The rumors have have been swirling for months have apparently been true as it has been officially announced by Bob Vandergriff Racing that Dave Connolly and Larry Dixon will be the team’s two drivers in 2015 for the NHRA Mello Yellow Drag Racing tour. The pro stock standout has proven himself in a variety of sportsman categories, in dragsters, and full bodied cars alike and now he’s onto the biggest class in the fastest cars of the National Hot Rod Association. Both drivers will be making a full attempt at the championship with funding secured for both cars to make the entire tour which will traverse the country, starting with the 2015 Winternationals.

In a statement released from BVR today, Connolly said, “It’s kind of crazy. I’ve never really thought about driving top fuel, mainly because the opportunity wasn’t there. When Bob approached me, it really sparked my interest. Top fuel is the fastest car on the planet. I’ve driving everything else, so I’m up for the challenge.” Not to the lost in the announcement is the fact that Larry Dixon will be making a full run at the championship for the first time in several years and he’s thrilled about it as well. Dixon said, “It’s been a few years since I have competed for a Mello Yello championship and I look forward to a full tour with Bob’s team. He has great equipment and he as assembled a great group of guys. I feel honored that he wants me to be a part of it.”

This is great news for top fuel fans as it seems the health of the class will be strong heading into 2015. There are rumors of at least one new car and team effort coming out for the tour with a well known former crew chief seeking the right person for the seat. We’re going to continue to follow that story and see where it takes us. In the meantime, we’ll be super interested to hear how winter testing goes for Connolly who is one of the best pure drivers in pro stock. As we have seen through the years with people like Antron Brown, Shawn Langdon, Jack Beckman, and others, the basic skills that make a driver great in any other class can really help them to succeed in the top fuel ranks.

Is it possible that top fuel will be considered the home of the best leavers in the sport? It was always pro stock’s claim but now that things are shuffling, it may not be long before they lose that title.

STAY TUNED, MORE ON THIS STORY WILL BE COMING SOON!