Brown, Matco team advance to Gatornationals final; Capps, NAPA team lead DSR with semifinals finish

GAINESVILLE, FL – Antron Brown came within one round of defending his NHRA Gatornationals Top Fuel title Sunday at Gainesville, Fla., and winning his second straight race of the season, but the solid performance by the Matco Tools team enabled him to move up one spot to second in the points standings.

Antron qualified second and advanced to the championship round but lost traction against Doug Kalitta. Antron remains the hottest Top Fuel driver with three titles in the past seven events.

Antron was the only one of seven DSR drivers to advance past the semifinals in the third event of the 24-race Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.

Ron Capps and the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T team advanced to the semifinals to lead the DSR Funny Cars.

TOP FUEL
Event winner: Doug Kalitta (Kalitta Motorsports)
No. 1 Qualifier: Shawn Langdon (Al-Anabi Racing), 3.776 sec., 325.37 mph

ANTRON BROWN, Matco Tools Top Fuel Dragster
Qualified: No. 2
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS
First Round: BROWN (3.830 sec., 319.14 mph) def. Sidnei Frigo (8.088, 88.66); Quarterfinals: BROWN (3.810, 321.42) def. Tony Schumacher (5.798, 124.20); Semifinals: BROWN (3.847, 315.71) def. Morgan Lucas (5.410, 132.18); FINAL: Doug Kalitta (3.830, 323.74) def. BROWN (5.106, 147.50)
QUALIFYING
FRIDAY: 4.241 sec., 210.41 mph, (Session 1); 3.836, 315.78 (Session 2)
SATURDAY: 3.868, 307.58 (Session 3); 3.804, 320.43, (Session 4)

TONY SCHUMACHER, U.S. Army Top Fuel Dragster
Qualified: No. 7
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS
First Round: SCHUMACHER (3.820 sec., 320.36 mph) def. Leah Pritchett (3.855, 318.24); Quarterfinals: Antron Brown (3.810, 321.42) def. SCHUMACHER (5.798, 124.20)
QUALIFYING
FRIDAY: 3.816 sec., 316.97 mph, (Session 1); 7.100, 82.57 (Session 2)
SATURDAY: 3.895, 318.02, (Session 3); 3.839, 323.19 (Session 4)

SPENCER MASSEY, Battery Extender Powered by Schumacher Top Fuel Dragster
Qualified: No. 11
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS
First Round: MASSEY (3.876 sec., 317.64 mph) def. Bob Vandergriff (4.561, 169.17); Quarterfinals: MASSEY (3.933, 314.31) def. Morgan Lucas (5.410, 132.18)
QUALIFYING
FRIDAY: 4.239 sec., 208.52 mph, (Session 1); 7.308, 78.80 (Session 2)
SATURDAY: 3.861, 320.36, (Session 3); 3.900, 316.45 (Session 4)

FUNNY CAR
Event winner: Robert Hight (John Force Racing)
No. 1 Qualifier: Cruz Pedregon (Cruz Pedregon Racing) 4.068 sec., 308.21 mph

JACK BECKMAN, Sandvik Coromant/Valvoline Dodge Charger R/T
Qualified: No. 3
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS
First Round: BECKMAN (4.080 sec., 307.51 mph) def. Alexis DeJoria (redlight, 4.135, 306.46); Quarterfinals: Ron Capps (4.136, 307.16) def. BECKMAN (5.844, 121.34)
QUALIFYING
FRIDAY: 4.108 sec., 275.96 mph, (Session 1); 4.229, 242.67(Session 2)
SATURDAY: 4.772, 169.72, (Session 3); 4.141, 305.15 (Session 4)

RON CAPPS, NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger R/T
Qualified: No. 6
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS
First Round: CAPPS (4.132 sec., 308.14 mph) def. Jeff Arend (4.561, 194.07); Quarterfinals: CAPPS (4.136, 307.16) def. Jack Beckman (5.844, 121.34); SEMIFINALS: Robert Hight (4.168, 301.20) def. CAPPS (7.663, 89.63)
QUALIFYING
FRIDAY: 4.157 sec., 288.03 mph, (Session 1); 4.121, 302.14 (Session 2)
SATURDAY: 6.731, 94.45, (Session 3); 4.949, 156.19 (Session 4)

MATT HAGAN, Mopar Express Lane/Rocky Boots Dodge Charger R/T
Qualified: No. 12
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS
First Round: Courtney Force (4.102 sec., 315.56 mph) def. HAGAN (4.307, 226.92)
QUALIFYING
FRIDAY: 8.677 sec., 81.89 mph, (Session 1); 4.189, 288.95 (Session 2)
SATURDAY: 6.731, 94.45, (Session 3); 4.144, 295.01 (Session 4)

Tommy Johnson Jr., Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger R/T
Qualified: No. 9
SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS
First Round: Del Worsham (4.117 sec., 308.92 mph) def. JOHNSON (4.157, 303.78)
QUALIFYING
FRIDAY: 5.180 sec., 142.73 mph, (Session 1); 5.075, 147.96 (Session 2)
SATURDAY: 4.223, 273.33, (Session 3); 4.130, 309.20 (Session 4)