Hello all of my NHRA.com Nitroholics! The brothaman is back on the blog and I’m still in Florida. We finished up testing in South Florida on Saturday evening and the brothaman is staying in the “Sunshine State” for a few extra days. You all know I race RC boats, and that’s what I’m doing here. It’s a good way to rewind and relax after our week of testing. And, I get to stay competitive at the RC boat Winternationals near Tampa. My wife, Billie, flies in today and she’s going to do the Disney World thing with some friends while I race boats.
Testing went really well. I have to say I’m proud of my Matco Tools boys for all of their hard work, and it was a lot of work. We made at least 20 runs in five days. We had a great Matco Tools dinner while I was there, but I was way late for it because we made a night run on Thursday. But, I stayed late to make up for it and spend the time with our Matco distributors and customers. We don’t get to South Florida very often, so it’s cool to spend some time with some of the distributors that I only see at Tool Expo.
Our best lap was a 3.794 at 324 mph on Friday night when we had the Aaron’s Lucky Dog colors on the car. We got stronger as the week went on and I think we have a great idea of how to start off strong in 2012 at Pomona in a few weeks. We did a lot of testing and learned a lot in the bell housing and with the fuel system.
Testing was not only busy because of all the test runs and work at the track but I had a Toyota Racing photo shoot too. Those shoots are always fun and I got to hang with my boys Morgan Lucas and Brandon Bernstein that morning. Mark Rebilas, who shoots for Toyota, did the photo shoot. If you haven’t seen Mark’s work, check him out on Facebook. Mark is an amazing artist and I know you’ll enjoy his work. Speaking of Toyota Racing drivers, I need to get back to Indy so I can hit the court and hoop it up against Shawn Langdon. Don’t let “Boo Bear” fool you, he’s tricky quick on the court with his backdoor cuts.
The last time I blogged was right around the holidays, which was great for us. We went to Louisiana for Christmas with my wife’s family. My co-crew chief Mark Oswald has a place in Louisiana too, so we were able to get together and hang out. We had remote control airplanes that we got out and started flying. It went well for a little bit but it ended up like a demolition derby. Hopefully, my RC boats don’t get all wrecked up this weekend.
The bad thing about hanging with the family in Louisiana is that they are really good cooks. The brothaman loves some Cajun food. I love food in general. I gained just a few extra pounds but had it all worked off before I got in the car last week. My plan is to get stronger as our car gets stronger. I’ve got a trainer I’m going to start working with and see if I can get some of my boys to come along too.
Before testing, we had a group of Matco Tools product managers visit the shop. Most had never seen DSR and what we’re all about, so it was great for them to see how we utilize the Matco Tools and tool boxes at the shop. They also got to see our fab and CNC machine shops and what goes on there on a daily basis. It was cool for them to use their Matco Tools on our Matco Tools dragster too. We let them put together a motor.
After the boat races, I’m going to head home and see what happens with all the Super Bowl hype here in Indy. My wife and I have our anniversary next Friday, so I’m not sure if I can take “baby” to dinner downtown just two days before the Super Bowl. Shoot, with what they’re saying you won’t even be able to afford parking downtown. Maybe those NASCAR drivers, but not us drag racers. It should be a lot of fun to have one of the biggest events in the world in our city.
Keep up with me on Facebook (Antron Brown – Top Fuel Pilot) and on Twitter @AntronBrownTF. Don Schumacher’s daughter, Megan, also started a blog about DSR. She’s getting more and more involved at DSR and it’s a good blog. Check it out at www.shoeracing.com/blog.
That’s all I’ve got for now. It’s time for some love, peace and Valvoline NextGen grease. I’m out like a shout!
Hello NHRA.com blog readers. The brothaman is back. It’s been awhile, but I’ve been busy! I thought things were supposed to slow down after the season but that hasn’t been the case.
The last time we chatted was before the final race of the season. We flew out on Wednesday and got up extra early to make an appearance on KTLA Morning News with Allie Mac Kay on Thursday morning. She came out to the track and the boys started up the Matco Tools dragster. If that didn’t wake the LA-area up, I don’t know what will!
We didn’t come out on top but I’m proud of my entire Matco Tools team for their hard work this season. The boys are currently working their tails off here in Indy to get our Matco Tools dragster ready to go for pre-season testing in January and the 2012 season.
