It appeared Jason Line was going to take control of NHRA’s Pro Stock class.

However, the Gray Motorsports team of brothers Shane Gray and Jonathon Gray, and Dave Connolly had other ideas.

It appeared Jason Line was going to take control of NHRA’s Pro Stock class.

However, the Gray Motorsports team of brothers Shane Gray and Jonathon Gray, and Dave Connolly had other ideas.

Shane Gray won the U.S. Nationals on Sept. 2, and Jonathon was victorious Saturday at the rain-postponed Carolina Nationals at the Texas Motorplex.

Connolly, who lost to Shane in the finals at Indy, joined in his team’s victory parade by beating Shane Sunday to win the FallNationals at the Texas Motorplex.

Connolly had a 6.616-second run to edge Shane’s 6.617-second lap. Connolly also had a .028 reaction time while Shane was at .039.

This was Connolly’s 25th NHRA career Pro Stock victory and second this season to go along with his win at Epping, N.H. on June 22.

“I’ve been very blessed and I’ve had a lot of great opportunities,” said Connolly, who last raced full-time in Pro Stock in 2008 before this season. “Racing with the Grays has been pretty incredible. It is a great group of guys and the whole family, Johnny, Terry, Shane, Jonathon we have developed an unbelievable friendship this year. We are out there having fun. We are running into each other in the semifinals and finals, it could not be better. Once we make it to the finals there is Gray Motorsports on both the doors. It’s a win-win.”

On Sunday, Connolly defeated Shane Tucker, Allen Johnson, and Jonathan Gray before defeating Shane in the finals.

Midseason Connolly’s team had a shake up when his crew chief Tommy Utt was released, but they’ve been able to regroup.

“These cars are very tough to run and everybody has their own thoughts and personal touches,” Connolly said. “Sometimes things don’t gel and you have to make tough, tough decisions. Obviously it was very tough for me, the Utts were a second family to me. I started racing with them from Day 1 in Pro Stock. They kind of put me on the map and Tommy has taught me pretty much everything I know about a Pro Stock car. The team chemistry we have now is probably second to none and it’s showing. All three cars are very competitive every time we go up to the starting line and the whole team is giving us cars that are very capable of winning. It’s clicking, and everybody is pulling the rope the same direction.”

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