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MONDAY NOTEBOOK - NO MORE WAIITNG FOR SCHU TO FALL, DIXON INDY KING

Tony Schumacher's iron grip on the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals title fell limp Monday in a tire-smoking National Hot Rod Ass'n. semifinal battle against Don Schumacher Racing teammate Cory McClenathan.

"There's not a lot you can say," the U.S. Army Dragster driver said. "I thought I could get the car hooked up and get past him, but it just wouldn't go. Of course, I'm disappointed. This is our biggest race of the year and you always want to win this one more than any other one on the schedule."

STILL GOING STRONG - Cory McClenathan doesn't need any more motivation, but Larry Dixon just gave him some Monday afternoon.
 
"While it's great to get to the finals in Indy, you want to win it, so it was tough to lose," Top Fuel runner-up Cory McClenathan said. "We just need to keep making sure they know we’re there.
 
“Larry and his wife both said at the other end today that they were scared. They said they were worried. They knew we had a good car. Right now, if there’s a car out there that should be scaring everybody, it should be this FRAM Top Fuel dragster.”
 
McClenathan remained second in the point standings and is just 46 off Dixon's pace.
 
“Last year we went into the Countdown in Concord, N.C., not Indy. And the next thing you know you’re at the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis and you’ve got all the drama of that, you’re at home," the Fishers, Ind., resident said, "it's Don Schumacher Racing's home, and it's early in the Countdown. So, yeah, that’s a lot to chew," said the two-time U.S. Nationals champion.
 
"I was thinking about that up there right when we started the car, so I had plenty of motivation today and that’s a good thing. Sometimes the pressure can make you the best. And we were good, and everybody did a great job.
 
“You know what? You always think it’s your time," he said of his chances of finally beating Dixon this year.
 
Now he has an idea of how Dixon felt against Tony Schumacher all those years.
 
"I mean, the tables will turn eventually and they just have a very stellar car right now," McClenathan said. "Larry is a good driver. We brought our A-game today. We had a good day."
 
But Monday it was Dixon's turn again. 
 
LANGDON WINS IN SUPER GAS - Shawn Langdon gave U.S. Nationals champion Larry Dixon a respectable challenge in the semifinal round and didn't feel bad -- he didn’t have time to.
 
"We made a good run and didn't mess anything up. We just lost a good race. Larry is the Indy champ for a reason. He made good runs all day," the Lucas Oil/Speedco Dragster driver said.
 
That semifinal finish moved Langdon up to fourth place in the standings heading to the Charlotte race. He's a mere 45 points behind third-place Tony Schumacher.
 
Actually, Langdon didn't have time to absorb all that, because as soon as he exited the Top Fuel chase, he earned his precious U.S. Nationals Wally trophy in the Super Gas class.
 
"In the Top Fuel car we made some really good runs," Langdon said. "We finally got that one lucky round we'd been waiting for all year. To win in the Super Gas car was huge for me personally. Winning at Indy has been the one thing that has eluded me my whole career."
 
He beat David Tatum in the finals with a 9.92 seconds at 163 mph to 9.93/164.
 
"To be able to get an Indy win, it's just the dream," Langdon said. "This is what I've lived for my whole life. Actually, we were afraid that we were going to get disqualified for having too many people on the starting line, because my whole Top Fuel crew came to support me.
 
"I have to thank the Hughes Performance Group. They made it happen for me by letting me drive their car. I can't forget Forrest and Charlotte Lucas, either. We're fourth in points now and we're making statements."  
 
BRAIN FREEZE - Hot Rod Fuller blamed himself completely for his loss to Steve Torrence in the first pairing of the day. It was especially disappointing for the No. 9 qualifier after he posted the quickest elapsed time during the final day of qualifying (3.864 seconds).
 
"There's not much to say," Fuller said after Torrence got the jump on him at the Christmas Tree and beat him 3.855 seconds at 316.30 mph to 3.846 /  312.50.
 
"I had a brain freeze. The foot and brain weren't in sync. That falls on me. I didn't do my job. Lee [Don Schumacher Racing team Manager Beard] and the guys gave me a great race car, and we should have been one of the cars to win this race today.
 
He will take his Abu Dhabi/Yas Marina Circuit Dragster to the Sept. 16-19 O'Reilly Auto Parts Carolinas Nationals. He said, "We'll go to Charlotte in two weeks and try and do better."

CRAZY LIFE HAS NEW CHAPTER - T.J. Zizzo made his first appearance of the season at Houston this spring. And even though he can't help but crack jokes about his crazy life, he indicated that he wasn't exactly in "fighting shape" at that time. Fresh off a trip to Barcelona (to fulfill a 15-year-old promise to his wife), he said, "I was hoping to have lost more weight than Cory Mac. I ran into him at an event this winter and he looked lean. I had lost 12 pounds until I ate all of those tapas in Spain. So, now my dad will have to squeeze me in the car with a shoehorn."
 
Moreover, he said in April, "We just dug the transporter out of a snow bank three weeks ago"  and "I'll need to dust the cob webs off my driving suit and get the paint fumes out of my head from painting cars 12 hours a day. That first pass might be a little bit of shock to my system." Ultimately, the Peak/Herculiner Dragster driver decided, "I can't wait to stand at the ropes, talk to the fans and spend time with the media. I want them to be able to appreciate all of T.J. My wife, friends, and team should not be the only people subjected to that."
 
Plenty of people got a thrill to watch Zizzo this weekend. Doug Kalitta and his DeWalt/Stanley/Mac Tools Dragster were not among those thrilled. Zizzo cut a .034 light for a holeshot victory over Kalitta by .0133 of a second, or about six feet.
 
Wow! Fantastic!" Zizzo said. "I prepared three months for this event and I just see it happening!" He said his promotions with his sponsors "has all paid off" but would readily give some credit to all the bench racing he did all winter.
 
His fantasy scenario, though, didn't include his quarterfinal loss in the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals to Cory McClenathan. But that's what happened to end the dreams at this race of the Cinderella No. 10 qualifier. Zizzo had nothing to be ashamed of against Cory Mac -- they left at almost the same split-second and stayed with the FRAm Dragster in the early going before McClenathan pulled away.

INCREDIBLE STREAK HALTED - Tony Schumacher's iron grip on the U.S. National title fell limp Monday in a tire-smoking semifinal battle against Don Schumacher Racing teammate Cory McClenathan. With a .0648-seciond margin of victory, McClenathan earned the chance to run for his first U.S. Nationals victory since 1999 and his second overall. That denied Schumacher the chance to pass "Big Daddy" Don Garlits as the event's most successful champion. The U.S. Army Dragster driver remains tied with Garlits at eight triumphs.
 
