Cory McClenathan snared the No. 3 position in qualifying for the FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals at
Infineon Raceway, posting a 3.831-second pass at 314.68 mph in Friday night's cool, almost cold,
second session.
Earlier that day he recorded a 3.947/298.73, grabbing No. 3 right out of the box, which was
followed today by a 4.002/286.98 lap, in which the car caught fire. After an engine change and
major repairs were effected on the FRAM Tough Guard Top Fuel Dragster, "Cory Mac" returned for the
final session to produce a tire-smoking 4.476/176.63.
"It dropped an exhaust valve, and that's what started the fire and the whole mess," said
McClenathan. "The FRAM Tough Guard team and crew chiefs Todd Okuhara and Phil Shuler put a fresh
motor in and they put in our baseline tune-up and it kind of responded the same, so we'll see what
conditions will bring tomorrow.
"Yes, it smoked the tires in that last pass, but we were pushing pretty hard. We're very happy with
the way the FRAM Tough Guard car is performing here at our sponsor's event, and we're expecting a
dynamite first-round match-up against Terry Haddock on Sunday."
