DALLAS (Sept. 17) - There is no doubt that things will be different for Owens Corning Pro Stock driver Rodger Brogdon when he lines up for the continuation of the Pep Boys NHRA Carolina Nationals this weekend.
For one, the race will be run at Texas Motorplex instead of zMax Dragway because NHRA postponed the event from last weekend. And the first round will be run Saturday in what will also serve as the second qualifying session of the AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals.
But Brogdon, the No. 13 qualifier for Charlotte, has one more surprise in store, though he won't reveal details until Friday.
"We've got a little ace in the hole we're pulling out this weekend," Brogdon said. "Our first-round opponent is not going to be racing the same combination that we had in Charlotte."
After making one qualifying pass in Dallas on Friday, Brogdon will line up against No. 4 qualifier Jonathan Gray in the first round of the postponed Charlotte race. That round will also serve as Dallas' Q2.
Q3 and Q4 for Dallas will also be Charlotte's second round and semifinals, respectively, with the final an additional round on Saturday.
But the most important round will be Q1, Brogdon said.
"Well, for sure, you've got to go down the track in Q1," he said. "Q2 is round one of Charlotte, so I've got to get information off that first run, I'll tell you that for sure. You don't want to go up there and do something silly and not go down the first round. It's real important for us to get some data to look at."
Chances are good, he said, that he'll be back in that lane for the first round of Charlotte eliminations.
"If they look similar, I'm going to tell you what's going to happen," Brogdon said. "(Gray) has lane choice, so I'm sure he'll go down the same lane he just went down the first time. I'll probably end up going down the same lane (as Q1), too. I would imagine we'll both be going down the same lane."
With two national events being contested in one weekend, Brogdon is ready for anything.
"I don't know what to expect," Brogdon said. "This is going to be something else. Somebody told me today that we've got 60 to 80 percent chance of rain on Sunday, so, oh, boy, this could be something."
Pro Stock qualifying sessions are scheduled for 2:15 and 5:15 p.m., Friday, and 11:15 a.m. and 2:15 p.m., Saturday. Eliminations begin at noon, Sunday. ESPN2 will carry all qualifying and elimination action.