Watching the smoky pedal fest was "Smoke" himself, NASCAR star Tony Stewart, fresh off his victory at Sunday night's Emory Healthcare 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. He took a special interest in this match-up, for he was attending the event as a guest of DSR.
 
Making his second straight appearance at the U.S. Nationals as a spectator, Stewart (who also is part owner of the December IMIS trade show in downtown Indianapolis) said he might like to try drag racing sometime.  He said he had had some interest in it when he drove fro Joe Gibbs, who also had an NHRA team. Stewart said Sunday, "Maybe Don [Schumacher] will talk me into it one day."

'NO MERCY, MAN' - Tony Schumacher had an idea early on that if he were going to win his record ninth U.S. Nationals crown it might not come easy. He was in the fourth pairing of the first round, rolling up to the starting line against upset-minded Terry Haddock. Normally cool under pressure, the U.S. Army driver admitted he was surprised to see three upsets ahead of him. Steve Torrence, though qualified eighth, eliminated No. 9 but more experienced Rod Fuller. Then part-timer T.J. Zizzo shocked Doug Kalitta, and Shawn Langdon followed by doing the same to No. 5 Antron Brown.
 
"No mercy, man, huh?" Schumacher said after he got past Haddock. "I always talk about being a machine. It doesn't mean just driving flawless. It means being able to get over what you see in front of us. I don't like watching it. I don't like knowing that there were all these upsets and all this stuff going on. Being a machine all the time, doing the same thing, it's awful difficult when you see three upsets right in front of your eyes, man."
 
HE HAS WHAT?! - It's normal for almost everybody to have butterflies at the starting line for the opening round of the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. But No. 2 starter Cory McClenathan, a veteran with nearly 20 full years of experience, said he didn't have butterflies. "They're pterodactyls, man!" he declared after advancing past Terry McMillen in the sixth pairing of the day. "I don't care how calm you are. You see everybody winning in front of you -- Larry Dixon, Tony Schumacher . . . Man, it's a gut-check. That's just the way it is. To go to the next round, that's what we're here for. One at time. Let's get it done."
 
LUCK CHANGING? - Perhaps 2010 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Simona Di Silvestro brought Shawn Langdon some tremendous luck, hanging out in his Lucas Oil pits this weekend. Or maybe Langdon simply was prepared in his Lucas Oil/Speedco Dragster and helped by some extra looks at the racetrack by advancing a handful of rounds in the Super Gas class, as well.
 
After Langdon advanced to the semifinal round because Brandon Bernstein's car was shut down following the burnout, the sophomore driver said, "Wow --we've had some bad luck this year, but maybe we're making up for it." Langdon posted a less-than-stellar 5.31-second elapsed time. As for Bernstein's troubles, Langdon said, "He's one of the best drivers out here, and he has a great car. I hate to see that happen, but we'll take everything we can."
 
His day was starting to turn around after he sweated it out overnight, knowing he was qualified 12th and facing the formidable No. 5 Antron Brown in the first round. "That's not how you want to do it, start off the Countdown running Antron and being out of the No. 12 spot. It's not where you want to start out." He made the most of it, dispatching Brown. "I want pull my weight," he said. By the semifinal, he was the only Lucas Oil racer left, as Morgan Lucas lost to Tony Schumacher and Hector Arana lost to Jim Underdahl in the Pro Stock Motorcycle quarterfinals.  Karen Stoffer already had red-lit against first-round opponent Steve Johnson.
 
TOUGHEST BREAK - Brandon Bernstein's starting-line trouble undoubtedly was, in announcer Bob Frey's words "absolutely the toughest break of the weekend."
 
Shawn Langdon in the opposite lane said he wasn't exactly sure what was going on in the lane next to him but "I heard some weird stuff going on over there."
 
Bernstein's burnout in the Copart/Lucas Oil Dragster appeared normal, but the car emitted a couple of loud pops about 15 seconds apart. The car stopped after the first pop, then wiggled sideways.
 
A disappointed Bernstein said that crew chief Todd Smith "knew we had a problem when he started the engine. The RPMs and voltage readings were low. And I knew we were in trouble when I hit the throttle. The engine almost died but then came back. I was trying to
back up quickly to get to the crew to see if they could make an adjustment to the engine, but before I could accomplish that, the engine just quit.
 
"The fact that I was crossed up didn't have anything to do with the problem," he said. "We are chasing an electrical problem that ultimately was responsible for the end of our day."
 
The No. 4 qualifier said, "It is doubly disappointing, because we had a good race car -- and then Shawn had trouble on the run and we might have been able to take the round-win."
 
Frey said that's the worst way to drop out of race, suggesting that it even would be better to "get abducted by aliens."

SUNDAY NOTEBOOK

It will not be about his rivalry with Tony Schumacher, although the two of them -- the NHRA's two most successful drivers in Top Fuel history -- have dominated the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals for decade. At least one of them has been in the final round since 2000. With a ninth trophy, Schumacher would emerge from Don Garlits' shadow while celebrating his 10th anniversary of U.S. Army sponsorship. With a fourth victory at O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis, Dixon would end Schumacher's streak here at four.

NEIGHBORLY ACT - Many of the drag racers whose shops are headquartered in nearby Brownsburg feel lucky to be at home for the U.S. Nationals. But Bruce Litton tops them all, for his race shop and trailer-sales business sit directly across Crawfordsville Road from O'Reilly Raceway Park's main gate (along with the meticulous re-creation of the main street from his Oneida, Tenn., boyhood home, complete with service station, car dealership, jail, diner, chapel, and movie theatre).

DROPPED DOWEL A DOWNER - Call it "A Tale of Two Terrys." Ironically, Terry McMillen's Countdown destiny ended up (and ended) in the hands -- literally -- of fellow lower-budget racer Terry Haddock during the first round of the Aug. 15 eliminations at Brainerd. A Haddock victory over Dave Grubnic would have helped McMillen toward his goal of making the 10-driver playoff field. But Haddock lost to Grubnic and McMillen fell in the next pairing to Tony Schumacher.

CHASING THE GREMLINS - When a driver hasn't been in the race-by-race groove and joins the tour late in the season, it's difficult enough. Add mechanical gremlins, and it's particularly frustrating. Hot Rod Fuller, who has reminded just how well he can drive a Top Fuel dragster during his limited appearances in the Abu Dhabi/Yas Marina Circuit entry late in this season, has experienced that kind of aggravation.

