Brown Scores All-Star Callout Payday In Gainesville

Antron Brown won Saturday's Pep Boys All-Star Callout special event for the Top Fuel class. (NHRA photo)

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Antron Brown picked up the victory in the Pep Boys NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout on Saturday at Gainesville Raceway in front of a capacity crowd.

The three-time Top Fuel champion knocked off Brittany Force in the final round of the specialty race as part of the 55th Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville’s historic dragstrip.

Brown went 3.709 seconds at 332.43 mph in his 11,000-horsepower Matco Tools Toyota dragster, taking down Force’s 3.730 at 328.70.

It gave Brown, who defeated Langdon and Steve Torrence earlier in the day, his first Pep Boys All-Star Callout victory, a big payday in the specialty event, and a stellar way to start his NHRA season.

“Our guys had a chance to keep picking at it, and keep picking at it, and we knew it was going to be a tough round against Brittany, another world champion,” Brown said. “Everyone we raced today was a world champion. We knew we had to step it up against her, but we had the added pressure of qualifying. So, to go out there and do what we did and run that 3.709 and move up to fourth on the ladder and get this Pep Boys All-Star Callout win is pretty special.

“It’s going to be tough competition on race day. The field is tight, but hopefully we can parlay that and get better tomorrow,” added Brown. “We’ve been getting better and better with each lap, and that’s when you get dangerous. I’m focused, and my boys are giving me a hot rod that can do the job, and that’s what it takes.

“We have an incredible team and we’re looking forward to this season.”

Force defeated defending Top Fuel champion Doug Kalitta and Mike Salinas before her loss to Brown in the All-Star Callout final round.