POMONA, California November 15, 2014 - Owens Corning Pro Stock driver Rodger Brogdon continued to inch toward the top of the Pro Stock ladder after making improvements during qualifying for the Auto Club NHRA Finals this weekend at Auto Club Raceway.
Brogdon ended up No. 11 on Saturday after a top pass of 6.550 seconds at 211.36 mph, but that only begins to tell the story.
Brogdon was No. 17 in the order after he had to abort his first qualifying pass but improved to a run of 6.574 seconds at 210.37 mph that was seventh for Q2.
In Q3, Brogdon's run was eighth-quickest, but it was still an improvement, 6.550 seconds at 211.36 mph.
In the final session, Brogdon's 6.551-second pass at 210.87 mph was good enough for No. 4, behind only Erica Enders-Stevens, Vincent Nobile, and Greg Anderson.
"We've still got some more in it, too," Brogdon said. "These Pro Stock cars are a finicky bunch, and getting them just right sure ain't easy, but my guys kept working hard and we got better. We're right there with the best of them."
Brogdon squares off against No. 6 qualifier Allen Johnson in the first round of eliminations on Sunday. Johnson's best run was 6.539 seconds at 211.33 mph.
"AJ's got a fast hot rod, for sure, but so do we," Brogdon said. "I think we might have something for him tomorrow."
Brogdon will be gunning for his second victory in the last three races; he won in Reading, Pa., last month for his second career win.
"We know we can do it," Brogdon said. "We've done it before, and that tells everybody on our team and everybody in Pro Stock that you better not take us lightly. We'll be ready for them, and I hope it's a long day tomorrow for us."
Eliminations will start at approximately noon, Sunday, with both qualifying and elimination action broadcast on ESPN2 on tape-delay basis.
