Toyota NHRA Chicago Preview

BROWN LOOKS FOR REPEAT IN CHICAGO – Antron Brown will not only be looking to defend his 2016 Route 66 Nationals crown this weekend, but also to earn his fourth victory in the last six years at the Chicago area track (he also won in 2012 and 2014).

Brown edged J.R. Todd in an all-Toyota Top Fuel final to win last year’s event after earlier eliminating Clay Millican, Terry McMillen and Leah Pritchett.  In the final vs. Todd, he had the advantage at the tree and never trailed in registering a 3.777-second pass.  With the victory, Brown would take a point lead that he never relinquished on his way to the 2016 Top Fuel world championship.

Over the past five-plus seasons, Brown has won three world titles and 32 Top Fuel events – double the total of the next highest Top Fuel driver, Tony Schumacher.

KALITTA EYES RETURN TO CHICAGO WINNER’S CIRCLE – After advancing to the finals at Norwalk, Doug Kalitta is trending upward as he heads to a track where he’s enjoyed considerable success.  The Mac Tools Toyota driver has earned three victories in Chicago, winning in 2002, 2004 and 2006.  After winning four races last season, Kalitta is still looking for his first win of the 2017 campaign. He has reached two final rounds and gone to the semi-finals or beyond six times in 12 races.

PEDREGON/WORSHAM BATTLE CONTINUES – Cruz Pedregon will take a five-point advantage over Del Worsham into Chicago as the two Toyota Camry drivers continue to battle for the final Funny Car playoff berth. Chicago will mark the third consecutive race that the two have entered where they have been separated by seven points or less.

TOYOTA TOP FUELERS SHINE IN CHI-TOWN – Dating back to 2010, Toyota-sponsored Top Fuel drivers have won five of the last seven Route 66 Nationals.  Antron Brown won in 2012, 2014 and 2016, while Larry Dixon was victorious in 2010 and Del Worsham took home the Wally in 2011.  Worsham joins Gary Scelzi as the only drivers in history to win in both Top Fuel and Funny Car at Route 66 Raceway.

TALKING ROUTE 66:

Antron Brown: “Chicago has been a good track for us – we’ve won there three times. We always want to do well there because that’s the boss, Don Schumacher’s home track.  The track surface is always great and the fans are incredible out there. It’s also a Toyota-sponsored track so when we’re getting ready to run the track, we’re always thinking Let’s Go Places. It cools off quickly in Chicago on Friday night and qualifying can make or break you. That sets you up for the whole race weekend, so Friday night is an absolutely crucial run.  The pressure is going to be on – and that’s when our Matco Tools/Toyota team always shines.”

Doug Kalitta: “I’ve had good luck in Chicago. It’s another one of places that’s close to our headquarters in Ypsilanti, Michigan, so it’s good for us – especially as we prepare for the Western Swing up next. A lot of people connected with the team also can get a chance to get out to see it. Jim Oberhofer and our Mac Tools/Toyota guys have our car qualifying well, we just need to be ready for the hot track on Sunday. We’re gunning for a win and Chicago’s been good to us, so we’ll see what happens.”