When it comes to the world of NHRA Pro Stock racing, team owner Victor Cagnazzi is a man of mixed emotions.  On one hand, his Jeg’s.com team, driven by Jeg Coughlin, is the two-time defending Pro Stock champion and winner of the most recent race in Phoenix, AZ. 
 
However, for the second year in a row, his other entry, normally driven by phenom David Connolly, remains parked at the Cagnazzi Racing shop in Mooresville, NC while the team searches for sponsorship.  As the Full Throttle Drag Racing Series prepares to head to Gainesville, FL for next weekend’s ACDelco Gatornationals, the quiet-spoken New York native took time to address his unique situation, offer his outlook for the future as well as his thoughts on the upcoming East Coast drag racing season-opener: When it comes to the world of NHRA Pro Stock racing, team owner Victor Cagnazzi is a man of mixed emotions.  On one hand, his
Jeg’s.com team, driven by Jeg Coughlin, is the two-time defending Pro Stock champion and winner of the most recent race in Phoenix, AZ. 
 
However, for the second year in a row, his other entry, normally driven by phenom David Connolly, remains parked at the Cagnazzi Racing shop in Mooresville, NC while the team searches for sponsorship.  As the Full Throttle Drag Racing Series prepares to head to Gainesville, FL for next weekend’s ACDelco Gatornationals, the quiet-spoken New York native took time to address his unique situation, offer his outlook for the future as well as his thoughts on the upcoming East Coast drag racing season-opener:
 
Could you give us a brief recap as what has transpired at Cagnazzi Racing over the last few months?
 
VC: We have been busy since the end of last season working on new partnership programs for Dave Connolly and the Charter Communications team. The good thing is we have quite a few potential sponsors in our pipeline and we are getting good feedback from prospects about our opportunity and about our sport.
 
How difficult is it to be in the same situation as you were one year ago?
 
VC: It is actually a bit easier this year.  Last year we had absolutely no advance notice when Knoll Gas pulled out, I believe I got the call on January 10th.   We were actually in the process of loading up for the Pro Stock Shootout in Vegas when we had to regroup and take a step back. At that point, we had already invested a lot of money and resources to get everything fresh and ready to go so it was extremely difficult financially when it ended.
 
This year we knew back in late November that we needed to find a partner for Charter to get Dave and the team out in Pomona. We had time to size our operation and budgets to meet our lower revenue so although it has been difficult, it isn’t as devastating as it was last year.
 
Through it all, you have managed to keep a positive outlook throughout the entire organization.   How have you done this?
 
VC: We know God has a plan for us, we trust in His divine guidance and know better times are just around the corner.
 
Coming from a business background – you are well aware of what a potential sponsor is looking for in today’s competitive marketplace.  What about Cagnazzi Racing and the NHRA’s Full Throttle Series offers companies the best opportunity?
 
VC: Value, Value, Value, wait, let me say it again, VALUE!   In today’s marketplace, I believe the NHRA offers a better opportunity for a sponsor to capitalize on their investment than in other forms of racing.  On top of that, racing in the Full Throttle Series is our full time business. We do not do this as a hobby.  We are as committed to making the sponsors’ investment pay off as we are to winning races and championships.
 
Our responsibilities to our sponsors extend far beyond the racetrack.  Our business model hinges on delivering successful, measurable results over the long term to our sponsor-partners.  The team’s commitment to our sponsors is that no other organization in professional motorsports will do more to help its sponsors succeed through their motorsports investment than will Cagnazzi Racing.
 
Have you kept in close contact with David?  What is he up to?
 
VC: Dave and I speak a few times a week keeping each other updated on the things we are working on. Dave has been keeping busy racing in the Lucas Oil Series but he is very anxious to climb back into his Chevy Cobalt Pro Stock.
 
Where do things stand in terms of getting the second team back on track?
 
VC: As of today we are looking at possibly having Dave and the Charter Team back out in Houston slugging it out for race wins. The best way to put it is that right now we are guardedly optimistic.
 
What has been the response by the racing community and the fans to your situation?
 
VC: The e-mails to our website have been virtually non-stop, with every one of them offering support and encouragement for Dave and the team.  Some even go as far as to suggest potential sponsors!
 
