Dave Connolly on Hot Streak Going into Reading Race
<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/d_connolly.jpg" alt="d_connolly"align="left"borders="0" />
MOHNTON, Pa. -- Five final rounds, two victories and eighth place in NHRA POWERade Series Pro Stock points qualify as a good performance this season. But add the fact those accomplishments came in 11 races illustrates just how impressive Dave Connolly's performance has been.
It has not been easy, not in this ultra-competitive category. The team struggled at times, but Connolly's recent outings in the Cagnazzi Racing Charter/LifeLock Chevy Cobalt have been outstanding. He had a win at Sonoma, Calif. (July 27) and ran his round-win streak to seven at Brainerd, Minn., Sunday before losing a close decision to Kurt Johnson.
Thanks to NHRA's Countdown to the Championship format, Connolly had a chance of making the playoffs if he performed well. He began the season five races late and needed the stellar comeback to make the top 10. He still has two more events to move up before the Countdown to 1 field is set.
The first race, the Toyo Tires Nationals, unfolds at Maple Grove Raceway near Reading, Pa., Friday through Sunday and the finale is U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis, Aug. 29-Sept. 1.
Therefore, this is a good time to be running well.
"Tommy (Utt, crew chief) has a handle on this car," said Connolly, who is the defending Reading winner after outlasting the field in a rain-delayed race that finished on Wednesday. "We didn't hit the track running right away because we always have new-car jitters. I had a lot of confidence that he would get things fixed, and he did. I wouldn't trade him for the world. But this is a team deal.
"Last year's Reading race is still fresh in my mind," he continued. "We ran Kurt (Johnson) Sunday and he whipped us, but last year at Reading we beat him."
That win was the first of five straight Connolly winner's circle visits that tied the category record.
He has 775 points and is 55 points out of seventh and 59 out of sixth (three rounds) with eight rounds of competition to go.
The final six-race drive to the championship begins at Charlotte, Sept. 11-14
<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/d_connolly.jpg" alt="d_connolly"align="left"borders="0" />
MOHNTON, Pa. -- Five final rounds, two victories and eighth place in NHRA POWERade Series Pro Stock points qualify as a good performance this season. But add the fact those accomplishments came in 11 races illustrates just how impressive Dave Connolly's performance has been.
It has not been easy, not in this ultra-competitive category. The team struggled at times, but Connolly's recent outings in the Cagnazzi Racing Charter/LifeLock Chevy Cobalt have been outstanding. He had a win at Sonoma, Calif. (July 27) and ran his round-win streak to seven at Brainerd, Minn., Sunday before losing a close decision to Kurt Johnson.
Thanks to NHRA's Countdown to the Championship format, Connolly had a chance of making the playoffs if he performed well. He began the season five races late and needed the stellar comeback to make the top 10. He still has two more events to move up before the Countdown to 1 field is set.
The first race, the Toyo Tires Nationals, unfolds at Maple Grove Raceway near Reading, Pa., Friday through Sunday and the finale is U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis, Aug. 29-Sept. 1.
Therefore, this is a good time to be running well.
"Tommy (Utt, crew chief) has a handle on this car," said Connolly, who is the defending Reading winner after outlasting the field in a rain-delayed race that finished on Wednesday. "We didn't hit the track running right away because we always have new-car jitters. I had a lot of confidence that he would get things fixed, and he did. I wouldn't trade him for the world. But this is a team deal.
"Last year's Reading race is still fresh in my mind," he continued. "We ran Kurt (Johnson) Sunday and he whipped us, but last year at Reading we beat him."
That win was the first of five straight Connolly winner's circle visits that tied the category record.
He has 775 points and is 55 points out of seventh and 59 out of sixth (three rounds) with eight rounds of competition to go.
The final six-race drive to the championship begins at Charlotte, Sept. 11-14
