Cory McClenathan drove his Top Fuel dragster to the No. 1 position
during Friday's qualifying sessions for the 28th annual NHRA Nationals
at Brainerd International Raceway. Earlier in the day he clinched a
spot in the Countdown. It was that kind of a day for McClenathan.

McClenathan was low qualifier in both rounds today, posting first a
4.004-second elapsed time at 298.01 mph in the heat of the day, then a
3.910, 305.36 as temperatures cooled for the evening pass.

If he holds on to the pole through the final two qualifying sessions on
Saturday, he will claim his second this season, and the 34th of his
career.

Being the only driver to make a full pass under power gave Bob Tasca, III plenty to crow about during a round of qualifying that saw track temperatures at 120 degrees. Being able to back up his 4.364-second first round run with a 4.214 had Tasca ready to do a little dancing on the streets to the tune of 'Hot Rod Lincoln'.

Tasca exited his Quick Lane/Motorcraft Ford Mustang declaring the run was so smooth it was like “driving a Lincoln”. When he exited his car after the second qualifying session during the NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals, Tasca used the opportunity to correct himself saying, “This isn't a Lincoln this is one HOT ROD!”

Friday wasn't a bad day for Pro Stock racer Jason Line. He landed sixth in the NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals Pro Stock field.

However, it was his added duties as a Stock eliminator competitor that
garnered the most attention. The Minnesota native began his morning by
balancing media requests with racing in the Stock division, where he
was the No. 1 qualifier and used a second round win over his father to
advance through class eliminations.

It took all of ten seconds
for Tony Pedregon to say he wasn't saying anything past the statement

Tony
Shortall and Dexter Tuttle discuss Friday's qualifying for Tony
Pedregon . Pedregon landed fifth provisionally after two sessions. (Les Welch)

he had released to the NHRA concerning the departure of long-time crew
chief Dickie Venables and assistant crew chief Kurt Elliott.

“Dickie and I sat down this past week to discuss the direction of our
program and what would be the best long-term plan for the Quaker State
Racing team,” said Pedregon, in a prepared statement for the NHRA. “We
will miss Dickie, and we wish him well. He’s been a great asset and
leaves us on the best of terms. We are currently evaluating potential
crew-chief candidates and hope to name a new crew chief soon. In light
of these circumstances, my focus will be on making a smooth transition
and preparing for the Countdown to the Championship.”

Cory McClenathan raced to the Top Fuel qualifying lead Friday at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway.

Bob Tasca III, Mike Edwards and Karen Stoffer also were qualifying
leaders in their classes at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series
event, the 16th of 18 races in the NHRA regular season.

For one very special night, an area of the Cagnazzi Racing shop
normally reserved for the preparation of 200-mph Pro Stock race cars was
transformed into a very special meeting place, with hundreds of people
gathering to help a racer in need.  The Todd Bevis Benefit, which was
held this past Saturday in Mooresville, NC, drew friends, family
members and former teammates from as far away as Texas and New Jersey,
who enjoyed an evening of music, food, drink and companionship in
support of a well-respected member of the motorsports community.

Karen Stoffer couldn’t bring herself to say it; but she wanted to, she just couldn't.

A Pro Stock Motorcyle rider knows when they reel off a good run, and a
7.084 elapsed time at 187.54, was the best of the 20 bikes attempting
to gain one of the available twelve provisional spots during first day
qualifying at the NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals in Brainerd, Minn.

“I would say perfect pass but there’s no such thing as a perfect pass
when you are a racer,” Stoffer said, of the pass which was also tied
with Hector Arana. Her quicker speed put her in sole position atop the
field.

Bryan Pierce is playing the waiting game and hanging in the balance is the future of the drag strip he manages.

The general manager for Virginia Motorsports Park, an NHRA-sanctioned
Full Throttle Drag Racing Series national event host facility located
in Dinwiddie, Va., is waiting to receive the final answer on whether or
not the NHRA plans to renew his contract for 2010 and beyond.

“We have an ongoing contract right now,” Pierce said. “And, we are waiting on it to be renewed.”

Canadian
doorslammer racer Gary Racich has taken delivery of the first Pro Mod
style 1970 Barracuda in Canada. The car is the handiwork of Jeffers Pro
Cars.

Once Cory McClenathan makes one qualifying pass in the FRAM Tough Guard Top Fuel dragster this weekend at the 28th annual NHRA Nationals at Brainerd (Minn.) International Raceway, he will have clinched a spot in the Countdown to 1 playoffs.

Winning the event is what "Cory Mac" is also aiming to accomplish. He's
been close this season in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series,
having reached the final round three times so far without taking the
trophy. That, two semifinal finishes, 20 round wins and one pole
position have placed him squarely in fifth place in the points rankings.

"The objective for me is still to go to every race and try to win,"
said McClenathan, the 1997 Brainerd Top Fuel champion and runner-up
last year, "and if we can end up moving up in points before the
Countdown starts, that would be the optimum objective for me." The
playoffs for the top 10 in points begin following the U.S. Nationals on
Labor Day for the final six events of the season.