One of Top Fuel driver Antron Brown’s nicknames is “A.B.”
Thus far in the NHRA’s Countdown to the Championship, Brown has picked up another nickname: “U.B.”
As in unbeatable.
Brown roared to his third consecutive win in as many races in the Countdown in Sunday’s finals of the Keystone Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway near Reading, Pa.
Brown remains undefeated in the Countdown, and has increased his playoff round record to a perfect 12-0, the best start of any driver in any class in Countdown history.
Brown (3.717 seconds at 328.46 mph) defeated Don Schumacher Racing teammate and defending Top Fuel champ Tony Schumacher to capture his 54th career win (38th in Top Fuel).
Brown now leads Schumacher by 94 points as the NHRA moves on to the second half of the six-race Countdown.
What’s more, the 2012 Top Fuel champ has now won a career-high seven races this season – he has previously won six races in a season four different times – as well as earning his first-ever win at Maple Grove Raceway.
“You don’t go into the Countdown believing you’re going to win the first three races,” Brown said in a news release. “That’s what you hope to do. Charlotte (two races ago) was tough, but this race was also tough because you go into eliminations without any runs down the racetrack (due to rain on both Friday and Saturday).
“When we came out today, it was pretty much the first session of qualifying for us. Getting a good, clean run down the track helped us a lot and the track got about eight times better by the second lap.”
In Funny Car, Jack Beckman returned to Victory Lane for his career-best seventh win of the season and the 22nd of his career.
Beckman (3.910 seconds at 326.79 mph) got the jump at the starting line and that was the difference over runner-up Chad Head (3.903 at 326.16).
In addition to the win, Beckman reset the national elapsed time record for the third time this season while winning Sunday’s semifinal round battle over Ron Capps in 3.897 seconds.
Beckman leaves Reading just 16 points behind Del Worsham, who won the first two races of the Countdown.
“For us, it couldn’t have ended up any better,” Beckman said. “We went from six rounds out to less than one round. We’re not leading, but we’ve got a car that’s clearly able to win races and I think that the (points) lead is within sight again.”
Of note, Worsham, defending Funny Car champ Matt Hagan and 16-time champ John Force all lost in the first round – a rarity.
In Pro Stock, Chris McGaha (6.492 seconds at 213.64 mph) earned his third win of the season and also of his career, defeating four-time world champ Greg Anderson.
McGaha won with a new crew chief: Tommy Utt replaced Brian Self, who left the team to join Elite Motorsports earlier in the week.
“This week has been really something,” McGaha said. “Having a crew chief shuffle and what-have-you, it’s a pretty big feat to overcome.
“You leave the house hoping you can win and knowing you can win, but actually doing it is another deal.”
Points leader Erica Enders remains atop the standings with a 72-point edge over Anderson, while McGaha moves into third place with his win.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, defending series champ and four-time world champ Andrew Hines earned his second win of the Countdown and third of the season.
Hines (6.794 seconds at 197.25 mph) defeated Chip Ellis in Sunday’s final round to earn his 41st career win, tying him with Angelle Sampey for second on the PSM all-time wins list.
“That win light came on for the final and I was over the moon,” Hines said. “I know how fast Chip had been all weekend and all year. Luckily, we were able to dip into the 6.7’s with him and put up a nice, tight final round for the fans.”
Hines remains atop the PSM points, leading teammate Eddie Krawiec by 89 points.
The Countdown resumes in two weeks with the AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals, Oct. 15-18, at Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Texas.
FINAL RESULTS AND STANDINGS:
FINAL FINISHING ORDER:
TOP FUEL: 1. Antron Brown; 2. Tony Schumacher; 3. Larry Dixon; 4. Brittany Force; 5. Richie Crampton; 6. Dom Lagana; 7. Shawn Langdon; 8. J.R. Todd; 9. Leah Pritchett; 10. Dave Connolly; 11. Smax Smith; 12. Clay Millican; 13. Doug Kalitta; 14. Steve Torrence.
FUNNY CAR: 1. Jack Beckman; 2. Chad Head; 3. Ron Capps; 4. John Bojec; 5. Tommy Johnson Jr.; 6. Cruz Pedregon; 7. Tim Wilkerson; 8. John Hale; 9. Tony Pedregon; 10. Del Worsham; 11. Paul Lee; 12. Matt Hagan; 13. Alexis DeJoria; 14. John Force; 15. Courtney Force; 16. Robert Hight.
