ANTRON BROWN
Army Strong
The Army is continuing its major associate sponsorship of the 2012 NHRA World Champion Antron Brown in 2013. This adds on to a relationship that goes back to Brown riding the U.S. Army Suzuki for five years (2003-2007). His performance on and off the drag strip epitomizes the values of our Army Strong Soldiers. The Chesterfield, N.J. native, posted six wins and finished twice among the top three in points during his first stint with the Army Racing team. In addition, Brown proudly represented the men and women who defend our country through participation in the NHRA YES program, and provided leadership and motivation to young Americans across the country.
After a decade as one of the premier riders in the Pro Stock Motorcycle category, Antron launched his Top Fuel dragster career in 2008. The rookie driver earned two wins in five final round appearances, and claimed three No.1 qualifying awards during the 2008 NHRA season en route to finishing fifth in the NHRA Countdown to 1 standings. He captured his first-ever NHRA Top Fuel victory in only his fourth career start at Houston Raceway Park, and became the first driver in NHRA history to win races in both Top Fuel and Pro Stock Motorcycle.
In the past three seasons (2010-2012) driving the Matco Tools/U.S. Army dragster for Don Schumacher Racing, Brown has racked up 13 wins in 26 final rounds and claimed eleven No.1 qualifying awards. Antron's 2012 championship season was a banner year for Brown as he earned six wins, the most in Top Fuel, en route to a first-place finish in the standings. Brown won 2 of the 3 prestigious West Coast Swing races including Denver and Seattle, while posting personal bests in both elapsed time (3.701 seconds) and speed (328.78 mph).
Brown has 37 wins in 73 final rounds, 32 poles and 443 round wins in 15 seasons as a professional racer. In addition, he is the only driver in NHRA history to have won races and led the standings in both Top Fuel and Pro Stock Motorcycle. He is also the first African-American to win a major American motorsports championship.
Antron and his wife, Billie Jo, reside in Pittsboro, Ind. They have three children, Arianna (10), Anson (8) and Adler (4). When not at the race track, Brown enjoys spending time with his family. He also has a passion for RC boats, motorcycles and fitness.
The presence of any information identifying private companies or other non-federal entities does not constitute an endorsement by the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense.
- NHRA Video Blog 1 - Army Racing Team
- NHRA Video Blog 2 - Army Racing Team
- NHRA Video Blog 3 - Army Racing Team
- NHRA Video Blog 4 - Army Racing Team
- NHRA Video Blog 5 - Army Racing Team
- NHRA Video Blog 6 - Army Racing Team
NHRA VIDEO BLOG 1
Army Racing Team
This year we had a big change in crew because the end of last year came about. Our crew chief who had won five world championships with us and also he was leaving for the Al-Anabi team and the majority actually all the team followed him to the Sheik of Qatar's new car. And we had to form a new team and at that point I think a lot of the media had formed or made some statements that we were, we were in trouble or we'd never win again.
We had to assemble a new team and I think this is the absolute perfect example for the Army, that it is not about one guy, because it is not about any one single person. Our team won championships because we had incredible group of people. They moved on to try to race against the Army car; we brought in new guys.
But just like the Army when a General retires the Army doesn't all of a sudden fail, we bring in a new guy and we train a new person. We teach them how to lead and we teach them how to win.
And we put these Army colors on, we're no longer selling auto parts, we're no longer selling beverages, we're selling a way of life and it's incredible how proud and how quickly they become part of an incredible team. We've seen it time and time again.
We've won championships with three different, or two different crew chiefs and this year if all goes well we'll have a chance to win a third.
In every race we bring out Home Town Heroes. And this race here in Ohio, we have Sergeant Christopher Greer who's a Bronze Star recipient from right here in Mansfield, Ohio. And its neat to be able to bring out these guys that have done so much, given so much for our country and show them an awesome team and how the team works and also give them a little bit of entertainment to see their Army car, you know, their own base right here, go out and win races man, it's something really cool to be a part of, I look forward each and every weekend and it's really a pleasure for me.
So, we need to win races and we need to prove that the Army team does not falter because the crew changed because we bring people in. We can motivate and we can excel at anything because we are a great team, planning on winning a championship for you. So again this is Tony Schumacher driving the U.S. Army top fuel dragster signing out. It's time to go race.
