Antron Brown qualifies for Sunday's NHRA season finale outside Los Angeles chasing first-career championship

November 12

 Antron Brown, behind the wheel of his Matco Tools Top Fuel dragster, used his last qualifying pass here Saturday to grab a spot in tomorrow’s 47th annual Auto Club of Southern California NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway.

After failing to gain entry into the 16-car field though two rounds of qualifying on Thursday and Friday, Brown posted a solid 3.848-second run at 319.37 mph in the third and final session to slide into the seventh starting spot.

“That was pretty pressure packed,” said the New Jersey native. “We were hoping to get another pass in today, but the rain came and it cost us taking a shot at the pole. I really have to tip my hat to the entire team – they rose up and came through in the clutch.”

Brown created a match up with 10th-place qualifier Bob Vandergriff in the first round of final eliminations beginning at 11 a.m. PT. He will start the proceedings still holding third-place in the standings and a little more than a round of racing (25 points) behind the leader, Del Worsham.

“We definitely have some work to do tomorrow,” offered the 35-year-old Don Schumacher Racing driver. “We’ll come out focused like we always do on the first round and take it from there. We’re going to dig deep and go for broke. This is what we’ve waited for all year – to be in a position to go after a world championship.”

Brown, a former Pro Stock Motorcycle standout, is seeking his first career world title. He clearly understands what’s in store for him on race day.

“Like my teammate Tony Schumacher says -- it’s going to be a battle,” said the Matco Tools/U.S. Army Top Fuel pilot. “We have to be prepared to take on every challenge put in front of us. It’s very apparent to me it’s what you have to do if you want to be a world champ.”