From his earliest days in drag racing, Rodger Brogdon knew the roofing industry and drag racing were a match. As he saw it, most drag racers and racing fans are homeowners, and the common denominator in those houses is that they have a roof. 

"You're looking at a 60 to 70 percent majority, easily who own a house in our sport," Brogdon said. 

Brogdon is one of the majority and is well versed in the process, having been a part of building as many as sixty homes. At that time, he understood the two most crucial parts of the build were the foundation and the roof. 

"Don't have those; you have a major problem," Brogdon added. 

Brogdon said he just finished a home in Tomball, Texas, where he said it's built to last at least 200 years. Longevity is key to what he does, whether on the job or the strip.

"Anybody that's ever bought a home from me, they got the same quality - whether an 1,800 square foot home or a 10,000 square foot home," Brogdon explained. "There's only one way to do something and that's the right way."

That starts with what one does, whether a house or a race car. Brogdon believes there's no substitute for quality materials.

"When I first got married, we couldn't afford the best stuff," Brogdon said. "But you know what we did as a young couple, starting out? We found what we wanted. We saved our money. We bought the good stuff from the get-go, instead of just buying something to keep buying."

Like his dad and Uncle, Brogdon learned the housing and roofing industry by taking a similar approach to one that breeds success in drag racing. Study the products, get the best, surround yourself with a like-minded support cast and built to win. 

Like many in other industries, Brogdon worked his way into the roofing business by accident. 

"I had a situation where I worked for a franchise in the Houston area to teach people how to build houses," said Brogdon, whose family worked in the framing business for building houses. "The franchise owner went belly up, and when he did, I was stuck with nothing, and I had a brand new baby girl at home."

Brogdon found a job in the roofing industry and, by 1991, opened Rooftec. 

"I already knew how to do it because I was in the construction business," Brogdon said. 

Once Rooftec became an established business, Brogdon began formulating a plan to combine drag racing with the roofing industry. It wasn't easy.

"It was such a struggle back then, though," Brogdon admitted. "Still remember it. We went almost five years to the day before we actually paid ourself two weeks in a row."

Today, just his residential portion of the business is a multi-million dollar venture. 

As Brogdon tries to reveal to his daughter and the younger team he employs, in those early days, the struggle was real. 

"For about the first eight years. I sure wondered, 'Whew. I don't know about this roofing business," Brogdon said. "I try to tell them y'all don't know what it took to get to this point for you be able to get a check."

"It just seems like there's a shortage of people willing to put in the effort nowadays to start any kind."

Besides, his business mantra of best materials and team all rely on one crucial part of the puzzle - customer service. 

"That's why we give people lifetime no-leak warranties with free yearly inspections and free yearly maintenance," Brogdon said. "Far as I know, I'm the only guy in the country that does that. We even go out there and clean people's roofs off when we come out for the yearly inspection. Because a lot of people are scared to get on the roof, and you can't blame them for that. But if there's anything up there that needs cleaning up, we do that too. And it's free."

Brogdon said he even allows the transfer of the warranties to those who purchase the houses from his original customers. 

Brogdon confirmed he has a large portion of his business based on return customers for whom he's probably done as many as ten roofs over the last three decades. 

And for Brogdon, it started with the humblest of beginnings.

"It all started with a little bitty place," Brogdon said. "I still remember my room for $400 a month, and I had about 900 square feet with a really big closet in there for an office, and the rest was a warehouse.

"I'm still on the same side of town within probably 15 minutes of that same office. At least once a year, I'll drive down that street, and I'll just say, 'Woo. Whoa, we've come a long ways."

Brogdon's passion for providing his customers the best in roofing, and ensuring his other love, Competition Eliminator, burn strong in the RoofTec  D4 Comp Eliminator Fund. 

Brogdon has also inspired other companies to become involved in the $225,000 fund, which will be doled out to those fortunate enough to land in the top ten of NHRA's Division 4 Competition Eliminator points. In the end, a deserving division winner can take home more money than if one secured the NHRA World Championship. 

Brogdon said his plan to showcase NHRA's D4 Competition Eliminator has nothing to do about ego or showing anyone up. Instead, he said, it's about showcasing what he believes is one of the best classes in drag racing.

"Competition Eliminator is a great class that showcases some of the finest racing machinery and people," Brogdon said. "I wanted to do my part to ensure the class prospers, and those who race it can do so for many years to come."

Brogdon said while the roofing industry is providing shelter for the class in challenging times, he understands Competition Eliminator needs a solid foundation to continue. Increased participation in D4 Comp events, more so than in another division, proves the plan is working. 

Brogdon said it all goes back to a critical foundation his grandmother instilled in him from as far back as he can remember, which transcends quality parts and workmanship.

"It's a simple philosophy my grandmother taught me," Brogdon said. "Treat people the way you want to be treated. A lot of people don't get it, but it doesn't take you to knowing the right people to get ahead. Treat someone right, then the next thing you know, he's in charge of a subdivision or a whole city. And next thing you know, you got another thousand houses to roof."