A year after being the Countdown’s loudest critic, Dave Connolly is arguably among its most outspoken fans. That’s because Connolly, in spite of missing the first five races this season due to sponsorship issues, is still in the hunt for the championship. But even after bumping past 10th-place Warren Johnson with his win Sunday in Sonoma, Connolly still has a lot of work to do.

First of all, he’s still got to ensure that he doesn’t slip up over the final three regular season races and allow the veteran WJ an opening.

But just as important, Connolly will have quite a mountain to still climb when the points reset after Indy.

Getting in is clearly the first and foremost priority, but here’s the reward for the 10th-place driver in Pro Stock: to win a championship you’re going to have to pass nine drivers and you’re going to be spotting the top driver a 110-point, or almost six-round, lead.

That said, it will be important for Connolly to take aim at Ron Krisher and Greg Stanfield, two drivers he’d have a reasonable shot at reeling in over the final three races.

Meanwhile, there was no movement into or out of the Top 10 in any of the other classes, but that doesn’t mean the table is not set for another dramatic finish.

In Top Fuel, Morgan Lucas has both Doug Kalitta and Dave Grubnic in his crosshairs; in FC, Beckman needs to keep the pedal to the metal; and in PRO Stock Motorcycle, Karen Stoffer is always a threat.