Larry Dixon’s return to Top Fuel, while positive, is a negative for another of drag racing's top veterans.

Dixon is in and Cory McClenathan is out.

McClenathan, the 2012 driver of the Rapisarda Top Fuel dragster, confirmed he’s going to sit out of driving this year to concentrate on finding a full-time ride.

“I received word they wanted to go in a different direction,” stated McClenathan, a 38-time national event winner on the NHRA tour. “I hadn’t talked with any of the Rapisarda team since the end of Pomona, and I think we had both drawn the conclusion this wasn’t a good. I guess I wasn’t surprised they chose to go in a different direction.”

McClenathan previously drove for Don Schumacher Racing and his connection enabled the Rapisarda operation to purchase parts and operate as a satellite team although owned by Santo Rapisarda.

The alliance, McClenathan believes, might be in jeopardy in light of the changes.

“From all the help they got from DSR and everything else … I hate it for all the help Don [Schumacher] and Todd Okuhara had given them. It changes the planes with Lee involved. Lee isn’t affiliated with DSR, so we will have to see how it all plays out.

“I can tell you this; there wasn’t another dragster out there with this much DSR technology on it that wasn’t a DSR car. I am happy for Larry and he will be a good driver for them. And Lee is very efficient and organized.”

McClenathan said he isn’t troubled by the turn of events, as some might think, and the break will provide the opportunity to shop his services as a professional driver.

“I might try to run a race or two or something just to keep my feet wet,” confirmed McClenathan. “I think this will free me up to work on sponsorship for a full ride, whether it is this year or next. I think as this economy turns the corner, and it is doing it slowly, the interest will continue to grow. I’ve had more sponsorship interest in the last few weeks than I had all last year. We’ll see how it all works out but if there’s one thing I’ve learned in all these years, you never count on anything until the money is in your bank account.”

McClenathan is accepting of the reality this season will be a wait and watch year. Last season, he believes, was a lot of fun and the team went out of their way to make him feel comfortable.

“I really want a full-time ride for the next couple of seasons to finish out my career,” said McClenathan. “And then, maybe transition a new driver in. It’s really important to go out on my terms and not someone else’s.”

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