Antron Brown
| Antron Brown | |
|---|---|
|
Brown signing autographs in 2010 | |
| Nationality | American |
| Born |
March 1, 1976 Chesterfield, New Jersey, U.S. |
| NHRA Top Fuel career | |
| Current team | Don Schumacher Racing |
| Car no. | Matco Tools |
| Former teams |
David Powers Motorsports Team 23 Racing |
| Starts | 164 |
| Championships | 3 |
| Wins | 45 (Top Fuel), 16 (Pro Stock Motorcycle) |
| Poles | 44 |
| Fastest laps | 3.680 seconds (331.12 mph) (Aug. 23, 2015, Brainerd, Mn.) |
| Best finish | 1st in 2012, 2015, 2016 |
| Previous series | |
| Pro Stock Motorcycle | |
| Last updated on: November 3, 2015. | |
Antron Brown (born c, 1976) is an American drag racer, currently driving the Matco Tools Toyota for Don Schumacher Racing in NHRA's Top Fuel division. He is known for winning the 2012, 2015 and 2016 Top Fuel championships. Antron is the sport's first African American champion.[1][2]
Early life
Brown lived in Trenton, New Jersey until age six, when his family moved to his grandmother's 10-acre farm in rural Chesterfield Township, New Jersey following the death of his grandfather.[3] His father Albert ran a septic tank service, and was a drag racer at the sportsman level along with Antron's uncle Andre. Antron maintained the cars as a child and began racing motorcycles at age six and motocross at age 12, practicing on a course he built on the farm. He ran his first competitive drag race as a high school senior.[3][4]
Brown studied at Northern Burlington County Regional High School before becoming a track star at Mercer County Community College in New Jersey as a sprinter and long jumper, graduating in 1997 with an associate's degree in business administration. After being offered a full scholarship to run track for Long Island University, he was contacted by football player Troy Vincent (married to Brown's cousin) who was starting a racing team.[5]
Racing career
Brown raced in the NHRA's Pro Stock Motorcycle division from 1998 to 2007, running his first three years with Vincent's Team 23 Racing. Brown won 16 events in the motorcycle division, and had a best finish of 2nd in points in 2001 and 2006.[4] In 2008 he switched to Top Fuel dragsters.[5] Brown won the Top Fuel championship in 2012, 2015, and 2016.[2]
Personal life
Brown currently resides in Pittsboro, Indiana with his wife Billie Jo and three children, Anson, Adler, and Arianna.[4] He is also an extremely devout Christian.
In popular culture
Brown had an appearance as an appraiser in episode 8 ("The Fast and The Curious") of the third season of the A&E reality show Storage Wars. He also appeared in episode 3 of Idris Elba: No Limits as Elba's drag racing instructor.
References
- ↑ Geiger, Rob (November 26, 2012). "First Timers". Autoweek. 62 (24): 68–69. ISSN 0192-9674.
- 1 2 "Brown & Enders Lock Up Championships". National Speed Sport News. Turn 3 Media LLC. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
- 1 2 Caldwell, Dave. "Sprinter Turned Driver Is a Quick Study in Acceleration", The New York Times, August 30, 2009. Accessed November 26, 2013. "Brown, a 33-year-old native of Chesterfield, N.J., could become the first African-American to win a major N.H.R.A. championship.... Brown lived in Trenton until he was 6. When his grandfather died, his family moved to his grandmother’s 10-acre farm in Chesterfield, in the rural part of Burlington County."
- 1 2 3 "ABOUT ANTRON BROWN: Matco Tools Top Fuel Dragste". [www.shoeracing.com Don Schumacher Racing]. Don Schumacher Racing. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
- 1 2 Hoppes, Lynn (November 30, 2012). "Antron Brown's path to history wasn't easy". ESPN Playbook. ESPN. Retrieved December 21, 2012.