CONCORD – In the late stages of his career, veteran Cory McClenathan leaves most of the winning to his teammate, defending NHRA champ Tony Schumacher.

“Right now, I just go into a weekend that I want to win some rounds,” McClenathan said. “At one time, I thought I could win every weekend and that was my goal. That is what my teammate does now.”

For the first time in 18 months, McClenathan proved that he can still win all four rounds as he capped a surprising day in the Top Fuel portion of the Carolinas Nationals at ZMAX Dragway.

How surprising? Antron Brown, the points leader entering the NHRA’s six-race playoff, broke in the first round. Fastest qualifier Larry Dixon lost to McClenathan in the second round. Schumacher, the defending Top Fuel champ who won 15 races last season, fell in the semifinals as rookie Shawn Langdon made it to the finals for the first time.

McClenathan, who has been racing in Top Fuel since 1991, thought he was fortunate to win against little-known Doug Foley in the semifinals and Langdon in the final. He edged ahead near the finish in both, pulling away for his 31st final-round victory when Langdon’s engine failed in a ball of flame. McClenathan’s winning run lasted 3.857 seconds.

“Foley had me but he got off line and got into the marbles,” McClenathan said. “I could still hear Shawn beside me at the 800-foot mark (of the 1,000-foot run). I was just glad to win.

“When you don’t win in as long as I have, you start to think it is you. I was overcome because it has been so long.”

Robert Hight prevailed in Funny Car, two weeks after the controversy surrounding charges that his car owner John Force threw a race at the U.S. Nationals to get Hight into the championship playoff at the expense of Cruz Pedregon.

Hight beat his teammate Ashley Force Hood by inches in the semifinals, then prevailed in the finals against Matt Hagan with a run of 4.097 seconds. John Force, fastest qualifier Pedregon and points leader Tony Pedregon lost in the opening round.

“It’s like John says, I’ve got to let the car do the talking,” Hight said of the controversy.

The finals in Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle went as expected.

Fastest qualifier Mike Edwards breezed through the Pro Stock ladder, zipping to a 6.618-second final to handily beat Greg Stanfield. The victory, combined with Jeg Coughlin’s-first round loss, pushed Edwards into the points lead.

Top qualifier Hector Arana swept through in Pro Stock Motorcycle, turning a 7.004 in the final to outdistance Karen Stoffer. Stoffer got the final by beating Stoneville’s Shawn Gann. Matt Smith and Angie McBride of King lost in the final round.

gsmith@hpe.com | 888-3519