PRO STOCK: 1. Chris McGaha; 2. Greg Anderson; 3. Bo Butner; 4. Larry Morgan; 5. Erica Enders; 6. V. Gaines; 7. Jason Line; 8. Jonathan Gray; 9. Allen Johnson; 10. Alan Prusiensky; 11. John Gaydosh Jr; 12. Val Smeland; 13. Shane Gray; 14. Kenny Delco; 15. Vincent Nobile; 16. Drew Skillman.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE: 1. Andrew Hines; 2. Chip Ellis; 3. Eddie Krawiec; 4. Matt Smith; 5. Jerry Savoie; 6. Karen Stoffer; 7. Hector Arana Jr; 8. Steve Johnson; 9. Hector Arana; 10. Angie Smith; 11. Brian Pretzel; 12. Jim Underdahl; 13. Chaz Kennedy; 14. Scotty Pollacheck.
FINAL RESULTS:
TOP FUEL: Antron Brown, 3.717 seconds, 328.46 mph def. Tony Schumacher, no time.
FUNNY CAR: Jack Beckman, Dodge Charger, 3.910, 326.79 def. Chad Head, Toyota Camry, 3.903, 326.16.
PRO STOCK: Chris McGaha, Chevy Camaro, 6.492, 213.64 def. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.484, 214.59.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE: Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.794, 197.25 def. Chip Ellis, Buell, 6.818, 196.39.
FINAL ROUND-BY-ROUND RESULTS:
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE — Larry Dixon, 3.882, 323.58 def. Steve Torrence, 9.538, 83.23; Antron Brown, 3.742, 321.50 def. Clay Millican, 8.482, 79.51; Dom Lagana, 5.150, 218.09 def. Doug Kalitta, 8.584, 112.37; Shawn Langdon, 4.248, 317.19 def. Leah Pritchett, 4.442, 277.94; Brittany Force, 3.707, 328.46 def. Dave Connolly, 4.443, 194.38; Tony Schumacher, 3.741, 320.51 def. J.R. Todd, 3.776, 324.20; Richie Crampton, 4.454, 268.12 def. Smax Smith, 6.426, 102.91;
QUARTERFINALS — Dixon, 3.712, 330.80 def. Langdon, 5.693, 118.41; Brown, 3.734, 323.27 def. Lagana, 3.785, 321.04; Force, 3.846, 253.47 was unopposed; Schumacher, 3.732, 325.85 def. Crampton, 3.771, 289.20;
SEMIFINALS — Brown, 3.714, 325.45 def. Dixon, 3.719, 329.75; Schumacher, 3.730, 328.22 def. Force, 9.913, 71.10;
FINAL — Brown, 3.717, 328.46 def. Schumacher, no time.
FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE — Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Camry, 5.426, 135.50 def. Courtney Force, Chevy Camaro, DQ; Tommy Johnson Jr., Dodge Charger, 3.941, 324.44 def. Del Worsham, Camry, 4.799, 208.39; Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 3.985, 319.45 def. Tony Pedregon, Camry, 4.601, 213.50; Ron Capps, Charger, 4.125, 321.04 def. Paul Lee, Charger, 5.636, 143.20; John Hale, Charger, 7.417, 89.98 def. Robert Hight, Camaro, DQ; Jack Beckman, Charger, 6.625, 254.90 def. Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 7.468, 122.56; John Bojec, Toyota Solara, 5.095, 230.61 def. Matt Hagan, Charger, 5.891, 273.22; Chad Head, Camry, 5.328, 220.26 def. John Force, Camaro, 7.689, 85.11;
QUARTERFINALS — Bojec, 4.348, 262.95 def. Wilkerson, DQ; Beckman, 3.925, 326.16 def. Johnson Jr., 4.110, 323.50; Capps, 3.969, 324.90 def. C. Pedregon, 7.267, 100.08; Head, 3.964, 321.42 def. Hale, broke;
SEMIFINALS — Head, 3.968, 316.30 def. Bojec, broke; Beckman, 3.897, 326.87 def. Capps, 4.123, 299.66;
FINAL — Beckman, 3.910, 326.79 def. Head, 3.903, 326.16.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE — Larry Morgan, Chevy Camaro, 6.480, 213.84 def. Shane Gray, Camaro, 7.102, 142.18; Jonathan Gray, Camaro, 6.512, 212.73 def. Allen Johnson, Dodge Dart, 6.524, 212.86; Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.670, 199.46 def. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 9.493, 98.05; Jason Line, Camaro, 6.477, 213.91 def. Vincent Nobile, Camaro, 10.320, 79.95; Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.479, 214.31 def. John Gaydosh Jr, Chevrolet Camaro, 6.800, 205.69; Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.498, 213.84 def. Val Smeland, Chevy Cobalt, 6.868, 182.23; V. Gaines, Dart, 6.527, 212.23 def. Drew Skillman, Camaro, 11.143, 79.58; Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.478, 213.77 def. Alan Prusiensky, Dodge Avenger, 6.679, 207.40;
QUARTERFINALS — McGaha, 6.951, 160.38 def. J. Gray, foul; Morgan, 6.500, 213.64 def. Gaines, 6.900, 157.10; Butner, 6.503, 212.53 def. Enders, 6.582, 202.42; Anderson, 6.488, 213.98 def. Line, 6.967, 156.48;
SEMIFINALS — McGaha, 6.503, 213.70 def. Butner, 6.484, 213.74; Anderson, 6.475, 214.38 def.
