Smiley
Nitro Member
This year’s running of the NHRA GatorNationals will certainly earn its place in the annals of drag racing history as conditions proved to be optimum for the naturally aspirated engines in Pro Stock.
Leading the pack once qualifying had concluded was THE RACERS EDGE driver Rodger Brogdon who also has a solid lock on concluding the race weekend as the elapsed time record holder with his #1 qualifying 6.495.
In talking about the weekends opportunities Rodger stated, “We knew when the weekend started that Friday’s weather was going to provide all of us with ample opportunity to run some very stout numbers. With cool, dry air and a rising barometer everyone in the category was salivating at the opportunities. The media was all abuzz wondering who was going to run the first 6.4 second run in Pro Stock history, and I’ll guarantee you my name never came up. Mike Edwards made his lap right in front of us in that opening session and certainly surprised no one when he went 6.496. When we went 6.495 right behind him I just knew that someone behind us would run a 6.48, and honestly I was surprised when it didn’t happen.”
“To run the laps we did this weekend and get our first #1 qualifying spot is a testament to the guys on our team. We busted our butts testing this week in in Bradenton and brought what we learned there to the race this weekend. The runs we made yesterday & today averaged out to a 6.504, and that is truly incredible when you consider the national record coming into this weekend was 6.509. When we break down and review our runs the 6.495 was a good run, but actually our run today was even better, because the 6.516 we ran in the final session corrected to a 6.481. To my guys THAT was our run of the weekend, and that was run in conditions that should be similar to what we’ll see on Sunday”
Sunday’s elimination will find the RACERS EDGE Pontiac facing off against Jim Cunningham’s Mustang and Buddy Perkinson in a classic GM vs. Ford battle, but as Rodger put it “This category is so competitive you have to be on your game for every lap, cause if you’re in the show, you can win it, and we’re here to win it just like everyone else.”
Final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. Eastern, and will be seen on ESPN2 Sunday evening. Check your local listings for show time in your area.
Leading the pack once qualifying had concluded was THE RACERS EDGE driver Rodger Brogdon who also has a solid lock on concluding the race weekend as the elapsed time record holder with his #1 qualifying 6.495.
In talking about the weekends opportunities Rodger stated, “We knew when the weekend started that Friday’s weather was going to provide all of us with ample opportunity to run some very stout numbers. With cool, dry air and a rising barometer everyone in the category was salivating at the opportunities. The media was all abuzz wondering who was going to run the first 6.4 second run in Pro Stock history, and I’ll guarantee you my name never came up. Mike Edwards made his lap right in front of us in that opening session and certainly surprised no one when he went 6.496. When we went 6.495 right behind him I just knew that someone behind us would run a 6.48, and honestly I was surprised when it didn’t happen.”
“To run the laps we did this weekend and get our first #1 qualifying spot is a testament to the guys on our team. We busted our butts testing this week in in Bradenton and brought what we learned there to the race this weekend. The runs we made yesterday & today averaged out to a 6.504, and that is truly incredible when you consider the national record coming into this weekend was 6.509. When we break down and review our runs the 6.495 was a good run, but actually our run today was even better, because the 6.516 we ran in the final session corrected to a 6.481. To my guys THAT was our run of the weekend, and that was run in conditions that should be similar to what we’ll see on Sunday”
Sunday’s elimination will find the RACERS EDGE Pontiac facing off against Jim Cunningham’s Mustang and Buddy Perkinson in a classic GM vs. Ford battle, but as Rodger put it “This category is so competitive you have to be on your game for every lap, cause if you’re in the show, you can win it, and we’re here to win it just like everyone else.”
Final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. Eastern, and will be seen on ESPN2 Sunday evening. Check your local listings for show time in your area.
