NHRA Brainerd Pre-Race Report
Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals
Event 14 of 21
Brainerd International Raceway
Brainerd, Minn.
Aug. 18 – 20, 2023
Brainerd International Raceway
Brainerd, Minn.
Aug. 18 – 20, 2023
ANTRON BROWN: Driver of the Matco Tools 'Test Drive' Top Fuel Dragster
NHRA Brainerd Nationals Event Highlights:
Five-time event champion
Top Fuel (2011)
Pro Stock Motorcycle (2000, 2001, 2003, 2006)
Four-time runner-up (2012, 2016-2018)
Four-time No. 1 qualifier
Top Fuel (2014, 2016)
Pro Stock Motorcycle (2001, 2004)
2022 NHRA Brainerd Nationals Event Recap:
Qualified fifth; Quarterfinal finish (defeated Clay Millican in E1; defeated by Steve Torrence in E2)
Last Event (Topeka):
Qualified 11th; Semifinal finish (defeated Mike Salinas in E1, Austin Prock in E2; defeated by Justin Ashley in E3)
2023 Statistics:
13 races; one win, two runner-up finishes, one No. 1 qualifier
Career Statistics:
496 races; 72 wins, 50 No. 1 qualifiers
Noteworthy:NHRA Brainerd Nationals Event Highlights:
Five-time event champion
Top Fuel (2011)
Pro Stock Motorcycle (2000, 2001, 2003, 2006)
Four-time runner-up (2012, 2016-2018)
Four-time No. 1 qualifier
Top Fuel (2014, 2016)
Pro Stock Motorcycle (2001, 2004)
2022 NHRA Brainerd Nationals Event Recap:
Qualified fifth; Quarterfinal finish (defeated Clay Millican in E1; defeated by Steve Torrence in E2)
Last Event (Topeka):
Qualified 11th; Semifinal finish (defeated Mike Salinas in E1, Austin Prock in E2; defeated by Justin Ashley in E3)
2023 Statistics:
13 races; one win, two runner-up finishes, one No. 1 qualifier
Career Statistics:
496 races; 72 wins, 50 No. 1 qualifiers
Brown enters the event ranked fourth following a semifinal appearance in Topeka, Kan. and a runner-up finish in Sonoma, Calif., the two most recent events on tour
By advancing to the semifinals in Topeka, Brown secured a spot in Brainerd’s Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, slated for Saturday
Brown has been victorious in both the Top Fuel and Pro Stock Motorcycle categories in Brainerd
FMP and its FVP brand, a major partner of AB Motorsports, is based in Eagan, Minn.
Fan Events:
Saturday, Aug. 19, 10:30 – 11:00 a.m., #2Fast2Tasty driver autograph session at Mission Foods midway display
Quotable:
“Brainerd has always been a really good race for us. I remember setting what was the national record at the time there – 3.680 and beating J.R. Todd in the first round of eliminations (2015, E1). I’m going to keep my head down, just like my team, and we’re going to focus. We’ve always done well at Brainerd and it’s a Lucas Oil track, one of our major sponsors, so we’re looking to go out there and give it all we’ve got. We have FVP and Factory Motor Parts coming out in full force and we’re looking forward to doing what we do, like Ray Charles, and having some fun. We want to qualify well, compete at a high level and see if we can make it to that final round and make it happen.”
About AB Motorsports
Established in 2019, AB Motorsports is a single-car NHRA Top Fuel team owned and operated by three-time world champion Antron Brown. The team competes on the 21-race NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series circuit thanks to the support of Matco Tools, Lucas Oil, Toyota, SiriusXM, Factory Motor Parts and its FVP brand, Hangsterfer’s Metal Working Lubricants, and Summit Racing Equipment.Headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., AB Motorsports made its on-track debut in 2022, racing to three wins in four final rounds to finish second in the standings in its rookie season.
Brown, who serves as both the driver and owner of the AB Motorsports Top Fuel dragster, is the only competitor in NHRA history to have won races in both the Top Fuel and Pro Stock Motorcycle categories. Brown is a 72-time NHRA national event winner and became the first Black driver to win a major U.S. auto racing championship when he captured the 2012 NHRA Top Fuel series title.
For more information, visit www.antronbrown.com or @antronbrown on Twitter, and @antronbrowntf on Instagram and Facebook.
