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Associated Press

Cory McClenathan blazed to the provisional No. 1 spot in Top Fuel at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway. He also secured a top-10 position in NHRA’s playoffs.

McClenathan tops Top Fuel qualifying

By STAFF and WIRE REPORTS

Last update: August 15, 2009 - 12:27 AM

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 miles per hour 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.

"I just can't discount this team at all," said McClenathan, who has 33 No. 1 qualifying positions in his career.

Antron Brown, winner of the past three Top Fuel 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. Defending series champ Cruz Pedregon, who is in a tight battle to make it into the playoffs, was second; John Force, an 11-time winner at BIR, was third.

In Pro Stock, Edwards had a 6.732 at 204.94 in a Pontiac GXP.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Stoffer guided her Suzuki to the top spot with a 7.084 at 187.57.