McClenathan leads Top Fuel qualifying
BRAINERD, Minn. -- Cory McClenathan led Top Fuel qualifying Friday in the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, powering his dragster to a 3.910-second run at 305.36 mph at Brainerd International Raceway.
By making a qualifying attempt earlier in the day, McClenathan became the fifth driver in his category to secure a top-10 position in the Countdown to 1, NHRA's six-race championship playoffs.
Antron Brown, winner of the last three races and current points leader, was fifth overall, posting a 3.947 at 304.46. Tony Schumacher, the defending race winner and six-time world champion, was second at 3.926 and 300.53.
Bob Tasca, Mike Edwards and Karen Stoffer also led their divisions in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event, the 16th of 18 races in the NHRA regular season.
Tasca led Funny Car with a 4.214 at 282.01 in a Ford Mustang, while defending series champ Cruz Pedregon, who is in a tight battle to make it into the NHRA playoffs, was second in a Toyota Solara with a 4.238 at 283.79. John Force, an 11-time winner at BIR, was third in his Mustang, posting a 4.245 at 281.19.
In Pro Stock, Edwards had a 6.732 at 204.94 in a Pontiac GXP. Dodge Avenger driver Allen Johnson was second with a 6.741 at 204.26.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Stoffer guided her Suzuki to the top spot with a 7.084 at 187.57. Hector Arana clocked the same time on his Buell, but was second by virtue of his slower speed of 187.52.
Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press
