Brown Loses Top Fuel Points Lead

CONCORD, N.C. (April 15, 2012) - Moments after Antron Brown and his Matco Tools crew chiefs Mark Oswald and Brian Corradi returned to their pit after the last race Sunday, they began analyzing why they didn't win the Top Fuel title in the Four-Wide Nationals at Charlotte Motor Speedway's zMAX Dragway at Concord.

That's how they approach each run in the Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.

Brown, who dropped from first to third in points, finished third in the last quartet of racers when Don Schumacher Racing teammate Spencer Massey exploded for a 3.802-second run at an NHRA record speed of 332.18 mph. Massey also took over he points lead after five of 23 events.

Another DSR driver, Tony Schumacher was the runner-up. He also became the first Top Fuel driver to reach 330 mph in a 1,000-foot race in the first round.

"At the end of the day all we worry about is the win light," Brown said.

"Speed is nice but at the end of the day you don't get any bonus points for setting a speed record. But that was a great run. Spencer and that Prestone/FRAM team did a great job.

"It was their race.

"It was a good race weekend for our Matco team. We made it to the final but we didn't win. Anytime we make it to the final we expect to win. It's still a good day, but it's always hard to take a loss whether it's to a teammate or not. We just want to win

"We'll go back and work harder."

Antron Brown, Matco Tools dragster

Qualified: No. 3

Round 1: ADVANCED: ANTRON BROWN (3.805 sec., 324.51 mph) and Spencer Massey (3.794 sec., 330.55 mph) ; ELIMINATED: Morgan Lucas (4.376, 215.62) and Hillary Will (3.869, 308.78)

Round 2: ADVANCED: BROWN (3.827, 324.44) and Massey (3.834, 324.20); Brandon Bernstein (3.825, 325.77) and David Grubnic (10.887, 64.87).

Final: WINNER - Massey (3.802, 332.18); RUNNER-UP - Schumacher (3.833, 320.81); THIRD - BROWN (3.844, 322.34); FOURTH - Kalitta (4.858, 185.92).