TOP FUEL VETERAN MCCLENATHAN BONDING WITH NEW TEAM; IS A COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDER ONCE AGAIN
In the sport of NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing, Cory McClenathan has been there and done that.
He’s been on fire, flipped upside down and walked away from spectacular
wild rides. He’s won races at just about every track on the circuit and
chased the world championship title into the sunset many times. He
knows what a good hot rod is supposed to feel like just by easing into
the throttle.
He can also tell when all the pieces are in place for a very good race team to become great.
So that’s why he’s excited about the opportunity in front of him in 2009.
McClenathan has embraced a new crew on his 7,000 horsepower FRAM Tough
Guard dragster, led by co-crew chiefs Phil Shuler and Todd Okuhara, and
they are quickly hitting their stride. In just five events they have
produced two final round appearances, allowing McClenathan to display
the driving form that has led him to 30 victories in 53 final round
appearances and four second-place championship points finishes during
his 18-years behind the wheel.
“They make this FRAM car go down the track,” McClenathan said. “It will
go from A to B all the time and it can run with everybody else. And
everybody realizes that.”
Even with all that experience, past success and strong early season
performances McClenathan is sometimes overlooked as one of the
favorites in his category. However, hardcore fans and his opponents
know that McClenathan is always a major threat to win.