NHRA Gatornationals
Event 1 of 21
Gainesville Raceway
Gainesville, Fla.
March 8 – 10, 2024
ANTRON BROWN
Driver of the Matco Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster
NHRA Gatornationals Event Highlights:
- 2013 event champion
- Four-time runner-up:
- Top Fuel: 2010, 2014, 2017
- Pro Stock Motorcycle: 2006
- Two-time No. 1 qualifier:
- Top Fuel: 2010
- Pro Stock Motorcycle: 2001
2023 NHRA Gatornationals Recap:
Qualified sixth; Quarterfinal finish (defeated Shawn Langdon in E1; defeated by Doug Kalitta in E2)
Career Statistics:
504 races; 74 wins, 50 No. 1 qualifiers
Noteworthy:
- 2024 marks Brown’s third season as an NHRA team owner
- By finishing the year in sixth place, Brown scored his 26th consecutive Top 10 finish in 2023
- By clinching three wins in 2023, Brown brought his total win count up to 74 national event victories overall (16 Pro Stock Motorcycle) and will be seeking a milestone 75th win to start the season
- Made his NHRA debut at the 1998 Gainesville event while competing in Pro Stock Motorcycle
- Brown’s primary partner, Matco Tools, returns for its 17th season with the three-time Top Fuel world champ. Brown will debut a special Matco Tools ‘45th anniversary’ livery this weekend in Gainesville
Fan Events:
- Wednesday, 3/6, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m., NHRA Gatornationals Fanfest at Burnyzz Speed Shop (1 Aspen Rd., Ocala)
- Friday, 3/8, 12:30 – 1:00 p.m., Pep Boys Top Fuel Callout autograph session, Pep Boys midway display
- Saturday, 3/9, 10:30 – 11:00 a.m., Team Toyota autograph session, Toyota midway display
- Sunday, 3/10, 8:30 a.m., Darrell Gwynn Track Walk
Quotable:
“There’s a lot going on at this first race of the year. We qualified for the Pep Boys Top Fuel Callout on Saturday, so it’s crucial we come out of the gate strong in Friday qualifying. Having a good outing in Gainesville is very important because if you can get that momentum flowing, it really sets your season up for success. I can see in my team’s eyes that they’re energized and ready to go.
“We’re sporting our new red, white, and blue colors with our Matco Tools ‘45th anniversary’ livery, and we’re coming down here with our heads down and focused. All of our partners are geared up, they’re pumped, and this is going to be a great weekend to kick this all off so we’re super happy, super proud, and ready to go out here and do what we do and get this year off to a great start.”