CHARLOTTE (Sept. 13) - Donning the infamous Pink Panther on the side of his car, Pro Stock driver Rodger Brogdon has put himself in a favorable situation to win rounds at the Pep Boys NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway.
"We were having trouble with our shift light today," Brogdon said. "Even with that issue, we went a little faster in Q4 but I know we can go even faster. I think we can go a low .62, and if not we will at least make it a race tomorrow.
"All I know is either way we're glad to have the Owens Corning Chevrolet Camaro going in the right direction."
Continuing to work on his setup, Brogdon laid down a best time of 6.637 seconds at 208.49 mph to put him in the No. 13 qualifying position. With hopes of a first-round upset, Brogdon's Owens Corning Chevrolet Camaro will take on No. 4 qualifier Jonathan Gray.
"The track was really terrible the first two passes," Brogdon said. "It's so loose down the track that once you pull the chutes you're thinking, 'Well that's one of those that I should have pulled the clutch pedal in.' This morning I went down there and at about 1,000 feet it just pitched me right for some reason.
"That's a heck of a feeling. You know you're not moving the wheel and all of a sudden you just turn far to the right. However, that is conducive of that lane. Even if we are here testing, it's tricky."
With weather changing overnight at zMAX Dragway, Brogdon felt that the lanes were a little more even to wrap up qualifying action. Nonetheless, Sunday's weather looks to possibly swing in the opposite direction of where it has been.
"The track seemed more normal today, but that doesn't matter because tomorrow's a completely new day," Brogdon said. "It's supposed to be a high of only 72 degrees, so you can throw all the stuff you've been doing in the trash. Everybody is going to have to start over tomorrow. My guess is you'll see the e.t.s pick up by about five-hundredths.
"We could go all the way to the end if the weather does what it says it will. That's the plan at least, and you need to have a plan."
Eliminations will start at approximately 1 p.m., Sunday, with a tape-delay broadcast on ESPN2.
