NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Five wins at the world’s biggest drag race have put Antron Brown on the path to becoming a Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals legend. He’s rolled to back-to-back wins at the Big Go, and a third straight victory would continue to build an already impressive legacy at the prestigious event.
 
Brown gets that opportunity at this weekend’s 70th annual Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, as the three-time world champion looks to become the first driver since Tony Schumacher (2007-2009) to pick up three consecutive victories on drag racing’s grandest stage.
 
His Toyota teammate, Funny Car driver Ron Capps, and Pro Stock Motorcycle’s Matt Smith will also try to do the same in Indy this year, but a sixth Indy victory would put Brown among the sport’s elite. Only six other drivers have won six times in Indy, and it’s a class Brown could join with another victory this weekend at the Big Go in his 11,000-horsepower Matco Tools/Toyota dragster.
 
“I’m super excited for the Toyota U.S. Nationals. It’s so cool to be able to participate in the 70th running of this historic event, especially with it now being a Toyota race,” said Brown, who enjoyed two Indy wins in Pro Stock Motorcycle early in his career. “We’re really striving hard right now. Our team is peaking at the right time, and we’d love to pull off the undeniable turkey here, so that’s what we’re going in to do. That’s our game plan.
 
“We’ve won here the last two years, and we’re going to try and continue that streak. The points are really tight, and we’re working hard to push to be into that top four going into the Countdown [to the Championship]. We’re going to give it all we’ve got and see what we can do. Our Matco Tools Toyota team is ready to go.”
 
Brown (Top Fuel), Capps (Funny Car), Matt Hartford (Pro Stock), and Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all claimed NHRA U.S. Nationals victories in 2023, and this year’s race will again be broadcast on FOX and FS1, including a special Pep Boys NHRA Funny Car All-Star Callout broadcast on FOX at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday and eliminations coverage on FOX beginning at 2 p.m. on Monday. It is the 14th of 20 races during the 2024 campaign and the final race in the regular season, and plenty is on the line at the prestigious race.

 
Along with the chance at Indy glory, it’s a points-and-a-half race, meaning Brown and the other standouts could make a big move in the standings. He’s currently fifth in points, but only 14 out of fourth and 82 out of third, and a considerable jump could be in place with a stellar weekend.
 
That’s the goal, but nothing comes in easy in Top Fuel, which features a wealth of talent and 20 overall dragsters in Indy, including points leader and reigning world champion Doug Kalitta, Shawn Langdon, Brainerd winner Justin Ashley, four-time champ Steve Torrence, Clay Millican, motorsports legend and NHRA rookie Tony Stewart, Tony Schumacher, whose 10 Indy victories are the most in NHRA history, and Brittany Force.
 
But Brown has always performed well when it matters most, evidenced by his back-to-back Indy triumphs. He’s already won three times in 2024 (Chicago, Norwalk, and Sonoma), and the 77-time event winner has no plans of slowing down at the Big Go.
 
“It’s always been a plan in motion to try and peak at the right time, and our car has been running exceptionally well,” Brown said. “That’s a tribute to our team. The U.S. Nationals is our last race to get in the position we need to get in heading into the Countdown.
 
“We’re trying to get back to that true form, and I believe we’re there. What makes the class so different today is now you have 10-12 cars that are good every race, and there’s at least 14 cars that can win a race.”

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature one round at 6:45 p.m. ET on Friday, Aug. 30, two rounds at noon and 2:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Aug. 31 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Sunday, Sept. 1 at noon and 3 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 10 a.m. ET on Monday, Sept 2.

Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 1 p.m. ET on Friday and 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, and eliminations beginning at noon on FS1 on Monday, shifting to FOX at 2 p.m.
 
To purchase tickets to the 70th annual Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals, fans can visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. All children 12 and under will be admitted free in the general-admission area with a paid adult.