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Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it

Written by David Lamm · August 20, 2004

Medlen_Connolly.jpg
Photos: NHRA

The NHRA has been hoping for fresh, young faces and personalities to help attract a more youthful audience. They just may have gotten what the doctor order in Brainerd, Minn. when rookie Eric Medlen in Funny Car and second year driver Dave Connolly both captured their first career win.


It is no surprise as it was just a matter of time before Eric Medlen won an NHRA Funny Car event. With the same car under him that carried Tony Pedregon to a championship, the question was not if Medlen could win in 2004, but when. That answer came in Brainerd as no big surprise to anyone. Medlen has proven he can drive a race car but I am sure the brass in the NHRA headquarters are breathing a sigh of relief. With an aging fan base and many drivers like John Force, Gary Densham, Warren Johnson and Larry Morgan all in their fifties and beyond, the NHRA is hoping to attract a younger fan base. Enter Eric Medlen and David Connolly along with other newbies like Morgan Lucas, Andrew Hines and Jason Line. The NHRA now has a group of up and coming stars that younger fans can identify with.

Connolly’s win in Brainerd was more impressive than the short time it took him to earn it. The fact that he not only beat Greg Anderson in the final but was able to run him down with a faster car is mind boggling. Anderson has had the baddest door slammer in the world and for a 21 year-old kid beating the reining king of Pro Stock makes the drag racing world sit up and take notice. Granted both Medlen and Connolly have good cars to drive on Sundays but a good car is only half the battle. Looks like the NHRA is getting what it wanted in their young stars rising to the challenge. Now, will the older drivers acknowledge and accept when it comes time to pass the torch to the next generation?

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Comments

2 Responses to “Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it”

  1. Josh on August 20th, 2004 6:38 am

    Sounds very familiar to the “young guns” that have totally taken over NASCAR. And no one can accept and acknowledge when it is time to move on and pass the torch…not in my experience anyways.

  2. eddieg on August 21st, 2004 10:28 pm

    Greg Anderson was a very gracious looser in his post race interview. Anderson is a young gun compared to the above names. Anderson’s winning ways in the last two years are more dominate than any of the great doorslammers of the past(WJ, Glidden, Sheppard) Ed

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