Words by Darr Hawthorne
Photos by Ron Lewis

Defending NHRA Nitro Funny Car Champ Robert Hight and Pro Stock Champ Mike Edwards set the pace during day one of qualifying at the season-opening 50th Winternationals on Thursday, Feb. 11.

Cory McClenathan rounded out the early qualifying leaders through the first of four rounds of qualifying at historic Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.  Cory Mac claimed the provisional number one slot in his FRAM dragster with a 1,000-foot 3.809-second pass at 320.05 mph.

On the final nitro pass of the night with cool air and a 74-degree race track the crew chiefs went for big numbers but it just wasn’t in the cards for Tony Schumacher, driving the U.S. Army dragster, who had impressive numbers to half track before a motor failure stopped him. In the other lane his nemesis in the Al-Anabi backed Top fueler overpowered the track and smoked the tires instantly. Leaving Cory Mac on the pole until at least Friday Night.

Andy Carter demonstrated that the great showing by the Europeans at the World Finals last year was no fluke as he currently sets in third place in his Don Garlits theme car.

“I can guarantee you one thing: it won’t stick,” said McClenathan, seeking his 34th career No. 1. “But it’s nice to come out, we made a commitment to come here with a better power package than we left here (at the season-ending Auto Club Finals in November) and we were 282 (mph) at half-track, so that feels good.”

McClenathan is followed closely in qualifying by Shawn Langdon with a 3.847 ET at 309.98 mph and second-generation drag racer from Norway, Thomas Nataas, with a 3.880 at 306.33 with only seventeen Top Fuelers making runs so far.