This is definitely an offseason of change for Dave Connolly.

The veteran Pro Stock driver has made a career change and will be making his Top Fuel debut in Bob Vandergriff Jr.’s C&J Energy’s dragster in 2015.
Connolly most recently made seven test runs at Palm Beach International Raceway on Sunday and Monday.

Dave Connolly, left, and team owner Bob Vandergriff Jr.This is definitely an offseason of change for Dave Connolly.

The veteran Pro Stock driver has made a career change and will be making his Top Fuel debut in Bob Vandergriff Jr.’s C&J Energy’s dragster in 2015.
Connolly most recently made seven test runs at Palm Beach International Raceway on Sunday and Monday.

“It was a good experience,” said Connolly, who has won 25 career NHRA Pro Stock national events. “We got a lot of things under our belt and out of the way in a good way. I experienced tire shake and I smoked the tires early and smoked them late. I wanted to get used to the procedures, warm-ups and starting line procedures, and everything is going good.”

Connolly, who finished third in the 2014 Pro Stock season point standings, acknowledged piloting a Top Fuel dragster is a different animal.

“They are a handful,” Connolly said. “They’re the fastest accelerating thing I’ve ever been in. It’s taking some getting used to, getting used to the speed, but I’m still up for the challenge and I’m having a blast.”

Before Connolly tested at PBIR he made his inaugural Top Fuel passes – two runs at Las Vegas Motor Speedway November 3.

“They definitely leave very hard,” Connolly said. “It is when the clutch starts coming in, that’s when the real fun starts. The biggest difference from a (Top Fuel dragster to a Pro Stock car) is you cover so much ground in such a little amount of time. Again, the g-forces that thing is pulling from 300 feet on is just a tremendous amount more than the Pro Stock car. It’s just taking some getting used to. Everything happens in a hurry and you have to be 100 percent focused. We are just taking it one step at a time.”

According to Connolly, his quickest run at the PBIR test was 3.92 seconds, but he lifted at 750 feet.

Next on Connolly’s schedule is a return trip to PBIR for the Jan. 16-17 Pro Winter Warm-up.

“We are going to go down there and get some testing done on Tuesday and Wednesday and then we will do the Warm-up on that Friday and Saturday,” Connolly said. “We will get some more firsts out of the way as far as going down the track side-by-side with another fuel car. There are a lot of things going on, and hopefully we can get another 10, 15, 20 runs under our belt before we go into Pomona.”

The 2015 Mello Yello Series opens Feb. 5-8 with the Winternationals at Pomona, Calif. Connolly is teammates at BVR with Larry Dixon, a three-time world champion.

In addition to the Top Fuel learning curve, Connolly is adjusting to his crew chief Kurt Elliott.

“I never even met Kurt before this Top Fuel deal was put together,” Connolly said. “He’s extremely laid back and very easy to work with and I feel like I can learn a lot from him. I’m really looking forward to this year. I know he’s going to do a good job, and I’m just hoping I can return the favor.”

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