'GO BIG OR GO HOME' - Antron Brown slipped from second in the lineup to fifth Saturday. But he had the satisfaction of knowing that his Don Schumacher-owned Matco Tools/U.S. Army Dragster is capable of leading the pack. After all, he did that last year, also with crew chiefs Mark Oswald and Brian Corradi, with a 3.835-second elapsed time. He overpowered the track and settled for a top-five spot overnight with a 5.357-second E.T. at 128.04 mph.

MILLICAN TO RETURN - Time was when Clay Millican was in a dragster all the time -- at the International Hot Rod Association races, where he won 52 times and earned six championships, or at National Hot Rod Association races or just sitting in the seat at his shop in Munford, Tenn. But he hasn't driven one in months. Right now he's lucky to have a race car at all, after floods last May wiped out much of his operation. And he and business partner Mark Pickens are fortunate that they have money to get back on the dragstrip. Thanks to sponsorship from former car owner Kenny Koretsky’s Nitro Fish Apparel, Millican is returning to NHRA Top Fuel action at the Oct. 7-10 Toyo Tires Nationals at Reading, Pa.'s Maple Grove Raceway.

 

 

 

 

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SATURDAY NOTEBOOK - A NEW FACE ATOP THE LEADERBOARD

DIXON AMBUSHES McCLENATHAN FOR TOP SPOT 

 Cory McClenathan wanted it all. 

And by 5 o'clock Saturday, on this ideal late-summer day, he had everything that he and the FRAM Dragster could grab so far at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. He had the No. 1 qualifying spot and the track elapsed-time and speed records. Then Larry Dixon came along in the Al-Anabi Dragster three hours later and took it all away from him in the Saturday night session. Dixon rocketed to a 3.776-second E.T. that was just four-hundredths of a tick off his career-best effort at 324.36 mph, easily his career-best speed.

He called it "a clutch performance by the team, for sure." It was a far cry better than his Friday performance, in which he experienced early tire shake and shut off the engine early. That left him on the bump spot, nearly the odd man out among the 19 Top Fuel entries. By the end of the second session, Saturday's first, Dixon had improved to sixth in the order. 

"We missed it last night, obviously. It was almost like a get-out-of-jail free card," the newly established No. 1 qualifier and track dominator said. "You get another shot at it." 

Dixon likened the conditions to those at the Houston event, where he was top qualifier and won to put himself in position to capture the points lead (once again, from McClenathan) that he has yet to relinquish. "The air - I don't know what this is," he said. "This is like Houston air somebody imported. It's just real nice, real fast. I'm glad the car stuck and got down the track, ended up low [qualifier]." He had no complaints about any part of the pass down the left lane. "It was hooked up and moving. It wasn't going right or left," Dixon said. "It stuck. That's lane's great."

As for whether he was counting on it surpassing McClenathan's numbers, he said, "You hope . . . " He insisted he was not celebrating at the top end. "I still feel honored to drive this car for Sheik Khalid (Al Thani, of Qatar) and Alan (team owner/manager Johnson). I'll leave that to Alan and the guys," Dixon said, meaning crew chief Jason McCulloch and the crew. "I still feel lucky to have this ride. I'm serious! I feel lucky to have a job, for one, and two, to have a good car. Do you know how many guys drive a car for a living who don’t bring money to the team?" He said the sheik and Johnson "are bitchin' people, [with] good hearts -- and that's not talking about performance. The car runs good."   Besides, Dixon said, "To be honest, that run was important. We were eighth or ninth going up there. We needed to run better, just to be able to get lane choice [for eliminations, by qualifying in the upper half of the field]." 

Dixon this year has won all five races in which he was No. 1 qualifier. With two more qualifying runs to go Sunday, the nine-time winner will need to keep his performance level up if he is to record his 46th career top spot. He has statistics on his side, having started in the top three at 14 of the 17 previous races.  Falling two points short of his third series crown -- the narrowest margin between a Top Fuel champion and runner-up in NHRA history -- made an impact on him last November. 

"We learned last year how big a difference qualifying bonus points can make. So we'll be doing our best to get every bonus point out there," Dixon, who lives in nearby Avon, Ind.,  said. "The bonus points, whether you get three for being the quickest in a session or one for being the third-quickest, they all add up at the end of the year."  

He said he's "excited for the Al-Anabi team, not only because we finished the regular season in the top 10 but also because we are the No. 1 seed for the Countdown. Our team worked very hard in the regular season to try and get into that position, and we were able to do that, so it feels good. Our game plan hasn't really changed as we start the playoffs. Our team's goal has been go into every session, try to do as well as we can, and hope it's enough. It got us to this point, so I don't see a lot changing in the last six races." 

The turn of events was a major disappointment to McClenathan. He already had the No. 1 qualifying position, thanks to his track-record 3.789-second flash Friday. But his 319.98-mph speed in that opening qualifying session was about two miles an hour slower than DSR teammate Tony Schumacher's track-record speed of 321.35. With their other teammate, Antron Brown in the opposite lane early Saturday, McClenathan rolled out to the starting line and took that speed record from Schumacher with a 322.58-mph clocking. His 3.826-second elapsed time was slightly off his Friday pace, but it was enough to keep the provisional No. 1 position. McClenathan had predicted that more drivers would dip into the 3.70s by the end of the weekend. So far, only he, Dixon, and provisional No. 3 qualifier Schumacher are the only ones to do so.   

BME 001 DEBUTS -- The "BME 001" made its debut with an "oh-oh" Friday night.  

This first in-house dragster from Bill Miller Engineering -- a collaboration among chassis designer Don Long, builder Bob Tobin, and Miller -- broke on the burnout Friday evening, spoiling its debut and leaving driver Troy Buff to wait until Saturday to make the Top Fuel field. The new black beauty from the shop at Carson City, Nev., carried Buff into the field, in the 16th and final position, on Saturday's first (the event's second overall) session. However, he slipped back into the unqualified ranks by Saturday evening, 18th out of 19 racers. He'll have two chances Sunday to climb back into the mix for Monday's eliminations.  

No matter what, Buff has to be more comfortable than ever in the car. He's 5-foot-6 inches tall, and the car was designed for former BME driver Dave Grubnic, who's 6-3. And Grubnic wasn't the previous driver. After Grubnic came Brady Kalivoda, Bobby Lagana, and Alan Bradshaw -- all of whom drove the same car. 

"We've been running with the old car for a long time," Miller conceded. "We've managed to shorten the foot box 18 inches, which makes the car much more flexible. We've moved the engine out about four inches and done some other modifications to the chassis." 

Miller cited John Force Racing, Don Schumacher Racing, and Kalitta Motorsports for controlling their own car construction with either an in-house program or their own arrangement in design. 

