Connolly Exits in Semifinals at Las Vegas

Connolly Disappointed with Semifinal Loss to Richie Stevens

LAS VEGAS - A somber Dave Connolly shook his head and said, "There's nowhere else to put the blame but on the driver's shoulders," following his semifinal Pro Stock loss to Richie Stevens in the ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Connolly, who qualified third, drove the SKULL Gear Chevy Cobalt to victories over Bob Panella Jr. and Tom Martino in the first two rounds with consistent runs of 6.772 and 6.776 seconds. But his competitive day ended with a foul start by 13-thousandths of a second.

"We were doing what it took to win the race, but we didn't turn the win light on," added the native of Elyria, Ohio. "The good new is that our new race car is running better. I think we have a car that can win a race. Maybe we can do that at Pomona (Calif.)."

The Auto Club Finals, Nov. 9-12, wind up the 2006 POWERade Series schedule.