CHANDLER, Ariz. (Feb. 22, 2014) – Antron Brown feels pretty good about the momentum his Matco Tools Top Fuel team will carry into championship eliminations Sunday in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series national event near Phoenix.
Antron with crew chiefs Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald had the second quickest dragster in Saturday’s last session, trailing only Don Schumacher Racing teammate Tony Schumacher and the U.S. Army team. The Matco dragster produced its best run of the weekend with a time of 3.768 seconds at 323.27 mph to move up two spots to the No. 5 seed for the first round, which begins at 11 a.m. (MST).
“All of these cars are running so good, we just wanted to step up and do well,” Antron said. “That was a good round for DSR. The Army car went out there and was the quickest of the session and we were right behind them being second quickest. We’ll take those (two) bonus points. We’re always out here looking at the points and everything.
“Our car is definitely back on the right track and we’re just nipping at it little bit by a little bit and it’s coming on. Tomorrow is going to be a heck of a race day and we’re looking forward to the challenges.”
TOP FUEL
No. 1 Qualifier: Doug Kalitta (Kalitta Motorsports), 3.735 sec., 327.74 mph
ANTRON BROWN, Matco Tools Top Fuel Dragster
Qualified: No. 5
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS
First round: BROWN vs. Richie Crampton
QUALIFYING
FRIDAY: 6.099 sec., 105.44 mph, (Session 1); 3.793, 316.75, (Session 2). SATURDAY: 3.815, 319.67, (Session 3); 3.768, 323.27 (Session 4).
BY THE NUMBERS
Last event (Feb. 7-9, Pomona, Calif.): Qualified No. 3; lost in first round to Clay Millican
A year ago at Phoenix: Qualified No. 2; lost in semifinals to Tony Schumacher
Career at Phoenix: Wins 2 (2009, 2012); Runner-ups 1 (2011); Poles 0