"If everybody had the money and he capability, they'd build their own cars," the manufacturer of pistons, rings, rods, pins, and superchargers said.  He cautioned, though, "It's  double-edged sword. You don't get the benefit of building 50 cars a year." A builder such as Brad Hadman, he said for example, discovers that "each one is a modification of the previous one. So you learn a little her and a little there. The cars get a little bit different and a little bit better as it proceeds." With one's own program, he said, "you keep a lot in-house, but you don't learn what other people are doing."     

KB RACING, COPART TALKING - A year ago at the U.S. Nationals, Kenny Bernstein announced Copart was going to be his Top Fuel team's primary sponsor for the 2010 season. With the 2010 season coming to a close soon, Bernstein indicated Saturday that he isn't ready to announce any 2011 deals yet. The agreement carried a one-year term by mutual design. 

"First, I want to say that we're very happy and proud to represent Copart this year," Bernstein said. "Yes, it was a one-year [agreement], and we're still working on it right now. That's basically where we stand at this time: We're still working on it. That's the bottom line. 

"We're going to finish out the season with them (Copart), and we're working on the future right now. We're not quite done with it, but we're working on it. I am optimistic, and until the deal is done you never know. I'm very optimistic and I'm very happy with everything and we're just working on the program right now with them."   

IN ORDER - Tony Schumacher lined up Saturday night behind Larry Dixon and his own Don Schumacher Racing teammate Cory McClenathan in the lineup. Entering the event, that's the same order they had int he standings. "So I guess it’s no surprise that we’re placed like we are right now," Schumacher said. "We’ll see how it all shakes out on Monday." That's when he'll go for his record-setting ninth U.S. Nationals victory.

'YOU HAVE TO BE CREATIVE'  - Bob Vandergriff is on a scavenger hunt, and a couple of the items on his list definitely are a bit out of the ordinary: one Russian billionaire and one movie star.

Vandergriff, whose limited funding has allowed him to compete at only six races this year so far and these final six, has been scouring the nation -- and the globe -- for sponsorship packages to help his own cause and those of other racers, as well. And he has forced himself to change the paradigms for the sponsorship procurement process. 

"It's like anything else -- it's tough," he said of the economic environment in which has to operate each day. "Companies are watching their budgets and where they spend. You have to be creative in how you approach it and think of non-traditional ways and non-traditional avenues. "You just kind of throw out your thinking on how you used to go do it and who you used to go talk to. You see our sport now," Vandergriff said. "We have sheiks. We have an oil and gas sponsor. We have people outside the normal realm. You have to expand the way you think. Go find yourself a Russian billionaire or a movie company that wants to get involved or a movie star who is looking to do some things. You have to think outside the normal avenue and try to find potential opportunities. That's what I try to do every day." 

This weekend he's laying a foundation for a strong showing in the 2011 season, both with funding and with the C&J Energy Services Dragster itself. "We're running the rest of the season; I'll be at the last six races," Vandergriff said. "We're still trying to get a direction for next year, parts-wise and tune-up-wise. We'll know a little bit more after this weekend as far as what direction we're going. C&J is going to be involved. They may be involved the whole (2011) season. We're going to look at that from a standpoint of 'Does it make sense, or does it make sense to bring some other people on board for some of the races, as well?' When we leave here, we'll have a little better game plan."  

One thing is certain for next season, Vandergriff said. "Our plan is to run all the races." Whether he'll field just his dragster or a second car depends on his negotiating skill in Corporate America. "We talk to a lot of different companies and a lot of agencies," he said. "If we're able to put together multiple companies that want to be involved, then we'll have to run a second team. Our goal is to make sure we have one fully funded and then we'll start looking at other options." For now, Vandergriff said, "We're obviously coming to the race and trying to be competitive, but at the same time, we'll try to learn stuff for next year, as well."  

TERRY MCMILLEN'S INDY BLOG

Highs and Lows at The Big Go

They say there's nothing like your first time and I suppose that's true. I'm determined to soak up every minute of Indy and hang out at the front of our pits and share stories and sign autographs for everyone that comes by. Heck, I'd probably hang out there all day if Chris Hill (NHRA Official who tells us to go to the starting line) wouldn't keep coming by and telling us to roll. But then again there is a race to be contested.

We came here with a lot of expectations and we certainly haven't given up on those yet. It's just a roller coaster ride. A week before Indy we tested our new back half and really thought that we'd come here and hit the ground running. That hasn't been the case. We smoked the tires 3 of the 4 hits so far. There have been some encouraging signs, like when we had a .847 60ft time, which was the fourth fastest of that session. But, as Richard Hartman said, it's not a 60ft race. We're so close to putting a eye opening number down. Sunday would be a great time to start.

So, the pressure and roller coaster of going into Sunday - not in the show makes - the tension a little bit higher in our pits. We've done this a million times before and I'm confident we'll get in, but then again it is Indy.

We missed getting into the Top 10 Countdown by the slimmest of any margin in the professional classes. We'll remember that for awhile, but if we can do well here, everyone will always remember what we did at The Big Go, especially me.

FLYNN LEARNS NEW TUNING TRICKS -- Soft-spoken Rob Flynn is helping rising ADRL Pro Extreme star Alex Hossler make a loud statement in the Pro Modified world.  

Flynn, a veteran crew chief most recently working in the NHRA ranks on Brandon Bernstein's Copart/Lucas Oil Dragster, helped Hossler win Aug. 26 at Gateway International Raceway. That moved Hossler into second place in the standings, just 16 points off Josh Hernandez's pace. It's no real surprise he is making a difference for Hossler, but it's surprising to Flynn that he finds himself in the middle of the doorslammer world.

"I didn't think I'd be helping out on one of those at all," Flynn said. "But things change, and you do what you've got to do."He became involved when Hossler and his team invited Flynn to advise on tuning for the Chris Duncan-crafted '70 Camaro. 

"Want to go over an help in Qatar?" they asked. 

Replied Flynn, "Why not? Not much going on here." 

Then, Flynn said, "it kind of blossomed to where I ended up helping Alex starting at Martin, Michigan.  

"It's totally different, a totally different thing," he said. "I've never been involved with doorslammer racing before. The cars, they're just race cars. A lot of principles apply, but it's just totally different. You've got suspension, which I've never had anything to do with before. It has an automatic transmission in it. I've worked on alcohol cars, so the engine part's not that different, really, but the rest of it really is."  

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FRIDAY NOTEBOOK 

 

TERRY MCMILLEN'S INDY BLOG

The Super Bowl of Drag Racing 

US Nationals…The biggest and badest drag race of the season. Nobody forgets the winner of the race in Indy. This race is in the same class as the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500. The US Nationals in Indianapolis at O’Reilly Raceway Park may not determine who takes home the championship for the season, but it is truly the Super Bowl of drag racing.

