TOP FUEL STANDOUT ANTRON BROWN AIMING TO CONTINUE COUNTDOWN TURNAROUND AT MAPLE GROVE RACEWAY AT NHRA NATIONALS

MOHNTON, Pa. – Antron Brown knew he needed something big to happen to have a realistic shot at a 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championship.

The Top Fuel star delivered just that in St. Louis and now is hungry for more heading into the second half of the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship. After three straight first-round losses, including a pair of opening-round defeats to open the Countdown, Brown rebounded with a huge victory on Sunday in St. Louis.

That bumped the 2012 Top Fuel world champion up to fourth in the points standings, but Brown wants to keep the good vibes going as his 10,000-horsepower Matco Tools dragster has regained its championship form. He will get that chance at one of the quickest and fastest strips on the NHRA circuit at this weekend’s 30th annual NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway.

“We came into (St. Louis) and knew our backs were against the wall,” Brown said. “We’ve just been struggling the last four races. We’ve been working hard, and no matter what we did, the car wasn’t cooperating with us. You have to be in the zone, and we definitely weren’t in the zone the first two races of the Countdown. But we got it back.”

Shawn Langdon (Top Fuel), John Force (Funny Car), Jeg Coughlin (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winners of the event that will once again be televised nationally on ESPN2. It is the fourth of six events in the Countdown.

It’s also a place where Brown has had plenty of notable runs even if he is still searching for his first victory at the track. Brown, who has three final-round appearances at Maple Grove Raceway, set the national E.T. record at the track in 2012 with a blistering run of 3.701. After picking up his third straight victory in St. Louis, Brown is eager to head to another facility where he has had success.

“Some tracks you go to, you just feel more comfortable,” Brown said. “The rest of the tracks for the rest of the year fit our style, and that’s the good part about it. We’ve done well and can do well in Reading, can do well in Las Vegas and can do well in Pomona.”

Doing well late in the season might not have mattered had Brown not reversed course at a pivotal time during the season. After racking up five wins during a banner regular season in the loaded Top Fuel class, Brown and his team, led by crew chiefs Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald, fell on rough times heading into the Countdown, losing in the first round at the prestigious Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals before bowing out in the first round in Charlotte and Dallas to start the NHRA playoffs.

Needing a major turnaround, Brown responded in championship fashion, capping an impressive day in St. Louis with a final-round win against reigning world champion Langdon for his sixth victory of the season. Sitting in eighth after his troubles in Dallas, Brown, who has 47 career wins, is now in fourth and just 80 points behind teammate Tony Schumacher with three races remaining.

“It shows you how brutal this class is,” Brown said. “This class is incredible when it comes to the competition involved, and anybody can win. These guys in the Countdown, they’re coming out, and they’re playing hard because we all want to win a championship. We’re back into that fighting mode with three races left. We have to keep on pushing because it’s still anybody’s race out there.”

Brown had everything going in St. Louis, including a number of great reaction times on the starting line during eliminations, and he is eager to carry that over to Reading, where the Top Fuel field will again be full of championship talent.

Langdon, second in points, won in Reading last year en route to his first Top Fuel world championship; other challengers include Schumacher, who has four wins at Maple Grove Raceway; Doug Kalitta, who has advanced to nine finals in 2014; Spencer Massey; Brittany Force; 2012 winner Khalid alBalooshi; rookie Richie Crampton; Steve Torrence and J.R. Todd.

“Every race is decided on your whole package, so I try to leave nothing on the table,” Brown said. “My team is doing a stout job, and I just want to be on my game to hold up my end of the bargain. When you put those things together, that’s what wins races. We’re focused on what our car needs to do to get the job done.”

In Funny Car one year ago, John Force won in Reading and set the stage to claim his 16th world championship. Force, the current points leader, has raced to seven victories at Maple Grove Raceway, the most for a driver in any professional class. Standing in his way of another championship are teammates Robert Hight and Courtney Force, whose two straight victories moved her to second, as well as Matt Hagan, Ron Capps, Alexis DeJoria, Cruz Pedregon, Tommy Johnson Jr., Tim Wilkerson and Del Worsham.

In Pro Stock, Coughlin defeated teammate Allen Johnson to win at Maple Grove Raceway last year, a victory that became one of the differences in Coughlin claiming his fifth Pro Stock world championship. He is chasing points leader and two-time event winner Jason Line, as is the rest of a talented Countdown field consisting of Dave Connolly, who has won back-to-back events to climb to second in points, Shane Gray, Jonathan Gray, Erica Enders-Stevens, V Gaines, Vincent Nobile and Chris McGaha.

Smith, who is looking for his first win of 2014, was victorious in Reading in Pro Stock Motorcycle last season en route to his second world championship. This year, teammates Andrew Hines and Eddie Krawiec have been the class of the field during the regular season. Hines is the points leader in the two-wheel category, and Krawiec is second. Others nipping at Hines’ heels in hopes of a championship are Angie Smith, Hector Arana Jr., Hector Arana Sr., Michael Ray, Scotty Pollacheck, John Hall and Steve Johnson.

As always, fans will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers as they’re granted an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. This unique opportunity in motorsports gives fans direct access to the teams, allowing them to see firsthand the highly skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds and enjoy some cherished face time with and get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers.

Fans also will want to visit NHRA’s popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create a carnival atmosphere with interactive displays, simulated competitions, merchandise, food and fun for the entire family.

The event will also feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.

Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying begins Friday, Oct. 3, with sessions at 1:15 and 4:15 p.m. The final two qualifying sessions will take place Saturday, Oct. 4, at 11:15 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 5.

