[1]Images courtesy: ADRL.us
Team “O” Motorsports announced today that they have named popular Pro Stock standout Dave Connolly the driver of their ADRL Extreme Pro Stock machine for this weekend’s Ford Drive One Summer Drags VII at the U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Mich.
“We are completely thrilled to announce that Dave Connolly will be in the driver’s seat of the Capstone Fuel, Ranger Glass Pontiac GXP XPS car at the ADRL’s Martin, Mich. event,” Team “O” Motorsports Marketing Representative Gary Lidiak said. “This is a tremendous opportunity for Dave and our team, and we can’t wait to race this weekend in Michigan.”
Connolly’s resume includes 22 NHRA Pro Stock victories with wins at 14 different NHRA tracks, and a laundry list of sportsman and bracket racing titles to his credit makes him one of the most successful and talent young drivers in the sport. In all, Connolly has won 26 NHRA national events spanning three different categories. Now, he takes his skills to the always tough Extreme Pro Stock eliminator, where a field of talented drivers await to pose a new challenge to the venerable Ohio native.
“I think it’s going to be a lot of fun to experience the difference in a Mountain Motor Pro Stock car versus a 500-inch Pro Stock car,” Connolly said. “These cars and drivers in the Extreme Pro Stock class are impressive, but I’m ready and excited. “We’re certainly hoping to make the most of everything this weekend in Martin. It’s going to be an enjoyable experience racing in the ADRL for the first time.”
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Team “O” manager Jeff Owen was introduced to Connolly more than five years ago and team owner Richard Otwell was forced to search for a new driver for the Martin event after unexpected business commitments altered the teams’ plans. With fellow Team “O” driver Jeff Naiser busy with his Pro Nitrous machine, the call went out to Connolly, who is currently serving as the crew chief for Erica Enders’ ZaZa Energy Chevrolet owned by Victor Cagnazzi on the NHRA trail. In that role, Connolly already has a pair of runner-up finishes, a new national speed record, and a #1 qualifying effort in Pomona to his credit.