A year ago, Pro Stock driver Tanner Gray made a sudden impact in the NHRA.

The rookie won five races and finished fourth in the points standings.

That momentum didn’t carry over for Gray so far in 2018 as he lost in the first round at the Winternationals and Arizona Nationals.

Dave Connolly, Gray’s crew chief, is upbeat the tables will turn for Gray at the Gatornationals Friday through Sunday, especially after his team’s test session earlier this week at Bradenton (Fla.) Motorsports Park.

During a test run March 14, Connolly said Gray clocked a 6.492-second elapsed time. According to Connolly, Gray was just a touch quicker than Vincent Nobile (6.493 seconds) and Chris McGaha (6.495 seconds).

“We were in Bradenton with cool conditions and we are optimistic that at least we can run with McGaha, who won (the Arizona Nationals) and Vincent who was the No. 1 qualifier at Pomona,” Connolly said. “Those are capable cars so for us to go out there and run 49(2), a little bit quicker than them makes us feel like we have a car that can gout there and compete especially after the first two races of the year where we hit some stumbling blocks. We are hoping that is behind us and obviously going into Gainesville it is supposed to be a little bit warmer up there and I don’t foresee 40s up there, but you never know.”

Connolly said Gray tested March 12-14 at Bradenton, making a total of 15 runs.

“With this class, if you’re sitting still you will get left behind,” Connolly said. “We probably brought out some parts at the beginning of the year engine-wise that probably weren’t ready for a national event, we should have tested them more. That made us re-evaluate everything. You have to hit those lows to really evaluate and look at every aspect of our program and that’s what it has made us do. Hopefully it has brought some better things to come for now and in the future to keep us on track.”

Although Gray struggled in the first two races of the season, Connolly knows there’s plenty of time to get things fixed.

“Last year we didn’t start out much better and we turned it around and had a great season with Tanner and Drew (Skillman),” Connolly said. “We know the guys at the engine shop, they are doing an excellent job, and we have the power to go out there and compete and now it is on us to utilize that at the race track and make decisions on Sunday, that’s what gets you in the winner’s circle.”

Connolly also acknowledged that the Pro Stock class is tougher than ever now.

“It is going to be a brutal year,” he said. “At any given time, there are 12 cars that can go out there and win a race and it doesn’t matter where they qualify. You can only beat on the same package for so long and then everybody regroups, and things filter out and everybody gets grouped back up and that’s what has happened this year already.”

The challenge of winning in the ultra-competitive Pro Stock class is something Connolly embraces.

“This is an ongoing science project,” Connolly said. “There’s always something you can do better, something you can learn, and your job is never done. As soon as you get into a spot where you feel comfortable somebody steps up and raises the bar and that keeps you on your toes. You are always looking for ways to improve the whole program, that’s what is intriguing to me, every aspect of the race car.”