Top Fuel specialist Antron Brown jumped out in front of the Countdown to the Championship. Brown is no stranger to taking early leads over his fellow competitors. “Get Down” Brown did just that in last years event at zMAX Dragway near Charlotte. As a result, Brown claimed an opening playoff win in the Carolina Nationals on Sunday.
Antron Brown started the six-race dash to the championships off right. He defeated Clay Millican and the prodigal daughter Brittany Force. He then set his sights on Pat Dakin and Doug Kalitta on his way to his fifth triumph in nine final round competitions. So far, there has been 19 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events.
The Carolina Nationals winner, qualified seventh because of mechanical issues in the first three qualifying rounds. Antron Brown’s team re-grouped and was the fastest hot-rod in the last session on Saturday. From there, Brown blew away the field on a hot and muggy day in North Carolina.
“I’m dreaming right now, somebody needs to come pinch me,” Brown said. “The thing about it is, when you come to the Carolina Nationals, this is the way you want to start the Countdown off. Brian, Mark and this whole Matco Tools/U.S. Army/Toyota team we just keeps digging. That was the key.
The NHRA Carolina nationals were the 43rd Top Fuel title of Antron Brown’s career. Furthermore, it was his 59th overall victory including his days he spent in the Stock Motorcycle category.
The Matco Tools team began the weekend with a 30 point bulge over fellow champion Doug Kalitta. Kalitta finished second and finds himself 42 points back of Brown heading into next Sunday’s races.
The 16 time world champion John Force drove his PEAK Antifreeze Camaro past Tommy Johnson Jr. for his 146th win. Johnson Jr. was the categories number one qualifier. Force sped his way to a 3.946 second pass at 324.05 miles per hour. The run bested Johnson Jr.’s Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger’s 3.987 second quarter-mile at 315.71 miles per hour.
On his way to his Carolina Nationals win, John Force bested Dave Richards, Tim Wilkerson, and NHRA Mello Yello Series points leader Ron Capps. Even though Capps was beaten in the semi-finals, he still remains at the top of the Funny Car point standings.
“It’s stadiums like this that really create the magic in your heart and you also really want to race and we had a good day,” Force said. “I’ve also got a race car now that I can race with and when you have a race car and you’re on your game, I ain’t great, but I’m good. But when I’m on my game, I can win.”
Pro Stock phenom Jason Line dragged his way to his eighth victory of the year. Line powered his Summit Racing Chevrolet to a winning run of 6.621 seconds at 209.39 miles per hour. Consequently, Line defeated his Summit Racing teammate Greg Anderson. Anderson was no slouch in the finals. He charged his Camaro to a losing pass of 6.639 seconds at 209.20 seconds.
Jason Line’s march to his Carolina Nationals win took him past speedster Shane Tucker, his other teammate Bo Butner, and also Vincent Nobile. Greg Anderson dispatched of Alan Prusiensky, Indy winner Chris McGaha and Alex Laughlin in his earlier rounds. The two successful teammates sit one and two in the Pro stock division point standings.
“It was a great day for us,” Line said, “To be sitting here is a great feeling. It’s a great way to start the countdown. If you want to win the championship you also have to come out smoking and somehow we were able to do that today.”
TOP FUEL:
1. Antron Brown (5) 2226
2. Doug Kalitta (3) 2184 -42
3. Steve Torrence (2) 2126 -100
4. Brittany Force (3) 2110 -116
5. TONY SCHUMACHER (2) 2099 -127
6. J.R. Todd (1) 2074 -152
7. SHAWN LANGDON (2) 2067 -159
8. LEAH PRITCHETT (1) 2054 -172
9. Clay Millican 2052 -174
10. Richie Crampton 2046 -180
FUNNY CAR:
1. Ron Capps (5) 2194 —–
2. Del Worsham (1) 2152 -42
3. John Force (3) 2144 -50
4. TOMMY JOHNSON JR. (1) 2132 -62
5. MATT HAGAN (3) 2122 -72
6. Courtney Force (1) 2094 -100
7. Robert Hight (1) 2093 -101
8. JACK BECKMAN (1) 2084 -110
9. Tim Wilkerson (2) 2067 -127
10. Alexis DeJoria (1) 2036 -158
PRO STOCK:
1. Jason Line, 2,233
2. Greg Anderson, 2,183
3. Vincent Nobile, 2,129
4. Bo Butner, 2,123
5. Allen Johnson, 2,095
6. Chris McGaha, 2,082
7. Shane Gray, 2,081
8. Drew Skillman, 2,073
9. Jeg Coughlin, 2,052
10. Erica Enders, 2,020.
