McClenathan

A sure way to estimate the popularity a driver enjoys in the NHRA is to gauge how much interest surrounds that driver's activities during the off-season. After a sensational 2002 season, driving the Henkelman/Baca Top Fuel dragster to a fifth-place finish, Cory McClenathan's future became a hot topic at season's end.

Several weeks ago, it appeared McClenathan would team up with Mike Peek for 2003, a partnership that would give the team a first-class driver, some much needed sponsorship money and the ability to run all 23 events. For McClenathan, it would mean a good car, an environment less politically charged than the one he was leaving and a chance to improve upon his 2002 finish.

On Thursday, that arrangement went by the boards as McClenathan announced he had signed a deal to join Darrell Gwynn and drive the team's Top Fuel dragster in 2003. McClenathan replaces Andrew Cowin, who drove for Gwynn in 2002 to a career-best eighth-place finish in the points.

Neither Gwynn nor McClenathan were in a financially sufficient position to run on their own in 2003, thus the agreement solves each dilemma.

"With the start of the new season upon us, we found ourselves with a substantial amount of sponsor funding secured, but still short of the necessary levels to allow us to race," Gwynn said. "We were resigning ourselves to the possibility of not being able to run and perhaps even permanently dismantling our racing operations.

"As it turned out, Cory was essentially in a similar situation. By combining forces we were able to solve our respective funding short-falls and create a very solid program that includes one of Top Fuel's greatest drivers."

McClenathan, with 27 career Top Fuel victories and four wins in the alcohol dragster class, ended the 2002 season with a dramatic win in Pomona, Calif.

"To find myself with a first-class racing operation that year after year turns out one of the quickest and fastest cars in the sport is tremendous, I am very excited about this, not just for the 2003 season but beyond," McClenathan said. "It's the opportunity to participate in building and maintaining a growing, championship-caliber program."

Tuning the car will be veteran crew chief John Stewart, whose past experience has been primarily in the Funny Car class with drivers like Tim Wilkerson, Jerry Toliver and Dean Skuza.

For McClenathan, who has been searching for a long-term situation since leaving the team owned by Joe Gibbs when it folded after the 2000 season, his outlook is now much more optimisitic.

"I bought my first Top Fuel dragster off of the Gwynns back in 1990," he said. "They were a part of my past and now they're part of my future."