Wed, 2 Sep 2009, 08:02 PM Antron Brown Indianapolis NHRA Advance Release

Courtesy of Ted Yerzyk

CLERMONT, Ind. -- Antron Brown on Indy
"It would be a huge deal if we can do well in this race and put this Matco Tools dragster in the win column in Top Fuel at the U.S. Nationals. I've done it a few times on the bikes, but to do it in Top Fuel would be the icing on the cake on a great season for our MAR Matco Tools team. Our car is running great, so our team has a lot of confidence heading into the U.S. Nationals with Brian (Corradi) and Mark (Oswald) calling the shots for our Matco team. We're ready to rock and roll at ORP (O'Reilly Raceway Park)."

Brian Corradi (crew chief) on Indy
"We're looking forward to getting back to Indy and getting going again after an off week. We're going to concentrate on winning this race and we don't have to worry about the Countdown (to 1). We accomplished our goal of locking up the No. 1 spot and now our entire focus will be on winning the U.S. Nationals for Antron and this Matco (Tools) team."

Antron Brown Indy NHRA Notebook
Two weeks ago at Reading, Pa., Brown powered his Matco Tools dragster to its sixth No. 1 qualifying award of the season with a lap of 3.854 seconds at 315.71 mph. It was the quickest and fastest run of the weekend and earned the Matco team low ET of the meet for the seventh time and top speed of the meet honors for the ninth time this season. On race day, Brown raced to at least the semifinals for the eighth straight race by defeating Brandon Bernstein and Joe Hartley, before losing traction against Rookie of the Year front-runner Spencer Massey in the semifinals. It was Brown's 20th career pole and ninth in Top Fuel.

Brown is a two-time winner of the storied Indianapolis NHRA race. The 16-time Pro Stock Motorcycle winner scored two wins aboard his Suzuki at O'Reilly Raceway Park, including the 50th anniversary U.S. Nationals in 2004. Brown's first U.S. Nationals triumph came in his third try at O.R.P. when he bested John Smith 7.268 to 7.354. Four years later, Brown took home the gold "Wally" trophy by edging Shawn Gann 7.213 to 7.238. In 11 U.S. Nationals appearances, Brown has qualified in the top half of the field nine times and has an average qualifying position of 5.64. His average qualifying position this season is 3.59 and he has qualified in the top half of the 16-car order at 16 of 17 events (Seattle).

Brown secured the top spot in the Countdown to 1 at the Reading NHRA race. The Matco Tools flagship racer will have a 30-point lead entering the Countdown to 1 six-race playoff that begins at the Charlotte race next month. Brown has five wins in eight final round appearances, along with six poles, all category-bests. Last month, Brown made NHRA history becoming just the seventh professional driver to sweep the grueling Western Swing (Denver, Seattle and Sonoma, Calif.). Brown also clocked the fastest run in 1,000-foot racing at 319.75 mph at Bristol, Tenn. in May. Brown has not ranked lower than second this season and has been atop the standings following 12 of 17 races, including the last eight events. The 23-time winner is the only Top Fuel driver to not have lost in the opening round of eliminations this season.

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, won the Funny Car title at the 2007 U.S. Nationals when he defeated Robert Hight in the final round, 4.894 to 8.072. Ashley won three Funny Car races in '07.
-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. Oswald earned the No. 1 qualifying award in Funny Car at the 1984 U.S. Nationals.

Brown's U.S. Nationals Schedule
Date/Time Event/Location
Mon., Aug. 31, 5-6 p.m. McDonald's NHRA Appearance, Camby, Ind.
Tues., Sept. 1, 7-9 p.m. Matco Tools Dinner, Mike Ashley Racing Shop 480 Southpoint Circle, Brownsburg, IN 46112
Wed., Sept. 2, 7-9 p.m. NHRA Fan Fest, Champp's Keystone at The Crossing
Thur., Sept. 3, 10 a.m. Eric Medlen Golf Tournament, Eagle Creek G.C.
Fri., Sept. 4, 7:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 1, O'Reilly Raceway Park
Sat., Sept. 5, 1:45/7 p.m. TF Qualifying 2/3, O'Reilly Raceway Park
Sun., Sept. 6, 12:30/3:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 4/5, O'Reilly Raceway Park
Mon, Sept. 7, 11 a.m. Final Eliminations, O'Reilly Raceway Park

Brown's Career-Best Performances
E.T./Speed Location Date
E.T.-4.495 seconds Pomona, Calif. Feb. 2008
MPH-331.94 mph Madison, Ill. May 2008
E.T.-3.778 seconds* Pomona, Calif. Feb. 2009
MPH-319.75 mph* Bristol, Tenn. May 2009 *1,000-foot

U.S. Nationals TV Schedule (ESPN2)
Date/Time (ET) Coverage
Sat. Sept. 6, 11-11:30 a.m. NHRA Race Day
Sat. Sept. 6, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Qualifying Highlights
Sat. Sept. 6, 5-7 p.m. Qualifying Highlights
Sun., Sept. 7, Noon-1 p.m. NHRA Race Day
Sun., Sept. 7, 1-6 p.m. Final Eliminations

http://www.matcotools.com

Press Releases: 10 Most Recent Entries [ top ]

Oct 28- LAS VEGAS - Alexis DeJoria Preview
Oct 28- LAS VEGAS - Ron Capps Motorsports Preview
Oct 28- LAS VEGAS - John Force Racing Preview
Oct 28- LAS VEGAS - Tony Stewart Racing Preview
Oct 28- LAS VEGAS - Spencer Hyde Preview
Oct 28- LAS VEGAS - Elite Motorsports Preview
Oct 28- LAS VEGAS - Kalitta Motorsports Preview
Oct 27- LAS VEGAS - Mopar Dodge Preview
Oct 27- LAS VEGAS - Terry Haddock Preview
Oct 27- LAS VEGAS - Jeff Arend Preview