BROWNSBURG, Ind. – Antron Brown won tire-smoking battles in the first two rounds of racing Sunday at the Texas Motorplex en route to winning his fifth event title of the season in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.
Some might consider it luck, but not after Brown explains it from his point of view.
“In racing, when you catch a few breaks it actually isn’t catching a break. It’s the way you set your stuff up and putting pressure on them because they expect us to go A to B down the track. That’s what we do on almost every run,” he said.
“I call it creating your own luck. They know they have to leave on us. You create that by how you perform.”
In the championship round Sunday, Brown faced Don Schumacher Racing teammate Spencer Massey and the win by Brown put both drivers in a tie for first place in the Countdown to the Championship with four events left in the six-race NHRA playoff.
The battle continues this weekend when qualifying begins Friday in the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway Motorsports Park near St. Louis.
Beyond the joy of being tied for first place after winning his series-best fifth title of the season, Brown will help sponsor Aaron’s celebrate the opening of its 2,000 store. The newest is located in the Bronx, N.Y., and the sleek dragster will carry special decals saluting the milestone.
“We’re thrilled that our Aaron’s Dream Machine will let the world know that Aaron’s is now in the Bronx,” he said. “It’s the last Aaron’s race of the season so we hope the Lucky Dog is on our side this weekend.”
ANTRON BROWN, Aaron’s Dream Machine/Matco Tools dragster
2011 at St. Louis: No event
2010 at St. Louis: Qualified No. 16; lost to Doug Kalitta in second round
Career at St. Louis: Wins 1 (2009), Runner-ups 2 (2005-Pro Stock Motorcycle), Poles 2 (2001-PSM, 2004-PSM)
2012 Pts Races Wins Rup Poles DNQ Win/Loss
1st 19 5 4 2 0 42-14
Career Races Titles Rup Poles DNQ Win/Loss
258 36* 35 31 2 436-220 (*20 Top Fuel)
NHRA FULL THROTTLE STANDINGS
After second of six events in the Countdown to the Championship
(Unofficial through Sept. 23, 2012; DSR drivers in CAPS)
TOP FUEL
1. ANTRON BROWN, 2,256
1. SPENCER MASSEY, 2,256
3. TONY SCHUMACHER, 2,232
4. Shawn Langdon, 2,215
5. Morgan Lucas, 2,173
6. Brandon Bernstein, 2,166
7. Doug Kalitta, 2,133
8. Steve Torrence, 2,126
9. Bob Vandergriff, 2,085
10. David Grubnic, 2,075
NHRA MIDWEST NATIONALS EVENT SCHEDULE (All times CT)
Friday: 4 p.m., 6:30 p.m., qualifying
Saturday: 12:30 p.m., 3 p.m., qualifying
Sunday: 11 a.m., eliminations
ESPN2 SCHEDULE (All times ET, subject to change)
Sunday: 2:30 a.m., 1 p.m., qualifying
Sunday: 8-11 p.m., eliminations
WEATHER
Friday: high 73, 10 percent chance of rain
Saturday: high 74, 0 percent chance of rain
Sunday: high 78, 0 percent chance of rain
UPCOMING FULL THROTTLE EVENTS
Oct. 4-7, NHRA Nationals, Reading, Pa. (Philadelphia area)
Oct. 25-28, Big O Tires NHRA Nationals, Las Vegas
Nov. 8-11, Auto Club of Southern California Finals, Pomona, Calif. (finale)