Three-time world champion aims for third consecutive win at The Big Go
and sixth in his outstanding career

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – August 27, 2024 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – Five wins at the world’s biggest drag race have put Antron Brown on the path to becoming a Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals legend. He has two consecutive wins at The Big Go and a third straight victory would add to his already impressive track record at the prestigious event.

Brown will get that opportunity this weekend at the 70th annual Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, as the three-time world champion looks to become the first driver since Tony Schumacher (2007-2009) to record three consecutive wins on drag racing’s biggest stage.

His Toyota teammate, Funny Car driver Ron Capps, and Pro Stock Motorcycle’s Matt Smith will also try to do the same at Indy this year, but a sixth Indy win would put Brown among the sport’s elite. Only six other drivers have won six times at Indy, and it’s a class Brown could enter with another win this weekend at The Big Go in his 11,000-horsepower Matco Tools/Toyota dragster.

“I’m really excited about the Toyota US Nationals. It’s so cool to be able to compete in the 70th running of this historic event, especially now that it’s a Toyota race,” said Brown, who celebrated two Indy wins in the Pro Stock Motorcycle championship earlier in his career. “We’re really pushing ourselves right now. Our team is at its peak at the right time and we’d like to hit the jackpot here, so that’s what we’re going to do. That’s our plan.

“We have won here the last two years and will try to continue that streak. The points are really close and we are working hard to get into the top four in the countdown. We will give it our all and see what we can achieve. Our Matco Tools Toyota team is ready to go.”

Brown (Top Fuel), Capps (Funny Car), Matt Hartford (Pro Stock) and Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all won NHRA U.S. Nationals in 2023 and this year’s race will again be broadcast on FOX and FS1, including a special Pep Boys Funny Car All-Star Callout broadcast on FOX on Sunday at 5 p.m. ET and elimination coverage on FOX starting Monday at 2 p.m. It’s the 14th of 20 races of the 2024 season and the final race of the regular season, and there’s a lot at stake in this prestigious race.

Besides the chance to win at Indy, it’s a 1.5-point race, meaning Brown and the other top drivers could make a big jump in the standings. He’s currently fifth in the points standings, but only 14 from fourth and 82 from third, and with a stellar weekend he could make a sizable jump.

That’s the goal, but nothing is easy in Top Fuel. It features a wealth of talent and a total of 20 dragsters at Indy, including points leader and reigning world champion Doug Kalitta, Shawn Langdon, Brainerd winner Justin Ashley, four-time champion Steve Torrence, Clay Millican, motorsports legend and NHRA rookie Tony Stewart, Tony Schumacher, whose 10 Indy wins are the most in NHRA history, and Brittany Force.

But Brown has always performed well when it’s mattered most, as evidenced by his back-to-back Indy triumphs. He’s already won three times in 2024 (Chicago, Norwalk and Sonoma) and the 77-time event winner has no plans to slow down at The Big Go.

“We always had a plan to peak at the right time and our car is running exceptionally well,” said Brown. “That’s a credit to our team. The US Nationals is our last race to get into the position we need for the countdown.”

“We’re trying to get back to our old form and I think we’ve done it. What makes the class so different today is that there are now 10 to 12 cars that are good in every race and at least 14 cars that can win a race.”

The 70th annual Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals promises to be one of the biggest in the illustrious history of The Big Go. It includes the final #2Fast2Tasty Challenge mission of the year and the Pep Boys Funny Car All-Star Callout, as well as the special Sox & Martin Hemi Challenge presented by the McCandless Collection and the Rooftec Comp Cash Clash, along with racing in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+, the NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™ and the NHRA Holley EFI Factory X, plus:

• A special NHRA US Nationals 70th Anniversary pennant for the first 8,000 fans to attend the playoffs on Monday, September 2nd.
• Free parking is available for all fans. Children under 12 years of age are admitted free of charge.
• An unforgettable Top Eliminator Club experience including appearances by NHRA drivers, food and beverages, TEC gift bag, starting line seating and more.
• The largest field in drag racing with more than 900 cars.

