Indianapolis: Cory McClenathan preview

Cory Mac and the Mac Tools Stars & Stripes Top Fuel Dragster seeks third Indy victory.

CLERMONT, Minn. -- In a timely introduction, with Labor Day being celebrated on Monday, September 2 and the first anniversary remembrance of 9/11 being held nine days thereafter, Mac Tools is unveiling the Mac Tools Stars & Stripes Team this weekend, for the 48th annual NHRA Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park (IRP), located just outside Indianapolis in Clermont, Ind. The Mac Tools Stars & Stripes Team is a special ensemble of drivers, one from each NHRA professional category.

Cory McClenathan, driver of the Henkelman & Baca Motorsports Centennial Batteries/Mac Tools Top Fuel Dragster, will join teammates Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car), Mike Edwards (Pro Stock car) and Antron Brown (Pro Stock Bike) when the Mac Tools Stars & Stripes Team makes its debut on Friday, the first day of qualifying for the professional categories.

The teams will be pitted together in the professional pits giving NHRA fans a unique view of this four team ensemble. As the name Mac Tools Stars & Stripes Team suggests each team car and their crew will carry a red, white and blue paint scheme, highlighted with Stars and Stripes.

"This is really an honor to be chosen as part of the Mac Tools Stars and Stripes Team," said McClenathan. "The neat thing is that, being a one event program, this will in no way detract from the Mac Tools Top Fuel program with Connie Kalitta and Doug Kalitta. In fact, we hope this Mac Tools Stars and Stripes program will serve to supplement Mac Tools' backing of the Mac Tools U. S. Nationals and Kalitta^Òs team.

"The special paint scheme on all the Mac Tools Stars and Stripes Team cars is awesome. The other pro drivers on the team are winners in their own categories and I wish each of them well this weekend. The entire Henkelman and Baca team is looking forward to showing our car at Indy. Hopefully, this will provide us with some much needed luck and this Mac Tools Stars and Stripes Top Fuel Dragster will find the winner's circle at IRP.

"In closing, I would like to thank Holiday Inn Indianapolis East and Damon's 'The place for Ribs' for their local support. Without the support of all our marketing partners, none of this would be possible."

Team owner and partner of Henkelman & Baca Motorsports David Baca also shared his thoughts. "It's quite an honor to have the Mac Tools people consider us to be their representative, along with the other three teams, at the 48th annual NHRA Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. This event is a tribute to all the working people across America and those who gave of their lives in the 9/11 tragedies that occurred throughout the United States one year ago. It's our honor to give tribute to them and fly the red, white and blue colors of this country and the Mac Tools name so proudly here at Indy."

To commemorate the Stars & Stripes Team and this special event, fans can purchase exclusive Mac Tools Stars & Stripes collectibles from their local Mac Tools distributor or at the track on the midway. These hot collectibles are 1:24 scales of the actual Stars & Stripes cars that are racing this weekend at IRP at the 48th annual NHRA Mac Tools U.S. Nationals.

McClenathan is a two-time winner of the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, having won this event in 1996 and 1999. Entering this weekend's event, the Anaheim, Calif., driver is third in the NHRA POWERade Top Fuel point standings.

-h&bm-