NHRA

Dave Connolly Las Vegas test preview

Hard Work by Terry Adams, Many Others Puts SKULL GEAR Pro Stock Chevy Cobalt on the Way to Las Vegas Test Session NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. -- Pre-season planning morphed into a full-on thrash Sunday as Terry Adams and the crew of the Dave ...

Published: Feb 9, 2006, 1:31 PM

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Hard Work by Terry Adams, Many Others Puts SKULL GEAR Pro Stock Chevy Cobalt on the Way to Las Vegas Test Session

NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. -- Pre-season planning morphed into a full-on thrash Sunday as Terry Adams and the crew of the Dave Connolly-driven SKULL GEAR Pro Stock Chevrolet Cobalt finished rebuilding the car and sent it on a 1887-mile journey to Las Vegas for the final test session (Feb. 3-5) prior to NHRA's season opener, Feb. 9-12.

This wasn't the way Terry Adams envisioned preparations would go. Plenty of test runs were planned and there would be ample time to hone the tune-up that's certain to change because the car's horsepower now comes from Victor Cagnazzi Racing.

An untoward accident that sent Connolly into a concrete barrier while testing three weeks ago caused more damaged to the car's front end than was first thought and necessitated a longer stay at car builder Jerry Bickel's shop in the St. Louis area.

"It turned out we practically had to rebuild the car," said Adams, the team manager/crew chief. "It's a long drive to Las Vegas and I don't think we'll have an opportunity to make a run until Friday."

Connolly is scheduled to join other top Pro Stock drivers in Saturday's special Pontiac Pre-Season Shootout.

"We won't have much time to test," continued Adams, "but we're confident that it will take only a few passes to get the car dialed in. It does put us at a disadvantage, but there shouldn't be a problem with the car. Jerry Bickel has assured us he will do whatever necessary should we need something fixed.

"I want to thank Evan Knoll, our team owner, and Latrell Preston for having the confidence in me and for their dedication to the team, making sure whatever needed to be done was. We wouldn't be on our way to Las Vegas without the dedication and hard work of Jerry Bickel and his staff; Victor Cagnazzi and his staff who provided a great deal of much-needed assistance; and Fred Simmonds and Dan Ingle of General Motors, who also provided a great deal of help."

SKULL GEAR crewmen John Utt and Richard Hicks joined Adams in working around the clock to meet the departure deadline.

After three days of testing, the team faces a much shorter drive -- 208 miles -- to Pomona, Calif., to prepare for the CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals, Feb. 9-12.

-jls-

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