CONNOLLY BACK FOR NOW
Sat, 2009-03-28 08:00
Dave Connolly is back, but not all the way.
The
Bradenton, Fla., native is driving the Nitro Fish Pontiac Pro Stocker
owned by Kenny Koretsky at this week’s O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals
in Baytown, Texas.
Connolly’s first run of the 2009 season was a less than stellar 6.750 second, 205.19 mph effort which left him 18th, six spots shy of making the provisional field.
Still, for Connolly it was a good feeling to be back behind the wheel of a Pro Stock race car. Dave Connolly is back, but not all the way.
The
Bradenton, Fla., native is driving the Nitro Fish Dodge Stratus Pro Stocker
owned by Kenny Koretsky at this week’s O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals
in Baytown, Texas.
Connolly’s first run of the 2009 season was a less than stellar 6.750 second, 205.19 mph effort which left him 18th, six spots shy of making the provisional field.
Still, for Connolly it was a good feeling to be back behind the wheel of a Pro Stock race car.
“It felt awesome,” said Connolly when ask how it felt just to sit in the car. “I haven’t been in one of these things much less dropped the clutch in one of these in three months. Getting back in there I knew Eddie Guarnaccia was already a great crew chief; I just needed to drive the car. It went a to b the first time in the car so it really felt good. I just wanted to get in there and knock the rust off but it looks like today’s just a test day because the weather is looking good for tomorrow. It was good to get back in it. I had a blast.”
Unfortunately
for now it’s a one race deal, but Connolly believes he and car owner
Victor Cagnazzi will be back in action very soon. If he didn’t feel
that way, he doesn’t think he would driving this weekend.
So when will he return on a permanent basis?
“I wish I knew right now,” Connolly said. “I can say that we have more irons in the fire than we ever have as far as Cagnazzi Racing and I go. We’re working hard at it this is just hard times. We’re going to keep working hard at it.”
Connolly missed the first five races of the 2008 season, but was still able to challenge for the title. Getting this opportunity to knock the winter rust off is one way to make sure he’ll be ready for the challenge once funding is found. Even if this opportunity is in a Pontiac, instead of a Chevy Cobalt.
“Obviously I’m a Chevy guy and I can’t wait to get back in a Chevy Cobalt again. In the meantime Danny [Northrop] let me drive the car because he had some family obligations. We’re all like family out here and there are no hard feelings.”
The only people who could possibly have hard feelings would be any driver Connolly beats on Sunday, provided he can post a good enough run in the scheduled third and fourth rounds of qualifying on Saturday.
The
Bradenton, Fla., native is driving the Nitro Fish Pontiac Pro Stocker
owned by Kenny Koretsky at this week’s O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals
in Baytown, Texas.Connolly’s first run of the 2009 season was a less than stellar 6.750 second, 205.19 mph effort which left him 18th, six spots shy of making the provisional field.
Still, for Connolly it was a good feeling to be back behind the wheel of a Pro Stock race car. Dave Connolly is back, but not all the way.
The
Bradenton, Fla., native is driving the Nitro Fish Dodge Stratus Pro Stocker
owned by Kenny Koretsky at this week’s O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals
in Baytown, Texas.Connolly’s first run of the 2009 season was a less than stellar 6.750 second, 205.19 mph effort which left him 18th, six spots shy of making the provisional field.
Still, for Connolly it was a good feeling to be back behind the wheel of a Pro Stock race car.
“It felt awesome,” said Connolly when ask how it felt just to sit in the car. “I haven’t been in one of these things much less dropped the clutch in one of these in three months. Getting back in there I knew Eddie Guarnaccia was already a great crew chief; I just needed to drive the car. It went a to b the first time in the car so it really felt good. I just wanted to get in there and knock the rust off but it looks like today’s just a test day because the weather is looking good for tomorrow. It was good to get back in it. I had a blast.”
Unfortunately
for now it’s a one race deal, but Connolly believes he and car owner
Victor Cagnazzi will be back in action very soon. If he didn’t feel
that way, he doesn’t think he would driving this weekend.So when will he return on a permanent basis?
“I wish I knew right now,” Connolly said. “I can say that we have more irons in the fire than we ever have as far as Cagnazzi Racing and I go. We’re working hard at it this is just hard times. We’re going to keep working hard at it.”
Connolly missed the first five races of the 2008 season, but was still able to challenge for the title. Getting this opportunity to knock the winter rust off is one way to make sure he’ll be ready for the challenge once funding is found. Even if this opportunity is in a Pontiac, instead of a Chevy Cobalt.
“Obviously I’m a Chevy guy and I can’t wait to get back in a Chevy Cobalt again. In the meantime Danny [Northrop] let me drive the car because he had some family obligations. We’re all like family out here and there are no hard feelings.”
The only people who could possibly have hard feelings would be any driver Connolly beats on Sunday, provided he can post a good enough run in the scheduled third and fourth rounds of qualifying on Saturday.
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