Toyota NHRA Las Vegas Four-Wide Preview

BROWN LOOKS TO MAKE IT THREE IN ROW AT THE STRIP – Antron Brown will be looking to win his third consecutive spring race at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend. Brown defeated Tony Schumacher in last year’s final and Troy Buff in 2016. He also won the 2011 spring event, as well as the 2013 Toyota Nationals fall race. Brown could become just the fourth driver in history to earn 50 Top Fuel wins with a victory at this weekend’s Four-Wide Nationals.  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.

CRAMPTON RETURNS TO VEGAS ON A HIGH NOTE – A year ago at this time, Richie Crampton didn’t know if he’d ever be back behind the wheel of a Top Fuel car after the Morgan Lucas Racing team closed its doors following the 2016 season. This year, Crampton returns to The Strip fresh off a victory at the Gatornationals. The win was his first since joining Kalitta Motorsports late last season and his eighth overall. He won five races in 2015, including the spring race in Las Vegas and was the NHRA Rookie of the Year in 2014. He enters this weekend’s action sixth in the point standings.

LANGDON LOOKS TO KEEP CLIMBING – Just three races into his Funny Car career, 2013 Top Fuel world champion Shawn Langdon is already making a name for himself as a contender in his new endeavor. Despite starting the season after having just one test under his belt since earning his Funny Car license last Fall, Langdon has already advanced to two semi-finals in his first three races, including the last two at Gainesville and Phoenix. 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. He enters this weekend’s event just 11 points outside of a spot in the top-five.

Talking Vegas Four-Wide:

Antron Brown: “One thing about Vegas is that it always seems like that’s where we hit our stride at. It’s the fourth race of the year and we start to get back in the groove – including myself. The track has always been good. This year, there’s a new kink in the works as we’re going out there and going to race four wide. There’s a lot going on, but that’s right in our wheelhouse. The difference in racing four wide compared to two wide is there’s just a lot going on. It’s like a battle royale. You want to qualify well to get lane choice. There’s a big advantage in getting the first lane choice.”

Richie Crampton: “It’s going to be pretty exciting to do the four wide in Las Vegas. That’s always been a great race. I think four wide is going to make it even more exciting for both the racers and the fans. We’ve been lucky to get the trophy at the spring Las Vegas race in 2015 and we’re going to try to do it again. I like the four wides, so I like our chances here.”

Cruz Pedregon: “I’m a fan of the four wide and I’m glad that they made it happen in Las Vegas. It’s a fun format. It looks like we’ll have four equal lanes. It’s something I’m looking forward to. It also starts the busy time of the year. It’s going to be great for fans on the west coast to see a four-wide.”