Dallas post race notes

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POST-RACE NOTES: REVELL NATIONALS, OCT. 16-19, DALLAS

TOP FUEL *Cory McClenathan set an NHRA speed national record of 321.77 mph in the McDonald's Dragster. McClenathan, from Anaheim, Calif., became the first driver in NHRA history to exceed 320 mph with that run. He broke the record of 318.24 set by Joe Amato in September at the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. The previous fastest speed in NHRA history was 318.69 by Kenny Bernstein at the 1996 Revell Nationals. Bernstein failed to back up that speed within 1 percent at that event, required by NHRA rules for a national record. *Cory McClenathan won his sixth NHRA national event this season, tying a record for Top Fuel victories in a season set by six other drivers. *Three-time NHRA Winston champion Shirley Muldowney failed to qualify in her first NHRA national event since 1991. Muldowney, from Armada, Mich., was 19th in the Action Performance Dragster. *Two-time NHRA Winston champion Scott Kalitta announced that he will retire after this season. Kalitta, 35, won season titles in 1994-95 in the American International Airways Dragster. The American International Airways team will continue next season, but no driver has been named.

FUNNY CAR *John Force clinched his seventh NHRA Winston championship in the Castrol GTX Ford Mustang. Force, from Yorba Linda, Calif., has won five consecutive titles, matching an NHRA record set by Pro Stock legend Bob Glidden from 1985-89. *John Force reset his NHRA speed national record to 314.46 mph in the Castrol GTX Ford Mustang. Force broke his record of 314.35 set earlier this month at the Pennzoil Nationals presented by AutoZone at Memphis, Tenn. Force has set the speed national record at the last three NHRA national events this season.

PRO STOCK *Jim Yates clinched his second consecutive NHRA Winston championship in the McDonald's Pontiac Firebird, continuing a trend this decade. All three NHRA Winston champions this decade -- Darrell Alderman, Warren Johnson and Yates -- each have won consecutive titles during the 1990s. -30- 10/20/97-DT5-171