Wed, 26 Mar 2003, 11:01 AM Connolly to Drive New Bullet Pro Stock Entry

Courtesy of Bullet Motorsports Photo copyright 2003 Auto Imagery, Inc.

MANSFIELD, OHIO --

David Connolly

The Ohio-based Bullet Motorsports team will field a Pro Stock entry for driver David Connolly in the 2003 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing series, it was announced today by Bullet Motorsports owner Michael Dzurilla. Connolly, the reigning Division 3 Super Gas champion, and a current competitor in NHRA's Competition Eliminator class, expects to make his professional debut at the upcoming Lucas Oil Route 66 Nationals in Joliet, Ill. on May 30-June 1. Connolly, 20, will drive the Bullet team's new Don Ness-built Chevrolet Cavalier.

"This is a dream come true for me and for our whole team," Connolly said. "Obviously, I'm very excited to be racing in Pro Stock. Our intentions were to race in Comp this season in order to prepare for a move to Pro Stock in 2004. However, the pieces have fallen into place quicker than we expected, so we're going to make the move this summer. I know going from Comp to Pro Stock is a big step, but I'm looking forward to the challenge."

In an effort to insure a smooth transition, and to become competitive as quickly as possible in what may well be NHRA's toughest eliminator, the team has enlisted Pro Stock legend, Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins, who in 2001 was ranked eighth in NHRA's list of the Top 50 racers of all time, to supply the team's engines. Three-time NHRA sportsman champ Jeff Taylor has also been hired as Connolly's crew chief and technical consultant.

Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins

"David is the most mature 20-year old I've ever met in my life. He is very grounded, and has already proven to be an excellent driver," added Dzurilla. "When he made his first runs in our C/Altered this year, he drove like a veteran. His shift points were perfect and he was very focused. I'm sure he'll do well in Pro Stock.

"When I started the Bullet Team, our long-term plan was to race in a professional class," Dzurilla continued. "We began work on this project in early 2002 and have spent the last year trying to find the right people. We were very fortunate to have Jeff Taylor join our crew this season and when we got the opportunity to use engines from Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins, that was the last spoke in the wheel that we needed. This has been a lot of work, but I felt that we needed to move fast when opportunity knocked. I'm not the type who wants to race just to say I was there. We want to win."

The Bullet Pro Stock team, which will operate out of its 20,000 square foot headquarters in Mansfield, Ohio. The rest of the Bullet team, which includes Connolly's father, Ray, the 2002 U.S. Nationals Super Comp champ, and sportsman standout Ron Erks, will continue to compete in Super Comp and Super Gas. David Connolly also plans to continue racing in Super Gas at select Division 3 Lucas Oil Series events as he attempts to qualify for the exclusive Jeg's Sportsman All-stars event which will be held later this season.

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