As driver of the Amalie Oil Top Fuel dragster, I'm looking forward to sharing my rookie experience at the US Nationals with Competition Plus. There is nothing more I would rather do than share what may be the highlight of my entire racing career, thus far. I hope you will join me here each day on my journey as I make my dream of driving at the US Nationals in Indianapolis come true.

When my boys were children, the one race we always went to was the US Nationals. I remember walking through the pits telling them that one day we would race there. It was a dream back then, as racing was something my boys and I did as a hobby. Today I make my dreams come true, and though exhausted due to lack of sleep, the excitement has created enough adrenaline to keep me on my toes all the way to the finish line!

Butterflies are what some would call a pleasant insect. I would have agreed to that statement before I woke up this morning with a stomach full of butterflies. I am almost if not more nervous then I was heading into Brainerd for the top 10 playoff spot. Why, you ask? Well, between seeing the legends
that revolutionized drag racing, the abnormally large amount of drivers competing to get in each field, the die hard drag racing fans, and (did I mention) the fact that I am LIVING MY DREAM….I am just a little nervous. So, today’s game plan is to take in the moment. We back halved the car, so it is ready for the competition. I am hoping I can get rid of some of those butterflies by qualifying in the top 12 tonight!

Wish us luck! Talk to you tomorrow!

DSR TESTS NEW WINDSHIELD - Anyone with a sharp eye watching last Thursday's testing for the Mac Tools at O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis noticed something different, some a bit avant-garde on Cory McClenathan's and Tony Schumacher's dragsters.    

The sleek, cone-shaped enclosure on the cockpit looks akin to the cockpit cover on a fighter jet or hydroplane. According to DSR Team Manager Lee Beard, the purpose of the revolutionary-design windshield, or shroud, is to protect the driver by "trying to prevent fire from moving forward into the driver's compartment in the event of an engine explosion, to make it a safe environment for the driver." 

It's the product of a partnership between DSR and with Indiana University-Purdue University - Indianapolis (IUPUI) and its unique School of Engineering and Technology motorsports program that Pete Hylton leads. Beard said DSR never intended this weekend to affix the canopy-like shield onto those two cars or to Antron Brown's Mac Tools Dragster or the co-op dragster that Hot Rod Fuller drives with the Yas Marina label on it.

"It's in the developmental stages," he said, adding, "We have to see some positive results before we would change, before we put it on there. "The university has the data," Beard said. "They're analyzing it right now and they'll come back to us with a report. " 

McClenathan's FRAM Dragster traded testing honors with Tony Schumacher's U.S. Army Dragster. The cars were equipped with pressure sensors that detected the pressure differentials between the car bearing the conventional windshield and with the new design. McClenathan recorded led all testing Top Fuel drivers Thursday with a 3.790-second pass at 324.28 mph that was decidedly quicker and faster than ORP's elapsed time and speed records (3.819 by Schumacher, 319.11 by DSR teammate Antron Brown). However, the new windshield was not affixed to his car for that run. Neither was it attached to Schumacher's car when the eight-time Mac Tools U.S. Nationals winner registered a 3.826-second E.T. at 310.20 mph performance. 

Beard said he was "not 100 percent sure" what time and speeds the cars ran when they used the new-design windshield because he also was helping prepare the Yas Marina entry that Hot Rod Fuller is driving. 

Earlier this summer, at Englishtown, N.J., McClenathan registered the quickest pass in the 1,000-foot era at 3.752 seconds and the second-fastest at 324.75 mph, using a chassis influenced by the IUPUI students' handiwork. The Brownsburg, Ind.-based DSR and IUPUI's motorsports program forged the working partnership in January. 

"These kids are unbelievable when it comes to aerodynamics," McClenathan said. "This car is set up the way they'd like to see things go in the future. This is a tribute to what happens when you put good people together. They may be kids, but they're smart individuals." Beard said Friday the IUPUI program's ongoing chassis development is especially valuable for its "ability to do stress analysis on what we currently have. Cory's car has some technology, chassis-wise, eventually that'll go on the other cars."

FOLEY HEADING SOUTH - Everything's going south for Doug Foley, but that's exciting for the New Jersey native. The Senecal Construction Dragster driver and drag-racing instructor is following in Rhode Islander Bob Tasca III's footsteps and joining Greg Anderson and Jason Line in the hub of NASCAR country. Foley recently signed a contract for a 12,000-plus-square-foot shop in Mooresville, N.C.,  that will house both his team and Doug Foley Drag Racing School.  

He said he plans to move into the new facility after the Oct. 7-10 Toyo Tires Nationals at Reading, Pa.'s Maple Grove Raceway. He said that will mark his last appearance in 2010. 

"We'll test over the winter whenever we want, since we're down south," he said, "and that way we can take our time preparing for the 2011 season. "It was the right time for us to head south," Foley said. "The cost of running our operation in the Northeast was expensive, and you got very little for your money. This new facility will be able to house all of our tractor trailers for the school and our race team, as well as our hospitality rig and 15-plus race cars -- with room to grow." 

What excited him, too, was the "tremendous amount of technology in this town." He said his single-car operation could benefit from "being able to get anything you need without having to own the equipment." 

Last year, Foley sold one of his Top Fuel operations to the Dote family, a third-generation racing clan  from upstate New York that has stepped up to the pro ranks after decades of sportsman experience. The Dotes hired Foley to manage the team and recently entered into a long-term agreement for Foley to be the driver. Doug Kuch is crew chief and Glenn Camp the car chief.   

HUNK-HUNKA DESIRE - A few years ago, Brandon Bernstein showed up at the U.S. Nationals with a special Elvis-themed fire suit, even wore blue suede driving shoes. This year, Pittsboro, Ind., resident Antron Brown is the one humming, "It's now or never." That's what the Matco Tool Dragster driver, who was No. 1 qualifier at this home-base race last season, said as he anticipated Friday's first session.

"Our DSR Matco Tools team is fired up about Indy. The U.S. Nationals is our biggest race of the year, and it's now or never. The playoffs are here with the Countdown, and we need to get back to our winning ways,"

Brown, who last won at the NHRA Finals at Pomona last November, said. "We tested great last week and we have a lot of confidence and will do our best to win this race for Matco Tools." 

The 16-time Pro Stock Motorcycle winner won twice at O'Reilly Raceway Park, including the 50th anniversary U.S. Nationals in 2004. But he's seeking his first Top Fuel triumph here -- and his first of the season. Brown has recorded six final-round appearances this season (at Gainesville, Charlotte, Houston, Englishtown, Norwalk, and Seattle) and five No. 1 starts (at Gainesville, Las Vegas, Topeka, Bristol, and Denver).   

