ORLANDO, FL – Connelley Racing has started out the season strong this year, already setting a class record and winning the second race of the year.
Connelley opened the season at the NMRA in Orlando Florida two weeks ago, qualifying in third place, making it to the semifinals before spinning the tires and getting beat, noting it was a good first outing, but frustrating since they knew they could do better.
The team went back to Orlando this past weekend for the NMCA, the sister series to NMRA, arriving at the track and installing a new transmission first thing. They qualified in first place and were able to gain speed throughout the weekend, ending up winning the race and setting the class record on the last pass of the weekend, with 4.49 seconds and 156 MPH in the 1/8th mile.
Connelley Racing tells the SI, for reference, they would like to run around 6.9 seconds at 200 MPH in the quarter mile. The Connelley Mustang goes 0-60 MPH in around 0.6 seconds.
A new Ford Mustang goes 0-60 MPH in 4.3 seconds and covers the quarter mile in 12.6 seconds.
Martin Connelley, the driver for Connelley Racing, said, “It was a very tough race. Nothing came easy or free. We ran the 4.49 pass because we knew it was going to take that to win the final round. Feels good when races are won like this.”
The next race for the Salyersville-based team is set for next month in Rockingham, NC, and then they will travel to St. Louis in May.
Last year the team ended on a high note, making it to the World Cup Finals in November, qualifying first in the Wild Street Class and winning the race, with more than 50,000 spectators and 350 cars from 10 different countries.
Connelley Racing is actively seeking sponsorship for the 2023 racing season. If you or your business would be interested in partnering up, Connelley racing has different sponsorship packages to fit any budget.
