MCCLENATHAN DRAWS TWO TOUGH ROUNDS IN NORWALK

Starting from the 13th position and driving the FRAM Tough Guard Top Fuel Dragster, McClenathan first disposed of No. 4 qualifier Rod Fuller, posting the second quickest elapsed time of the round of 3.949 seconds at 292.14 mph. The quickest e.t. of that round was set by Antron Brown, who was then McClenathan's opponent in the quarterfinal.

Without lane choice for that contest, McClenathan struck the tires and slowed to a very respectable 4.066-second run in the heat of the day, which might have resulted in a victory over anyone else in that round, but instead he lost to the quickest run of that round, a 3.982-second lap at 291.45 mph recorded by points leader Brown.

"You run next-to-low e.t. of the session and you got to race the guy in the next round who did run the low e.t. of that session," said McClenathan. "The second round you get second low e.t. of the session and you get beat by low e.t. of the session.

"We might have won against anybody else. We're just not having any luck falling on our shoulders. It's like Phil (Shuler, co-crew chief) said, 'You keep dragging it up there and keep doing the same thing each time and eventually things will turn around.'

"I'm really proud of the FRAM Tough Guard guys. I think they did a great job. And qualifying 13th and still going to the second round was evidence of that on this tricky track. Obviously, we saw the first round as an upset. We did our jobs.

"Eventually, it will all come around and I hope it's during Indy (the final race before the Countdown kicks in). Somewhere around there would be good."

Next up is the Mopar Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway, July 10-12.

UNOFFICIAL TOP FUEL POINT STANDINGS, after 12 events:
1. Antron Brown, 938
2. Larry Dixon, 885 (winner today)
3. Tony Schumacher, 882
4. Brandon Bernstein, 848 (runner-up today)
5. Cory McClenathan, 702
6. Spencer Massey, 669
7. Shawn Langdon, 666
8. Morgan Lucas, 664
9. Doug Kalitta, 540
10. Clay Millican, 502