Antron Brown opened qualifying at the 54th running of NHRA drag racing’s marquee event, the U.S. Nationals, in the provisional No. 16 qualifying position.
The two-time U.S. Nationals Pro Stock Motorcycle winner (2000, ’04) did not make a full run on Friday’s only qualifying attempt. As the last pair of Top Fuel dragsters to make a pass on Friday evening, both the Matco Tools dragster and Tony Schumacher’s U.S. Army/Matco Tools car lost traction and coasted down the 1,000-foot track. Brown posted a lap of 5.123 seconds at 135.23 mph to finish 16th in the order. There are 20 cars attempt to make the 16-car field this weekend.
“We were trying to go for that No. 1 spot and run about a 3.83,” Brown said. “We’re fine. We just got a little aggressive. We feel good we can make a few runs and get into the top five on Saturday.”
Professional nitro qualifying resumes Saturday afternoon at O’Reilly Raceway Park with sessions schedule for 1:15 and 6:30 p.m. (ET). Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 1.
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