Toyota NHRA Gainesville Preview

BROWN IN POSITION FOR MILESTONE VICTORY – Antron Brown can become just the fourth driver in history to earn 50 Top Fuel wins with at this weekend’s Gatornationals.  He would join Tony Schumacher, Larry Dixon and Joe Amato.  Since 2012, the three-time world champion has won twice the number of races (34) than the next highest Top Fuel driver (17) in that time period.

Antron Brown: “After I retire then I can look back on the numbers, but right now we’re still looking forward rather than behind us. I’m real excited about getting out to the Gatornationals. It’s a big deal. It’s one of the biggest races we go to and there’s just so much history there. It’s known for setting miles per hour records, world records and our Matco Tools/Toyota team is looking forward to getting out there and making it do what it do.”

LANGDON PROGRESSING QUICKLY – After announcing his move to Funny Cars last Fall, 2013 Top Fuel World Champion Shawn Langdon didn’t have his first extensive test in a Funny Car until Spring Training the week before the season-opener at Pomona. With only one major test under his belt, Langdon advanced to his first semi-final in just his second race at Phoenix.  In the process, he ran three of the top eight Funny Car passes on race day (out of 30 FC runs) – and in two of the three rounds he ran, he had the quickest reaction time as well. Langdon’s quick adjustment should come as no surprise considering he has won national championships at every level he’s raced – Junior Dragsters, Sportsman and then Top Fuel.

Shawn Langdon “We are making gains. We are learning as a group. I am growing as a driver. At this point, I am trying to take it step by step. We’re going to have a good year. This team is going to be dangerous this season. I feel it and I’m excited for it.”

KALITTA LOOKS FOR FOURTH GATORNATIONSL WIN – Doug Kalitta heads to Gainesville this weekend looking for his fourth Gatornationals Top Fuel victory, just one behind all-time leader Tony Schumacher. Kalitta registered victories at the track in 2014, 2005 and 2000.  After winning the season-opener at the Winternationals in Pomona, Kalitta now has registered at least one Top Fuel victory in each of the last six seasons and in 18 of 21 overall. The Mac Tools Toyota driver has 44 career Top Fuel victories – good for fifth all-time.

WORSHAM HOLDS RARE GATORNATIONALS DISTINCTION – Del Worsham enters this week’s action as one of just two drivers, along with the legendary Kenny Bernstein, to win the Gatornationals in both Top Fuel (2011) and Funny Car (2004).