Antron Brown on Englishtown
"I couldn't be more excited to get back to racing at E-Town. I always love getting to go home to the home track in New Jersey and race in front of all the family and friends. Our Matco Tools dragster is running awesome. We're leading the points standings and coming off a great race at Chicago. We just want to keep things rolling along and qualify well and go rounds on race day."

Brian Corradi (crew chief) on Englishtown "Our car is running great and Antron (Brown) and the entire Matco team continue to do a great job. Last week, we came up just short in the final round and were very close to winning the race. 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 Englishtown NHRA Notebook
Last weekend at Route 66 Raceway, Brown nearly completed the 2009 sweep of Illinois. After winning at Madison, Ill. last month, Brown posted a runner-up finish last weekend at Joliet, Ill. The four-time Top Fuel winner earned his fourth No. 1 qualifying position of the season (3.826 seconds) and advanced to his fourth final round appearance of the season where he fell in a close race to Spencer Massey, 3.856 to 3.870. He also carded the third fastest 1,000-foot speed at 317.94 mph.

The 20-time winner has experienced a good deal of success at his home race track. The Chesterfield, N.J. native is a two-time winner at the historic New Jersey track. Raceway Park is one of five tracks where Brown has won multiple races. Brown also has three No. 1 qualifying awards at the Englishtown race, including last season, his first in Top Fuel. Brown also has qualified on pole more than once at five tracks. Last season, Brown paced the Top Fuel field after his Friday evening blast of 4.502 seconds at 326.24 mph. He fell in a close second round race to six-time series champion Tony Schumacher 4.618 to 4.621.

Brown enters the 10th race on the 2009 NHRA schedule leading the NHRA top Fuel standings. He leads Schumacher by 18 points or less than one round of racing. Brown has not ranked lower than second this season. Brown has two wins, two runner-up finishes, including last weekend near Chicago, and four No. 1 qualifying awards, including the last two races at Topeka, Kan. and Joliet. Ill. Brown has clocked the three fastest 1,000-foot Top Fuel runs and recorded low elapsed time and top speed of the meet honors five times this season.

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. Oswald won three of his 20 career races at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, 1982-83, '94. He also raced to three No. 1 qualifying awards at the Englishtown race, 1982-83, '86. Oswald is one of 14 drivers in NHRA history to have won races in both Top Fuel and Funny Car.

Brown's Englishtown NHRA Schedule
Date/Time Event/Location
Wed., June 10, 8 a.m. NHRA/NYSE Event, Wall Street, New York
Thur., June 11, 7-9 p.m. Matco Tools Distributor/Customer Dinner Iron Eagle Club, Raceway Park
Fri., June 12, 4/7 p.m. TF Qualifying 1/2, Raceway Park
Sat., June 13, 1/4 p.m. TF Qualifying 3/4, Raceway Park
Sun., June 14, 11 a.m. Final Eliminations, Raceway Park

NHRA United Association SuperNationals TV Schedule (ESPN2)
Date/Time (ET) Coverage
Sat., June 13, 7-8 p.m. Qualifying Highlights
Sat., June 13, 11:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Qualifying Highlights
Sun., June 14, Noon-12:30 p.m. NHRA Race Day
Sun., June 14, 10 p.m.-1 a.m. Final Eliminations Coverage

Courtesy of Ted Yerzyk