Connolly qualifies Carrier Boyz Racing Colbalt No. 2 at Topeka
CARRIER BOYZ RACING ANDY AND MARK CARRIER - OWNERS Visit our website at www.carrierboyzracing.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT: MICKEY SCHULTZ PHONE/FAX: 770-476-8477 E-MAIL: mschultz@bellsouth.net 17TH ANNUAL NHRA O'REILLY SUMMER NATIONALS HEARTLAND PARK TOPEKA - TOPEKA, KANSAS MAY 26-29, 2005 CARRIER BOYZ RACING PRO STOCK DAVE CONNOLLY - DRIVER Qualifying: Session 1 Friday: 6.751 seconds at 204.66 mph (# 2) Session 2 Friday: 6.735 seconds at 204.85 mph (# 2) Session 1 Saturday: 6.754 seconds at 204.66 mph (# 2) Session 2 Saturday: 6.773 seconds at 203.34 mph (# 2) Connolly qualifies Carrier Boyz Racing Colbalt No. 2 at Topeka TOPEKA, Kan. (May 28, 2005) - All four qualifying sessions have been completed at Heartland Park Topeka for the NHRA O'Reilly Summer Nationals presented by Castrol GTX. Dave Connolly, who this weekend is driving the Carrier Boyz Racing Chevrolet Cobalt, qualified No. 2 with a best elapsed time of four qualifying attempts of 6.735 seconds at 204.85 mph. Connolly and team are racing under the umbrella of Carrier Boyz Racing, after Andy and Mark Carrier, owners of Carrier Boyz Racing, which fields the FRAM AirHog Top Fuel dragster driven by Cory McClenathan and the Autolite XP Super Stock H-Automatic '67 Nova driven by Steve Graham, announced late Wednesday that they had reach an agreement with Mike Dzurilla for a one-race deal to field the Pro Stock car for the Topeka event. Dzurilla, owner of Bullet Motorsports, notified Connolly and the Bullet Motorsports team on Monday that he had ceased operation for financial reasons. Following Topeka, Carrier Boyz Racing and Dzurilla will continue their negotiations regarding the future of the team and the continued involvement of Carrier Boyz Racing. "We're definitely trying to forget about the past especially what went on this week," said Connolly. "We're trying to step forward with our whole program. We had four good run in the Carrier Boyz Racing Cobalt and we have a real good race car that's ready for tomorrow. "I would like to give a big thanks to Andy and Mark Carrier for really stepping up in a time of need like this and giving us the opportunity to race this weekend." Andy Carrier added, "Dave Connolly and the crew, led by crew chief Terry Adams, along with the power supplied by Grumpy (Bill Jenkins), shows that this team has the potential to do good things. Both Mark and I are happy thus far with the weekend and hope that we can continue our relationship with this team in the future." In the opening round of eliminations tomorrow, Connolly will square off against Kenny Koretsky. Koretsky qualified No.15 with a pass of 6.785 seconds at 203.34 mph.. Connolly, with engine power from Jenkins Competition, is currently third in the POWERade Pro Stock point standings. ATTACHMENT: CBR-8369b: L to R: Mark Carrier, owner Carrier Boyz Racing, Dave Connolly, driver Carrier Boyz Racing Pro Stock Chevrolet Colbalt, and Andy Carrier, owner Carrier Boyz Racing. HIGHER RESOLUTION AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST (mschultz@bellsouth.net). ELIMINATIONS: Connolly begins his quest for the Pro Stock title on Sunday with eliminations for all classes getting underway at 11 a.m. Time is local Topeka time -- Central Time (CT) -- and subject to change at anytime. TELEVISION: Qualifying highlights for the 17th annual NHRA O'Reilly Summer Nationals can be seen on ESPN2 this evening (Saturday, May 28) from 8-9 p.m. The qualifying show repeats on ESPN2 early Sunday morning, May 29, from 2:30 until 3:30 a.m. ESPN2 will also air same-day television coverage of eliminations from 8 until 11 p.m. on Sunday evening (May 29). The elimination show repeats on ESPN2 early Monday morning, May 30, from 2:30 until 4:30 a.m. Television times are Eastern Time (ET) and subject to change at anytime. Check local listings. -30-