It was a good day in Brainerd for team owner Don Schumacher.

Words compiled from team press releases by Kay Burk
Photos by Michael Fischbeck

TOP FUEL

Antron Brown, aboard the Matco Tools Top Fuel dragster, picked up his fourth Wally of the season with the final-round victory over Don Schumacher Racing teammate Tony Schumacher at the 30th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway.

The fourth win in five 2011 final-round appearances was unique coming as part of the first all-DSR nitro final round in the multi-car organization’s 13-year history (Johnny Gray defeated Ron Capps for the Funny Car trophy). It was also the third time this season Brown has defeated Schumacher in a final round.

“Racing Tony and the U.S. Army team means you are racing the best,” he said. “And to win in the NHRA, you have to beat the best, whether it’s my teammates like Tony and Spencer (Massey) or the other Top Fuel cars.

“Mark and Brian (Oswald and Corradi, co-crew chiefs) and all my Matco guys gave me an incredible race car today like they’ve done all year. It was a great weekend and even though we wanted to come out of the number-one spot, the guys just put their heads down, got to work and gave me the car I needed!”

First up today for number-five qualifier Brown was Terry McMillen, who he dispatched with a 3.883-second lap at 318.24 miles per hour. He topped Doug Kalitta in round two with a 3.850 run at 317.64 and Del Worsham in a tight semifinal match 3.842 at 317.72 versus 3.881 at 300.06.

Against Schumacher, who smoked his tires early in the run, the Matco car posted a 3.844 lap at 319.22, completing a solid day of racing.