BROWNSBURG, Ind. (April 19, 2016) – Antron Brown knows the key to success at the seventh annual Four-Wide NHRA Nationals at zMAX Dragway near Charlotte.

With a track record four wins at the facility including the last two Four-Wide titles, the Matco Tools/U.S. Army team with Brown has been able to adapt to the challenging scenario of four 10,000-horsepower nitro machines racing at once instead of racing two at a time.

“Our success in the Four-Wide is because of the adaptability our Matco/U.S. Army/Toyota team has,” Brown said. “It’s a totally different race and we have been able to adapt to that unique format and everything that goes on around us.

“What we do is accept the challenge and the harder the challenge the more focused we get on the task at hand. You have to be on your toes in the Four-Wide with everything that goes on. You can’t mess up because it’s a battle royal. Things come at you from all directions and you have to hit it quick and get ahead.”

That focus helped the Matco Tools team sweep the spring and fall Charlotte events last year in the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series en route to their seven event titles that helped them earn their second world championship in four years.

Brown is looking for a three-peat at the Four-Wide this year.

“The stakes are even higher in the Four-Wide, and we give it all we have and any extra we can find. You have to beat two cars until the final and then you have to beat three. We throw the strategy of racing one car out the window. We can’t leave anything on the table.”

The team led by crew chiefs Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald with assistant Brad Mason scored their first event title of 2016 at Las Vegas (April 3) in dominating fashion, clocking four runs between 3.82 and 3.84 seconds during eliminations.

“That’s what we shoot for every race weekend, and we’re always trying to learn from whatever happens; not just learn from it, but to build upon it for the next race. That’s always our goal,” Brown said.

“We don’t do anything different. We just try to be more efficient every time we go up to the starting line.”

ANTRON BROWN: Matco Tools/U.S. Army
Last event (April 1-3 at Las Vegas): Qualified No. 3, defeated Troy Buff in final round
2015 at Four-Wide: Qualified No. 8, defeated Steve Torrence, Richie Crampton and Clay Millican in final round
2015 Fall at Charlotte: Qualified No. 6, defeated J.R. Todd in final round
Career at Four-Wide: Wins 2 (2015, 2014); Runner-ups 0; Poles 0
Career at zMAX: Wins 4 (ties track record; 2015/2015, 2014, 2011); Runner-ups 1 2008; Poles 0

         Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L
2016 2nd     4          1       0       0      2       1        0        0    6-3
2015 1st      24         7      3        6     3        5       7        0    51-17
CAREER    338        55   43      69   89       79    44       3  574-280
Best Time, Speed: 3.680 sec.-national record, first 3.6 (2015, Brainerd); 331.12 mph (2015, Brainerd)

2016 NHRA MELLO YELLO STANDINGS
(Official after Las Vegas 1; four of 24 events; wins in parenthesis, DSR drivers in CAPS)
TOP FUEL
1. Brittany Force (1)                  307    —–
2. ANTRON BROWN (1)           269    -38
3. Doug Kalitta                           267    -40
4. Steve Torrence (1)                 249    -58
5. Clay Millican                           242    -65
6. JR Todd                                  229    -78
7. Dave Connolly                        217    -90
8. Terry McMillen                        209    -98
9. TONY SCHUMACHER          190   -117
10. Leah Pritchett (1)                 188   -119
13 SHAWN LANGDON              130  -177

ABOUT MATCO

Since 1979, Matco Tools has sold automotive tools and products to professional mechanics and enthusiasts through its network of independent franchised mobile distributors. Today, Matco’s network of over 1,600 premiere independent mobile distributors sells Matco’s catalog of over 20,000 items and operates in all 50 states, Canada and Puerto Rico. Matco’s catalog includes a wide range of automotive products such as toolboxes, diagnostic scan tools and equipment, air and power tools, wrenches, sockets, screwdrivers and other hand tools and a wide range of specialty products.

Ranked among the top 50 in Entrepreneur Magazine’s 2015 Franchise 500®,  Matco Tools continues to expand throughout the United States and Canada, adding several hundred mobile stores each year.  For more information, visit www.MatcoTools.com.