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Antron Brown says WWTR NHRA drag strip “feels like home”

Photos by JR Compton

Above: Antron Brown rockets off the starting line at WWTR’s 2019 event.

Below: Brown celebrates in victory lane with track owner Curtis Francois in 2015.

September 29, 2020, St. Louis Region – If Antron Brown needs to get to victory lane at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois, he won’t need GPS, a map, or have to call a friend for directions. He knows the way. He’s been there five times (2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015) over six years.

The three-time NHRA Top Fuel World Champion (2012, 2015, 2016) from New Jersey would like nothing better than to collect a sixth coveted NHRA Wally trophy from the historic Metro-East-area drag strip.

“I’m really looking forward to getting back to St. Louis,” said Brown. “World Wide Technology Raceway feels like home for me. Each time we go there, we’re always in a competitive position in the points and the conditions are always good and seem to favor our Matco Tools/Global Electronic Technology/Toyota team. We’ve had a lot of successful years there. Normally, St. Louis is one of our first end-of-year Countdown events, where the races and points really count. St. Louis was one of the first races that you needed to do really well at if you wanted to have a shot to win the championship. There’s no Countdown this year of course, but it still feels like a ‘Countdown’ because after St. Louis there will only be three races left before a champion is crowned, so it’s important that we have another successful showing there this year.”

“Our team is on the rise. We feel really good, and it’ll feel good to be ‘home’ at World Wide Technology Raceway and do what we do, and that’s be competitive, try and run low E.T. and take it one round at a time on Sunday to try to win the Wally.”

Tickets for the October 2-4 Mopar Express Lane NHRA Midwest Nationals presented by Pennzoil are on sale online (www.wwtraceway.com)  and also may be purchased at the track. Tickets start at just $42. The annual event attracts many of the world’s biggest names in professional drag racing, including three-time NHRA Top Fuel World Champion Antron Brown, who has won WWTR’s Top Fuel finales five times over six years. Defending WWTR NHRA champions include Billy Torrence (Top Fuel Dragster), Shawn Langdon (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Karen Stoffer (Motorcycle). WWTR’s NHRA weekend of speed also will include Pro Mods, Mountain Motor Pro Stocks, Nostalgia Pro Stocks and Jet Cars.

For tickets and information, please call WWTR at (618) 215-8888. Follow WWTR on Facebook, Parler, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram.

Mopar Express Lane NHRA Midwest Nationals presented by Pennzoil

Friday, October 2 — Sportsman categories and Pro Mod qualifying

8 a.m. – Parking lots open.

8:30 a.m. – Spectator gates open.

8:30 a.m. — Stock class qualifying.

8:50 a.m. — Super Comp time trial.

9:17 a.m. — Super Stock qualifying.

9:38  a.m. — Super Gas time trial.

10 a.m. — Motorcycle.

10:04 a.m. — Sportsman ET.

10:07 a.m. — Pro ET.

10:11 a.m. — Super Pro ET.

10:15 a.m. — Stock qualifying.

10:36 a.m. — Super Comp time trial.

11:03 a.m. — Super Stock qualifying.

11:24 a.m. — Super Gas time trial.

11:45 a.m. – Midway open.

11:46 a.m. — Top Dragster qualifying.

12:08 p.m. — Comp qualifying.

12:28 p.m. — ET Motorcycle.

12:29 p.m. — Sportsman ET.

12:31 p.m. — Pro ET.

12:33 p.m. — Super Pro ET.

12:35 p.m. — Stock.

12:56 p.m. — Super Comp.

1:23 p.m. — Super Stock.

1:44 p.m. — Super Gas.

2:11 p.m. — Jr. Dragster exhibition.

2:15 p.m. — Comp.

2:35 p.m. — Top Dragster.

2:56 p.m. — Nostalgia Pro Stocks.

3:06 p.m. — ET Motorcycle.

3:07 p.m. — Sportsman ET.

3:08 p.m. — Pro ET.

3:09 p.m. — Super Pro ET.

