Brown settles into ninth starting spot

May 21

Antron Brown, who directs the Matco Tools Top Fuel dragster, says he’s ready to go after his third win of the season here tomorrow in the 23rd annual NHRA Summer Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka.

Brown, who captured the race at Atlanta Dragway last weekend, will come out of the ninth starting position on Sunday and face eighth-place qualifier and former Don Schumacher Racing teammate, Cory McClenathan, in the first round of eliminations beginning at 11 a.m. CDT.

“We didn’t qualify the way we wanted to, but tomorrow is another day,” said the New Jersey native. “We’ll go out and do what we always do – take what the track gives us. We should be fine.

“It’s interesting I’m matching up with Cory. I’m sure he is one hungry driver since he hasn’t been out here for a while. We’ll have to be on our game to get by him.”

McClenathan, who is making his first appearance of the season, drove the DSR FRAM Top Fuel dragster last year. His 3.855-second pass at 317.87 mph here was just a bit better than Brown’s 3.857-second run at 311.99 mph which knocked the latter down to the bottom half of the field for only the second time this year.

“We’re in the show and that’s what matters,” said Brown. “It’s been proven you can win from any spot in the lineup. I like our chances a lot.”

Brown is also unfazed by the fact his DSR teammates, Spencer Massey and Tony Schumacher, are on the same side of the ladder.

“It is what it is,” he offered. “It was bound to happen sooner or later. I think we all like racing each other. We certainly know we all have good cars.”