McClenathan Returning In Brainerd, Scheduled To Contest Six Races

Popular NHRA Top Fuel driver and former championship runner-up Cory McClenathan, who entered the season without a full-time ride and made his only start in Topeka behind the wheel of Dexter Tuttle’s dragster in Topeka, is set to return to the NHRA Full Throttle Series for at least six of the remaining eight races.

Beginning at this weekend’s Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Cory Mac will pilot the Rapisarda Racing entry, as well as at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, the Arizona Nationals in Phoenix, the NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas, and Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals in Pomona. Between the Indy and Phoenix, McClenathan will step back into Tuttle’s entry at the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Nationals in Charlotte with sponsorship support from Interstate Batteries.

With Terry Sainty at the wheel, the Rapisarda team campaigned the final two NHRA events last season in Las Vegas and Pomona and most recently competed at the Topeka event. McClenathan has has also driven a second Rapisarda entry, based in Australia, at the ANDRA Winternationals, and is scheduled to return there between Indy and Charlotte to drive t race down under once again.

The dragster for which the Rapisarda team campaigns is a Hadman/Sarmento chasis formerly campaigned by David Baca several years ago, and was recently fronthalved at Don Schumacher Racing, McClenathan’s former employer. DSR is also fronthalving another Hadman chassis for the Rapisarda team that will be debuted at Indy.

“Lee Beard, Todd Okuhara, Phil Shuler, Mike Green, Jeff Edwards, and all the guys at DSR – right up to Don Schumacher himself — have been a big help on this and done a lot – a lot – to make my life easier when it comes to this new car. Santo has spent a lot of money in drag racing and really wants to do well and go rounds. He’s certainly buying the best of everything he can to do that, and I’m excited for him. His sons, Santo Jr. and Santino, really know a lot about these cars and are really learning a lot. They’ve been over here the last two weeks with me working on this car. They’re in awe. They walked into Schumacher’s and couldn’t believe it.”

Veteran nitro driver and tuner Glenn Mikres will turn the screws on the Rapisarda Top Fuel entry, with assistance from Okuhara, Shuler, and Tony Shortall.