BROWNSBURG, Ind. (June 7, 2017) – Antron Brown is proud of his roots in Chesterfield, N.J., and racing this weekend in the NHRA Summernationals is a homecoming for the three-time and reigning Top Fuel championship driver of the Matco Tools Top Fuel dragster.
Fellow competitors in the NHRA Mello Yello Series should beware because Brown says that racing at his home track fuels him for the rest of the season.
“When I get to come home, I start thinking about the big picture about why I do what I do,” said Brown, who won at Englishtown in 2015 in Top Fuel and twice in Pro Stock Motorcycle. “I just don’t go out there and act like I’m happy to be out there. I go out there to compete because of how hard we’ve worked to make this all happen. When I come back here, it’s a pure reminder that I can’t be idle and take it all for granted. I want to put the work in and get better, and this race ignites me for the rest of the year.”
Brown grew up attending Old Bridge Township Raceway Park races with his father, Albert, and uncle, Andre.
“I just look forward to coming back to my roots, being with my dad and my uncle, and reminiscing about where I got the love for the sport and where it’s gotten to me today. It’s a lot of fun to come here and just think back to when this was all a childhood dream, thinking about all the good times and bad times to get there.”
Brown and the Matco Tools team led by crew chiefs Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald with assistant Brad Mason have two wins in four final round appearances this season and sit second in Top Fuel points standings, trailing Don Schumacher Racing teammate Leah Pritchett by 34 through nine races.
“The driving force, not just for me but for my entire team, is that we want to compete,” Brown said. “The harder the challenge, the more it forces us to evolve and get better, and become greater than before. Over the last several years it’s just getting tougher and tougher, but the challenge is to continue to elevate our game.
“Can we be a champion again? Do what have what it takes to do it again when the stakes are even higher? That brings out the best in our team. When it gets to that, it pushes us into a corner and I feel like we do our best when we feel that pressure.”
ANTRON BROWN, Matco Tools/U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster – 3X world champion
Best time, speed: 3.667 (2017, Phoenix); 333.16 mph (2017, Topeka)
Last event (June 2-4, Epping, NH): Qualified No. 4, runner-up to Brittany Force
A year ago at Englishtown: Qualified No. 2, lost in second round to Tony Schumacher
Career at Englishtown: Wins 3 (TF-2015/PSM-2002, 2005), Runner-ups 2 (2009, 2010),
Poles 4 (TF-2008, 2015/PSM-2001, 2005)
Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L
2017 2nd 9 2 2 2 3 0 0 0 21-7
CAREER 367 63* 49 76 96 80 47 3 644-301
* 47 TF/16 PSB
2017 NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES TOP FUEL STANDINGS
(Official after Epping, N.H.; 9th of 24 events; wins in parenthesis; DSR drivers in CAPS)
- LEAH PRITCHETT (3) 809 —–
- ANTRON BROWN (2) 775 -34
- Steve Torrence (2) 746 -63
- TONY SCHUMACHER (1) 712 -97
- Doug Kalitta 571 -238
- Brittany Force (1) 528 281
- Clay Millican 466 -343
- Troy Coughlin Jr. 379 -430
- Terry McMillen 369 -440
- Scott Palmer 328 -481