So much for a learning curve in the Super Comp ranks.
Anson Brown, the 18-year-old son of three-time NHRA Top Fuel world champion Antron Brown, won his second career race in four starts in the class, and his win June 17 was a big deal.
Brown, competing in the TB Promotions Twin 50s event at World Wide Technology Raceway in St. Louis, won 10 rounds of racing, culminating with his final round victory over past Top Fuel world champion Shawn Langdon. For his performance, Brown earned $75,000.
“I could never imagine winning that (much money),” Anson said, “My goal going into the weekend was just to get more adjusted to the car and start learning how to race better. I knew this competition was going to be tight because, I mean, come on, we’re racing for 75 grand.”
Brown, piloting a dragster out his father’s AB Motorsports camp, had a 4.71-second dial-in for the eighth mile. The younger Brown had a .006 reaction time which propelled him to the straight up win over Langdon. Langdon, the 2013 NHRA Top Fuel world champ, had a .024 reaction time.
The field on Saturday also included five-time NHRA Pro Stock champion Jeg Coughlin Jr.
“I knew the competition was going to be tight,” Brown said. “No one was going to go easy on me. So, I adjusted to that type of atmosphere. I think on Saturday, we really just had the car dialed in, it was running very consistent, and I was good on my lights. We finally got everything figured out. I was just very shocked because all I wanted was to go was a couple rounds. Then I was like, ‘Oh, I’m in round six. Oh, I’m in round seven. Oh, there’s like nine cars left.’”
When it came to his final battle with the experienced Langdon, Brown just kept things in perspective.
“Honestly, my motto is always, I don’t care,” he said. “A lot of people care who they race, but to me, I don’t care. I don’t care how accomplished someone is, and I don’t care how unaccomplished someone is. In my opinion, everyone can have a good race. It didn’t really mean anything that he was in the other lane. It was just like he was another racer, and I was going out there to see if I could win.”
Which he did and, in turn, set off an emotional celebration at the top end of the track.
“Oh, it was amazing,” Anson said. “It’s one of the best moments. It’s definitely a moment of a lifetime. We were all shocked. I’ve never seen my dad jump that much in his life. I have never seen him be that excited. It was almost like I won a world championship. We were all surprised. It was just a dream, a literal dream come true because none of us would’ve imagined that would’ve happened.”
Antron was thrilled to be living in the moment with his son. “It was pretty special,” Antron said. “It’s a deal where you look all the years Anson grew up in Jr. Dragsters before moving to a big car. We were just trying to get our feet wet. We didn’t expect to win at all. We just wanted to go some laps and grow and get better and better. We have been really fortunate with the way the car has been running. It has been awesome, and the way he’s been driving. Brother, I jumped high when he won. “I’m just happy he does something he loves doing. It is something I enjoy doing, so it makes it a lot easier for me to literally help him out.”
Anson started his first Super Comp career at National Trail Raceway in Columbus, Ohio, and won. In his second race, he reached the semifinals and race four – in St. Louis, he scored the jackpot victory.
Before moving up to Super Comp this season, Anson raced in the Jr. Dragster ranks for a decade, starting when he was 8. “I always said this; I love racing. My dad, he’s the best mentor, best teacher I could ever ask for,” Anson said. “He also makes sure that I’m very safe. He gives me the safest cars to ever drive. When I was racing Juniors for about ten years, I think I had the safest Junior (Dragster). He double-checks everything. He pays very close attention to fine details, that I always had nothing to worry about. I couldn’t be more blessed to have that, to have him as a father, to be able to have the opportunities to have a safe and good working race car.”
Although Antron was stunned with his son’s latest win – him following a drag racing path didn’t catch him off-guard at all.
“(Anson) always loved drag racing since he was a little kid,” Antron said. “He used to fall asleep with Lucas Oil plastic dragsters in his hands from Morgan Lucas.” Anson’s not sure what his next race will be because it has to fit into his and his father’s hectic schedules. In the meantime, Anson, who graduated from Brownsburg (Ind.) High School in May, is attending Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis, commonly referred to as IUPUI, in the fall. He is majoring in entrepreneurship and corporate innovation.
“The reason I chose that college was so I could be close to home and be able to race,” Anson said. “I enjoy the people (in racing). Racers come from all states and all different backgrounds, and I enjoy just getting to meet new people from different walks and aspects of life. It’s like a family. It’s like your home away from home.”