LAS VEGAS – Antron Brown isn’t concerned that his Aaron’s Dream Machine/Matco Tools Top Fuel Dragster qualified 12th in the 16-car field for Sunday’s championship eliminations in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
“I’m not worried. We’ve won races after we qualified 13th,” said Brown, who won this year’s second NHRA event near Phoenix and ranks third in championship points.
“Of course, everybody wants to qualify high so you can have lane choice, but I don’t think that will matter much on Sunday because the Vegas track is so good.”
The lowest he has qualified in three previous NHRA events is seventh.
Brown also isn’t concerned about facing Shawn Langdon, who qualified fifth for the powerful Al-Anabi Racing team. Brown and Langdon are noted for being exceptionally quick off the starting line.
“He’s like any other racer. We just have to go out and do what we have to do in the first round. I have to cut a good light. Crew chiefs Brian (Corradi) and Mark (Oswald) and the crew will put the team’s best foot forward and give it all we’ve got.”
Brown’s best run of the weekend was his last, a time of 3.966 seconds at 311.34 mph.
“We had a decent last run. We had to go A to B and that’s what we accomplished.”
Brown said the team also was using a new chassis for the first time.
“It got us a little bit behind the 8-ball on a couple things, but it isn’t anything we can’t recoup from tomorrow. It will be a whole new day.
“We’ll put all our money on the table and let the best man come out the winner.”
Antron Brown, Aaron’s Dream Machine/Matco Tools dragster
Qualifying position: No. 12
FRIDAY
Session 1: 3.994 sec., 309.98 mph
Session 2: 4.648, 162.96
SATURDAY
Session 3: 4.224, 260.76
Session 4: 3.966, 311.34
Sunday’s first-round opponent: Shawn Langdon
WEATHER.COM FORECAST:
Sunday: High 70, partly cloudy with wind.
DSR HOSTS ‘STORAGE WARS’ WEISS
Brown and DSR spent Saturday afternoon hosting Barry “The Collector” Weiss of the vastly popular “Storage Wars” series on the A&E network.
Weiss was joined by the shows film crew as he sought Brown’s opinion on the value of a vintage engine supercharger kit that was in a storage locker on which Weiss placed the winning bid at a recent “Storage Wars” episode.
Weiss met Brown at this year’s first NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event at Pomona, Calif., and Weiss decided to head to Las Vegas to get Brown’s appraisal.
Their meeting will be filmed for a future episode of one of the most popular series on television.
LAS VEGAS EVENT SCHEDULE
SUNDAY, April 1
10 a.m.: Pre-race ceremonies
11 a.m.: Championship eliminations begin
ESPN2/ESPN2HD TELEVISION COVERAGE
SUNDAY, April 1
7-10 p.m. (ET): Championship eliminations
DSR ON SOCIAL MEDIA
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About Aaron’s, Inc.
Aaron’s, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), the nation’s leader in the sale and lease ownership of residential furniture, computers, consumer electronics, home appliances and accessories. Aaron’s Inc., which celebrates its 57th anniversary this year, has over 1,940 company-operated and franchised stores in 48 states and Canada. Founded in 1955 by entrepreneur and current Chairman R. Charles Loudermilk Sr. and headquartered in Atlanta, Aaron’s has been publicly traded since 1982. For more information, visit
About Matco Tools
Matco Tools manufactures, distributes and services premium quality automotive equipment, tools, and tool storage for the professional technician. The company has more than 60 years of national brand experience in the automotive equipment industry and a vast product line of more than 13,000 of the highest quality, innovative tools and accessories. The company’s franchise offering has no franchise, royalty, or advertising fees. Initial corporate and ongoing local training create and build outstanding value for the franchisee’s business. For more information on Matco Tools products or franchise opportunities, visit www.matcotools.com.