Championship Drag Racing

Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Nationals
Richmond, VA
(October 5-7)

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Cory McClenathan Rapisarda Racing

Richmond, Saturday: The pressure was on and Cory McClenathan and the FRAM Top Fuel team responded with an elapsed time quick enough to place them 12th in the starting lineup for Sunday's Torco Racing Fuels Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park.

McClenathan, the defending champion and a four-time winner at VMP, was steadfast in his determination.  He had been knocked from the top 16 prior to making his final attempt.  And he needed to qualify well to clinch the eighth and last berth in the Technicoat Top Fuel Shootout (Oct. 27 at Las Vegas).  The winner takes home $100,000.

His 4.629-second, 312.35-mph quarter-mile run lifted him into 12th.

"Getting in the show and Shootout was quite a boost for our team," McClenathan said.  "We didn't want to get bumped out of the Shootout and we really needed to qualify here.  Honeywell is based here and we definitely want to do well for them on Sunday. 

"The car was riding the centerline on the way down there and I wasn't going to do anything to slow the momentum.  The guys did a great job getting the car ready for that run and we are all glad to be racing on Sunday."

McClenathan faces J.R. Todd (No. 5, 4.577 seconds at 311.49 mph) in Sunday's opening round.

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