Sept. 5, ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 5 p.m. (ET). Monday, Sept. 6, ESPN2 HD will televise five hours of eliminations coverage at 1 p.m. (ET). SATELLITE (Digital SD feed): Friday, Sept. 3, 9:30 - 10 p.m. (ET) - AMC 3/ Transponder 21K Saturday, Sept. 4, 9:30 - 10 p.m. (ET) - AMC 3 / Transponder 21K Sunday, Sept. 5, 8- 8:30 p.m. (ET) - AMC 3 / Transponder 21K Monday, Sept. 6, 6:30 - 7 p.m. (ET) - AMC 3 / Transponder 21K (12120 MHz, horizontal; Data Rate: 18.295441161 Mbp; Symbol Rate: 13.235 Ms; FEC: ¾; Bandwidth: 18 Mhz) Video news release contains race action highlights each day and winners' interviews on Monday. ***