Brown runner-up at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

LAS VEGAS (April 7, 2013) - Antron Brown slipped past U.S. Army and Don Schumacher Racing teammate Tony Schumacher last season by seven points to earn the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series championship in Top Fuel.

Brown started Sunday's championship elimination round in the SummitRacing.com Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with a six-point lead over Schumacher.

Antron Brown

Photo by: Anne Proffit

Schumacher, a seven-time world champion, beat Brown and the Matco Tools team, the reigning champion, in the final round that enabled Schumacher to move around Brown for the points lead after four of 24 events.

Schumacher's winning time of 3.851 seconds at 323.27 mph topped Brown's 3.956 at a slowing 299.60 mph.

"You can't take anything away from the Army team. They did a great job," Brown said. "They ran (3.85) in the final round and that's what we tuned ours up to do. We knew that's what it was going to take to win that round. Unfortunately (our engined lost a cylinder) at the hit of the throttle and that's how it goes. Our hats off to them, they ran three .85's today so they got the win and they deserve it.

"We are going crucial rounds. That's what it's all about. When you get in that final round, me and Tony both had the cake because we made it to the final but he got the icing today. We love the icing and he got it from us this time. Next time we are going to make sure that we get the icing and the cherry."

Schumacher has won two of the last three titles that sandwich around Brown's win three weeks ago at Gainesville, Fla.

Don Schumacher Racing