Brian Corradi (crew chief) on Reading
"We've run well at Reading in the past. I think we still have the track speed record with Mike's (Ashley) Funny Car back in 2006. Our Matco car continues to run well, so we'll do our best and try to qualify a little better this weekend, in the top four, and take things one round at a time and go some rounds on Sunday. We'd like to do well for Antron with all his family there supporting him."

Antron Brown Reading NHRA Notebook
Last weekend at Brainerd, Minn., Brown qualified the Matco Tools dragster in the No. 6 position with a qualifying-best lap of 3.947-seconds at 304.46 mph. On race day, Brown advanced to the semifinals before falling to two-time series champion Larry Dixon after the Matco-backed rail lost traction and smoked the tires. Brown had won 14 straight rounds before the semifinal loss at Brainerd. The seven-time Top Fuel winner has advanced to at least the semifinals at 11 of 16 races this season and hasn't been ousted earlier than the semis since the Topeka, Kan. race on May 31. Brown is the only Top Fuel driver to not have lost in the opening round this season.

Brown, who grew up attending NHRA races at Maple Grove Raceway with his father, Al, and uncle, Andre, has been competing at the Reading, Pa. track since is rookie season in 1998. Brown earned the pole at Maple Grove Raceway in 2004 with a lap of 7.057-seconds. He advanced to the final round before falling to teammate Angelle Sampey. In 11 tries at the eastern Pennsylvania track, Brown has an average qualifying position of 7.09. His average qualifying position in 16 races this season is 4.12.

Brown and the Matco Tools team continue to be the class of the Top Fuel division. Through 16 races on the '09 NHRA schedule, Brown has five wins, three runner-up finishes, and five No. 1 qualifying awards, all category-bests. The Matco Tools dragster clocked the fastest run in 1,000-foot racing at 319.75 mph at Bristol, Tenn. in May and Brown has earned top speed of the meet honors eight times, including last weekend in Brainerd, Minn. at 318.69 mph. It was the third fastest 1,000-foot passes recorded. He owns a 217-point lead over six-time champion Tony Schumacher and hasn't ranked lower than second this season. Brown has been leading the standings since the Joliet, Ill. race in June.

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, 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.
-Ashley owns the Maple Grove Raceway Funny Car track speed record at 330.96 mph (Oct. 2006).
-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 won the Funny Car title at Maple Grove Raceway in 1986 and '87 and also earned the pole at the Reading race in 1987.

Brown's Reading NHRA Schedule
Date/Time Event/Location
Thur., Aug. 20, 9 a.m.-Noon Matco Tools Event, Tri-County Toyota
15 D and L Drive, Limerick, PA 19468 Thur., Aug. 20, 7-9 p.m. Matco Tools Customer Appreciation Dinner Iron Eagle Club at Maple Grove Raceway Fri., Aug. 21, 4/7 p.m. TF Qualifying 1/2, Maple Grove Raceway Sat., Aug. 22, Noon/3 p.m. TF Qualifying 3/4, Maple Grove Raceway Sun., Aug. 23, 11 a.m. Final Eliminations, Maple Grove Raceway

Toyo Tires Nationals TV Schedule (ESPN2)
Date/Time (ET) Coverage
Sun., Aug. 23, 1-3 a.m. Qualifying Highlights Sun., Aug. 23, 10-11:30 a.m. Qualifying Highlights Sun., Aug. 23, 11:30 a.m.-Noon NHRA Race Day Sun., Aug. 23, 10 p.m.-1 a.m. Final Eliminations Coverage

Courtesy of Ted Yerzyk