Cory Mac Returns to the NHRA Circuit
Cory Mac Returns to the NHRA Circuit
Born in Brownsburg, Indiana, Cory McClenathan (or Cory Mac, as most of us know him) began his Top Fuel driving career over 25 years ago, getting his start drag racing high-pro V-Dubs when he was just 16. He was introduced to drag racing by his father, Dick McClenathan – a former off-road and drag-racer, and a partner in a high-performance shop dedicated to the VW trade. In fact, Cory won the first two races he entered, driving a Volkswagen-powered sedan. Since then, he has become one of the most popular and accomplished drivers on the NHRA Tour.
Cory Mac has an impressive resume, to say the least. He has finished second in the Top Fuel point standings four times (1992, ‘95, ‘97 and ’98), and came in third another four times (1994, ‘96, 2008, and 2010). Last season, he was in contention all year long, and earned three victories in his eight final rounds to earn that third-place finish. Cory qualified in the number one position five times, advanced in the NHRA Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship for a third consecutive season, and earned his 11th career top-five points finish. His best career speed was 320.81mph in 1977, at the Texas Motorplex in Dallas, TX.
The veteran Top Fuel driver is back again this year and will be racing on the NHRA national event circuit at Brainerd, Minn. (August 18-21) and at the U.S. Nationals (August 31-September 5) in Indianapolis. Cory will be driving a Top Fuel dragster at these two events for Santo Rapisarda, a major crane business from Australia that is getting into the drag racing game.
McClenathan actually drove for the Rapisarda Racing/Titans Cranes team at the 44th Castrol EDGE Winternationals at Willowbank Raceway in Australia back in June. That event was rained out, so Cory Mac returned to drive for the team at the rescheduled Winternationals in mid-July. Willowbank Raceway is located 30-45 minutes west of Brisbane, in Queensland, Australia - just in case you are looking to combine an exciting vacation spot with racing next year.
McClenathan, a driver for Don Schumacher Racing since 2008, was released at the end of the 2010 season despite a third place minimum lock in the championship points. The bottom line, as Cory Mac put it, was the team and sponsor wanted a younger driver to better fit the demographic. McClenathan wouldn’t categorize his DSR release as a punch in the gut, but didn’t say it came as a shock to him either.
This year Cory says they have nothing to lose. “Me and the boys are just going to go in there and try to throw down.” I think in the past they have proven that time and time again. They proved it last year in Vegas. Look for them to do it again this year.
If someone is going to beat Cory McClenathan, they are going to have to earn it. I can guarantee you that.
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