Championship Drag Racing

Ameriquest Mortgage NHRA Nationals
Joliet, IL
(September 29-October 2)

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Cory McClenathan Rapisarda Racing Top Fueler

Dallas, Sunday:  It was a disappointing ending for Cory McClenathan, from Lake Havasu City, Ariz., who qualified No. 9 for this weekend’s NHRA O’Reilly Fall Nationals presented by Castrol Syntec at the Texas Motorplex, just outside Dallas
 
McClenathan, behind the wheel of the Carrier Boyz Racing FRAM AirHog Top Fuel dragster, lost traction, pedaled, lost traction again, pedaled again before aborting the run in an opening round loss to Doug Kalitta.

McClenathan gained a slight advantage at the green light but his problems immediately set in as Kalitta raced to the finish line in 4.502 seconds, the second quickest pass of the first round.

“It’s not how you want to start out a Sunday,” said McClenathan.  “We did come in here and accomplish one thing that we really want to get done this weekend.  That was to make sure we were in the Bud Shootout.  That’s a big deal for us and we don’t take that race lightly.  We didn’t qualify as well this weekend as we have been and by the skin of our butt we made it into the Vegas show.

“We’ve struggled.  We’ve tried some things to correct the problems but nothing seemed to work out for us this weekend.  Other than going to the D.R.A.W. auction and buying some bricks of previous wins, we really didn’t accomplish want we wanted to do here in Dallas.  It was a disappointing ending.

“There’s only two races left and right now I’m thinking how we’re going to get around Scott Kalitta and into eighth in the POWERade point race.  Additionally, we’re trying to get a handle on things for next year and I feel like we’re losing ground and not moving forward.  That’s a very disappointing feeling.

“My apologies go out to all our sponsors – Fram, Autolite, Prestone, Bendix, GMC, Fabtech, PurePower, Mac Tools, American Racing Wheels, Torco Racing Fuels and Skull Gear.

“We’re a top five car and we don’t look like it.  We’ve got to do something to change that.”

Unofficially, McClenathan remains ninth in the NHRA POWERade Top Fuel point standings with 1031 points.

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