Pomona: Antron Brown Saturday notes

BROWN EARNS POLE AT POMONA
Rookie Top Fuel Driver Leads Field Into 2008 Season-Opener

POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 9, 2008) -- In his first event as driver of the Matco Tools dragster, Antron Brown paced the field at the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. A rookie to Top Fuel, but not to winning drag races, the 16-time NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle winner used a run of 4.495 seconds to earn his 12th career No. 1 qualifying position.

Brown, a New Jersey native, posted three solid passes during qualifying at the 48th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals. Brown's quickest pass in the Matco Tools rail came on Friday afternoon when he used Lee Beard horsepower to clock a run of 4.495 seconds at 330.07 mph. It was his first 4.4-second pass and 330-mph pass.

On Saturday afternoon at the historic Southern California drag strip, Brown finished the day with a solid pass of 4.526 at 331.61 mph, resetting a career-best speed for the Indiana resident. He is the 99th different Top Fuel pole winner.

"I'm still living the dream," Brown said. "To race against all these people I've looked up to is awesome. After (Larry) Dixon ran that 4.49, I saw Lee (Beard) and Alan Johnson turning the buttons. I was all buckled in and just wanted to enjoy the moment.

"The car was wiggling at half track and went through the traps a little sideways and when I hit the chutes I knew I was driving that car. I have a terrific team. I owe this all to them. I wanted to stay No. 1. I'm here to win. We held on to that No. 1 spot and I'm stoked."

"We didn't have a handicap by having a rookie driver," Beard added. "He drove like a seasoned veteran and all the credit goes to the great technicians on this Matco Tools team. We have to be smart tomorrow."

Final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. (PT) Sunday morning at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. Brown will face off against No. 16 qualifier Urs Erbacher. Brown's teammate Rod Fuller qualified 10th this weekend.

-credit: dpm