Top Fuel star Antron Brown eyes first win of season at Route 66 in Joliet

Antron Brown, who became the first African American driver to win a Top Fuel NHRA championship in 2012, says the Joliet raceway is the best track to win at.

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Antron Brown wants to get his first win of the season at Route 66 Speedway and said: “There’s no place to win like it is to win in Chicago.”

Chicagoland Speedway

Confetti cannons blasted behind Top Fuel driver Antron Brown as he pumped up the crowd and provoked the fans to chant his name by putting his hand near his ear.

In his first drag racing season in 2008, Brown already was making a name for himself. Fans loved his charismatic personality and bright smile.

It was a moment of pure jubilation when he won his first Top Fuel race at a track formerly known as Houston Raceway Park.

“When I won that race, it didn’t feel real because I was hoping to drive a Top Fuel car one day, let alone win a race,” Brown said.

But the best had yet to come.

Four years later, Brown became the first African American driver to win a Top Fuel National Hot Rod Association championship.

The celebration after the 2012 race was a riot. Brown hugged his teammates and pit crew and exchanged high fives with those lucky enough to be in the winner’s circle. Surrounded by dozens of people, Brown appeared to break free from the chaos for a moment when he found his wife, Billie Jo Brown.

“Baby, I love you,” he said as he pulled her toward him and tightly squeezed her. Antron buried his face into Billie Jo’s shoulder and cried tears of joy.

“I did something that felt impossible, and I made it possible,” Antron said of that moment.

Brown has since claimed two more Top Fuel championship titles in 2015 and 2016. In his 12th season of Top Fuel racing, Brown has a combined 66 career wins in Top Fuel and Pro Stock Motorcycle racing. He believes his team has what it takes to reclaim the crown in 2019. 

Brown, who is currently ranked sixth and is 234 points behind reigning champion and current Top Fuel leader Steve Torrence, will look for his first win of the season at Route 66 Raceway this weekend.

“There’s no place to win like it is to win in Chicago,” said Brown, who has won multiple times in Joliet in his professional racing career, which spans over two decades. “This is definitely one of our premier race facilities on our whole tour throughout the country.”

What makes Route 66 Raceway so special?

Along with its well-maintained track, Brown said it’s the history of drag racing in Chicago.

“Chicago is an old-school drag racing town,” he said. “This is like godfather country for drag racing. It’s always been big, and when you’re in the Midwest, these are your Motor City territories — Detroit, Indianapolis, and then you have Illinois — and this trifecta area is like the heartbeat of drag racing, especially with the old Route 66 highway going through here. Everybody used to drive it, but they raced on it, too.”

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Antron Brown

Chicagoland Speedway

Brown always has been passionate about racing. It didn’t matter if he was competing in a 100-yard dash with a neighborhood boy or riding dirt or street bikes.

“There was always something for me,” Brown said. “I just love competition.”

Brown gets his need for speed from his father, Albert Brown, who raced dragsters at the sportsman level before Antron was born.

Albert never competed at the Top Fuel level, but he has been there for Antron every step of the way.

“He’s living his dream through me for sure,” Antron said of his dad. “And the coolest part is I wouldn’t be living this dream if it wasn’t for him. My dad eats, sleeps and breathes this stuff. He loves it.”

Though there’s only one driver who typically gets the limelight, Brown said racing is an unselfish sport. You drive for your pit crew and supports. 

He said there’s nothing more rewarding than celebrating in the winner’s circle with your teammates. And in Brown’s case, that includes his father. 

“When you win, all the hard work — the blood sweat and tears you put into that race weekend — all that emotion comes out in that winner’s circle,” Brown said. “That’s when you can look back and go, ‘We just accomplished this great feat today.’ ”

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