BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Sept. 29, 2015) – No one in Top Fuel is hotter than Antron Brown and the Matco Tools team so it’s appropriate that their dragster will be dressed in a hot color for this weekend’s Keystone NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway near Reading, Pa.
Antron has won the past two weekends in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoff to take a 77-point lead over Don Schumacher Racing teammate Tony Schumacher with four playoff races to go.
Although Maple Grove is one of only four NHRA tracks where Antron has not left with an NHRA Wally trophy, two years ago he set the NHRA elapsed time record of 3.701 at the track; he until he broke it six weeks ago at Brainerd, Minn., with a time of 3.680, which was the first sub 3.7-second run ever.
“We’re going back to my home track and want to reset that record with our pink Tools for the Cause car,” said Brown, who is the 2012 Top Fuel champion with 53 wins including six this year that ties his career best.
And it is doubly appropriate that the color is hot pink as Antron for the fourth year will lead the Matco Tools’ “Tools for the Cause” campaign to raise funds for Susan G. Komen ® and awareness for Breast Cancer Awareness month.
Antron will debut the pink dragster adorned with 262 names of members of the Matco family afflicted with breast cancer for the third stop in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series championship playoff.
Among the names will be that of his mother-in-law, Linda Matranga, a breast cancer survivor.
Through August, the Matco Tools for the Cause campaign has raised more than $600,000. Antron and the Matco team led by crew chiefs Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald will carry the theme to October races in Dallas and Las Vegas.
“October is a very important month in our series because it’s right in the middle of our Countdown playoff, but October means even more to our Matco Tools team here at DSR,” Antron said. “My wife’s mother is a breast cancer survivor, and this disease has affected our family as it has many others.
“I’m excited to drive for all those touched by this disease, and we can continue to drive awareness for such a great cause.”
And the Matco dragster certainly is an attention grabber regardless of color.
After three straight weekends to open the Countdown, the series is scheduled to take a weekend off before heading to the Texas Motorplex near Dallas.
ANTRON BROWN, Matco Tools’ Tools for the Cause/U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster
Last weekend at St. Louis: Qualified No. 2; won in championship round over Dave Connolly
A year ago at Maple Grove: Qualified No. 5; lost in first round to Khalid alBalooshi
Career at Reading: Wins 0; Runner-ups 3 (2013, 2012, 2004-bikes); Poles 3 (2011, 2009, 2004-bikes)
Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L
2015 1st 20 6 2 4 3 5 5 0 40-14
CAREER 330 53 42 67 86 78 42 3 557-274
Best Time, Speed: 3.680 sec.-first ever 3.6 (2015, Brainerd); 330.88 mph (2015, Brainerd)
2015 NHRA MELLO YELLO STANDINGS – Countdown to the Championship
(Official after St. Louis; 2 of 6 in Countdown, 20 of 24 overall; DSR drivers in CAPS)
TOP FUEL
DRIVER (WINS) POINTS BEHIND
1. ANTRON BROWN (6) 2,320 —–
2. TONY SCHUMACHER (3) 2,243 -77
3. Larry Dixon 2,161 -159
4. Brittany Force 2,157 -163
5. JR Todd (1) 2,149 -171
6. Doug Kalitta (2) 2,139 -181
7. Richie Crampton (4) 2,133 -187
8. Dave Connolly 2,127 -193
9. Steve Torrence (1) 2,127 -193
10. SHAWN LANGDON (1) 2,126 -194