Four-time Top Fuel world champion Antron Brown continued to show consistency behind the wheel of the Matco Tools Eagle Experience Top Fuel dragster during the NHRA New England Nationals presented by bproauto at New England Dragway, advancing to the quarterfinals before falling to reigning world champion Doug Kalitta.
Brown opened qualifying with a solid 3.868-second pass at 327.66 mph, placing him sixth after the opening session. He followed it up Friday evening with a 3.822 at 324.20 mph.
On Saturday, Brown and the AB Motorsports team continued to make competitive runs, posting a 3.821 at 325.77 mph. In the final qualifying session, the Matco Tools machine overpowered the racing surface and lost traction shortly after launch, resulting in an 8.264 at 70.69 mph.
Brown ultimately qualified No. 12 for eliminations.
Racing from the bottom half of the ladder on Sunday, Brown faced Shawn Reed in a marquee first-round matchup. Brown gained the advantage at the starting line with a .049 reaction time compared to Reed’s .108 and used the holeshot advantage to secure the win. Brown crossed the finish line in 3.828 seconds at 330.31 mph while Reed posted a quicker 3.817 at 328.78 mph.
The round-win set up a quarterfinal matchup with reigning Top Fuel world champion Doug Kalitta. Kalitta gained the advantage at the tree and never surrendered it, using a 3.762 at 330.23 mph to defeat Brown’s 3.808 at 329.58 mph.
Despite the quarterfinal exit, Brown leaves New England encouraged by the continued progress being made by the AB Motorsports team as they look toward the second half of the regular season.
“We felt good this weekend,” Brown said. “We’re making leeway to where we need to be, and that’s very refreshing. We’re constantly getting better and growing. We’re looking forward to going to the next race and doing some more.
“The main goal is to qualify better. If you qualify No. 1, you might be able to get a bye run, and that really helps out. I think we’ve got something we can work with, and we’ll find out more as these races come. We have six more races left before the Countdown, and our goal is to get into the top five. We just have to keep our heads down and make that happen. Once we achieve that, we’ll go out there and see if we can win those last six races for our championship. That’s the game plan.”
The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series returns to action next weekend, June 12-14, for the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway.
