TIRE SHAKE TWICE LEADS TO 17TH PLACE FOR CORY MACLENTATHAN AFTER FIRST DAY OF QUALIFYING

CHANDLER, Ariz. -- Two runs with identical, non-pleasing outcomes Friday sent the crew of the Carrier Boyz/Scott Griffin Racing FRAM/Torco Top Fuel dragster looking for answers on an unusually cool, windy opening day of qualifying for the Checkers Schuck's Kragen Nationals at Firebird Raceway.

Driver Cory McClenathan was forced to abort both runs and had to settle for 17th with a time of 9.924 seconds at 80.70 mph.

"We definitely have some (mechanical) issues," he said. "We can't blame the track . . . there were good numbers from others cars (Tony Schumacher was first in 4.430 seconds at 328.22 mph). This comes after we tested so well here (last month) and our good performance at Pomona (Calif., site of the season-opening Winternationals.

"We're not happy -- I know Mark and Andy (Carrier) and Scott (Griffin) aren't happy either. We'll keep trying harder to make it better for tomorrow.

"On the plus side, we had a lot of people from Bendix at the track and our new hospitality area was full. They all had a good time."

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