NHRA Gatornationals
Event 1 of 20
Gainesville Raceway
Gainesville, Fla.
March 7 – 9, 2025
ANTRON BROWN
Driver of the Matco Tools Top Fuel Dragster
NHRA Gatornationals Event Highlights:
2024 NHRA Gatornationals Recap:
Qualified fourth; Semifinal finish (defeated Tripp Tatum in E1, Josh Hart in E2; defeated by Shawn Langdon in E3)
Career Statistics:
524 races; 80 wins, 50 No. 1 qualifiers
Noteworthy:
Fan Events:
Quotable:
“Coming off the pre-season test in Bradenton, we’re really excited to get to Gainesville because this is always one of those ‘step up and show out’ races. We’re starting the season off, competing in the Callout race, and starting our title defense. So, this is definitely going to be a big weekend for us. There’s a lot riding on it. You have to be ready to go right off the trailer. You have to show up prepared and ready to kick it into overdrive. There’s no time for do-overs, especially for those of us who are competing in two races this weekend with the Top Fuel All-Star Callout. We won the Callout last year and that gives us a lot of confidence to come back and try and go back-to-back this year.
“We’re definitely going to have our work cut out for us this weekend. It’s important to get the season started off on a strong note, which we did last year and rode that to a championship. The nerves are starting to kick in, but I think that’s what’s going to make it so exciting and intense for all the fans.”
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Event 1 of 20
Gainesville Raceway
Gainesville, Fla.
March 7 – 9, 2025
ANTRON BROWN
Driver of the Matco Tools Top Fuel Dragster
NHRA Gatornationals Event Highlights:
- 2013 event champion
- Four-time runner-up:
- Top Fuel: 2010, 2014, 2017
- Pro Stock Motorcycle: 2006
- Two-time No. 1 qualifier:
- Top Fuel: 2010
- Pro Stock Motorcycle: 2001
2024 NHRA Gatornationals Recap:
Qualified fourth; Semifinal finish (defeated Tripp Tatum in E1, Josh Hart in E2; defeated by Shawn Langdon in E3)
Career Statistics:
524 races; 80 wins, 50 No. 1 qualifiers
Noteworthy:
- 2025 marks Brown’s fourth season as an NHRA team owner
- The AB Motorsports team returns as defending Top Fuel series champions
- Brown’s 2024 title was his fourth overall and first as an owner/driver
- Brown’s championship-winning 2024 campaign began with a strong start at Gainesville, which included a semifinal finish and Top Fuel All-Star Callout victory
- Brown returns to Gainesville having qualified for the Right Trailers Top Fuel All-Star Callout, a specialty race-within-a-race, for the second consecutive year
- The Gatornationals mark Brown’s 525th NHRA national event entered
- Made his NHRA debut at the 1998 Gainesville event while competing in Pro Stock Motorcycle
Fan Events:
- Friday, 12:30 p.m., Right Trailers Top Fuel All-Star Callout driver autograph session, Right Trailers midway display
- Saturday, 9:30 – 10 a.m., Mission Foods driver autograph session, Mission Foods midway display
- Saturday, 10:30 – 11 a.m., Team Toyota driver autograph session, Toyota midway display
Quotable:
“Coming off the pre-season test in Bradenton, we’re really excited to get to Gainesville because this is always one of those ‘step up and show out’ races. We’re starting the season off, competing in the Callout race, and starting our title defense. So, this is definitely going to be a big weekend for us. There’s a lot riding on it. You have to be ready to go right off the trailer. You have to show up prepared and ready to kick it into overdrive. There’s no time for do-overs, especially for those of us who are competing in two races this weekend with the Top Fuel All-Star Callout. We won the Callout last year and that gives us a lot of confidence to come back and try and go back-to-back this year.
“We’re definitely going to have our work cut out for us this weekend. It’s important to get the season started off on a strong note, which we did last year and rode that to a championship. The nerves are starting to kick in, but I think that’s what’s going to make it so exciting and intense for all the fans.”
Continue reading...