Championship Drag Racing

Mac Tools U.S. Nationals
Clermont, IN
(August 31-September 5)

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Driver Profile

Cory McClenathan Rapisarda Racing Top Fueler

Indianapolis, prerace: With 28 career Top Fuel wins, the second most of any active full-time Top Fuel driver, Cory McClenathan seeks his third U.S. Nationals victory when he returns to IRP – Indianapolis Raceway Park – for the 51st annual NHRA Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, the NHRA’s answer to the NFL Super Bowl.

One of the most popular drivers on the NHRA circuit today, McClenathan has endured a five-year drought since his last win at IRP. His last victory came at the 1999 race when he defeated Andrew Cowin for the title that the majority of drivers consider the most prestigious on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.

Additionally, the Lake Havasu City, Ariz., driver won the Mac Tools U. S. Nationals in 1996 when he turned back Tony Schumacher in the final round. He also was runner up to Jim Head at IRP in 1997.

He has nailed down the No. 1 qualifying twice, first in 1993 and more recently in 2002.

Currently, driving the FRAM AirHog dragster for Carrier Boyz Racing, owned by Andy and Mark Carrier, sons of the late Larry Carrier, who built the Bristol, Tenn., track now known as Bristol Motor Speedway and founded IHRA, McClenathan has but one goal and that is to win.

Simply put, winning is fun for McClenathan, losing isn't.

“It looks like a POWERade championship is out of the question this year, so it would be awesome if I could take home a third Wally from Indy,” said McClenathan. “Although our performance has picked up the last few races, there’s still a lot of tough competition out there. Anyone who qualifies for this race can win. So it will be up to us to get the job done for Fram and Honeywell and for one of my longtime associate sponsor Mac Tools. I can’t think of anything I would rather do this weekend than to be in the Mac Tools winner’s circle at their event.”

Andy Carrier says, “Cory is all about winning and so is this entire Carrier Boyz Racing team. Our only focus this weekend will be on winning the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals.”

Entering the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, McClenathan is No. 9 in the NHRA POWERade Top Fuel point standings.

“With just six races left in 2005, the only way we’re going to move toward the top five in points is to begin right here at Indy. We are only 18 points behind eighth and 48 behind seventh. We need to go rounds here so that we hopefully squeeze by those two drivers ahead of us,” said McClenathan.

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