The NHRA O’Reilly Nationals contested every year at Gateway International Raceway just outside St. Louis are normally contested under trying atmospheric conditions. Hot temps and humid air are the norm in late June along the mighty Mississippi. This year though, the humidity and the temperatures were much more tolerable, and Rodger Brogdon, team driver Brian Self and the rest of the Comp Eliminator field were taking advantage of what mother nature was offering.
The two Super Mod cars of Rodger Brogdon Racing were part of a very tough 48-car Comp Eliminator contingent that eventually required a run of at least .50 under just to make the final field of 32. Once qualifying had ended Rodger Brogdon was second only to the unique DD/AT of Bruno Massel, and team driver Brian Self was situated in the 11th qualifying position.
In round one of eliminations, Brogdon was .008 on the tree but “DewCo” Don Winget pushed hard forcing Rodger to go .57 under the index to be able to advance to the second round. Other round one pairings saw numerous other drivers hitting their index, and the list of those going home early was loaded with familiar names. RoofTec Racing team driver Brian Self was joined by Comp hitters David Rampy, Shane Heckel, #1 qualifier Massel, defending event champ Joey Tanksley, and the A/ED’s of Wayne Henderson and Robert Bailey, just to name a few.
By the time the quarterfinal contestants rolled under the tower, everyone had wounded their indexes, and the carnage continued though the final four pairings. By the time the semi-final pairings were determined, Brogdon’s RoofTec Racing Chevy Cavalier had hit the index .17 and Rodger knew that Tony Stephenson would be tough in the semis, having only hit the C/AA index for .05. The other semi final pair would see Todd Patterson (down .08) taking on the L/AA of Chad Voges (.07 under).
With Brogdon and Stephenson (#2 & #3 in the final 2005 standings) squaring off, you knew that this semi final match up would be huge. Rodger knew that there was a little more left in the Brogdon Racing Engines small block, but also knew he was going to have to be sharp on the tree to hold off another of Comp’s heavy hitters. Looking for a great light, Brogdon found a red light (-.010) and ended the day for RoofTec Racing. The other semi-final pairing also saw a red-light decision as Todd Patterson went red against Chad Voges, who then went on to take his second national event title.
For Rodger Brogdon and the rest of the RoofTec team, the upcoming weekend will now take them back to the rolling hills of east Texas, to finish a rain delayed Lucas Oil Drag Racing series event. With the semi final finish in St. Louis, and a strong showing this weekend in Rusk, Texas, Brogdon will once again be closing in on another shot at a season championship. With an under construction AA/SM soon to hit the track, this might very well be the year that RoofTec goes to #1. It looks to be a very interesting second half of the season, stay tuned.
The two Super Mod cars of Rodger Brogdon Racing were part of a very tough 48-car Comp Eliminator contingent that eventually required a run of at least .50 under just to make the final field of 32. Once qualifying had ended Rodger Brogdon was second only to the unique DD/AT of Bruno Massel, and team driver Brian Self was situated in the 11th qualifying position.
In round one of eliminations, Brogdon was .008 on the tree but “DewCo” Don Winget pushed hard forcing Rodger to go .57 under the index to be able to advance to the second round. Other round one pairings saw numerous other drivers hitting their index, and the list of those going home early was loaded with familiar names. RoofTec Racing team driver Brian Self was joined by Comp hitters David Rampy, Shane Heckel, #1 qualifier Massel, defending event champ Joey Tanksley, and the A/ED’s of Wayne Henderson and Robert Bailey, just to name a few.
By the time the quarterfinal contestants rolled under the tower, everyone had wounded their indexes, and the carnage continued though the final four pairings. By the time the semi-final pairings were determined, Brogdon’s RoofTec Racing Chevy Cavalier had hit the index .17 and Rodger knew that Tony Stephenson would be tough in the semis, having only hit the C/AA index for .05. The other semi final pair would see Todd Patterson (down .08) taking on the L/AA of Chad Voges (.07 under).
With Brogdon and Stephenson (#2 & #3 in the final 2005 standings) squaring off, you knew that this semi final match up would be huge. Rodger knew that there was a little more left in the Brogdon Racing Engines small block, but also knew he was going to have to be sharp on the tree to hold off another of Comp’s heavy hitters. Looking for a great light, Brogdon found a red light (-.010) and ended the day for RoofTec Racing. The other semi-final pairing also saw a red-light decision as Todd Patterson went red against Chad Voges, who then went on to take his second national event title.
For Rodger Brogdon and the rest of the RoofTec team, the upcoming weekend will now take them back to the rolling hills of east Texas, to finish a rain delayed Lucas Oil Drag Racing series event. With the semi final finish in St. Louis, and a strong showing this weekend in Rusk, Texas, Brogdon will once again be closing in on another shot at a season championship. With an under construction AA/SM soon to hit the track, this might very well be the year that RoofTec goes to #1. It looks to be a very interesting second half of the season, stay tuned.
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