Capps, a three-time Funny Car world champion, wore an iconic paint scheme last year with his Don Prudhomme Hot Wheels tribute car. He’s seeking his first win of the year against drivers such as points leader Austin Prock, three-time 2024 winner Bob Tasca III, reigning champion Matt Hagan and Gainesville winner JR Todd. Jack Beckman, who will drive for John Force at Indy, will also return to Indy.

Hartford won its first NHRA U.S. Nationals last season. The eight-time winner of the event is aiming for his first win in 2024. Leading the Pro Stock points standings is standout Dallas Glenn, followed by multiple champions Greg Anderson and Erica Enders, with Aaron Stanfield and Jeg Coughlin Jr. also hoping for success at Indy.

Smith, a six-time NHRA champion, took his third NHRA US Nationals victory last season. Smith won the last race at Sonoma and is aiming to dethrone reigning world champion Gaige Herrera, who has won six of the eight events this season. Also in the running are former NHRA US Nationals winner John Hall, Richard Gadson, Jianna Evaristo, Angie Smith, Steve Johnson and Seattle winner Chase Van Sant.

Fans are invited to the Nitro Alley Stage all weekend long, the main entertainment center in the pits where Nitro School, meet and greets, music and more take place. Racing fans in Indy can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies on Monday that introduce and celebrate each of the drivers competing for the prestigious Wally, including the fan-favorite SealMaster Track Walk. The final experience not to be missed at any NHRA event is the awards ceremony on Monday after the race concludes, where fans are invited to congratulate the event’s winners.

As always, fans will receive an exclusive pit pass to the world’s most powerful and sensory motorsports attraction in Indy. Fans will have the unique opportunity to see teams in action and service their hot rods between laps, get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers and more. They can also visit the NHRA’s popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, an exciting atmosphere with interactive displays, merchandise, food and fun for the whole family.

Qualifying for the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series consists of one round on Friday, August 30th at 6:45 p.m. ET, two rounds on Saturday, August 31st at noon and 2:30 p.m. ET and the final two qualifying rounds on Sunday, September 1st at noon and 3 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for Monday, September 2nd at 10 a.m. ET.

The first round of the Pep Boys Funny Car All-Star Callout will take place on Sunday, September 1st at 1:05 p.m. ET, with the semifinals at 2:40 p.m. and the final round at 4:30 p.m. A special broadcast of the Callout will air on Sunday at 5 p.m. ET on FOX.

Television coverage includes qualifying rounds on FS1 on Friday at 1:00 p.m. ET and Sunday at 6:30 p.m., and elimination rounds beginning at noon on FS1 on Monday, which will be televised on FOX at 2:00 p.m.

Fans can purchase tickets for the 70th Toyota NHRA US Nationals at www.NHRA.com/tickets. All children under 12 are admitted free in the general admission area when accompanied by a paying adult. For more information about the NHRA, visit www.NHRA.com.

About Mission Foods

MISSION®, owned by GRUMA, SAB de CV, is the world’s leading brand of tortillas and wraps. MISSION® is also known worldwide for flatbreads, dips, salsas and Mexican food products. With a presence in over 112 countries, MISSION® products are tailored to each country’s lifestyle and local tastes. With innovation and customer needs in mind, MISSION® focuses on the highest quality, authentic flavors and providing healthy options that families and friends can enjoy together. For more information, visit https://www.missionfoods.com/

About NHRA

NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 20 national events, including the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+, NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™, NHRA Holley EFI Factory X and Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock at select national events. NHRA offers competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and NHRA Street Legal™. NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. Street® program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League® for youth ages 5-17. With 110 member tracks, NHRA allows racers to compete in a variety of locations domestically and internationally. The NHRA’s Youth and Education Services® (YES) program reaches over 30,000 students annually, stimulating their interest in careers in automotive and racing. The NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.tv®, allows fans to watch all NHRA national events as well as exclusive features of the sport. In addition, the NHRA owns and operates three racetracks: Gainesville Raceway in Florida, Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Southern California. For more information, visit www.NHRA.com or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

Source: National Hot Rod Association

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