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Saturday, August 8, 2009
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Brown bringing momentum to Brainerd LUCAS OIL NHRA NATIONALS Sports Writer The best is yet to come. At least that's what Antron Brown believes.
Despite becoming only the eighth driver to complete the West Coast sweep (consecutive wins at Denver, Seattle and Sonoma) and owning a 199-point edge over the Top Fuel field, Brown said Thursday his team hasn't peaked yet.
"Our team is very high," said Brown. "We're confident in what we do. We're doing what we do best and that's run the car as hard as we can and then come back next week and do it all over again.
"We haven't even peaked yet. We keep getting better each and every weekend. Hopefully when the Countdown starts we'll peak around that time."
A scary thought considering Brown has been to eight finals with five victories.
He blasted past Cory McClenathan for a victory at Sonoma. In Seattle, he bettered friend Tony Schumacher by approximately four feet and in Denver it was Doug Kalitta's turn to watch Brown cross the finish line for the win.
Brown, who owns 23 career wins and seven Top Fuel wins, also won Feb. 22 in Phoenix and May 3 in St. Louis, both against Brandon Bernstein.
"We never expected this," said Brown. "We wanted to do well and be very competitive and compete for a world championship. We've consistently made semifinals and finals and started winning races, but we have to maintain our lead over such good teams like Larry Dixon, Tony Schumacher and Brandon Bernstein and those types of teams.
"Our team needs to perform every week on a consistent basis. That's what it takes. The wins take care of themselves as you get the max points and that's what we're shooting to do every week."
Antron Brown
Category: Top Fuel
Residence: Pittsboro, Ind.
Age: 33
Sponsor/Car: Matco Tools dragster
Crew Chief: Brian Corradi/Mark Oswald
Career wins: 23
2009 wins/final rounds: 5/8
Current points standing: First
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The Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway Aug. 13-16 poses a good possibility for Brown, who has had success at the track as a Pro Stock Motorcycle driver.
In 2001 and 2004 he was the No. 1 qualifier and picked up wins in 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2006.
Last year in Top Fuel, however, he fell to Morgan Lucas in the first elimination round.
"Brainerd has always been a great track for me, especially on a Pro Stock bike," said Brown. "It's a good track and hopefully we can keep the momentum going.
"Also, we'll have to check out the zoo back there and play and have some fun. That's what drag racing is all about. We're looking forward to having fun with some good cool weather, have the sun over us so we can lay down some fast times."
Brown's finals losses came at Pomona against Kalitta, at Joliet to Spencer Massey and at Englishtown to Dixon. He owns a 38-10 round record with five No. 1 qualifiers this season. He has yet to lose in the first round, posting two semifinal finishes and five quarterfinal trips in the circuit's 15 races.
"We're just going about our same routine," said Brown about the next three events before the Countdown. "We're not testing right now. Each time we drive the car it's a test. We're just going to buckle down and do what we know how to do and that's race. That's where we are going to get more information and it will make us a more dangerous team for the six races to win that world championship."
But Brown knows that won't be easy, especially with the likes of six-time winner Tony Schumacher, who has won the last five Full Throttle Top Fuel titles, looming.
"We all go back to ground zero as far as points for the Countdown, but we're not going to worry about the other teams," said Brown. "We're going to worry about what we're doing. That's what has worked for us so far. "
JEREMY MILLSOP may be reached at jeremy.millsop@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5856.
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