Reigning NHRA Top Fuel world champion Antron Brown flexed his muscles Friday at the Summernationals in Englishtown, N.J.

Brown clocked a 3.713-second elapsed time at 329.42 mph, a track record ET at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

“The first lap we went down the track and this track was a lot better than everybody thought it was,” said Brown, who drives the Matco Tools dragster for Don Schumacher Racing. “That second lap we went back and the boys tuned her up a little bit and made some adjustments on the clutch. We wanted to come out here and get a lap in because we know (Saturday) is going to get hotter and then Sunday’s going to get even hotter. We wanted to be in good position in qualifying and we went No. 1. (Saturday) we want to be the best every round we can be.”

Qualifying in this fashion at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, is extra special to Brown, a New Jersey native.

“Every time I come to this track it brings back so many memories of me racing here with my uncle and my dad,” Brown said. “I started over at the dirt bike track and we went over to the dragstrip. I remember being in these stands and thinking one day I wish I could be on this track and set some world records and win some races and maybe I could be on a team that wins some championships. By golly, the Lord has blessed me in so may ways. I’ve won so many races and three championships and qualifying No. 1 in front of my grandma and family and friends, it doesn’t get any better than that.”

Brown arrived at Englishtown second in the season point standings on the strength of two wins at Las Vegas and Topeka, Kan. Brown has yet to qualify No. 1 this season. His best qualifying effort was second at Phoenix and Houston.

“My main focus is that we are in a top five spot in qualifying after (Saturday),” Brown said. “That’s what we always shoot for. That will set us up very well for race day. We have to keep on digging and right now this is when it is getting started. We have to keep on getting points and moving up and peak at the right time and make a run at another championship and it starts here.”