HOME (HOPEFULLY) SWEET HOME - Jim Nabors won't be singing for him this weekend, but Morgan Lucas is back home again in Indiana (he was born in Corydon) and hoping to deliver big. He lives just a few minutes from O'Reilly Raceway Park, and he knows how sweet winning here would be. 

"Living here puts a premium on winning this trophy because everywhere you go in town the people always remember who won this race. Plus, it's the U.S. Nationals, the biggest race in the sport, it's the start of the playoffs, and our family business, Lucas Oil, is the presenting sponsor. There's a lot on the table," the GEICO Powersports/Lucas Oil Dragster driver said. 

"This is a huge weekend for everyone on this team," Lucas, 26, said. "We all live here, we all work here, and all of our friends and family will be at the races. My girlfriend, Katie, and her family are here. All the guys' wives and kids come out. We want to do well for everyone. It's important for us to show everyone what we do so they can see why we're running around the country for half the year." 

The No. 9-ranked driver said he knows his time is limited to shine. Lucas, who also owns and operates the Lucas Oil/Speedco Dragster that Shawn Langdon drives, said after he and Langdon qualified for the Countdown, "the next goal is to contend for the championship. We have six races to make a mark, and it starts right now. We'll make or break our season in the next two months, and that's exciting. We're all kind of starting over, so maybe we can catch some lightning in a bottle and make a run at this thing."  

DOUBLE-DRIVING LANGDON READY - While team owner/teammate Morgan Lucas is looking for "lightning in a bottle," Lucas Oil/Speedco Dragster driver Shawn Langdon is wanting simply some consistence from his car. He said his test last week at ORP "went awesome" and said, "How we wanted to run it at the Nationals is how we ran it at the test. 

"We made four good runs. We went 3.87 (seconds), 3.89, 3.89, and 3.86. The new management of ORP had the track in U.S. Nationals condition. It made it very easy for us not to question any of our results," Langdon said. "We still need to pick up a couple of hundredths out of that, but it's not the end of the world. At least we have a competitive car going into Indy."  

The No. 7 driver said he has been trying to be prepared so the hectic pace of the U.S. Nationals doesn't distract him.  

"Indy is the biggest race of the year," he said. "We're going to have a lot of the Lucas Oil family out at the track. There's a lot riding on this race. It's the first race of the Countdown. It's a big race for Lucas Oil. There's pressure to do well, but you can't let it affect your driving." 

He'll have a pretty frantic pace all by himself, for this weekend he's also racing a Super Gas car. He was a first-round winner Friday in that sportsman class, with the third-best elapsed time among those who advanced. I'm going to keep myself busy," Langdon said.  

PART-SMART - Zizzo Racing has skipped the summer vacations and the amusement-park visits, baseball games, and other distractions in Chicago. It has been accumulating parts and preparing the Peak/Herculiner Dragster for this race and the other three it has entered for the remainder of 2010.  

Driver T.J. Zizzo said, "We have more parts and pieces than ever before. The team has not stopped working all summer long, building up our inventory for our next four races."

They worked so hard that Zizzo said they were ready to roll a week ahead of schedule and had this past week  "to tie up loose ends."  With his loose ends now tightened, he is ready to be a factor, even if he didn't qualify for the Countdown.

"Everyone comes out of the woodwork for "The Big Go," he said. "We expect to be competitive and give the guys at the top of the points race something to think about as we approach Pomona."

FOOTBALL AND DRAG RACING - What do Tom Brady and Mike Ditka have to do with drag racing? Well, nothing, really, except to serve as inspiration for a couple of Top Fuel racers. Larry Dixon, a nine-time winner this season in the Al-Anabi Dragster on his way to securing the No. 1 ranking heading into the Countdown, identifies with the New England Patriots quarterback.

Said Dixon, "I feel very proud that we've done as well as we've done and won as many races as we have in the regular season. I'm proud of the Al-Anabi team. But ask Tom Brady about his undefeated regular season (2007-08) and ask him where that ranks in his career accomplishments. I think he would say that's not among his top memories, because he didn't win the Super Bowl. (The New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots 17-14 in the Feb. 3, 2008 Super Bowl.) Any of the 10 teams in the countdown has a good shot at winning the Full Throttle championship, and at this point, the championship is all that really counts. It would be an honor to win a Full Throttle championship for the Al-Anabi Racing team, His Highness Sheik Khalid and the people of Qatar. We have a long way to go, but it all starts this weekend."
 
T.J. Zizzo, from the Chicago suburb of Lincolnshire, Ill., is a teammate of sorts with hometown hero Ditka, a legend as player and coach for his beloved Chicago Bears. During the summer they met at a speaking engagement, and Zizzo said Ditka told him, "You have a great marketing partner with Peak." Added Zizzo, "He remembered in the 1980s, when he was a spokesperson for Peak, and how well he was treated by them. I am proud to be part of their family for seven years now, and I will continue to represent all of our marketing partners with dignity."
 
 Of course, Morgan Lucas and his family's Hoosier-bred Lucas Oil company are closely tied with the NFL's Indianapolis Colts as title sponsor of the downtown stadium that will host the next Super Bowl. Quarterback Peyton manning has been a guest of the Lucas family at the U.S. Nationals, and Morgan Lucas -- a devoted fan of former Colts coach Tony Dungy -- hosts the Eric Medlen Memorial Golf Tournament that benefits the Peyton Manning Children's Hospital at St. Vincent on Indianapolis' Northside. Among those who signed up for this year's tournament was Tom Zupancic, Indianapolis Colts senior vice president of sales and marketing.
 
'DRAMA DAVE??' - Will Dave Grubnic ever get to relax? Maybe in late November. The Kalitta Air Dragster driver said, "Indy is Indy, and you never know what to expect. It's a crazy but exciting few days of racing."
 
He was looking ahead to this full holiday weekend of racing when he said that. However, he easily could have been referring to his 2008 visit to Indianapolis, when it was the cutoff race for the Countdown -- or the fact that just getting to Indianapolis and into the Countdown is one unexpected episode of drama after another.
 
The first year of the Countdown was 2007, and Doug Herbert won the rain-delayed Reading race that year to knock Grubnic from the playoff field. The next year, the native Australian (who lives in Ennis, Mont.) was on pins and needles again, when the U.S. Nationals was the cutoff event. He clinched the No. 9 spot in the final session, only after Morgan Lucas failed to qualify. Funding issues kept Grubnic sidelined in 2009 until five of the final nine races, so he finished an almost-forgotten 22nd. And this time, he went to the cutoff race -- this time at Brainerd, Minn. -- waiting to see if he or Terry McMillen would be the No. 10 driver. He beat Terry Haddock in the opening round of eliminations, and Tony Schumacher defeated McMillen in the next pairing to hand him his answer.
 
