Sonoma: Dave Connolly final report

Dave Connolly Get to Semifinals; Closes Within Five Points of Second Place

SONOMA,  Calif., July 29, 2007 -- Dave Connolly advanced to the semifinals of
Sunday's  FRAM Autolite Nationals at Infineon Raceway to pull within five
points of  Cagnazzi Racing teammate Jeg Coughlin in the race for second place in
NHRA's  Countdown to the Championship.

But Connolly was disappointed he  didn't get the win light against Greg
Anderson in their semifinal match.   Anderson left first with a .040-second
reaction to Connolly's .064 and ran  quicker, 6.642 at 207.78 mph to 6.657 at 206.83.

"It wasn't a bad  weekend, but it could've been sweeter if we got past Greg,"
 said Connolly,  driver of Evan Knoll's Torco Racing Fuels Chevy Cobalt that
runs out of Victor  Cagnazzi's shop.  "The car was working pretty good, but I
had to be better  (at the starting line).  We were able to make up points
against Jeggie and  get closer to second place."

Connolly has 1078 POWERade Series  points to 1083 for Coughlin with races at
Brainerd, Minn. (Aug. 12) and Reading,  Pa. (Aug. 19) before the top eight
separate from the rest of the field and  continue their title quest.

He opened eliminations by defeating Ron Krisher, 6.651 at 206.99 to 6.663 at 206.32.

"We  didn't do too bad in the Western Swing (races at Denver, Seattle and
Sonoma),"  added Connolly.  "We got a win at Seattle and a semifinal at Sonoma."

-credit: dcr