Four-time Top Fuel world champion and AB Motorsports team owner Antron Brown advanced to the quarterfinals of the NHRA Midwest Nationals during a weekend-long celebration at World Wide Technology Raceway, where the five-time event winner qualified second.
Before the opening qualifying session, Brown was recognized as one of Gateway’s Greatest and celebrated as one of NHRA’s Top 75 Drivers. He was presented with a diamond-shaped commemorative award honoring his accomplishments throughout his NHRA career.
Brown opened qualifying with a 3.726-second pass at 335.90 mph, placing him fourth after the first session. Under the lights Friday night, he improved to a 3.704 at 334.90 mph to move into the No. 2 position and earn two bonus points.
Before Saturday’s third qualifying session, local Scouting America members visited the AB Motorsports pit for a STEM-focused learning experience. The Scouts then formed a “Scout Send-Off Tunnel” as Brown and the team departed the pit for Q3. Brown’s dragster dropped cylinders during the run, prompting him to lift to a 3.821 at 322.42 mph.
The AB Motorsports team rebounded in the final qualifying session, recording a consistent 3.769 at 337.24 mph to secure the No. 2 starting position. Following the run, Brown joined the NHRA.TV and in-venue broadcast as part of his weekend-long celebration.
Brown opened race day against Clay Millican. The Matco Tools driver made a clean 3.735-second pass at 336.15 mph, while Millican encountered immediate tire smoke and slowed to a 4.529 at 173.45 mph.
In the quarterfinals, Brown lined up against Shawn Reed in the left lane, which had challenged several teams throughout the day. Brown’s Matco Tools Eagle Experience dragster began hazing the tires shortly after the starting line, forcing him to lift and coast to a 7.850 at 81.93 mph. Reed advanced with a 3.758 at 332.10 mph.
“The weekend was really good. We qualified well at No. 2, right where we wanted to be, and first round, we went down nice and smooth,” Brown said. “Just like my scripture said this morning, we’ve got to be patient. On that next run, we were still working some things out in the bellhousing. Sometimes it has a mind of its own. If we can get that worked out, we’re going to be right there in a position to win some drag races.
“We’ve got three races left, and our goal is to go out there and try to win all three of them. We’ve got to get our car back to where it needs to be, and it’s right there. It runs so freaking good when it does, and when it doesn’t, it kicks us in the butt.”
The fourth stop in the six-race Countdown to the Championship is the NHRA Texas FallNationals, taking place Oct. 16-18 at Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Texas. Brown and the AB Motorsports team will compete during the second weekend of the “Stampede of Speed.”
This story was originally published on October 5, 2026.
The post Antron Brown Takes Positives From NHRA Midwest Nationals After Quarterfinal Finish, Focuses on Final Countdown Races first appeared on Drag Illustrated.
