Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Carrier brothers save Connolly’s season

Thursday, May 26, 2005 | 9:37 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. His motor sports notebook appears Friday. He can be reached at bh@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4089.

Dave Connolly, who won the NHRA Pro Stock race in April at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and is third in points, found himself out of work for two days after Bullet Motorsports owner Mike Dzurilla closed his operation earlier this week.

Late Wednesday afternoon, Carrier Boyz Racing owners Andy and Mark Carrier plucked Connolly out of the unemployment line when they agreed to operate Dzurilla's team at this weekend's NHRA national event at Heartland Park Topeka in Kansas.

Carrier Boyz Racing fields the Fram AirHog Dragster for Cory McClenathan in the NHRA Powerade Drag Racing Series.

Dzurilla told dragracecentral.com's Bob Frey that he was forced to shut down his unsponsored Pro Stock team because of a series of events including investments "that turned bad" and the recent tornado damage suffered by Mansfield (Ohio) Motorsports Speedway, which Dzurilla owns.

"As for the (Pro Stock) team, everyone involved with it has the credentials to continue in the sport but I just couldn't continue to put my money into it," Dzurilla told Frey. "I was disappointed that we didn't get a partner for our team because I thought we really had a lot to offer."

Connolly, 22 and in his second full season in the Pro Stock class, won the season-opening Winternationals in Pomona, Calif., and earned his second victory of the season April 17 in Las Vegas. He said he is grateful that the Carrier brothers are helping out.

"After what has happened to this team this week, it is great to have someone step up to the plate and ensure that we will be racing in Topeka," Connolly said. "Just this one race could have big implications on our championship points. We are very thankful to the Carrier Boyz for allowing us to continue racing."

SPEED RECORD: Tony Schumacher established the NHRA Top Fuel speed record en route to his third victory of the season last weekend at National Trail Raceway in Ohio.

Schumacher set the mark with his 336.15 mph pass (at 4.489 seconds) against Doug Kalitta in the final.

Schumacher also closed to within 43 points of category leader Kalitta in the Top Fuel standings after eight of 23 events.

TWO IN A ROW: After a sluggish start to the season, two-time defending Pro Stock champion Greg Anderson raced to his second consecutive victory last weekend.

Anderson, who trailed Warren Johnson by 171 points three races ago, now is only 79 points behind the category leader. Anderson drives for team owner Ken Black of Las Vegas.

EYEING REPEATS: Brandon Bernstein (Top Fuel), Whit Bazemore (Funny Car) and Anderson (Pro Stock) are the defending race winners at Heartland Park Topeka.

AT THE STRIP: John Phlegar defeated fellow Las Vegan Leo Shaver and claimed the "King of the Track" honors Saturday night at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

In Jerry's Nugget Championship Drag Racing Series competition, Chris Naffziger (Super Pro), Charlie Boyd (Pro), Walter Shupe (Street), Bill Dudley (Sport Compact) and Leo Shaver (Motorcycle) won their respective classes.

In the Meadows Gold NHRA Junior Dragster Series last weekend, Luke Winters won twice in the Thunder Division and Kayla Sewell and Jett Dwyer earned victories in the Lightning Division.