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Connolly Intent on Maintaining Pro Stock Point Lead |
Dave Connolly’s Pro Stock Juggernaut Rolls
Into Texas Motorplex Seeking Four Wins in Row
The excitement is building – along with the pressure – as Dave Connolly
takes one more step on a tenuous trip he hopes leads to the 2007 NHRA POWERade
Series Pro Stock championship.
He has been quite spectacular of late, reeling off three consecutive, and
impressive, victories to wrest the No. 1 position from three-time champion Greg
Anderson, who led from the first race. The latter two triumphs have come
against Anderson in the new Countdown to Four segment, thereby providing
Connolly with a 2,291-2,258 advantage over Anderson as they prepare for the 22nd O’
Reilly Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex in Ennis, near Dallas.
This is the third of four races before the top four drivers move on to the
deciding two events and the other four accept their parting gifts of places
five through eight when the final tallies are counted after the Auto Club
Finals, Nov. 4, at Pomona, Calif.
But there is a lot of close racing remaining, and Connolly, driver of Evan
Knoll’s Torco Racing Fuels Chevy Cobalt for Victor Cagnazzi Racing, is raring
to go.
“The Countdown is cutthroat,” he said. “Every race is so important. We came
into the first two races (of this segment) knowing that, and to win the
first two and be locked into a slot in the finals already is incredible. You
couldn’t ask for a better time to get hot. I’m thankful I get to share this
with the people on our team, crew chief Tommy Utt, his son John, Keith Graham
and Craig Campton. They are like family to me. It’s awesome.
“Tommy is like a second dad to me. He is getting his chance to shine
because Victor is giving him all the right parts and pieces to work with and Evan
is giving us the funding to do this. These Pro Stock cars are a little
finicky, and Tommy is doing a great job of nitpicking at what we’ve established. I’
m just a small ingredient and I’m thankful they let me ride in the cockpit.”
Connolly was second after the first 17 races, 172 points behind Anderson
after winning at Reading, Pa. But he trailed by just 10, 2,070-2,060, after the
points were adjusted going into Indianapolis.
“I’m excited about racing at Dallas,” continued Connolly. “I won my
second race there (September 2004). We must take every driver seriously. It will
be challenging, but we are excited about it.”
At this juncture, Connolly and Anderson have accelerated away from their six
rivals and Connolly is hunkered down, preparing for what may play out as a
two-man title showdown. The two drivers have won 13 of the 19 2007 races to
date, Connolly taking a career-high six in seven final rounds. He has 15 wins
in 27 career final rounds in 101 Pro Stock races.
“When you have a good car and all the confidence in the world in the crew,
obviously it is gives the driver confidence,” said Connolly. “I feel
comfortable in the seat and it shows in the on-track performances. I think our team
is very good under pressure and I think we showed it in the last couple of
races. It’s going to be exciting for the fans and everyone else. Every round
win means a lot.”
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Television Schedule:
Saturday, Sept. 22, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD qualifying highlights, 10
p.m.-midnight, ET
Sunday, Sept. 23, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD eliminations, 7-10 p.m., ET
# # #
For more information on Torco Racing Fuels, SKULL Shine Car Care Products
and SKULL Gear apparel, please visit: www.torcoracefuels.com or www.torcoracefuels.com. |
