Antron Brown qualifies fifth for NHRA Nationals

August 20

Antron Brown today blasted his Matco Tools Top Fuel dragster into the fifth-starting spot for Sunday’s 30th-annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals here at Brainerd International Raceway.

The 35-year-old Don Schumacher Racing driver squares off against 12th-qualifier Terry McMillen in the first round of final eliminations, which are scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. CDT.

Brown, who has won both meetings between the two drivers during the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season, is very optimistic about race day.

“The Matco Tools Top Fuel car is running extremely well,” said the New Jersey native. “We’re in a very good spot for tomorrow’s race; we did really well today with weather and track conditions similar to what we think we’ll see Sunday.

“We just have to do what we do – take our path, pull our straw and get to work.”

Brown secured the fifth-starting spot in today’s first session with a 3.837-second lap at 318.92 miles per hour. In addition, he posted qualifying runs of 3.951 at 284.33, 4.070 at 228.07 and 3.877 at 314.90.

Ahead of him on Sunday’s ladder are Del Worsham, Larry Dixon and his DSR teammates Tony Schumacher and Spencer Massey – the same five who sit on top of the Top Fuel standings (Worsham, Massey, Brown and Schumacher, respectively).