Antron “Get Down” Brown extended his points lead in Top Fuel division on Sunday by speeding off to victory at the AAA Texas Fall Nationals. Funny Car driver Matt Hagan and Pro Stock speedster Drew Skillman, were also winners at the AAA Texas Fall Nationals. The event was the fourth race of the six-race NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship.
Antron Brown came in as the number one qualifier for the Texas Fall Nationals. The veteran dragster sprinted to a 3.744 second pass at 321.12 miles per hour, in his Matco Tools dragster. As a result, he defeated fellow power-house racer Steve Torrence’s 3.750 seconds at 323.12 miles per hour.
The Texas Fall Nationals are Antron Brown’s 61st career triumph and seventh of the 2016 season. Finally, it is his third victory all-time at the Texas Motorplex. He extended his lead over second-place Doug Kalitta by 150 points with the victory. Brown also blew by Chris Karamesines, Kalitta, and J.R. Todd in the earlier sets.
“We had a great drag race out there,” said two-time and reigning world champion Brown. “It could’ve went either way. We were both close on the Tree, but we snuck one out there. Nobody is blowing people out anymore. The only way you win is by inches. To win that final was monumental for our team. We needed to do that. We’re still not done working yet.”
Steve Torrence blew past fellow competitor Clay Millican and Phoenix Raceway winner Leah Pritchett. The veteran then out-raced and three-time 2016 winner Shawn Langdon on his way to his seventh final round appearance of the season. The second place finish jumped Steve Torrence up to fifth in the playoff standings.
Matt Hagan charge his Pennzoil Dodge Charger to a 3.913 second pass at 327.03 second. The quick-footed driver bested points leader Ron Capps’ 3.906 seconds at 322.19 miles per hour. Therefore, Hagan won the division on Sunday on a hole-shot in the Funny Car final round.
Matt Hagan claimed victory in Dallas in 2010, and claimed his fourth victory of the season. The Virginian moved to third in the standings, behind Ron Capps by 88 and second place Tommy Johnson Jr. by 24 points. He also defeated John Bojec, Houston Raceway victor Courtney Force, and the number one qualifier Robert Hight, in the earlier rounds.
“That was a huge round,” said Hagan, a two-time world champion. “It’s just unfortunate that we’re facing [Ron Capps] so late in rounds. In Reading, I had him in the semi’s, and he spanked me on the Tree, and this time, I was able to get a little payback.”
“I actually try to minimize everything out of my control and just focus on leaving on time, keeping it in the groove, and turning on the win light and let the rest take care of itself. We can’t worry about who might mess up or how many rounds someone might go; we just need to do the best job we can and turn on as many win lights as we can.”commented Hagan.
Veteran Ron Capps, who has five wins in 10 final rounds in 2016, outlasted two-time 2016 winner Tim Wilkerson. Capps also bettered Jack Beckman, and reigning world champion Del Worsham in the earlier sets. Capps set an impressive record, becoming the 15th driver in NHRA history to compete in 100 final rounds.
In Pro Stock, Drew Skillman rocketed a 6.661 second run at 209.36 miles per hour in his Ray Skillman Chevy Camaro. He knocked-off off Alex Laughlin’s 6.708 second pass at 208.30 miles per hour.
Drew Skillman, who won this year in Brainerd, Minnesota, tacked on third Wally with the performance on Sunday. This was the feisty driver’s first final round appearance and win in the Texas Fall Nationals at Dallas. He also eliminated Chris McGaha, points leader Jason Line, and Shane Gray in the first three rounds of competition.
“I have struggled so badly with this race car,” said Skillman. “We were lost, and going into the Countdown, that’s the worst time of the year to be lost. We had some luck on our side this weekend. I drove decent, and the car at least went. We’re going the right direction, I think. We need to test again. We’re going to get back out there. We’re going to hit these last two races hard, so that’s where we’re going to go.”
Alex Laughlin, who captured his first 2016 Wally in St. Louis, breezed past five-time world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. He also blew past Shane Tucker, and second place dragster Greg Anderson. Unfortunately, Laughlin is not participating in the Countdown to the Championship.
