Antron Brown, the reigning NHRA Top Fuel world champion and driver of the Matco Tools Top Fuel Dragster, is set to continue his strong start to the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series at the NHRA Arizona Nationals, March 21-23 at Firebird Motorsports Park.
Brown, fresh off a dominant victory at the season-opening Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla., where he qualified No. 1 and defeated Krista Baldwin, Clay Millican, Steve Torrence, and Shawn Langdon on his way to the winner’s circle, currently leads the championship standings.
The three-time NHRA Arizona Nationals champion (2009, 2012, 2014) has a solid record at Firebird Motorsports Park, the very track where he earned his Top Fuel license in 2008. Brown, who secured a quarterfinal finish at last year’s event after qualifying fourth, is eager to reclaim his winning ways in Arizona.
“We’re going in there with some momentum after the season opener in Gainesville,” said Brown. “It’s been a long time since we had a Phoenix win—2014 to be exact—but we’re ready to go up and show up. Being part of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge this weekend gives us an extra incentive, and we aim to bring home that first Mission Foods trophy of the year. With great weather ahead and strong support from our Matco distributors on the West Coast, we’re excited to get out there and have some fun.”
“It feels really good to get back at it this weekend after the outing we had in Gainesville,” said Brown. “It’s been a long time since we had a Phoenix win; I can remember it distinctly, it was way back in 2014, but it’s time to go up and show up. We’re going in there with some momentum after the season opener in Gainesville.”
Brown will participate in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, the first of the season’s specialty races sponsored by Mission Foods, following his impressive Gainesville performance. Fans will have the opportunity to meet Brown during the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge driver autograph session scheduled for Saturday at 8:30 a.m. at the Mission Foods midway display.
“We made the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge; it’s the first one of the year, and we want to be the ones to bring home the first Mission Foods trophy this season,” Brown added. “Weather is looking good, so we’re really excited to get out there. We have a lot of Matco distributors coming out that support us on the West Coast, so just looking forward to shaking it down and having some fun this weekend.”
Qualifying begins on Friday, March 21, at Firebird Motorsports Park, with eliminations set for Sunday, March 23. Brown and his AB Motorsports team are determined to build on their championship momentum as they pursue their second consecutive NHRA Top Fuel world title.
This story was originally published on March 19, 2025. 
