Wed, 23 Sep 2009, 11:28 PM Points Leader McClenathan On Plan for Dallas

Courtesy of Judy Stropus

ENNIS, Tex. -- Now that Cory McClenathan and the FRAM Tough Guard Top Fuel team have one victory under their belts, as well as the Countdown to 1 playoffs points lead, following the NHRA Carolina Nationals on Sunday, they're on plan as they head to this weekend's NHRA Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Texas.

"Our goal is the same as always: go in there, get qualified well on Friday afternoon, try to run good Friday night, and pick up some of those extra qualifying points that they're now offering (three, two and one points for the top three qualifiers in each qualifying round) to give us a little cushion points-wise before eliminations on Sunday," said McClenathan, a three-time winner in Ennis.

"Texas Motorplex is an all-concrete track, (owner) Billy Meyer takes good care of it, and we know it will be fast," added McClenathan, who also was low qualifier there in 1994. "The weather makes a big difference on that track. Hopefully, it will be somewhat cool and not overly hot. But I also think we have a good car for hot and cool tracks.

"(Crew chiefs) Phil (Shuler) and Todd (Okuhara) and the FRAM Tough Guard boys will do exactly what they're supposed to, which is forget about the points deal and go in there and get qualified well and work on it for Sunday.

"We've attacked every single race that way this year and I don't want to change things. I don't want the pressure of being in the No. 1 spot to change us right now. It's just about going in there and taking one round at a time on Sunday and, if all goes well, we'll go the semis or to the finals, keep on earning points, and make the last five races of the playoffs very exciting.

"When a track is all-concrete, like zMAX was in Concord, it's normally going to stay about the same temperature-wise all the way down and you don't have that big transition from concrete to asphalt. So, it definitely helps us.

"The Concord race track has come around in one year's time, but Texas Motorplex has been around for a few years so it's probably got more teeth in it and a lot of cars have been down that track. It's always produced big mile-an-hour and good times, so I look forward to that."

CORY MCCLENATHAN QUICK FACTS:
* No. 1 in Countdown to 1 playoffs standings following his victory in Concord, N.C., on Sunday, the opening round of the playoffs
* Four final rounds so far in 2009
* No. 5 in 2009 "regular season" Top Fuel point standings, with three runner-up, three semifinal, nine quarterfinal and three first-round finishes in first 18 events of season
* Qualified No. 5 in 2008 Dallas event, lost semifinals to Tony Schumacher
* 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
* Has 31 career Top Fuel victories in 57 final rounds
* First driver to break the 320-mph barrier with 322.17-mph run in Dallas in 1997
* Has recorded 460 career round wins in Top Fuel
* Qualified No. 1 32 times, with a career-high seven times in 1993
* Recorded 400th round win in Top Fuel in Richmond 2007
* Has finished No. 2 in the standings four times (1992, 1995, 1997 and 1998)
* 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 46 (January 30, 1963); born in Wichita, Kansas, now lives in Brownsburg, Ind.; daughter Courtney (10/25/90)
* Joined Don Schumacher Racing in 2008; 2009 is fourth season with sponsorship from FRAM

Cory Mac Facebook Fan Page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brownsburg-IN/Cory-Mac/74199417179?ref=ts#/pages/Brown sburg-IN/Cory-Mac/74199417179?v=wall&viewas=14308109 Cory Mac Fanatics Group:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brownsburg-IN/Cory-Mac/74199417179?ref=ts#/group.php?g id=73981312612

On Twitter he may be followed on http://twitter.com/Cory_Mac_TF

SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, Sept. 25 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 2 and 4:45 p.m.
SATURDAY, Sept. 26 - PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 11:15 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
SUNDAY, Sept. 27 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.
FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11 a.m.

TELEVISION:
Sunday, Sept. 27, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 12:15 a.m. (ET) Sunday, Sept. 27, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will telecast NHRA Race Day at 11 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, Sept. 27, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of final eliminations at 7 p.m. (ET).

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