Pro Stock points leader Brogdon continues momentum at Gatornationals

GAINESVILLE, FL – NHRA Pro Stock points leader Rodger Brogdon carries momentum and a No. 3 qualifying spot into final eliminations of the Amalie Motor Oil Gatornationals on Sunday at Auto-Plus Raceway.

Brogdon snared the No. 3 spot with a top pass of 6.526 seconds at 212.93 mph, but his Rodger Brogdon Racing Chevrolet has been amazingly consistent this weekend in Gainesville.

“We have a really good car,” Brogdon said. “We haven’t made a killer run yet during qualifying but we’ve been consistent. We have four good, solid runs down the track, so we’re very much looking forward to tomorrow.”

Brogdon’s “worst” run of the weekend was 6.540 seconds at 213.10 mph, so all four qualifying passes were within .011-second. He also had runs of 6.529 seconds at 213.06 mph and 6.531 at 213.00 mph.

Brogdon has now qualified second once and third twice in the first three races of the 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season, in addition to winning in Phoenix and racing to the semifinals in Pomona.

“Our confidence level is great,” Brogdon said. “When we get on the airplane, it’s fun. We know we’re going to go to win the race — at least we know we have a chance when we get there. It’s great. It’s totally different than any year I’ve been in Pro Stock before.”

But Brogdon is not at all worried about the points standings.

“I don’t even think about the points until people ask me,” Brogdon said. “It doesn’t change a thing for us. It’s way too early to worry about points. If we had two races to go, yeah, I’d be talking about it, but we have 21 to go, so no, it doesn’t ever cross my mind.”

Brogdon will start eliminations against No. 14 qualifier John Gaydosh, whose best lap was 6.636 seconds at 209.52 mph.

Eliminations will start at approximately noon, Sunday, with both qualifying and elimination action broadcast on ESPN2 on tape-delay basis.