To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call Maple Grove Raceway at (610) 856-7200 or visit www.maplegroveraceway.com. For more information about the NHRA, visit www.NHRA.com.

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NHRA NATIONALS FACT SHEET

WHAT: 30th annual NHRA Nationals, the 22nd of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and the fourth of six races in the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship playoffs. Drivers in four categories – Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle – earn points leading to 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships.

WHERE: Maple Grove Raceway, Mohnton, Pa. Track is located off the Pennsylvania Turnpike (Exit 298), 10 miles south of Reading, Pa.

WHEN: Thursday through Sunday, Oct. 2-5

SCHEDULE:

THURSDAY, Oct. 2 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying

FRIDAY, Oct. 3 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying

MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 1:15 and 4:15 p.m.

SATURDAY, Oct. 4 – LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations

MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 11:15 a.m. and 2:15 p.m.

SUNDAY, Oct. 5 – Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.

MELLO YELLO SERIES eliminations begin at 11 a.m.

TELEVISION:

Sunday, Oct. 5, ESPN2 will televise 90 minutes of coverage starting at 3:30 a.m. (ET).

Sunday, Oct. 5, ESPN2 will re-air 90 minutes of qualifying coverage at 4:30 p.m. (ET).

Sunday, Oct. 5, ESPN2 will televise three hours of coverage starting at 8 p.m. (ET).

SATELLITE: (Digital HD feed)

Friday, Oct. 3, 7:30 – 8 p.m. (ET), SES 2/ Transponder 04C

Saturday, Oct. 4, 6 – 6:30 p.m. (ET), SES 2/ Transponder 04C

Sunday, Oct. 5, 6:30 – 7 p.m. (ET), SES 2/ Transponder 04C

(3780 MHz, vertical; Data Rate: 40.46147055 Mbp; Symbol Rate: 29.27 Ms; FEC: ¾; Bandwidth: 36 Mhz)

Video news release contains race action highlights each day and winners’ interviews on Sunday.

2013 EVENT WINNERS:

Shawn Langdon, Top Fuel; John Force, Funny Car; Jeg Coughlin, Pro Stock; Matt Smith, Pro Stock Motorcycle.

MOST VICTORIES:

John Force, FC, 7; Angelle Sampey, PSM, 6; Jeg Coughlin, PS, 4; Warren Johnson, PS, 4; Tony Schumacher, TF, 4

TRACK RECORDS:

Top Fuel – 3.701 sec. by Antron Brown, Oct. ’12; 334.15 mph by Shawn Langdon, Oct. ’12

Funny Car – 3.986 sec. by Jack Beckman, Oct. ’12; 323.50 mph by John Force, Oct. ’13

Pro Stock – 6.477 sec. by Jason Line, Oct. ’11; 214.35 mph by Line, Oct. ’12

Pro Stock Motorcycle- 6.728 sec. and 198.73 mph by Andrew Hines, Oct. ’12

NATIONAL RECORDS:

Top Fuel – 3.701 sec. by Antron Brown, Oct. ‘12, Reading, Pa.; 332.18 mph by Spencer Massey, April ’12, Charlotte, N.C.

Funny Car – 3.965 sec. and 324.12 mph by John Force, Feb. ’14, Pomona, Calif.

Pro Stock – 6.464 sec. and 215.55 mph by Erica Enders-Stevens, May ‘14, Englishtown N.J.

PS Motorcycle – 6.728 sec. by Andrew Hines, Oct. ’12, Reading, Pa.; 199.26 mph by Eddie Krawiec, March ’11, Gainesville, Fla.

TICKETS: For tickets call (610) 856-7200. Tickets also are available at www.maplegroveraceway.com.

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NHRA MELLO YELLO COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS

GLENDORA, Calif. — Point standings (top 10) following the 21st of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and the third of six playoff races in the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship-

Top Fuel: 1. Tony Schumacher, 2,337; 2. Shawn Langdon, 2,280; 3. Steve Torrence, 2,266; 4. Antron Brown, 2,257; 5. Doug Kalitta, 2,250; 6. J.R. Todd, 2,228; 7. Spencer Massey, 2,199; 8. Khalid alBalooshi,2,188; 9. Richie Crampton, 2,125; 10. Brittany Force, 2,085.

Funny Car: 1. John Force, 2,344; 2. Courtney Force, 2,314; 3. Matt Hagan, 2,302; 4. Robert Hight, 2,253; 5. Ron Capps, 2,218; 6. Tommy Johnson Jr., 2,216; 7. Alexis DeJoria, 2,196; 8. Del Worsham, 2,193; 9. Tim Wilkerson, 2,155; 10. Cruz Pedregon, 2,135.

Pro Stock: 1. Jason Line, 2,364; 2. Dave Connolly, 2,338; 3. Erica Enders-Stevens, 2,297; 4. Shane Gray, 2,256; 5. Jonathan Gray, 2,245; 6. Vincent Nobile, 2,241; 7. Jeg Coughlin, 2,231; 8. Allen Johnson, 2,220; 9. V. Gaines, 2,155; 10. Chris McGaha, 2,104.

Pro Stock Motorcycle: 1. Andrew Hines, 2,400; 2. Eddie Krawiec, 2,343; 3. Hector Arana Jr, 2,256; 4. Steve Johnson, 2,253; 5. Matt Smith, 2,202; 6. John Hall, 2,191; 7t. Hector Arana, 2,176; 7t. Scotty Pollacheck, 2,176; 9. Angie Smith, 2,125; 10. Michael Ray, 2,071.