BROWNSBURG, Ind. (April 19, 2017) – Antron Brown isn’t afraid of work.
The three-time and reigning NHRA Top Fuel champion seemingly has a never-ending supply of energy and that’s what he needs as he juggles family time, racing in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and filming as a host on the upcoming return the internationally popular “Top Gear America” television program.
After winning the most recent Mello Yello event at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway two weeks ago, Brown has been spending his time crisscrossing the country for filming and squeezing family time in with his wife Billie Jo, and their three children near Indianapolis. And there was an appearance at the New York International Auto Show for longtime partner Toyota.
“It has been nonstop the past couple of weeks but I’m having a good time,” Brown said. ‘Top Gear’ is a lot of fun. The coolest part about it is that it will reach 200 million people worldwide. We are going to spread some NHRA Mello Yello love across the globe. We will keep growing the sport. It’s pretty huge.”
At Las Vegas, Brown and the Matco Tools team led by crew chiefs Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald with assistant Brad Mason scored their first event title of the season and moved to third in Top Fuel points standings. Brown also became the first Top Fuel driver to win at least one race in 10 consecutive seasons.
“That’s a testament to the team we’ve got here,” he said. “It’s not just our Matco Toyota team, but it’s everyone back in the Don Schumacher Racing shop. There are a lot of people that make this thing work with their blood, sweat and tears and that’s what makes something like this possible.”
The Mello Yello Series heads to near Houston this weekend for the NHRA SpringNationals at Royal Purple Raceway where Brown has two event titles and two poles.
“We just take it one round at a time. We just focus. You don’t know going into a race weekend if you’re going to win a round. We don’t show up on Sunday morning knowing we are going to go four rounds. You just worry about one round at a time. You go through that process and that’s what makes winning feel so good.
“Yyou look at the end result and when you make it happen, you look at all the work it took and you know it’s well worth it. You never know when you’re going to win again, so you don’t take it for granted. You stay humble and you put the work in.”
ANTRON BROWN, Matco Tools/U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster – 3X WORLD CHAMPION WON LAST RACE AT VEGAS
Last event (March 31-April 2): Qualified No. 8, won in championship round over DSR teammate Tony Schumacher
A year ago at Houston: Qualified No. 5, lost in semifinals to Steve Torrence
Career at Houston: Wins 2 (2008, 2014); Runner-ups 3 (2012, 2010, 2004*); Poles 2 (2009, 2001*) *Pro Stock Motorcycle
Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L
2017 3rd 4 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 10-3
CAREER 362 62 (46 TF/16 PSB) 48 75 94 80 47 (36/11) 3 633-297
Best Time, Speed: 3.679 sec., (2016, Brainerd; and first below 3.7, 2015, Brainerd); 331.12 mph (2015, Brainerd)
2017 NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES TOP FUEL STANDINGS
(Official after Las Vegas 1; 4 of 24 events; wins in parenthesis; DSR drivers in CAPS)
- TONY SCHUMACHER (1) 382 —-
- LEAH PRITCHETT (2) 376 -6
- ANTRON BROWN (1) 357 -25
- Doug Kalitta 301 -81
- Brittany Force 258 -124
- Steve Torrence 251 -131
- Clay Millican 187 -195
- Troy Coughlin Jr. 176 -206
- Terry McMillen 164 -218
- Scott Palmer 148 -236