3:10 p.m. — NHRA Street Car Showdown.

3:11 p.m. — Mountain Motor Pro Stocks.

3:21 p.m. — Factory Stock Showdown.

3:32 p.m. — Pro Mod qualifying.

 

Saturday, October 3 – Pro qualifying (Top Fuel Dragster, Funny Car, Pro Stock, Pro Stock Motorcycle); Sportsman eliminations

8 a.m. – Parking lots open.

9 a.m. – Spectator gates open.

9:15 a.m. – Sportsman eliminations.

9:45 a.m. – Midway open.

11:55 a.m. – First round of High School Challenge eliminations.

Noon – Midwest Nostalgia Pro Stock Association exhibition.

12:30 p.m. – Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying.

1:30 p.m. – Top Fuel Dragster and Funny Car qualifying.

2:35 p.m. – Second round of High School Challenge eliminations.

2:40 p.m. – Mountain Motor Pro Stock qualifying.

2:55 p.m. – Factory Stock Showdown qualifying.

3:10 p.m. – Pro Mod qualifying.

3:40 p.m. – Final round of High School Challenge eliminations.

4 p.m. – Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying.

5 p.m. – Top Fuel Dragster and Funny Car qualifying.

6:10 p.m. – Sportsman eliminations.

7 p.m. – Track closed.

 

Sunday, October 4 – Final eliminations for pro classes (Top Fuel Dragster, Funny Car, Pro Stock, Pro Stock Motorcycle) and Sportsman categories

8 a.m. – Parking lots open.

9 a.m. – Spectator gates open.

9 a.m. – Midway open.

11 a.m. – Top Fuel Dragster and Funny Car eliminations.

Noon – Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle eliminations.

12:40 p.m. – Pro Mod eliminations.

1 p.m. – Factory Stock Showdown eliminations.

1:10 p.m. – Mountain Motor Pro Stock eliminations.

1:30 p.m. – Top Fuel Dragster and Funny Car eliminations.

2 p.m. – Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle eliminations.

2:20 p.m. – Pro Mod eliminations.

2:30 p.m. – Factory Stock Showdown eliminations.

2:35 p.m. – Mountain Motor Pro Stock eliminations.

3 p.m. – Top Fuel Dragster and Funny Car eliminations.

3:15 p.m. — Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle eliminations.

3:25 p.m. – Pro Mod eliminations.

3:30 p.m. – Factory Stock Showdown eliminations.

3:35 p.m. – Final round of Sportsman eliminations.

3:45 p.m. – Final round of Mountain Motor Pro Stock eliminations.

3:50 p.m. – Parade of champions.

4:05 p.m. – Final round of Factory Stock Showdown eliminations.

4:10 p.m. – Final round of Pro Mod eliminations.

4:15 p.m. – Final round of Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle eliminations.

4:25 p.m. – Final round of Top Fuel Dragster and Funny Car eliminations.

All times are Central. Schedule subject to change.

 

About World Wide Technology Raceway

World Wide Technology Raceway is the home of INDYCAR, NASCAR and NHRA racing in the St. Louis region. Located just five minutes from downtown St. Louis and covering more than 600 acres, WWTR is the largest outdoor entertainment facility in the area. WWTR’s facilities include a 1/4-mile drag strip, 1.25-mile superspeedway, recently-expanded 2.0-mile road course, a state-of-the-art karting facility, a 14-acre, multi-purpose dirt off-road venue and the Gateway Drive-In Theater at World Wide Technology Raceway (a drive-in entertainment venue able to accommodate 3,000 cars). WWTR acquired Gateway National Golf Links, adjacent to the speedway property, in 2019. WWTR was the recipient of the 2017 Outstanding Facility of the Year Award from the Race Track Business Conference and the 2017 Spirit of St. Louis Award from the St. Louis Attractions Association. In 2018, owner and CEO Curtis Francois received the Innovator Award from the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission in recognition of his work for restoring World Wide Technology Raceway (known then as Gateway Motorsports Park) to prominence.

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