BROWNSBURG, Ind. (May 31, 2017) – Three-time Top Fuel champion driver Antron Brown turned into crew chief over the weekend at Lucas Oil Raceway near Indianapolis.
The father of three had his fleet of NHRA Jr. Dragsters competing in the Midwest Jr. Super Series event near his home in Pittsboro, Ind. It was a well-deserved weekend “off” for the host of Top Gear America that finished filming two weeks ago with it scheduled to begin airing in July on BBC America.
“It was a great weekend,” Brown said. “It’s been non-stop a few months for me so being able to be to a racetrack with all of my family and seeing the kids race is exactly where I needed to be.”
The Matco Tools team led by crew chiefs Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald with assistant Brad Mason won their second event title of the Mello Yello season two weeks ago at Heartland Park Topeka. It was the first time Brown had scored a title at Topeka leaving only Bristol Dragway in Tennessee as the only facility on tour at which he has not scored a title.
“The only thing we know is we have to race as hard as we can every lap,” said Brown, who his career-best speed of 333.16 at Topeka.
“This sport is so humbling. You have to give it your all every round. You have to be fast, quick and consistent. That’s the new game. You have to run these cars on edge every lap, the competition is so tight.”
The Mello Yello Series begins a stretch of four consecutive races this weekend at New England Dragway in Epping, N.H., where the Matco Tools team is the defending champion.
“We’re looking forward to the start of this four race stretch with our Matco Tools boys,” Brown said. “It’s a lot of work, a big stretch of races that these guys will be gone from home but we are a team and we
ANTRON BROWN, Matco Tools/U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster – 3X world champion, won last race at Topeka
Last event (May 19-21, Topeka): Qualified No. 3, won in championship round over Steve Torrence
A year ago at Epping: Qualified No. 1, won in championship round over Steve Torrence
Career at Epping: Wins 1 (2016); Runner-ups 0; Poles 2 (2014, 2016)
Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L
2017 3rd 8 2 1 2 3 0 0 0 18-6
CAREER 366 63* 48 76 96 80 47 3 641-300
* 47 TF/16 PSB
Best time, speed: 3.667 (2017, Phoenix); 333.16 mph (2017, Topeka)
2017 NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES STANDINGS
(Official after Topeka; 8th of 24 events; wins in parenthesis; DSR drivers in CAPS)
Top Fuel
- LEAH PRITCHETT (3) 721 —–
- Steve Torrence (2) 691 -30
- ANTRON BROWN (2) 680 -41
- TONY SCHUMACHER (1) 673 -48
- Doug Kalitta 539 -182
- Clay Millican 433 -288
- Brittany Force 405 -316
- Terry McMillen 333 -388
- Troy Coughlin Jr. 327 -394
- Scott Palmer 276 -445