Antron Brown conquers Chicago to take points lead

TOP FUEL

Brown claimed his third Chicago win and 57th career victory with a final round performance of 3.777 seconds at 321.19 mph in his Matco Tools dragster to hold off J.R. Todd, whose SealMaster machine trailed with a 3.798 at 322.11.

“Chicago is incredible,” Brown said. “We love coming here. This is the gladiator stadium. To be able to see all the Don Schumacher Racing cars run great today and to bring home a win for our boss man Don Schumacher at his home track is just awesome.”

Brown used a consistent string of 3.7-second runs to speed past Clay Millican, Terry McMillen and Leah Pritchett and ultimately Todd. 

“We’re starting to go in the right direction and peaking at the right time,” Brown said. “The car responds to everything our crew does to it. We’ve got to keep on going strong with the routine. We made all the right calls and made all the right moves and now we have to focus on getting, better, better and better.”

With the win, Brown moves two points ahead of season-long leader Doug Kalitta.  

FUNNY CAR

Jack Beckman scored his first win of the season by defeating in-form DSR teammate Ron Capps. Beckman posted a winning time of 3.955 at 324.05 in his Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger, while Capps’ NAPA Auto Parts Dodge lost traction near the start.

“The car was darn near flawless today,” Beckman said. “I saw a whole lot of that NAPA front fender out there in the final and just as I thought oh-no, it disappeared. It was a great feeling watching that win light come on today.”

Like Brown’s dragster, Beckman’s DSR Funny Car also had the appearance of a 320-mph bracket car as he used a bunch of 3.9-second runs to advance to the finals with early round wins over John Hale, Courtney Force and Robert Hight.

Added Beckman: “I thought we had so much momentum last year and we haven’t seen a winner’s circle since Reading last year. We were struggling. We’ve run well at times this year, with four No. 1 qualifying positions and setting the national record, but we haven’t been able to put it all together.

“This doesn’t mean we’re going to be dominant come next race,” Beckman cautioned, “but what it does mean is that we will be more confident when we tow into the gates and make more consistent runs. Then you can turn up the wick and make quick runs.” 

PRO STOCK

Anderson claimed his sixth victory of the season in Pro Stock, defeating rising star Bo Butner in the final round. Anderson scored his 84th career win with a final round performance of 6.644 at 209.01 in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevy Camaro, while Butner trailed with a 6.667 at 209.17 in his Jim Butner Auto Sales Camaro. It was Anderson’s eighth consecutive final round appearance.

“Rob Downing and the crew did a great job,” said Anderson, who beat Dave River, Allen Johnson and No. 1 qualifier Shane Gray in earlier rounds. “We basically outraced them today and we just flat found a way to win each round. That’s what it’s all about. Couldn’t be more proud of the guys.

“It is certainly our hardest-fought win of the season. I am looking forward to the battle that’s coming. This Western Swing should be a real battle.”

Anderson and teammate Jason Line have now won 13 consecutive events, tying the record for most consecutive wins by a race team in NHRA history, as well as the same record in Pro Stock. The mark equals their team winning streak in 2004 as well as the Vance & Hines team streak of 13 straight wins with Eddie Krawiec and Andrew Hines in 2011-’12.  

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE 

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Hines claimed his second victory of the season and 44th of his career, tying him for most victories in the history of the two-wheel class with the late Dave Schultz. He outran Angelle Sampey in the final round, clocking a 6.858 at 194.91 on his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson, to the 6.893 at 193.40 produced by Sampey’s Precision Service Equipment/Star Racing Buell.

Hines advanced to the final with round wins over Chip Ellis, Michael Ray and Steve Johnson.

“We had a good motorcycle all weekend it was just a matter of making the straight, consistent runs that we needed to,” said Hines of his third Chicago win. “That’s what allows you to go out there and turn on four win lights. I’ve always loved this track and I always seem to excel at the hot racetracks. You have to be on top of your tune-up these days and you can’t cut anyone any slack.”

