Sonoma: Antron Brown Friday notes

BROWN EARNS PROVISIONAL POLE FRIDAY AT SONOMA

SONOMA, Calif. (July 25, 2008) -- Antron Brown powered his David Powers-owned Matco Tools dragster to the provisional pole Friday evening at Infineon Raceway. The 18-time NHRA winner blistered the Infineon Raceway quarter mile in 3.805-seconds to claim the top spot Friday evening at the 21st annual FRAM-Autolite Nationals.

Brown, a two-time Top Fuel winner this season, opened qualifying at the multi-purpose facility with a solid run of 3.924 seconds at 305.56 mph to finish fourth in the 16-car order. On his second qualifying attempt, the former Pro Stock Motorcycle standout used a tune-up from crew chief Lee Beard to power the bright blue Matco Tools rail to the quickest and fastest run of the day, 3.805 at 316.45. If Brown's time holds on Saturday, it will be his third pole position of the season and 14th of his career.

"Once the sun settles and the track gets cool, we have more power to put to the ground and that makes me smile," Brown said. "That's when it's the opportune time like tonight at Infineon (Raceway). Once it gets through the shake zone about 150-feet into the run, the car catapulted me through the rest of the track. I didn't know if that 3.80 would hold up, but it did and we're happy with that."

Professional nitro qualifying resumes Saturday afternoon at Infineon Raceway with sessions scheduled for Noon and 3 p.m. (PT). Brown's teammate, Hot Rod Fuller, finished seventh Friday with a run of 3.860 at 311.20.

-credit: dpm