The challenges of the NHRA “western swing” are known to test each and every team that makes the 3 race trek thru Denver, San Francisco and Seattle. Denver demands a unique tune-up for the thin, mile-high air. The track just north of San Francisco demands the adjustment back to sea level air just days later, and then the swing concludes in Seattle at a track that is surrounded by trees that literally force feed oxygen into the atmosphere for the race engines to run on.
For Rodger Brogdon and the EDGE Pain & Performance Chips team, this year’s western swing has seen the additional challenge of dealing with some temperamental drive line components that have refused to allow the team the repeatability that they had through the early part of the season. Fighting those components has allowed the team to drop to eighth place in the standing going into Seattle, a drop that doesn’t sit well with anyone on the team, especially Brogdon.
“We’ve been chasing the same problem for several races now, and just when we think we’ve got a handle on it, it bites us again,” commented Rodger. “It certainly hasn’t been a roller coaster ride that we wanted here in the middle of the season, but in all honesty, it has forced us to really focus on all aspects of our program and once we eliminate the variable we should really be able to get after it.”
“We have literally scrutinized everything on the car since Bristol, so we know exactly what needs fixing. Working with our supplier has seen some positive steps, but as of Sonoma, we still don’t have a 100% acceptable solution. The western swing really puts the emphasis on finding the solution as quickly as possible, because we’ve got 12 rounds of competition in just 15 days. A problem like we’ve been chasing can put you behind the 8-ball real quick. So far we’ve held our own, but that’s really not acceptable. We need to get back to our early season form and we need to do it quick!”
“With Seattle, Brainerd and Indy left to set the field for the Countdown to the Championship, we’ve got to get all this ironed out as soon as possible, and right now we are looking to do just that this weekend in Seattle. Another good weekend or two like we had in Houston or Gainesville earlier this year and we’ll be right smack in the middle of the championship run. I know it’s something we can do, right now it’s just a matter of being able to get it done.”
With an almost perfect weather forecast for the O’Reilly Northwest Nationals this weekend, the EDGE Pain & Performance Chips team is anxious to secure not only their first NHRA “Wally” but also ready to secure their spot in the Countdown, for a run at the NHRA Full Throttle 2011 Championship.
For Rodger Brogdon and the EDGE Pain & Performance Chips team, this year’s western swing has seen the additional challenge of dealing with some temperamental drive line components that have refused to allow the team the repeatability that they had through the early part of the season. Fighting those components has allowed the team to drop to eighth place in the standing going into Seattle, a drop that doesn’t sit well with anyone on the team, especially Brogdon.
“We’ve been chasing the same problem for several races now, and just when we think we’ve got a handle on it, it bites us again,” commented Rodger. “It certainly hasn’t been a roller coaster ride that we wanted here in the middle of the season, but in all honesty, it has forced us to really focus on all aspects of our program and once we eliminate the variable we should really be able to get after it.”
“We have literally scrutinized everything on the car since Bristol, so we know exactly what needs fixing. Working with our supplier has seen some positive steps, but as of Sonoma, we still don’t have a 100% acceptable solution. The western swing really puts the emphasis on finding the solution as quickly as possible, because we’ve got 12 rounds of competition in just 15 days. A problem like we’ve been chasing can put you behind the 8-ball real quick. So far we’ve held our own, but that’s really not acceptable. We need to get back to our early season form and we need to do it quick!”
“With Seattle, Brainerd and Indy left to set the field for the Countdown to the Championship, we’ve got to get all this ironed out as soon as possible, and right now we are looking to do just that this weekend in Seattle. Another good weekend or two like we had in Houston or Gainesville earlier this year and we’ll be right smack in the middle of the championship run. I know it’s something we can do, right now it’s just a matter of being able to get it done.”
With an almost perfect weather forecast for the O’Reilly Northwest Nationals this weekend, the EDGE Pain & Performance Chips team is anxious to secure not only their first NHRA “Wally” but also ready to secure their spot in the Countdown, for a run at the NHRA Full Throttle 2011 Championship.
