BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Sept. 20, 2017) – Three-time and reigning Top Fuel world champion Antron Brown is ready to return to Maple Grove Raceway near Reading, Pa., this weekend.
He knows that the Matco Tools dragster has a history of success at the picturesque track. The team led by crew chiefs Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald with assistant Brad Mason have reached the final round four times in the last five years and have won the last two events at Maple Grove.
“We’re ready to go racing this weekend,” Brown said. “We can’t wait to get to Reading. It’s going to be a little hotter than what we’re used to there but that’s OK. We’re ready to go.
“These Matco Tools/U.S. Army boys are working hard. The Countdown is so tough, the competition is tough. You can’t take any round lightly – and that includes qualifying. So we just have to go out there and take it one run at a time and give it our best each time.”
This weekend’s event is the second of six Countdown to the Championship events in the Mello Yello series. Brown opened the Countdown last weekend near Charlotte with a quarterfinal finish that dropped him to third in points standings, 38 behind leader Doug Kalitta of Kalitta Motorsports who won the opening event Sunday near Charlotte.
The Matco Tools team has four event titles in 10 final round appearances this season.
“It’s a battle,” Brown said. “Charlotte was an indicator that anything can happen. You saw some of the best cars out here go out early. It’s anyone’s game right now. One slip up can change everything. We just have to go out there and race the racetrack, keep our heads down and do what we do.”
ANTRON BROWN, Matco Tools/U.S. Army
Crew chiefs: Brian Corradi, Mark Oswald; Assistant: Brad Mason
Last event: Sept. 15-17, Charlotte: Qualified No. 4, lost in second round to Clay Millican
A year ago at Reading: Qualified No. 2, won in championship round over Brittany Force
Career at Reading: Wins 2 (2015, 2016), Runner-ups 3 (2004-PSM, 2012, 2013), Poles 3 (2004-PSM, 2009, 2011)
Pts Events Wins Rup Semi Qtr 1st rd Poles DNQ W/L
2017 3rd 19 4 6 2 7 0 2 0 45-15
CAREER 377 65* 53 76 100 80 49 3 668-309
* 49 TF/16 PSB
Career best time, speed: 3.667 (2017, Phoenix); 333.16 mph (2017, Topeka)
COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP – TOP FUEL
(Through Charlotte, 19 of 24 events, 1 of 6 in Countdown playoff; wins in parenthesis; DSR drivers in CAPS)
- Doug Kalitta (1) 2173 ——
- Steve Torrence (7) 2159 -14
- Antron Brown (4) 2135 -38
- Brittany Force (1) 2117 -56
- Tony Schumacher (1) 2115 -58
- Clay Millican (1) 2110 -63
- Leah Pritchett (4) 2108 -65
- Terry McMillen 2051 -122
- Scott Palmer 2042 -131
- Shawn Langdon 2036 -137