We have actually saved the e-mails to show any company we talk to, stacks of them we offer as evidence of the fan loyalty we have told them about.   Basically, we tell them if you sign on with Dave and our team, these fans will become your customers.
 
Of course, one of the hardest things to handle in this situation are the many misconceptions and rumors that inevitably crop up.  Are there any specific areas where you’d like to set things straight?
 
VC: We have gotten a lot of calls criticizing us for not running Dave without a sponsor.  The fact of the matter is we certainly would do that if we could – after all, we are all racers here.  We want Dave to be out there racing. But, the reality is that we just don’t have the financial resources to do it without support.
 
You have to be encouraged by the strong start by Jeggie and the entire Jeg’s team.
 
VC: We are really pleased with how the Jegs.com team has been performing, it goes to show the depth we have here at Cagnazzi Racing. Jeggie is an awesome driver, the team has been flawless in execution and Jeg Sr. and Roy Simmons have been doing a great job on the set-up calls.
 
For the first two races Jeg Coughlin Sr. has been in touch with the team over the Internet and via cell phone, but he'll actually be in Gainesville, which is just up the road from his vacation home. We’re all pretty excited to have him there in person.
 
How important has the Coughlin family’s involvement been to your team?
 
VC: The Coughlin family has played a big part in our success, and they all are great to work with.  Jeg Jr is just awesome behind the wheel, while Jeg Sr. brings a wealth of knowledge and has been a guiding force on the Jegs.com team working with Roy these past two seasons.  Mike, John and Troy are also very supportive. As a group, they have a positive attitude that is extremely contagious, and like me they are fiercely competitive. It’s all good.
 
You have quite a diverse stable of three drivers, each with their own personality and level of experience.  Talk about them.
 
VC: What can I say about Jeg Coughlin Jr that hasn’t already been said or written. He’s a five-time NHRA Champion, an awesome driver and individual who is calm and collected behind the wheel - nothing rattles him. He’s a fantastic spokesman for the Jegs brand and all of his sponsors and his passion for the sport shows in his interviews, you can see he loves what he does. When he’s not racing Pro Stock you might find him competing at a high dollar bracket race somewhere, he has won a number of big sportsman events in the past three years
 
Dave Connolly is another fantastic driver.  He has shown time and again he will get up on the wheel and leave on you. He is confident and compelled and works hard at his craft.  He is always on the practice tree, or out racing something somewhere.  You won’t find Dave sitting around often. He has a quiet and determined nature that most people don’t notice. He is there to win and I believe he is a championship waiting to happen.
 
Shane Tucker is our Australian rookie, and we are really excited about his potential.  He was the rookie of the year in Australian Pro Stock and almost won the championship in his first year on the circuit. Shane has movie-star good looks and will bring a young, hip factor to whoever he represents. I honestly believe he will be a good addition to the team and the Pro Stock class and will be a good ambassador for our sport.
 
The Gatornationals will be the first race you attend this season – how do you feel going in to the event?
 
VC: I’m excited. This year we arrive at this historic race as the defending event champs, and also come to town fresh off a big victory in Phoenix. I didn’t go to Pomona and Phoenix so we could continue to work on sponsorship solicitations for Dave and Shane, but the Gainesville race is close enough that I will only be out of the office one day. Besides, my Mom and Dad love to come to the Gators - they live in Vero Beach, so it’s a local race for them.
 
 As a drag racer growing up on the East Coast, what do the Gatornationals mean to you?
 
VC: The Gatornationals have so much history that it is one of my favorite races of the entire year. As a drag racer living in New York, the Gators were our first race of the season, our spring break, a chance to get out of the snow and cold and get to the sun and tire smoke.  After a long winter, what could be better than that!?
 
It had to be a tremendous thrill winning the Gators last year – talk about the experience.
 
VC: Over the past few years our team has been late starters, not really hitting our stride until late spring so to win that early in the season was really fantastic.  It was also a special weekend as both Jeg Sr and I were celebrating our birthdays during the race so to end with the win was absolutely the icing on the cake!
 
In closing, what would like to say to all your fans?
 
VC:  I‘d like to thank them all for the great emails and letters.  It makes a big difference to all of us knowing how much support we have out there. The encouragement is heartwarming and keeps the whole team pumped up, so please keep them coming!  Other than that, we hope to see you at the races!