My daughter Arianna celebrated her birthday while we were out in California. We had a birthday party for her in the Matco Tools hospitality area and she had a blast. We went to Hollywood for the NHRA banquet and after some grub at the Hard Rock Café on Hollywood Blvd. the family and I walked on the stars. It’s fun to walk down Hollywood Blvd. and you never know what you’re going to see. The kids and I got our picture taken with Mini T.
One of my Tweeps (Twitter follower) told me I was the best dressed at the NHRA banquet and I have to say she has very good taste. LOL. I always get my tux from Carducci’s and he hooked me up with a classic thin bow tie and had me looking like 008. For those of you that don’t know, 008 is the black version of 007. After my kids – and maybe the brothaman too – danced the night away at the NHRA banquet after party, we all hopped on a plane to Louisiana.
Last time we blogged I told you about the RC boat race. The brothaman brought home a few first place trophies and my buddy Tommy D. raced his butt off and continued his winning ways from Pomona and brought home a trophy. There’s a 100 lap marathon race you do in teams and Tommy D. and I finished first in that too. I’d call that a pretty successful weekend.
I went to the IMIS Show here in Indy last Saturday and hung out with the folks at Impact. I also spoke to some kids and hopefully future NHRA stars. We had a happy home on Sunday as my Eagles and my wife’s Saints won. The NFL season is clicking right along and I didn’t think the Eagles would have the season they’re having. They need to step it up to have a shot at the NFC east title.
The Brown household is ready for Christmas. We have two trees up and there’s already been some snow on the ground in Indy. We’ll be heading down to Louisiana to spend the holidays with my wife’s family. The fresh seafood is great and luckily the weather is nice enough I can get outside and do some training to work all that gooooood seafood off.
We’ll head back to Indy to bring in 2012. I hope all of you have a blessed and Merry Christmas. Keep up with me on Twitter (@AntronBrownTF) and Facebook (Antron Brown – Top Fuel pilot) in the meantime.
With that, it’s time for some love, peace and Valvoline NextGen grease. I’m out like a shout!
Hello again all my NHRA.com Nitroholics. This is the big week. The week it all comes down to. The week where the final act unfolds. Will you be there with me to see it happen? @NHRA couldn’t have asked for a better championship hunt with multiple cars in both nitro classes with a shot at the 2011 championships. It’s going to be a really exciting week. It should be a lot of fun, but honestly, I’d rather be Jason Line at this point where my only worry is writing an acceptance speech. LOL
Just a quick blog disclaimer, I’m going to do some “Twitterisms” since I’m becoming a Twitter junkie. You’ll see some # and @ in this blog. My DSR teammate Ron Capps is very good on Twitter. His handle is @NAPARonCapps and he’s a funny guy, so follow him. If you don’t follow me, I’m @AntronBrownTF and I’m closing in on 4,000 followers, so help the brothaman out.
It was a beautiful weekend in Indy and I made the most of it. I even got to sneak away for a little bit and make some test laps on my RC Boats. There’s a big boat race the weekend after the Finals at Pomona, and I want to make sure my boats are right and tight for the boat races in Louisiana. Saturday night was a big night for my wife. Being a loyal Cajun, she was all decked out in purple for the #LSU/#Alabama game. We met up with some friends at Buffalo Wild Wings in Brownsburg and it was packed. Normally it’s only that busy for the @UFC fights, but I guess everyone want to watch the top two teams in the country slug it out. And slug they did. It was an ugly game on offense, but those boys can play some defense, and my wife left a happy girl after the Tigers won 9-6 in OT. She was cheering GEAUX Tigers on the ride home!
It’s Monday hoops night for me and then home to watch my #Eagles take on the #Bears on Monday Night Football on @ESPN. This is a big game for the E-A-G-L-E-S Eagles as they look to get back to .500 at 4-4 and make a run in the NFC East. Those Giants had a big win at New England yesterday, so this is a huge game for the Eagles. Lesean McCoy is a bad boy for the #Eagles, so check out @CutonDime25 tonight.
