Pit Pass: Antron Brown perfect so far in NHRA playoffs
Perfection is one thing Antron Brown can’t beat in drag racing’s ongoing playoff series. At least he’s tied it.
Brown has mowed through NHRA’s first three Top Fuel events of the six-race, championship-deciding format in unprecedented form. He has won all 12 rounds – four per event – dispatching 10 different drivers, including reigning series champion and teammate Tony Schumacher twice.
Brown, who lives in Pittsboro as he races for Brownsburg-based Don Schumacher Racing, has been so strong, his runs have seemed effortless. While only three other drivers posted multiple runs quicker than 4 seconds in last weekend’s event in Reading, Pa., no one delivered four in succession as Brown did in Sunday’s eliminations. His times:
3.742 seconds.
3.734 seconds.
3.714 seconds.
3.717 seconds.
Brown also had three reaction times of 0.03 seconds, which is that close to perfection.
No wonder he's undefeated.
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“We’re all working together on it,” Brown said in crediting DSR crew chiefs Brian Corradi, Mark Oswald and the rest of the Matco Tools crew. “They’ve been on a tear, and when they get in a zone like this, they’re tough to beat.”
Brown has long shown the talent to run like this, but this is unheard-of level. NHRA first instituted a playoff format in 2007 to keep the standings close until the season finale Nov. 15 in Pomona, Calif., but Brown is really pulling away. His lead over Schumacher, an eight-time series champion, is already 94 points. Even respectable results over the next two races could secure the title early.
“We’re looking at each track to see what it can hold (grip-wise),” Brown said. “We say, ‘Let’s run that (level of aggressiveness),’ and I’m giving it everything I’ve got on the starting line, then trying to keep the car as tight as I can in the groove without making any moves.
“All season we’ve been squeezing that lemon more and more, and now we're getting almost every drop out of it."
Brown said being denied the U.S. Nationals trophy at Lucas Oil Raceway got his attention. Trying too hard for a good start, Brown was knocked out in the second round by Dave Connolly.
“I didn’t do my normal deal and that’s what woke me up, woke us up,” he said.
Brown is aiming for his second NHRA championship – he won Top Fuel in 2012 – but another title won’t come as a surprise. Brown’s win at Reading not only gave him seven for the season, he has 54 for his career. That ranks 14th in all professional categories.
Remember, too, that Brown’s success has come in two disciplines. He won 16 Pro Stock Motorcycle races before moving to Top Fuel for the 2008 season. He has averaged 4.75 wins per season since then, giving him 38 wins in the class.
Brown has won 75.8 percent of his elimination races this season, easily besting Schumacher’s 67.8 percent. And over time, Brown has proven to be nearly as reliable as Schumacher. Brown’s winning percentage in Top Fuel is 67.1 percent; Schumacher’s 67.8 percent.
Losing to Antron Brown
At Charlotte
Round 1: Terry McMillen
Round 2: Steve Torrence
Round 3: Tony Schumacher
Finals: J.R. Todd
At St. Louis
Round 1: Terry McMillen
Round 2: Shawn Langdon
Round 3: Billy Torrence
Finals: Dave Connolly
At Reading, Pa.
Round 1: Clay Millican
Round 2: Dom Lagana
Round 3: Larry Dixon
Finals: Tony Schumacher
Who is that crew chief?
NASCAR got caught off guard last weekend at Dover International Speedway when a fan walked into the post-race news conference room and was mistakenly introduced to the media as winning Xfinity Series crew chief Jason Burdett.
The man, who later identified himself as "Jordan," actually fielded two questions from the moderator and another from a reporter before Burdett arrived wearing team colors. Burdett works with driver Regan Smith.
Dirt racing to Indy's fieldhouse
Bankers Life Fieldhouse will host its first indoor dirt midget race Dec. 12 as part of the Performance Industry Racing trade show weekend at the Indiana Convention Center.
Forty drivers will compete for $10,000 while another 40 will battle in an outlaw karting race. That winner will earn $5,000.
Drivers haven’t been announced, but the Bad Boy Indy Invitational figures to draw many of the sport’s biggest names. Tickets ($20) go on sale late next week.
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