So he's used to his destiny unfolding at the 11th hour and feeling both the sting of disappointment and the thrill of achievement. He's looking for his third career victory as he starts his second Countdown appearance.
 
"We'll go into it looking to do what we do for every other event, and that's to win the event. Connie [team owner/crew chief Kalitta] has our dragster running great, and we're very optimistic about our chances in Indy and for the rest of the Countdown," Grubnic said. "Hopefully we can have a solid showing this weekend and build some momentum for the end of the season."

 

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THURSDAY NOTEBOOK - THE KINGS OF THE SPORT

A DECADE OF  DISTINCTION -  "This car screams Army. The power, the commitment . . . that's what you see in the Army. That's what you see in this race car," Tony Schumacher said. That was 10 years ago, when  at the 2000 U.S. Nationals he announced his Top Fuel team's partnership with the U.S. Army.
 
Since then, this event that can define and shape a drag racer's career has taken on title sponsor Mac Tools, and the venerable Indianapolis Raceway Park has become O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis.
 
And since then, Schumacher has won "The Big Go" eight times and was the 2005 runner-up to Larry Dixon. Even more remarkable is that Schumacher's forbidding black and yellow dragster carried him to six consecutive series championships -- with two different crew chiefs (Alan Johnson, Mike Green) and two completely different crews, yet one mission: to win.         
 
"I don't drive for a beer company. I don't drive for a tool company. I drive for the United States Army," Schumacher said. "Every week there is literally an army of dedicated soldiers behind me. That's something very special."
 
It is special. It represents the Army values of duty, honor, respect, integrity, selflessness, and personal courage -- words mounted as inspiration in his pit, where dozens of fresh-faced recruits have taken their oaths of service. Besides the chevrons and Army star on his car, Schumacher has plenty in common with them.
 
During the past 10 years, he has mingled with generals and G.I.s alike, parachuted with the Army's Golden Knights, experienced the rigors of a boot-camp shift, spent New Year's Eve with the troops in cold and desolate Afghanistan, paid respects at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery, and both celebrated with and consoled Fort Hood soldiers and families in Texas.
 
He has been wounded seriously on his own blacktop battlefield that's a quarter-mile long and just 30 feet or so wide. About a month after he debuted the Army car, it turned into shrapnel at more than 300 mph, launching him over the wall and leaving him with a left leg shattered in six places, three dislocated fingers on his right hand, a chip in his right ankle, four cracked teeth, a bruised and swollen eye, and banged-up ribs.
 
But like a soldier Army-strong, he tried a burnout at the next race, at Houston, as he tried to salvage his title. He aborted the run, sat out the following race, at Dallas, and came back at the Pomona, Calif., season finale. He approached his car on crutches, was lifted into and out of the car for each run, advanced to the final round and finished second in the standings to Gary Scelzi.
 
Would he have shown such courage without the Army inspiration? Maybe. Passion, he said, "is what makes me me. It's what makes you wake up and want to get in a car that has the potential to kill you each and every time." He cheated catastrophe again at Memphis in 2003 in a qualifying crash made even more sickening because of its deja-vu. He recovered and won that event. Failure is not an option with the Army or Schumacher.
 
For Schumacher, this sponsorship has been so much more than a traditional sponsorship. It has marked his maturing.
 
He has gone from a scattershot sportsman racer in the Super Street and Alcohol Funny Car classes, as well as with jet cars and Formula cars, to perhaps the sport's greatest champion, undoubtedly in an elite class.
 
("I did it from the bottom, too," Schumacher said. "I was a Midwest guy, I wasn't known nationwide.")
 
He has grown from self-centered adolescent, one his folks sent to a military prep school for fear he might become a juvenile delinquent, to a role model for searching teens. There he stood at Indianapolis, before a grandstand full of young high-school ROTC students, about "building a better community, building a better America." With his infectious enthusiasm, he encouraged them to stay in school, stay off drugs, stay committed to their dreams.
 
Citing his own his 12-year march from an '86 Trans Am bracket racer to Top Fuel titlist, he told them, "If you want something bad enough, you can get it. No excuses.
 
"I wasn't great in school. I didn't get along great with my family," Schumacher said of his young years. "I was into doing what I wanted to do and didn't really care. I was young. Everyone thinks it's all about them when they're young. As you get older, you learn it's not."
 
Tony Schumacher is in the Army now, as an honorary sergeant. He has enlisted and served more than two four-year tours. And the Army is in him. His six series championships surpassed Don Prudhomme's four consecutive (1975-1978) under the Army banner.
 
Sergeant Major of the Army (SMA) Kenneth Preston and Lieutenant General Benjamin Freakley, Commander of the U.S. Army Accessions Command are on hand in Indianapolis for a ceremony and reception Friday at O’Reilly Raceway Park. Joining them will be team owner Don Schumacher and NHRA President Tom Compton.
 
The Army Accessions Command, headquartered at Fort Knox, Ky., meets the Service's human-resource needs by transforming volunteers into officers, warrant officers, and enlisted soldiers.
 
Top Fuel driver Antron Brown and retired three-time Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Angelle Sampey, both of whom rode Don Schumacher Racing-owned, Army-sponsored bikes, will attend a Friday ceremony at O'Reilly Raceway Park. At that gathering, DSR will unveil a retro paint scheme on Schumacher's dragster, and the program will include a parade of Army vehicles.

"We are incredibly proud of our involvement with the NHRA and the strength of our partnership with Don Schumacher Racing," Lt. Gen. Freakley said. "This team shares our Army values and demonstrates the mental, emotional, and physical strength which are the hallmark of our soldiers."
 
SMA Preston said, "Tony Schumacher and his team are outstanding ambassadors for our Army. They believe in and support our Army with a passion that is heartfelt. And our soldiers love Tony and this team, Our soldiers and our race teams both depend upon speed, power, teamwork, and technology to succeed. That's why this is such a great partnership."
 
Since 2000, the U.S. Army Motorsports Program has hosted more than a quarter of a million students, generated more than 400,000 visitors to the Army Strong Zone in the manufacturers midway, and provided recruiters with more than 200,000 leads.
 
