Brian Corradi (crew chief) on Joliet
"Our car is running great and Antron (Brown) and the entire Matco team continue to do a great job. Last week, we came up on the short end of a close race, but we really learned a lot with the hot track temperatures at Topeka (Kan.). We're confident that we have a car that can run well in the heat or in ideal conditions. As always, our goal is to qualify well, near the top of the order, and take things one round at a time and try to go some rounds on Sunday."

Antron Brown Joliet NHRA Notebook
Last weekend at Heartland Park Topeka, Antron Brown made his second career start at the Topeka race. Brown used a tune-up from crew chiefs Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald to drive the Matco Tools dragster to his third No. 1 qualifying position of the season with a lap of 3.841 seconds at 315.67 mph. It was Brown's 17th career pole and sixth in Top Fuel. He posted a second round finish after falling to rookie driver Shawn Langdon by three thousandths of-a-second.

Brown is a two-time winner at the ultra-fast Joliet track. The 20-time NHRA winner won two of his 16 career Pro Stock Motorcycle races at Route 66 Raceway. The Chicagoland track is one of five where Brown has won multiple races. Last June at Joliet, Brown qualified his Matco Tools dragster second at 4.516-seconds. He suffered his first opening round loss of the season after smoking the tires against T.J. Zizzo. Brown had four first round losses last year. He has not lost in the opening round this season

Brown enters the 10th race on the 2009 NHRA schedule trailing Chicago native and six-time series champion Tony Schumacher by 43 points. Brown, a four-time winner in Top Fuel, has not ranked lower than second this season. The Matco Tools flagship driver has two wins, one runner-up finish, and three poles this season. He also has clocked the quickest (3.778 seconds) and fastest (319.75 mph) runs of the year.

Antron Brown... Did You Know?
-Brown was a track star at Mercer 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 (4 TF/16 PSM).
-Brown's team owner Mike Ashley has three career NHRA Funny Car wins, including the 2007 U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis.
-Ashley will return to competition at the final four races on the 2009 NHRA schedule in Top Fuel as he attempts to become just the 15th driver in NHRA history to win races in both Top Fuel and Funny Car.
-Brown's co-crew chief, Mark Oswald, won the 1984 NHRA Winston Funny Car championship.
-Brown's assistant crew chief, Rob Wendland, is a resident of Joliet, Ill.

Brown's Joliet NHRA Schedule
Date/Time Event/Location
Wed., June 3, 1 p.m. NHRA Media Luncheon-Mike Ditka's
100 East Chestnut, Chicago, IL
Thur., June 4, 7-9 p.m. Matco Tools Distributor/Customer Dinner
Iron Eagle Club, Route 66 Raceway
Fri., June 5, 3:30/7 p.m. TF Qualifying 1/2, Route 66 Raceway
Sat., June 6, 1/4 p.m. TF Qualifying 3/4, Route 66 Raceway
Sun., June 7, 11 a.m. Final Eliminations, Route 66 Raceway

NHRA United Association Route 66 Nationals TV Schedule (ESPN2)
Date/Time (ET) Coverage
Sat., June 6, 10:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Qualifying Highlights
Sun., June 7, 11-11:30 a.m. NHRA Race Day
Sun., June 7, 4-7 p.m. Final Eliminations Coverage

Courtesy of Ted Yerzyk