Championship Drag Racing

Fram Autolite NHRA Nationals
Sonoma, CA
(July 27-29)

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Dave Connolly Industrial Distribution Group Chevrolet Cobalt

Sonoma, Sunday: Dave Connolly advanced to the semifinals of Sunday’s FRAM Autolite Nationals at Infineon Raceway to pull within five points of Cagnazzi Racing teammate Jeg Coughlin in the race for second place in NHRA’s Countdown to the Championship.

But Connolly was disappointed he didn’t get the win light against Greg Anderson in their semifinal match. Anderson left first with a .040-second reaction to Connolly’s .064 and ran quicker, 6.642 at 207.78 mph to 6.657 at 206.83.

“It wasn’t a bad weekend, but it could’ve been sweeter if we got past Greg,” said Connolly, driver of Evan Knoll’s Torco Racing Fuels Chevy Cobalt that runs out of Victor Cagnazzi’s shop. “The car was working pretty good, but I had to be better (at the starting line). We were able to make up points against Jeggie and get closer to second place.”

Connolly has 1078 POWERade Series points to 1083 for Coughlin with races at Brainerd, Minn. (Aug. 12) and Reading, Pa. (Aug. 19) before the top eight separate from the rest of the field and continue their title quest.

He opened eliminations by defeating Ron Krisher, 6.651 at 206.99 to 6.663 at 206.32.

“We didn’t do too bad in the Western Swing (races at Denver, Seattle and Sonoma),” added Connolly. “We got a win at Seattle and a semifinal at Sonoma.”

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