Antron Brown Seattle Final Report

ANTRON BROWN RACES INTO THE SEMIFINALS AT NHRA NORTHWEST NATIONALS

KENT, Wash., August 7, 2011 – Antron Brown, who pilots the Matco Tools Top Fuel dragster, reached the semifinal round of the 24th-annual NHRA Northwest Nationals here Sunday at Pacific Raceways.

Brown, who had qualified number one, was beaten by his Don Schumacher Racing teammate, Tony Schumacher, who he disposed of last Sunday for the victory at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.

“I guess that was a little payback by Tony for last weekend,” said Brown. “That was just two great teams battling it out. Unfortunately, we ended up smoking the tires while Tony had a clean pass. That’s just the way it goes sometimes in this sport.”

Antron Brown, Matco Tools Dragster

Photo by: Michael C. Johnson

On the way to his meeting with Schumacher, the New Jersey native leveled Morgan Lucas and Doug Kalitta with two solid runs (3.883 seconds at 315.71 miles per hour and 3.868 at 316.97 mph, respectively).

“We were perfect against Morgan and Doug, but the track wouldn’t hold what we laid down against Tony,” said Brown. “Despite not being able to go for a second straight Western Swing win, we had a good weekend up here in the Pacific Northwest.

“As always, I’m proud of my guys.”

After 14 races, Brown holds third-place in the Top Fuel standings. Two races, including stops in Brainerd, Minn. (August 18-21) and Indianapolis (Labor Day weekend), remain before the NHRA’s Countdown to 1 commences.

“We want to be at full speed by the time the playoffs start,” said Brown. “We will go up to Brainerd in two weeks looking to grab another win. That’s always our goal.”

Brown has four career wins to his credit in the Gopher State – all from his days in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class.

“I guess it is about time we post a Top Fuel victory up there,” he said