Big changes help Brogdon, MAVTV Pontiac in Phoenix
(2-18-2012) CHANDLER, AZ – Rodger Brogdon and the crew of the MAVTV Pontiac GXP Pro Stocker had a busy afternoon Saturday at the NHRA Arizona Nationals.
The team was forced to make wholesale changes to the MAVTV machine before the fourth and final qualifying session, which is highly unusual for a Pro Stock car.
"We changed the motor, the transmission, the rear end and shocks," Brogdon said. "We threw everything at it. It could've very easily gone a 6.56 or 6.57 (second ET). We knew that, but we just had to get some data out of it, so we just changed it all to be ready for Sunday morning."
As it stands, Brogdon wound up qualifying No. 9 for Sunday's eliminations with a best lap of 6.593 seconds at 209.39 mph.
"We started not too bad, seventh after one session," Brogdon said. "We have the ability to go on the computer and correct our runs. As we ran the second session, the third session, our corrections went slower and slower, so we changed the motor for the last run."
Even after the changes, Brodgon had to do his best to rein his car in to get it across the finish line in Q4.
"If everyone could see that run, they'd go, 'He's got at least a nickel left in that,'" Brogdon said. "It went all crooked, and I had my hands full going through there.
"I went right, and when I was bringing it back, I snatched third gear. It pulled the left-front tire up in the air. I felt like I was in a Pro Mod."
Brogdon draws No. 8 qualifier Ron Krisher in the first round of eliminations on Sunday morning. Krisher's best lap was in 6.573 seconds at 210.21 mph.
"We're eight and nine, so we'll be first out on the track," Brogdon said. "It'll be interesting. There's nothing about this class easy. We'll do the best we can."
Eliminations for the NHRA Arizona Nationals get under way at 11 a.m. MST Sunday from Firebird International Raceway.
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