Final finish order (1-16) at the 19th annual K&N Route 66 NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway  

TOP FUEL: 1.  Antron Brown; 2.  J.R. Todd; 3.  Leah Pritchett; 4.  Tony Schumacher; 5.  Steve Torrence; 6. Doug Kalitta; 7.  Terry McMillen; 8.  Brittany Force; 9.  Clay Millican; 10.  Kyle Wurtzel; 11. T.J. Zizzo; 12.  Luigi Novelli; 13.  Chris Karamesines; 14.  Richie Crampton; 15.  Pat Dakin; 16. Shawn Langdon.
Final: Top Fuel -- Antron Brown, 3.777 seconds, 321.19 mph  def. J.R. Todd, 3.798 seconds, 322.11 mph.

FUNNY CAR: 1.  Jack Beckman; 2.  Ron Capps; 3.  Robert Hight; 4.  Matt Hagan; 5.  Alexis DeJoria; 6.  Tommy Johnson Jr.; 7.  Bob Tasca III; 8.  Courtney Force; 9.  John Force; 10.  Brian Stewart; 11.  Bob Bode; 12.  Del Worsham; 13.  Chad Head; 14.  John Hale; 15.  Cruz Pedregon; 16.  Tim Wilkerson.
Final: Jack Beckman, Dodge Charger, 3.955, 324.05  def. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.522, 194.74.

PRO STOCK: 1.  Greg Anderson; 2.  Bo Butner; 3.  Jason Line; 4.  Shane Gray; 5.  Allen Johnson; 6.  Vincent Nobile; 7.  Jeg Coughlin; 8.  Chris McGaha; 9.  Drew Skillman; 10.  Alex Laughlin; 11.  Kenny Delco; 12.  Erica Enders; 13.  Alan Prusiensky; 14.  Dave River; 15.  Kevin Lawrence; 16.  Mark Hogan.
Final: Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.644, 209.01  def. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.667, 209.17.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE: 1.  Andrew Hines; 2.  Angelle Sampey; 3.  Eddie Krawiec; 4.  Steve Johnson; 5.  Cory Reed; 6. Michael Ray; 7.  Karen Stoffer; 8.  Hector Arana; 9.  Jerry Savoie; 10.  LE Tonglet; 11.  Hector Arana Jr; 12.  Chip Ellis; 13.  Melissa Surber; 14.  Jim Underdahl; 15.  Matt Smith; 16.  Michael Phillips. Final: Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.858, 194.91  def. Angelle Sampey, Buell, 6.893, 193.40.

Point standings after 13 of 24 events in NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series

Top Fuel: 1.  Antron Brown, 1,056; 2.  Doug Kalitta, 1,054; 3.  Steve Torrence, 912; 4.  Brittany Force, 896; 5.  Tony Schumacher, 803; 6.  Shawn Langdon, 746; 7.  J.R. Todd, 725; 8.  (tie) Richie Crampton, 603; Clay Millican, 603; 10.  Leah Pritchett, 521.

Funny Car: 1.  Ron Capps, 1,068; 2.  Jack Beckman, 942; 3.  Courtney Force, 892; 4.  Matt Hagan, 828; 5. Tommy Johnson Jr., 803; 6.  Robert Hight, 799; 7.  Del Worsham, 796; 8.  Tim Wilkerson, 760; 9. John Force, 699; 10.  Alexis DeJoria, 697.

Pro Stock: 1.  Jason Line, 1,472; 2.  Greg Anderson, 1,392; 3.  Bo Butner, 898; 4.  Allen Johnson, 773; 5. Drew Skillman, 717; 6.  Vincent Nobile, 666; 7.  Shane Gray, 619; 8.  Chris McGaha, 610; 9.  Jeg Coughlin, 580; 10.  Alex Laughlin, 530.

Pro Stock Motorcycle: 1.  Eddie Krawiec, 639; 2.  Andrew Hines, 505; 3.  Angelle Sampey, 471; 4.  Jerry Savoie, 428; 5. Hector Arana, 344; 6.  Chip Ellis, 333; 7.  LE Tonglet, 289; 8.  Steve Johnson, 258; 9.  Matt Smith, 235; 10.  Michael Ray, 228.