by Luke Bogacki
Elyria, OH: Distant followers of the sport of NHRA Drag Racing may recognize 2009 NHRA Lucas Oil Super Gas Champion Ray Connolly simply as “Dave’s Dad.” The Ohio mechanic’s young son burst onto the NHRA pro scene earlier this decade and was a force in Pro Stock competition for several years, earning a reputation as one of the best pure drivers in the category. Those who follow the sport more closely; however, recognize the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, and that Dave learned and inherited much of his ability behind the wheel from his father and family patriarch.
Ray Connolly has been a feared competitor in the NHRA Super Classes for the last decade, racking up over a dozen national event victories in Super Comp and Super Gas. He has been a consistent top ten finisher in the NHRA national standings; in fact his 2009 Super Gas World Championship comes on the heels of back-to-back top ten finishes in that category (seventh in 2008 and fourth in 2007). Connolly earned the 2009 title on the strength of a dominating campaign in Lucas Oil Divisional events, where he claimed victory on four occasions. That feat is a sharp contrast to his previous top ten seasons, where he has historically racked up points on the national event side of his ledger, and filled in solid, albeit less than stellar marks in divisional competition.
“I don’t really have an explanation for my 2009 success at divisional events. I’ve been chasing the NHRA tour since 2002, and up until this year I’d only won two divisional races. This year, I ended up with five (in addition to his four Super Gas wins, he added a victory in Super Comp). I don’t think I did anything differently, it just fell that way this year,” said Connolly.
Connolly needed every bit of his outstanding 699 point total (the highest Super Gas total this decade) to fend off perennial top-ten finisher Mike Ferderer, who put up a monster score of 689 points himself. The two engaged in a back and forth battle, with each posting consecutive victories on their respective coasts throughout the 2009 campaign. In the early goings, Ferderer looked to be the runaway 2009 champion, but Connolly overtook him atop the standings in August on the strength of back-to-back LODRS wins in Stanton, MI and Cordova, IL. Connolly then scored his lone national event conquest of the season, at the JEGS SportsNationals in Columbus, OH in October. That win came after his allotted points earning national events had been completed, however, and did not count toward his final tally.
Connolly’s national event triumph was bitter sweet, as Ferderer claimed a third LODRS victory of his own the same weekend, winning the Division 6 finale at Champion Raceway. With that win on the books, Ferderer shot back to a healthy lead in the championship chase, as both drivers had just one event left to claim.
Connolly entered the NHRA Division 2 finale in Reynolds, GA with a tall order. Win the event, and he’d surpass Ferderer to regain the lead in the Lucas Oil Championship chase. Anything less, and he’d settle for second, or worse. There, Connolly did the unthinkable, as he not only won the Super Gas category, but doubled with a victory in Super Comp; the first “double” of his illustrious career. Connolly’s road to the Super Gas title in Reynolds was no cake walk, either. In that event, he defeated former NHRA Summit ET World Champion Mike Ruff in round 2, defending NHRA Lucas Oil Super Gas Champion Brian Forrester in round 4, and perennial top ten contender David Tatum in round 5 before earning a semi-final bye run. In the final, Connolly topped multi-time Division 1 Champion and fellow standout “Super” class competitor Tom Stalba when Stalba fouled. For good measure, Connolly posted a perfect 9.900 elapsed time to cap his “perfect” day.
Once the gravity of that feat set in, along with it came the reality of the championship chase. Though Connolly had done the unthinkable and retaken the lead, the championship was far from settled. With four remaining events, Ferderer, Mike Sawyer, and Val Torres, Jr. each had a chance to overtake Connolly for the title.
Connolly chose not to make the trip West to Noble, OK, Las Vegas, NV, or Pomona, CA for those remaining events to play “blocker,” instead leaving his fate in the hands of those worthy opponents. In the end, each came up short in their bid for the title, and Connolly was crowned as the 2009 Lucas Oil Super Gas Champion.
“This is a great accomplishment, and I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to pursue the title and to come out atop a great group of competitors. My hat’s off to Mike Ferderer, Mike Sawyer, Val Torres, Jr., the rest of the top ten, and all of the NHRA Super Gas racers. If this class weren’t so tough, this accomplishment wouldn’t mean so much.”
Connolly thanked a list of marketing partners and friends for their role in his championship campaign. Those include Dart Cylinder Heads; Farron Lubbers at Hoosier Tires; K&N Filters; JEGS Mail Order; Mark, Travis, Brett, Josh and Denny at American Race Cars; Auto Meter; Moser Engineering; Hughes Performance; Sparco; Moroso; VP Fuels; APD; Dedenbear; Milodon; Pro Jack; Mr Gasket; Nitroplate; Abruzzi Transmissions; Lokar; Folk Race Cars; and Mark Horton Motorsports.
Connolly closed by saying, “I’d also like to thank my wife, Elaine, and sons, Dave and Tim; and also the help from my friends Josh Gnadt, Clark Wilson, Mark Cook and Ron Erks.”
