Two weeks after it loomed large over the Countdown picture in Charlotte, the NHRA National ET Record – and its crucial 20 bonus points, came into play in Top Fuel on Saturday at the Auto-Select NHRA Nationals.
The rain that was expected to pummel Maple Grove Raceway held off and produced the kind of cool, overcast conditions that nitro engines love. Antron Brown and the Matco Tools Top Fuel dragster team took full advantage by setting the national record with a lap of 3.776 seconds at 325.30 mph.
"We were watching those cars run in front of us," Brown said. "Guys were popping big numbers every pass. We knew (the record) was out there. We tried for it the first session today, but missed on it.
"We are looking good right now. We can set up to go quicker, but tomorrow is about winning rounds, because that is where the championship is really won."
Other No. 1s at Maple Grove include Jason Line in Pro Stock, Johnny Gray in Funny Car and Hector Arana Jr. in Pro Stock Motorcycle.
Brown had his record run backed up from a Friday qualifying pass. If he walks away Sunday with the record in hand, it would be a huge boost to Brown's championship hopes.
"Those extra 20 bonus points would make you sleep a lot better," said Brown, who is second in Top Fuel points, seven behind leader Spencer Massey. "The points race is tight, no matter which way you look at it. There's a thin line between love and hate tomorrow. You want to keep the record, but don’t want to go out there, smoke the tires and lose an early round."
Sunday first round opponent for Brown is No. 16 qualifier Bruce Litton and the Lucas Slick Mist dragster, which had a best pass of 3.888 at 310.70 mph.
Line's qualifying hot streak continued as he was the No. 1 in Pro Stock for the fifth consecutive race. The Summit Racing Pontiac had a best run 6.513 seconds at 211.36 mph.
"Five in a row is very exciting for us," Line said. "I've never done that before. I think I run on fear a lot of the time. The team and I are always in the shop working to make sure we can do it all again next week. Watching other people win and have all the fun is hard to watch, so we're trying to enjoy (the success) myself right now."
Johnny Gray let loose a 4.010 second pass at 318.62 mph in the Service Central Dodge Charger during Saturday's final qualifying session to lock up the first No. 1 of his career.
"They took a shot at it," Gray said. "The track was awesome, the air is good. Some of the guys were getting down, some weren't. They just gave me a hot rod. All I did was sit in it and hit it."
Gray will race No. 16 qualifier Leah Pruett and the ProCare Rx Toyota in Sunday's first round. Pruett, who qualified for her first career pro race, had a best pass of 4.644 at 212.43 mph.
Arana piloted the Lucas Oil Buell to a best lap of 6.824 seconds at 195.48 mph. It's the fifth time this season the rookie has been the No. 1 qualifier this season.
"After Dallas, when we got back to the shop, we found there was a cam sensor that was going bad," Arana said. "That was throwing our timing off, which is the reason why we slowed down in the finals.
"In Q2, when I almost went over the handlebars, that's what happened again. It completely lost signal, and the motor completely shut off. We took it to Larry Morgan's (pit), and we welded it up. It'll no longer come loose. We've got that problem fixed."
Arana faces the Rum Bum Buell ridden by Bailey Whitaker. Whitaker's best pass was 6.946 seconds at 191.24 mph.
Eliminations for the Auto-Select NHRA Nationals get under way at 11 a.m. EDT Sunday.
