By: Rob Geiger, NHRA.com

Photo by Thomas Gaines

I was exchanging holiday greetings with Lee Beard, the crew chief of David Powers’ Matco Tools Top Fuel dragster, when the subject turned to his new driver, Antron Brown. Most Geiger Counter readers know Brown has competed in Pro Stock Motorcycle to much success over the past decade but is now making the switch to Top Fuel.

Beard, Brown, and the Matco team recently completed an extensive test at Gainesville Raceway where Beard tells me Brown made several “perfect passes,” including some to the 1,000-foot mark that would have translated to low 4.5-second runs if Brown had been allowed to leg them out. His reaction times were impressive — all between .041 and .052 seconds — and he did everything asked of him by the meticulous Beard. But his on-track acumen isn’t why the former world championship tuner is excited about his new shoe. Read the rest of this entry »

I had the chance to sit down with Angie McBride, driver for the Torco Racing Fuels, pro stock motorcycle. Angie is ready to get the season started and she is excited about driving for Matt Smith and Torco Racing fuels. Here is what Angie tells Top Fuel Photos.
(By: Thomas Gaines)

Q. Tell us a little about yourself.
A. I am 28 years old. I work part time for both a cosmetic surgeon and a dermatologist. I started riding motorcycles when I was 19 years old. Started racing a few years after that. Hope to be a full time driver in 2008. Racing is my life.

Q. What made you get into drag racing and why pro stock bike?
A. I dated someone about 10 years ago that was involved in Pro Stock and Outlaw Pro Street. I wanted to see what it was like, so I purchased a stock GSXR 1100. I learned to ride it and then I wanted to go to the track and make a couple of passes down the track. Well after that I was hooked….never wanted to ride on the street again. All I wanted to do was build my motor and go fast, so I started buying parts. Then a couple of years later I started racing in a class called Outlaw Pro Street. It’s a very competitive class. It’s a 7 inch slick no wheelie bar NOS class. They are the fastest no wheelie bar bikes on the planet. I won the championship in 2003. Now I want to race Pro Stock in NHRA and my goal is to get a Wally.

Q. Without getting into what happened, how did you hook up with Matt and Torco racing?
A. Matt and I live close to one another, about 30 miles apart. We have had multiple conversations about racing NHRA. We finally got everything together and I went and tested at the IHRA race in Rockingham.

Q. What are you doing in the off season?
A. Well right now I have been trying to get everything together to race in 2008. I also went to the PRI show in Orlando and then to test with Matt’s dad Rickie in Bradenton FL.

Q. What do you think you bring to the team as far as your driving style?
A. Well I think I will bring some different things to the team. Matthew is a great teacher so with 2 motorcycles I am sure we will learn a lot from both bikes, which could be a slight advantage because you can try different setups.

Q. Do you think the competition in pro stock bike has more young energy then before & what does it take to win?
A. I believe it does have more young energy. There’s always young new faces coming in and giving pro stock bikes more diversity. It takes a lot of dedication, commitment, courage, drive, and determination to win. You have to love it and want it more than anything.

Q. Do you feel like you have to prove anything?
A. Yes, I have to prove that I can do it. I think I made a statement in Pomona but I want them to know that I can do it and I am there to stay!

Q. When you stop and think about where you are at, as far as being with a class act team, what goes through your mind?
A. Well I know I’m with the best. The Champ!! I know I just need to absorb as much knowledge as possible and do the best job I can for Torco and for Matt Smith Racing.

Q. Tell us one thing people don’t know about you.
A. That I am an adrenaline freak, Can you believe it.Yep I am, I want to go skydiving, bungee jumping from my ankles and ride in a fighter aircraft. Anything else with adrenaline and G forces I will do.LOL

Evan Knoll knows passion for drag racing. The Michigan-based fuel and natural gas magnate, owner of Knoll Gas, Torco Racing Fuels and a number of other broad-based companies headquartered in Decatur, Mich., has sponsored a number of drag racing teams and drivers over the years…doing his part to strengthen the sport he loves by making financial commitments to teams, facilities and sanctioning bodies at every level. Knoll’s passion for the sport is legendary which is why, when he was looking for a driver to take the seat of his personal Seelye Wright Automotive Group Top Fuel Dragster, Knoll looked for a driver who’s passion stood out.
Bobby Lagana Jr. has been racing in the Top Fuel class for over a decade. He is one of the most recognizable faces in the IHRA Top Fuel ranks due to his history, accessibility and perseverance. Lagana followed in the footsteps of his father, Bobby Lagana Sr., by approaching his racing career with a “whatever it takes” attitude. He has always signed every autograph, made every effort to connect with the fans while, at the same time, enjoying a measure of success on the track. Knoll notices Lagana’s commitment years back, and when Scotty Cannon decided to join forces with his son to form a two-car Pro Modified team for the 2008 schedule…leaving the seat in Knoll’s Top Fueler open.he did not look far to fill that seat. Lagana Jr. will pilot Knoll’s Seelye Wright rail in 2008 while his brother, newly-licensed Dominick, will step into the seat of the Twilight Zone entry he vacated…becoming the first-ever two-car Top Fuel team with brothers at the helm in IHRA history. Read the rest of this entry »

Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson, coming off a career-best fourth-place finish in the POWERade Drag Racing Series, unveiled his new racecar design for 2008. This Mopar-sponsored Dodge Stratus R/T should be a fast one as it looks like it’s breaking the speed limit already.

I had the chance to talk with Antron Brown as he and the crew were
getting ready to start testing at Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, FL
and got his thoughts on racing his top fuel dragster. Antron,31, who’s
hometown is in chesterfield, N.J. has 16 wins all of them coming from
PSM, 33 Career final rounds. His best E.T. is a 6.93 with a best speed
of 193.24.

Q. After riding a pro stock bike for so many years, what is the biggest
transition going from the bike to the dragster?

A. It’s not really been that hard. Although I was on top of the bike I
am in the cockpit were everything is totally different. On the bike you
had to use your hands to squeeze the handle for the gas, in the dragster
you have to use your feet. Steering on the bike was all body, now it’s
all hands.So there been a change that way. But over all it’s not been to
bad.

Q. How has it been coming over to a team like DPM (David Powers
Motorsports)

A. It’s been a real honor coming to DPM and to drive for Matco Tools,
everyone has been so supportive from the wives all the way down.
Everybody’s been pushing and believing in me to do this. Lee Beard and
all the crew are behind me 100%. It’s going to be a great year.

Q. What is your thoughts about how far you have come in drag racing?

A. Drag racing is a dream. Never in a million years did I think I would
be doing this.

Q. Have you talked to Angelle ?

A. Oh yeah, we talk every day. Angelle has a new chapter in her life.
Right now she has many different options she is looking into for the up
coming year, she will be fine. That’s my little sister even though she is
bigger then me. I am her biggest fan. I’ll be right there on the
starting line watching her and she will be there watching me.

I would like to thank Antron for taking time to speak to us. I think you
will be fine in your new ride. Good Luck….