Words compiled from team press releases by Kay Burk
Photos by Ron Lewis

ory McClenathan and Robert Hight won their first races of the 2009 season Sunday, Sept. 20, at the second annual NHRA Carolinas Nationals at zMax Dragway to make huge moves in the Countdown to 1.

Joining McClenathan (Top Fuel) and Hight (Funny Car) in the winner’s circle at the 19th of 24 races in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series were Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

The NHRA Carolinas Nationals is the first race in the Countdown to 1, NHRA’s six-race playoff.

TOP FUEL

Cory McClenathan won his first national event since the spring race in Las Vegas in 2008 driving the FRAM Tough Guard Top Fuel Dragster.

He claimed his 31st national event triumph in 57 final rounds, his first win of the season in four final rounds, and now leads the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Countdown to 1 playoffs points for the first time since 1998. Cory Mac also claimed the 134th victory for Don Schumacher Racing since 1998 out of the 255th final round for DSR.

En route to the final, he dismissed Morgan Lucas with his stellar elapsed time of 3.861 seconds at 315.05 mph, and followed that up with another 3.861/315.86 to defeat Larry Dixon in the quarterfinals. His winning match-up against Doug Foley in the semifinal produced another solid 3.868/314.31, and he bettered that in the final round against Shawn Langdon with another stunning 3.857/312.64. Not bad for the No. 9 qualifier who posted a what now seems an incredibly slow 3.877/310.84 during qualifying.