The Army Motorsports Program began by Congressional mandate. Congress directed the Secretary of the Army to conduct a five-year motorsports outreach test. The program includes sponsorship of a Top Fuel dragster, presenting sponsorship of the NHRA's Youth and Education Services Program (Y.E.S.), show car and driver appearances at schools, and an on-site interactive area where visitors can have an Army experience.
 
Tony Schumacher's Army experience continues through the Countdown to the Championship and beyond.  He said what it has taught him most is "to get the most out of people. It's not enough to be 'pretty good.' Pretty good is what most people are."
 
Like the Army's soldiers, he always is ready to be all that he can be.

OVERDUE AND HUNGRY - Brandon Bernstein is getting tired of the word "overdue." But he's hoping that family tradition will be on his side at this year's Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis. Besides, the Copart/Lucas Oil Dragster driver is a hometown favorite, now that he lives in nearby Zionsville.
 
"We've been lurking in the shadows of victory lane with three runner-up finishes so far this season, along with five semifinal appearances," Bernstein said. "We've been strong in qualifying. Now it's showtime. We have the talent on our team, and we're hungry for a win. In Indy in 2006, we were in the money round and weren't able to close the deal.
 
"So I think we're overdue for some good luck. Our team is very consistent, we seldom smoke the tires, and we don't have a lot of mechanical issues. So we have some unfinished business that we need to attend to, he said. "This is where the spotlight really intensifies. We can't think of a better place to hit our stride than Indy."
 
He can get advice easily from somebody who knows exactly how to do that. Dad Kenny Bernstein won this race three times, twice in Funny Car (1983, 1987) and once in Top Fuel (1991). "We'd like to continue the family tradition and etch our name in the win column."
 
CAN 'BEGINNER'S LUCK' CONTINUE? - Not many racers make a first trip to the U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis and win. Steve Torrence did. But it wasn't in the Top Fuel class in which he competes these days. "I was driving a Top Alcohol Dragster for Tom Conway in 2005, and we won it. It was amazing. Things like that usually don't happen. Anything unexpected can happen at Indy. It usually does." The Capco Racing/Tuttle Motorsports team, with owner Dexter Tuttle and co-crew chief Kevin Poynter tuning, is ready to go when qualifying begins Friday afternoon. And they have some positive testing numbers to underscore their confidence.
 
"We tested at ORP last week, and it went well. We had two pretty solid 1000-foot runs during testing. We ran 3.89 seconds at 277 mph, even though I shutoff early. On our next run, the numbers were 3.86 seconds at 298 and it pushed the burst panel out. That for sure gave us confidence going into this week. We were pleased with the performance. I'm looking forward to the race," Torrence said. " Kevin and Dexter are working on the car's consistency. We want to be able to race the race track and not the people beside us. We need to make good runs. If the car gets down the track, anything can happen."
 
That has been this team's story all season. Torrence became the only newcomer to make the Top Fuel class' 10-driver Countdown field -- in his first full season. The team's goal was to make the cut. Now its focus is to climb in the standings during the six-race playoff.
 
The Kilgore, Texas, resident is making his second U.S. Nationals Top Fuel appearance. His first was in 2008.
 
KALITTA DEFINITE THREAT - Three strong sponsor brands, two Top Fuel teams to share information, and one team owner who has won the U.S. Nationals and is a two-time runner-up . . . And it's 3-2-1 liftoff for Doug Kalitta, the No. 4-seeded driver.

At Denver in July, Kalitta broke the pattern of all Top Fuel victories going to either Larry Dixon, Tony Schumacher, or Cory McClenathan. He's more than capable of making that stingy trio a stingy quartet. He had runner-up finishes at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in 2008 and 2004 and was No. 1 qualifier here in 2004 and 2000.  This year he has four runner-up finishes, as well as six semi-final appearances. The Ann Arbor, Mich., resident will carry the colors of DEWalt, Stanley, and Mac Tools at this event. "Without a doubt, Indy is a special place. We're really honored to be carrying the colors for this year. To be able to pull our dragster into the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals winner's circle would be a dream come true, but to do it this year with the support of these three great brands would be even more special," he said. Team owner and drag racing legend Connie "The Bounty Hunter" Kalitta won the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals Top Fuel crown in 1994. He was the runner-up finisher at the "Big Go" in 1982 and 1984. Crew chief Jim Oberhofer will try to get Doug Kalitta career victory No. 33.
 
McCLENATHAN CLOSER THAN EVER - Nobody could name a more intense Top Fuel racer than Cory McClenathan. His laser-like gaze is locked in on the track once he approaches the starting line. He glares intently at the computer or whatever part of the FRAM Dragster he's studying at the moment. When he knows he has the car to win and someone else beats him to the finish line, well . . . just don't go anywhere near him for awhile.  This year, the four-time second-place finisher in the series standings has an excellent shot at the jackpot that has eluded him since he began driving in 1991 (and posted 10 top-five finishes). He's second in points, is a two-time U.S. Nationals champion (1996, 1999), and is fresh off a wildly successful test session at O'Reilly Raceway Park. McClenathan ran quicker than both ends of the track record (3.790 seconds at 324.28 mph) during the NHRA open test session last week at the same track on which the U.S. Nationals will play out starting Friday.
 
"It would be huge to win this event and try to make a statement," he said. "We need to go into the rest of the playoffs with some momentum, and nobody has more momentum than Larry Dixon right now. He's won Indy three times, we've won it twice, and Tony's [teammate Schumacher has] won it eight times. And there's a lot of talented drivers in the top 10 who are going for the championship this year. I think our chances are great right now, and I feel good about it.
 
"The better we can do this weekend and the more momentum we carry into the Countdown the better," McClenathan said. "It's going to start with qualifying. We're going to take it one step at a time. Right now, my eyes are on the prize."
 
Moreover, he'll get to sleep in his own bed this weekend. He lives on Indianapolis' Northeast side, in the suburb of Fishers."I'm really excited to be racing in the Indianapolis area, where also Don Schumacher Racing is based (in Brownsburg, Ind.)," McClenathan said. "I'm also excited to be starting the Countdown in second spot, especially after we had such a great test session. It's a prime opportunity to get out there and try to keep pace with not only [points leader] Larry Dixon but my teammates Tony Schumacher [No. 3] and Antron Brown [No. 5]. It's time to go toe-to-toe. It's going to be GO time for the final six races.
 
"Starting the Countdown off in Indy is something we're not used to," McClenathan said. He has had lot of personal appearances, including Wednesday's visit to Riley Hospital for Children, a Full Throttle appearance Thursday, and the annual DSR Open House before qualifying Friday. "The Open House also benefits Riley Hospital for Children, so there are a lot of good things happening this week, which we are privileged to be a part of, " he said. He's hoping the capper will be a visit to the Winners Circle.

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