Antron Brown on Las Vegas
“We’re geared up and ready to go. I’m excited about getting to (Las) Vegas and building on our momentum from Richmond. That was a great race for us to get back in the thick of this title race in the Countdown (to 1) and we need to keep that going. Our MAR Matco Tools dragster is running great and we need to have another strong showing so we have a shot to win the title at Pomona (Calif.). We’ve had a lot of success at LVMS, now we just need to get the win.”
Antron Brown Las Vegas NHRA Notebook
Three weeks ago at Richmond, Va., Brown qualified his Matco Tools dragster fifth. The 23-time NHRA winner clocked his second quickest pass of the season at 3.797-seconds at a blistering 319.60 mph speed. The speed reset the NHRA national record that Brown previously held at 319.22 mph. The five-time winner in 2009 experienced a rebound performance advancing to his ninth final-round appearance of the season. Brown was defeated in the final by Brandon Bernstein when the Matco Tools dragster smoked the tires.
In three Top Fuel appearances at The Strip at LVMS, Brown has advanced to at least the semifinals. In his first Top Fuel race at The Strip, Brown posted a runner-up finish to 31-time winner Cory McClenathan, 4.654 to 4.703. Last fall at the Las Vegas Nationals, Brown qualified second at 3.812 seconds at 315.49 mph. He advanced to the semifinals before falling to then teammate Hot Rod Fuller. This April at the spring Las Vegas race, Brown qualified second at 3.878-seconds and went to the semis before smoking the tires against Bernstein. Brown is a two-time finalist at the Las Vegas track (2001, ‘08). His average qualifying position at The Strip at LVMS is 6.72 in 11 tries at the Bruton Smith-owned track and 3.33 in three Top Fuel races.
This season, Brown has five wins in nine final round appearances, along with seven poles. In July, Brown made NHRA history becoming just the seventh professional driver to sweep the grueling Western Swing (Denver, Seattle and Sonoma, Calif.). Brown also posted the fastest run in NHRA 1,000-foot racing at 319.75. He has set the NHRA national speed record twice at 319.22 and 319.60 mph. He led the standings entering the Countdown to 1 and after 13 races this season. He trails Tony Schumacher by 81 points or four rounds of racing and ranks fourth in the Countdown to 1 standings, his lowest placing of the season. Brown’s average qualifying position this season is 3.77 and 3.75 in the four Countdown to 1 races.
Antron Brown… Did You Know?
-Brown was a track star at Mercer Community College in New Jersey competing in the 100 and 200-meters, long jump, and 55-meter indoor. He ran quick enough to qualify for the U.S. Olympic trails in the 100-meters.
-Brown’s first race team owner was former NFL star cornerback Troy Vincent.
-Brown is the only driver in NHRA history to hold the points lead and win races in both Top Fuel and Pro Stock Motorcycle (7 TF/16 PSM).
-Brown’s team owner, Mike Ashley, is a three-time NHRA Funny Car winner, including the prestigious U.S. Nationals in 2007.
-Brown’s co-crew chief, Mark Oswald, won the 1984 NHRA Winston Funny Car championship. Oswald is one of 14 drivers in NHRA history to have won races in both Top Fuel and Funny Car.