Morgan, 6.502, 214.21;
FINAL — McGaha, 6.492, 213.64 def. Anderson, 6.484, 214.59.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
ROUND ONE — Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.875, 194.24 def. Hector Arana, Buell, 6.954, 179.21; Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.924, 194.74 def. Angie Smith, 6.984, 187.81; Chip Ellis, Buell, 6.787, 195.59 def. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.854, 194.77; Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.821, 192.77 def. Chaz Kennedy, Buell, 9.068, 94.57; Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 6.822, 196.90 def. Scotty Pollacheck, Buell, 16.865, 38.00; Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.827, 194.66 def. Brian Pretzel, Buell, 7.215, 184.32; Matt Smith, 6.836, 193.82 def. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, 7.940, 120.42;
QUARTERFINALS — M. Smith, 6.858, 192.88 def. Savoie, 6.889, 195.11; Krawiec, 6.808, 195.34 was unopposed; Ellis, 7.932, 129.12 def. Arana Jr, foul; Hines, 6.809, 195.70 def. Stoffer, 7.047, 163.73;
SEMIFINALS — Hines, 6.830, 194.91 def. M. Smith, foul; Ellis, 6.775, 196.47 def. Krawiec, foul;
FINAL — Hines, 6.794, 197.25 def. Ellis, 6.818, 196.39.
UPDATED POINT STANDINGS:
TOP FUEL: 1. Antron Brown, 2,432; 2. Tony Schumacher, 2,338; 3. Brittany Force, 2,238; 4. Larry Dixon, 2,234; 5. Richie Crampton, 2,187; 6. J.R. Todd, 2,181; 7. Shawn Langdon, 2,177; 8. Doug Kalitta, 2,173; 9. Steve Torrence, 2,160; 10. Dave Connolly, 2,158.
FUNNY CAR: 1. Del Worsham, 2,361; 2. Jack Beckman, 2,345; 3. Matt Hagan, 2,271; 4. Tommy Johnson Jr., 2,263; 5. Ron Capps, 2,256; 6. John Force, 2,211; 7. Cruz Pedregon, 2,169; 8. Tim Wilkerson, 2,162; 9. Alexis DeJoria, 2,154; 10. Robert Hight, 2,140.
PRO STOCK: 1. Erica Enders, 2,385; 2. Greg Anderson, 2,313; 3. Chris McGaha, 2,281; 4. Larry Morgan, 2,240; 5. Allen Johnson, 2,227; 6. Drew Skillman, 2,212; 7. Vincent Nobile, 2,187; 8. Jason Line, 2,179; 9. Shane Gray, 2,149; 10. Jonathan Gray, 2,119.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE: 1. Andrew Hines, 2,378; 2. Eddie Krawiec, 2,289; 3. Hector Arana Jr, 2,277; 4. Jerry Savoie, 2,259; 5. Matt Smith, 2,244; 6. Chip Ellis, 2,223; 7. Karen Stoffer, 2,199; 8. Hector Arana, 2,167; 9. Jim Underdahl, 2,126; 10. Scotty Pollacheck, 2,076.
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