Dave Connolly Reaches Quarterfinals at Gators

After a three-day test session early last week, Dave Connolly felt he would be a contender for ACDelco Gatornationals Pro Stock honors Sunday at Gainesville Raceway.

He did drive the TORCO/Slammers Ultimate Milk Chevy Cobalt to his quickest (6.594 seconds) and fastest (209.95 mph) quarter-mile runs en route to a first-round victory over Rodger Brogdon, but he didn't pick up the pace in the quarterfinals against eventual race runner-up Larry Morgan.

Connolly had the starting-line advantage (.060 to .091-second) only to see Morgan poke the nose of his car over the line milliseconds before he did. Morgan's time was 6.615 at 209.39 to Connolly's 6.648 at 208.91.

"We have Jeg's (Coughlin, his Cagnazzi Racing teammate) car running good but I don't think anyone was happy with the way were running," said Connolly. "I guess we'll have to go back and start working on it some more."

Connolly is fourth in NHRA POWERade Series points with 180. His next race will be in Houston/Baytown, Texas, March 30-April 1.