CORY MAC RACING "INVISIBLE MAN" ON SUNDAY
Sun, 2008-07-13 09:00
There was no way Cory McClenathan was celebrating Friday’s provisional low qualifying effort.
The veteran Top Fuel driver has
been around the game long enough to know one thing is for sure, anyone
can be beat at any time, unless you have a bye.
“Especially with that U.S. Army team and Tony Schumacher, they can lay down a run at any time,” McClenathan said. “Not only them, but the Kalitta’s, Bernstein and the rest of the field. There are a lot of good cars out there and you can’t look a gift horse in the mouth.”
McClenathan’s Friday-evening 3.929 elapsed time stands as the quickest-ever official 1,000-foot race course pass. His performance grants a bye-run in the first round due to a 15-car field. There was no way Cory McClenathan was celebrating Friday’s provisional low qualifying effort.
The veteran Top Fuel driver has
been around the game long enough to know one thing is for sure, anyone
can be beat at any time, unless you have a bye.
“Especially with that U.S. Army team and Tony Schumacher, they can lay down a run at any time,” McClenathan said. “Not only them, but the Kalitta’s, Bernstein and the rest of the field. There are a lot of good cars out there and you can’t look a gift horse in the mouth.”
McClenathan’s Friday-evening 3.929 elapsed time stands as the quickest-ever official 1,000-foot race course pass. His performance grants a bye-run in the first round due to a 15-car field.
Having a first round bye run will enable McClenathan to sleep well this evening.
“It’s a great gift and dumb luck, so to speak,” McClenathan said. “When there’s fifteen cars, you always want to be the person who qualifies No. 1. Unfortunately, that’s Tony most of the time that gets the bye. This is a cool thing for us and we’ll take it. I’d rather race someone and work for it. Anything worth having is worth fighting for.”
This marks the second low qualifying effort for McClenathan in 2008, and 32nd of his career.
Even though he’s getting a bye run to start the event, McClenathan is still leery of the “invisible man”.
“My record against him is pretty good,” McClenathan said. “But, I have found a lot of ways to lose races in my years of racing. I’ve rolled out and did a burnout only to back over my own parachute. You never know what could happen.”
NOW THAT’S A TAB – McClenathan and the entire Don Schumacher racing operation was treated to dinner last evening by sponsor Gates Belts. He admitted their product held up exceptionally well within the confines of racing in Denver, a lot better than his wallet could have.
“That’s a pretty scary thing when you take that many people out to dinner,” McClenathan said. “I wouldn’t want to have to pay that tab. I don’t even know if I’d want to pay the tip because that would be my entire Don Schumacher Racing paycheck.”
CAMPAIGN 2008 - McClenathan hosted a special guest in its pit area during the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway, thanks to assistant crew chief Neal Strausbaugh and his family. Former Colorado House Representative Al White, a native of the same hometown of Hillsboro, Ill., as Strausbaugh and his dad Dan and mom Jean, visited a drag race for the first time.
White, who is running for Senator in the 8th District in Northwest Colorado, was full of amazement during his inaugural visit to an NHRA national event on Friday. "I'm having a heck of a good time," said White, who has a home in Winter Park, Colo. "This is just amazing when you see those cars streak by and feel the vibrations rumble all the way through your body from your head to your toes.
"It just amazes me to see the combination of mechanics and speed all at work in fluid motion. And the tremendous noise. It's a very exciting and thrilling experience for me. This is just wonderful. My wife Jean and I couldn't be having more fun. It's a really fascinating sport."
White has been in the Colorado State House for eight years. There's an eight-year term limit so he is now running for the State Senator.
"Al has been friends with my son and our family for years so we invited him to come to a race. He's never been to a drag race," said Dan Strausbaugh. "He's been out here more than 25 years. We were old classmates at Hillsboro High School. Al and my very good friend Jim Beck were Vietnam veterans and we were in Vietnam together, and that's really how we are tied together now.”
Cory McClenathan has a winning record against the "invisible man". He has a bye run in the first round.
“Especially with that U.S. Army team and Tony Schumacher, they can lay down a run at any time,” McClenathan said. “Not only them, but the Kalitta’s, Bernstein and the rest of the field. There are a lot of good cars out there and you can’t look a gift horse in the mouth.”
McClenathan’s Friday-evening 3.929 elapsed time stands as the quickest-ever official 1,000-foot race course pass. His performance grants a bye-run in the first round due to a 15-car field. There was no way Cory McClenathan was celebrating Friday’s provisional low qualifying effort.
Cory McClenathan has a winning record against the "invisible man". He has a bye run in the first round.
“Especially with that U.S. Army team and Tony Schumacher, they can lay down a run at any time,” McClenathan said. “Not only them, but the Kalitta’s, Bernstein and the rest of the field. There are a lot of good cars out there and you can’t look a gift horse in the mouth.”
McClenathan’s Friday-evening 3.929 elapsed time stands as the quickest-ever official 1,000-foot race course pass. His performance grants a bye-run in the first round due to a 15-car field.
Having a first round bye run will enable McClenathan to sleep well this evening.
“It’s a great gift and dumb luck, so to speak,” McClenathan said. “When there’s fifteen cars, you always want to be the person who qualifies No. 1. Unfortunately, that’s Tony most of the time that gets the bye. This is a cool thing for us and we’ll take it. I’d rather race someone and work for it. Anything worth having is worth fighting for.”
This marks the second low qualifying effort for McClenathan in 2008, and 32nd of his career.
Even though he’s getting a bye run to start the event, McClenathan is still leery of the “invisible man”.
“My record against him is pretty good,” McClenathan said. “But, I have found a lot of ways to lose races in my years of racing. I’ve rolled out and did a burnout only to back over my own parachute. You never know what could happen.”
NOW THAT’S A TAB – McClenathan and the entire Don Schumacher racing operation was treated to dinner last evening by sponsor Gates Belts. He admitted their product held up exceptionally well within the confines of racing in Denver, a lot better than his wallet could have.
“That’s a pretty scary thing when you take that many people out to dinner,” McClenathan said. “I wouldn’t want to have to pay that tab. I don’t even know if I’d want to pay the tip because that would be my entire Don Schumacher Racing paycheck.”
CAMPAIGN 2008 - McClenathan hosted a special guest in its pit area during the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway, thanks to assistant crew chief Neal Strausbaugh and his family. Former Colorado House Representative Al White, a native of the same hometown of Hillsboro, Ill., as Strausbaugh and his dad Dan and mom Jean, visited a drag race for the first time.
White, who is running for Senator in the 8th District in Northwest Colorado, was full of amazement during his inaugural visit to an NHRA national event on Friday. "I'm having a heck of a good time," said White, who has a home in Winter Park, Colo. "This is just amazing when you see those cars streak by and feel the vibrations rumble all the way through your body from your head to your toes.
"It just amazes me to see the combination of mechanics and speed all at work in fluid motion. And the tremendous noise. It's a very exciting and thrilling experience for me. This is just wonderful. My wife Jean and I couldn't be having more fun. It's a really fascinating sport."
White has been in the Colorado State House for eight years. There's an eight-year term limit so he is now running for the State Senator.
"Al has been friends with my son and our family for years so we invited him to come to a race. He's never been to a drag race," said Dan Strausbaugh. "He's been out here more than 25 years. We were old classmates at Hillsboro High School. Al and my very good friend Jim Beck were Vietnam veterans and we were in Vietnam together, and that's really how we are tied together now.”
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