BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Nov. 11, 2014) – Antron Brown and the Matco Tools team have contributed greatly to a dominating season by Don Schumacher Racing’s three Top Fuel dragster teams in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.

DSR is on the verge of winning its 12th NHRA world championship and ninth in Top Fuel as Tony Schumacher and the U.S. Army team will arrive at Pomona, Calif., for this weekend’s finale to the 24-event season with a nearly insurmountable 109-point lead.

Although Antron and his team led by crew chiefs Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald fell out of championship contention at the last event at Las Vegas, the Matco Tools team leads the category with six event titles. Schumacher has won five and Spencer Massey has won three that gives DSR 14 of a possible 23 event titles this season, and the trio have combined to win each of the first five NHRA Wally trophies in the six-race Countdown to the Championship.

“We’ve had a great year but everyone on the Matco Tools team is disappointment that we’re going to Pomona without a chance to win our second championship in three years,” said Antron, who won the 2012 championship with his Matco team.

“But that doesn’t mean we can’t have a very special Sunday after the Finals at Pomona.”

Another event title would give Antron his seventh for the season and mark the most titles he’s won in Mello Yello season. He’s won six three times: 2012, 2011 and 2009. The Matco team has won 29 titles since 2009 for a winning percentage of 20 percent, by far the best in the series during that span.

The Matco team began building momentum for a fast finish to 2014 when it extended is stay after the Las Vegas event two weeks ago for testing and produced a best time of 3.726-second that is one of the year’s best runs in Top Fuel.

“We’re steady and ready for Pomona,” Antron said. “We’ve worked hard to leave there with our seventh trophy and with all the things our Matco guys have accomplished that’s something we haven’t done yet.

“There couldn’t be a better way for us to start getting ready for 2015.”

Antron Brown, Matco Tools Top Fuel dragster
Last event (Nov. 2, Las Vegas): Qualified No. 11; lost in first round to Leah Pritchett
2013 AAA Finals: Qualified No. 5; lost in quarterfinals to Doug Kalitta
2014 Winternationals: Qualified No. 3; lost in first round to Clay Millican
Career at Finals: Wins 3 (2010, 2009, 1999*); Runner-ups 1 (2009); Poles 0; *Pro Stock Motorcycle
Career at Pomona: Wins 3 (2010, 2009, 1999*); Runner-ups 3 (2012, 2002*, 2001*); Poles 2 (2009, 2008; *Pro Stock Motorcycle

        Pts Events Titles Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ Win/Loss
2014 7th     23         6        2      4      2       9         3        0      39-17
CAREER    309       47      40    62    84     73       37      3    515-259
Best Time, Speed: 3.701*/** sec. (10- 8-12, Reading, Pa.); 328.78 mph (10-8-12, Reading)
* Quickest ever/** NHRA record

NHRA MELLO YELLO CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
(Points through Las Vegas 2; DSR drivers in CAPS)
TOP FUEL
Driver (wins)                                points  behind
1. TONY SCHUMACHER (5)      2,501      —-
2. SPENCER MASSEY (3)        2,392    -109
3. JR Todd (1)                             2,389    -112
4. Shawn Langdon (1)                 2,367   -134
5. Doug Kalitta (2)                        2,366   -135
6. Steve Torrence                         2,355   -146
NOT IN CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENTION
7. ANTRON BROWN (6)               2,324    -177
8. Khalid alBalooshi (2)                 2,292     -209
9. Brittany Force                            2,239    -262
10. Richie Crampton (2)                 2,238    -263