(Don Eckert photo)

Words compiled by Kay Burk
Photos by Don Eckert and Ron Lewis

After a two-year hiatus, the fans and racers returned to a refurbished Gateway Motorsports Park for a fall edition of the NHRA national event. The cooler weather was welcome and this year’s AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals had full grandstands, record performances and plenty of action.

There was no way Don Schumacher Racing was not going to take top honors in the Top Fuel and Funny Car classes as for the second time this year all four semifinal winners in both classes were DSR drivers.

(Ron Lewis photo)

TOP FUEL

Antron Brown powered his Matco Tools/Aaron's dragster to a track record performance of 3.737 seconds at 326.79 mph in Friday’s qualifying session.

“We made the third-quickest run in history on a track we haven’t ran on in two years, which is a credit to the Gateway staff and the NHRA Safety Safari,” Brown said. “When I stepped on the gas, the car picked up and took off with no hesitation. I felt instant wheel speed. It hunkered down after 60 feet and never stopped accelerating. I took a little peek up at the scoreboard and saw that .73. Underneath my helmet, I was like, ‘Yeah, boy!’ I felt like Flavor Flav. We’re just beside ourselves, and we’re riding that wave.”

Brown and the Aaron's Dream Machine/Matco Tools dragster won an event title for the second straight week when his final run of 3.766 seconds at 325.22 mph edged past teammate Spencer Massey's Prestone/FRAM dragster's time of 3.812 at 324.05 at Gateway.

"Our team hit a grand slam here this weekend," said Brown, who credits the success to crew chiefs Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald, assistant Brad Mason and stellar work from their outstanding crew that has won a series-best sixth title this year.