Dallas: Dave Connolly Saturday summary

Connolly to Start 14th Despite Electrical Problem
SKULL GEAR Chevy Cobalt Posts 6.706-second Best

ENNIS, Texas, Oct. 8, 2005 -- An electrical bug invaded Dave Connolly's SKULL GEAR Pro Stock Chevrolet Cobalt during Friday and Saturday qualifying for Sunday's O'Reilly's Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex, near Dallas.

"The car was shutting off in fourth gear for no apparent reason," said Connolly, whose best qualifying run, as things turned out, was his first, 6.706 seconds at 205.54 mph has him starting 14th overall.

"That would've been a pretty good run," added crew chief Terry Adams. "The motor was off for nine-tenths of a second."

After changing virtually "everything but the wiring," Adams said it looked like the situation was corrected for Saturday's last run. "The last two things we changed were the coil and the clutch switch."

Connolly was timed in 6.708 seconds during the warm afternoon and the result pleased the team. It was seventh quickest of the session.

"The last run was a good, clean run," said the driver from Elyria, Ohio. "I hope the bug doesn't come back. Whatever we did on that run worked. It was the first time this week that we were under power all the way down. At least we are in the show."

Connolly races Kurt Johnson (No. 3 at 6.663 at 207.24 mph.

-jls-