Commerce: Cory McClenathan preview

After testing McClenathan looks for a rebound at Atlanta Dragway

COMMERCE, Ga. (May 9, 2005) -- Cory McClenathan, driver of the Carrier Boyz Racing FRAM AirHog Top Fuel dragster, returns to Atlanta Dragway, in Commerce, Ga., the site of his last win, for the silver anniversary of the Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals.

After a disappointing outing in his last race at the team's home track in Bristol, Tenn., McClenathan hopes to return to the performance level that propelled the team to the top five in NHRA POWERade points.

"We tested the FRAM AirHog dragster after Bristol and found what crew chief Todd Smith believes to be the cause of our most recent problems. Subsequent runs during the test session indicated that we are back on track and should be a contender to defend our title that we took home here at Atlanta Dragway last year," said McClenathan.

McClenathan, with 343 points enters the Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals sixth in the POWERade Top Fuel point standings, just 23 points out of the top five and 27 behind fourth.

"Competition is as close as I can remember in all my years of racing Top Fuel," recalls McClenathan. "We must be on the top of our game to regain a spot in the top five."

QUALIFYING: Qualifying for McClenathan and the Carrier Boyz Racing FRAM AirHog Dragster begins with two sessions on Friday, scheduled for 4:30 and 7:30 p.m., and concludes with two additional sessions on Saturday at 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. McClenathan begins his quest for the Top Fuel title on Sunday with eliminations for all classes getting underway at 11 a.m. All times are eastern time (ET) and subject to change at anytime.

TELEVISION: Qualifying highlights for the 25th annual Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals can be seen on ESPN2 on Saturday evening (May 14) from 7-9 p.m. ESPN2 will also air same-day television coverage of eliminations from 7 until 10 p.m. on Sunday evening (May 15). The elimination show repeats on ESPN2 early Monday morning, May 16, from 2 until 3:30 a.m. Television times are Eastern Time (ET) and subject to change at anytime. Check local listings.

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