betway NHRA Carolina Nationals
Event 17 of 21
Countdown Event 2 of 6
zMAX Dragway
Concord, N.C.
Sept. 22-24, 2023
Career-Best E.T. in Qualifying Highlights Antron Brown’s NHRA Carolina Nationals Weekend
Qualified: No. 2 (3.655 E.T. at 332.75 MPH)
Elimination Round Results:
E1: 3.686 E.T. at 337.24 MPH defeated Spencer Massey 3.745 E.T. at 327.35 MPH
E2: 5.050 E.T. at 152.78 MPH defeated by Leah Pruett 3.829 E.T. at 319.60 MPH
Qualified: No. 2 (3.655 E.T. at 332.75 MPH)
Elimination Round Results:
E1: 3.686 E.T. at 337.24 MPH defeated Spencer Massey 3.745 E.T. at 327.35 MPH
E2: 5.050 E.T. at 152.78 MPH defeated by Leah Pruett 3.829 E.T. at 319.60 MPH
CONCORD, N.C. (Sept. 24, 2023) – Though Antron Brown didn’t go back-to-back at the betway NHRA Carolina Nationals, the four-time event champion did celebrate multiple career milestones at the second of six races in the Countdown to the Championship. Racing in his 500th professional event, Brown set a new career-best E.T. in his Matco Tools ‘Test Drive’ Top Fuel dragster before bowing out in the second round of eliminations Sunday at zMAX Dragway.
Brown was the provisional No. 5 qualifier after Friday’s lone qualifying session, where he recorded a 3.703-second pass at 332.10 MPH. Dropped cylinders in the second session on Saturday forced Brown to let out early. His career-best 3.655 E.T. in the final session was the second-quickest pass of the session, giving Brown two bonus points. The pass also moved Brown up to the No. 2 spot, setting up a first-round match with Spencer Massey.
With the confidence boost from a career-best performance in the final session, Brown kept the momentum going in the first round of eliminations when he posted a 3.686 E.T. at a huge 337.24 MPH to defeat Massey and his 3.745-second effort. That was the quickest pass of the round, giving Brown lane choice in his second-round pairing with fellow championship contender Leah Pruett. Brown grabbed a starting-line advantage over Pruett before losing traction and coasting through the finish line behind Pruett.
“All in all, it was a good weekend,” Brown said. “We made some huge leaps and gains in every department, especially in the performance department. The track just bit us in the second round. It got a little tricky. We backed it down and backed it down, and it was still trying to haul the mail.”
The second-round race with Pruett had major points implications, as Pruett passed Brown in the Countdown standings. The second-year team owner dropped to fifth with four races left to claim points towards a fourth world championship and the first for AB Motorsports.
“The good part is, we’re going to St. Louis, where it’s going to be a little hot and warm,” Brown said. “We’ve just got to keep our eyes on the prize. We’re still in the hunt. This race is over, so we’ve got to keep our eyes forward, and keep ourselves motivated and keep pushing forward.”
Brown and crew chiefs Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald will take what they’ve learned at Charlotte and move on to the NHRA Midwest Nationals, Sept. 29-Oct. 1, at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Ill.
NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Top Fuel Point Standings (Unofficial):
| 1 | Doug Kalitta | 2284 | |
| 2 | Steve Torrence | 2221 | |
| 3 | Justin Ashley | 2216 | |
| 4 | Leah Pruett | 2208 | |
| 5 | Antron Brown | 2192 | |
| 6 | Brittany Force | 2178 | |
| 7 | Mike Salinas | 2165 | |
| 8 | Austin Prock | 2130 | |
| 9 | Shawn Langdon | 2101 | |
| 10 | Tony Schumacher | 2089 |
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 74-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.
