Antron Brown is living the dream as a Top Fuel driver. (Roger Richards Photos)
Four wheels or two, no problem for Antron Brown. After a decade as
one of the elite riders in the Pro Stock Motorcycle category, Brown was
tabbed to drive the David Powers-owned Matco Tools dragster. Making an
unprecedented move, Brown earned the pole at the 2008 season-opener at
Pomona, Calif. and won in just his fourth Top Fuel start by edging
two-time series champion Larry Dixon in the final round at Houston
Raceway Park on March 30. Brown didn’t look back, advancing to three
consecutive final rounds where the Matco Tools driver earned the trip
to the winner’s circle twice. After 12 of 24 races on the 2008 NHRA
racing schedule, Brown finds himself trailing only five-time champion
Tony Schumacher in the Top Fuel standings. In this Q&A, the former
college track star discusses his move to Top Fuel, what it’s like
working with his crew chief, Lee Beard, and teammate, Hot Rod Fuller,
and the second half of the ’08 NHRA racing season.
Q: You’ve made the transition from Pro Stock Motorcycle to Top Fuel appear seamless. Has it been that easy?
BROWN: No, it hasn’t been that easy. What made things so smooth was
the great chemistry our Matco team has. Starting at the top with Lee
Beard and all my team, the way we jelled, made the transition very
smooth. We took things one step at a time and tried to minimize common
rookie mistakes. I didn’t have to learn to race, I just had to learn to
drive the car and that helped make us more competitive early on.