FIRST GRUMPY, NOW ADAMS LEAVES
CONNOLLY CAMP
Dave Connolly (shown) was on his way to being the next super star in NHRA Pro Stock racing, winning races and contending for a championship last season as he won twice in five final rounds and finished fifth in POWERade Series points. When his team owner had to get out of the Pro Stock drag racing business due to personal financial setbacks, Evan Knoll stepped in and bought the team, but didn’t keep engine builder Bill “Grumpy” Jenkins. A new engine program was put into place but crew chief Terry Adams, who had come over from the Barry Grant organization, was retained. After a poor start this season Adams has now been released and Tommy Utt replaces him as crew chief on an interim basis.
“We have been frustrated with the way the car has been running,” said Latrell Preston, Financial Controller of Torco Racing Fuels and Knoll Gas Motorsports. “We had higher expectations than where we are right now and we wanted to try something different." [5-4-2006]
REVAMP OF NHRA TV PROGRAM ON THE MENU?
According to the current Joyce Julius report, the number of households seeing the broadcasts of NHRA's first four events show significant loses at all but one of the broadcasts as compared to last year. One of the Agent’s operatives in the broadcast industry says there soon will be a meeting between the network and the NHRA to look for solutions.
Somehow these guys have to find a way to televise nitro-burning, 300-mph funny cars and dragsters, and 200-mph door cars racing and make it exciting and attractive to television viewers. And they can’t? [5-4-2006]
ROMINE’S HOG HAULS AT BRISTOL
Mike Romine took the win over Tommy Grimes in the final round of the seven-bike Top Fuel Harley exhibition at the just-completed NHRA event at Bristol International Raceway. Romine wasn’t the quickest or fastest qualifier, but stepped up for eliminations and in the final ran 6.360/220.15 to take out number one qualifier Grimes, who ran a 6.388/219.65. (Chris Haverly photo) [5-4-2006]
