DSR's Brown ties Route 66 Raceway E.T. record on Friday

Brown ties track elapsed-time record for provisional pole, Beckman No. 2 in NHRA Funny Car at Route 66 Raceway

Antron Brown

Photo by: NHRA

JOLIET, Ill. (June 29, 2012) - Antron Brown is in position to earn his second straight No. 1 qualifying position after his Matco Tools Top Fuel Dragster tuned by crew chiefs Mark Oswald and Brian Corradi tied the Route 66 Raceway elapsed time record Friday night in the NHRA Route 66 Nationals.

Brown, who has won two of the last three poles, recorded an elapsed time of 3.773 seconds at 322.50 mph. Right on his heels is Don Schumacher Racing teammate Spencer Massey whose elapsed time was 3.788 at 326.79 mph that set a track speed record.

If Brown can hold the No. 1 spot after Saturday night's last two qualifying sessions it will be the 32nd pole of his NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series career. Eighteen of his top qualifying positions have been in Top Fuel since he moved up to the class in 2008 after competing in Pro Stock Motorcycle.

NHRA points leader Tony Schumacher rests in the No. 12 position.

In Funny Car, John Force holds the provisional pole with a run of 4.050 (310.77) that edged DSR's Jack Beckman, whose Schumacher Electric/Valvoline Dodge Charger R/T had a best run of 4.054 (311.56).

Johnny Gray was next quickest for DSR after his NTB/Service Central Dodge produced the fourth best time of 4.074. Ron Capps is eighth (4.121, 303.98) and reigning NHRA Funny Car world champion Matt Hagan is 11th (4.193, 294.43).

After the first qualifying session, the quickest at Route 66 were Capps in Funny Car and Massey in Top Fuel.

Source: Don Schumacher Racing