This afternoon I did my fatherly duty and made a stop at the shop to pass out Boy Scouts popcorn to the employees bought from my oldest son, Anson. Since Anson was at school, my youngest, Adler, helped me pass out the goodies @shoeracing. I Tweeted and posted this photo on my Facebook Fan Page, so make sure you follow AB on FB also. The office always likes when Adler shows up to say hi.
We head off to Pomona on Wednesday to get ready for qualifying on Thursday afternoon. Pomona has that goofy run once on Thursday and Friday format and it’s hard to get momentum going with only one run the first two days, so we need to throw it down on Thursday and make a good lap and get in the show on the first run. It’s going to be very cool and Pomona is a fast race track. As I like to say, the conditions are going to be “Triple A Throwdown.” That’s an Antronism. LOL
Before I go, I have to give a shout out to my boy @StrokerAceKid on Twitter. I meet Jason at Las Vegas. He was hanging out with us for the weekend at his first NHRA race and he had a great time. He flat out says, NHRA is way better than NASCAR. Talk to me! Also, @sremerson, @nitrojohn and @thejayselig are big NHRA supporters so follow them too.
With that, it’s time for some love, peace and hair grease, and the brothaman is out like shout.
God bless.
Hello to all my NHRA.com Nitrohaulics. How are we all today? I’m in Indy right now but headed out to Las Vegas bright and early Wednesday morning. Actually, it won’t even be bright when the wheels go up on my plane to Vegas, it’s that early in the morning. Gotta get to Vegas for a Matco Tools TechEd school appearance and the NHRA press conference on Thursday way up high in the sky at Stratosphere. Looking like it is going to be a beautiful weekend and the entry list is a big one – 50 nitro cars – so we better see you out at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. I just hope Saturday qualifying goes a little quicker than last year.
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Looking back on Phoenix, the Matco Tools dragster had a good weekend in the scorching sun. Our weekend started out with a great Matco Tools dinner at the track Thursday night with 130 of our closest friends hanging out. We qualified sixth and went into race day facing a pretty tough ladder. We took out Del Worsham in the second round which was a big one for points and then beat my U.S. Army teammate Tony Schumacher in the semi’s on a holeshot. We just got edged in the final round by Dixon but we left Phoenix with the points lead. Props to everyone that came to Firebird Raceway, it was hot but you all showed up to watch us do work.
With two races to go, the top four are all very close and I think it’s going to be a battle until the last round at Pomona. Given their history, you can’t even count out that Army dragster. The aggressive approach has worked for us all year and we’re not going to change that. Vegas and Pomona have been good to me in the past and we look forward to going for it at these last two. I know the saying what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but I’m hoping that Wally comes back to Indy in the Matco Tools hauler.
I had a great off weekend in Indy just spending time with my family. The weather was absolutely terrible all week but it cleared out and we had a good weekend. Last night the Brown family all carved our pumpkins we got from our trip to the patch a couple weeks ago. The kids all dug in their pumpkins bare handed, but the Brothaman put on gloves. The inside of a pumpkin is ooey-gooey and just plain gross. We baked the seeds and the kids took them to school today.
I know you all know about Master Pizza, Brian Corradi’s pizza place in Ohio. Well they are in a Pizza Playoffs competition and we need your votes! Visit http://www.cleveland.com/foodplayoffs/index.ssf/2011/10/pizza_playoffs_round_3_southwe.html and vote for Master Pizza! If you’re in the area, stop by and see Nick. Be sure you tell them AB sent you, maybe you’ll get a discount. In fact, if you drop my name, it might be free. Just kidding Nick.
I also gotta congratulate my boy Brad Mason who got married over the weekend. Hope you and your wife, Amy, have many happy years together with your beautiful daughter Kylie. Brad is my assistant crew chief and a key member to our race team. Brad has been with me since my rookie Top Fuel season in 2008.
Well I’m off to go pack for Vegas. We’ll be at the New York, New York hotel and all the DSR drivers will be signing autographs at NYNY on Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. and before that we’ll be at Fremont Street at 4:30 p.m. Stop by and see us all.
Keep up with me on Twitter @AntronBrownTF, @shoeracing and on Facebook too – Antron Brown – Top Fuel Pilot.
With that, I’m out like a shout with some love, peace and Valvoline NextGen grease!
God bless.