Norwalk: Dave Connolly preview

Elyria Native 'Dave Connolly Excited About Summit Nationals Race at Norwalk, Ohio

In his three-plus year Pro Stock driving career, Dave Connolly hasn't experienced a hometown race -- until now.

The Elyria, Ohio, native returns to nearby Norwalk  for NHRA's inaugural
Summit Racing Equipment Nationals at Summit Racing  Equipment Motorsports Park, a
renovated and renamed Norwalk Raceway Park, Friday  through Sunday.

Just in case anyone isn't familiar with what  Connolly has done since
emerging as one of NHRA's raising Pro Stock standouts,  here is a brief summary:

-- Three successive top five finishes (3-5-3)
-- 10 Pro Stock victories
-- 2 Sportsman victories
-- 25 Final rounds (22 Pro Stock, 3 Sportsman)
-- A reputation as one of the quickest drivers leaving the starting line

That's a pretty impressive resume  for a 24-year-old.  Dave's dad Ray races
and Dave grew up in the  sport.  Ray, a Sportsman driver, and Dave have shared
the winner's podium  together twice, a rare honor that occurred last month in
St. Louis and 2004 in  Chicago.

Dave Connolly, 24, will be driving the Evan Knoll-owned Torco Racing Fuels/Seelye Wright Automotive Group Chevy Cobalt. He has one win (St. Louis) and one runner-up (Topeka) this year and is third in POWERade Series points with 660.

"It's  exciting.  Everyone from Grandma to high school friends that I
haven't seen in a long time will be stopping by," said Connolly.  "You
always want to perform well at your hometown track.  It's been six or seven
years since I've been to Norwalk.  It has always been a beautiful track"

Performing well in front of all the friends and family carries a bit of extra pressure, but not much more than Connolly feels at each race. Pro Stock competition is as close as it always has been, with one or two-thousandths of seconds customarily deciding outcomes.

-credit: kgr