Reading: John Connolly Saturday notes

Connolly winds up eighth, races Warren Johnson on Sunday

READING, Pa., August 15, 2008 -- Dave Connolly's quickest run of Saturday qualifying came in his last quarter-mile lap -- 6.650 seconds at 207.78 mph -- and put him eighth in the starting line-up for Sunday's Toyo Tires Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway.

Connolly, the defending race champion, meets veteran Warren Johnson (ninth, 6.651 at 208.75) in the opening round.

Connolly and the Cagnazzi Racing Charter Communications/LifeLock Chevy Cobalt team hope to officially clinch a spot in the Countdown to 10 by going rounds. Connolly is eighth with 775 points, 55 out of seventh. He holds a 14-point edge over teammate Ron Krisher and he's 26 ahead of No. 10.

Krisher qualified seventh, 6.646 seconds at 207.50, and Jeg Coughlin, the third Cagnazzi Racing entry, was 11th, 6.652 at 207.72.

"We ran better on the last run," said crew chief Tommy Utt. "We were fifth-quickest of the session. We learned some things on that run. I hope the weather stays hot."

Connolly was a finalist at the last two POWERade Series races, winning at Sonoma, Calif.

-credit: vcr