PHOENIX (Feb. 23) - Rodger Brogdon is solidly qualified for Sunday's Pro Stock eliminations field at the NHRA Arizona Nationals, but he's clearly looking for more.
"We definitely haven't shown what we can do," said Brogdon, who placed his ProtectTheHarvest.comChevrolet Camaro in the No. 11 position with a 6.578 at 210.70 mph. "I'm confident we're at least three- or four-hundredths (of a second) slower than where we should be. We should've gone a high .54."
The issue, Brogdon says, is with him. The team is working on a tune-up that has the potential to be faster, but it also alters his shifting routine.
"I've been having a lot of trouble getting my shifting down because we're trying some different things with the car," Brogdon said. "I'm used to driving it the other way, and it's going to take some more runs to get used to it."
Given how close the ultra-competitive Pro Stock class is, routine is everything, and even the slightest change results in an adjustment period. Still, Brogdon remains confident in himself and the team.
"The guys that I've got are very smart," Brogdon said. "They're doing a good job. Our main problem is me. In Q4, I finally shifted decent, but we went up there pretty soft because we had to go A to B to get some data for tomorrow.
"The way we're doing it now is going to be faster. I've just got to get the job done."
Brogdon will face four-time Pro Stock champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. in the first round of eliminations Sunday at Firebird International Raceway.
Coughlin qualified No. 6 with a 6.544 at 211.36 mph.
"It'll be a good race," Brogdon said. "We've got to be happy to get both cars in the show. We barely got (teammate) Steve (Kent) in, but he's in. It's a long, hard road to hoe here. We've got a lot of work to do."
The NHRA Arizona Nationals will get under way at 11 a.m. PST on Sunday morning. ESPN2 will air the eliminations show Sunday night starting at 8 p.m. EST.
From: Rob Geiger
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"We definitely haven't shown what we can do," said Brogdon, who placed his ProtectTheHarvest.comChevrolet Camaro in the No. 11 position with a 6.578 at 210.70 mph. "I'm confident we're at least three- or four-hundredths (of a second) slower than where we should be. We should've gone a high .54."
The issue, Brogdon says, is with him. The team is working on a tune-up that has the potential to be faster, but it also alters his shifting routine.
"I've been having a lot of trouble getting my shifting down because we're trying some different things with the car," Brogdon said. "I'm used to driving it the other way, and it's going to take some more runs to get used to it."
Given how close the ultra-competitive Pro Stock class is, routine is everything, and even the slightest change results in an adjustment period. Still, Brogdon remains confident in himself and the team.
"The guys that I've got are very smart," Brogdon said. "They're doing a good job. Our main problem is me. In Q4, I finally shifted decent, but we went up there pretty soft because we had to go A to B to get some data for tomorrow.
"The way we're doing it now is going to be faster. I've just got to get the job done."
Brogdon will face four-time Pro Stock champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. in the first round of eliminations Sunday at Firebird International Raceway.
Coughlin qualified No. 6 with a 6.544 at 211.36 mph.
"It'll be a good race," Brogdon said. "We've got to be happy to get both cars in the show. We barely got (teammate) Steve (Kent) in, but he's in. It's a long, hard road to hoe here. We've got a lot of work to do."
The NHRA Arizona Nationals will get under way at 11 a.m. PST on Sunday morning. ESPN2 will air the eliminations show Sunday night starting at 8 p.m. EST.
From: Rob Geiger
More...
