Last Sunday in Sonoma (Ca.), Antron Brown’s race day ended abruptly.

Brown, who drives the Matco Tools Top Fuel dragster, was upset by Terry McMillen in the first round.

Brown’s Don Schumacher Racing crew obviously has a short memory.

Brown rebounded to take the provisional pole Friday night at the Mile-High Nationals in Morrison, Colo., with a 3.961-second pass at 286.19 mph.

Last Sunday in Sonoma (Ca.), Antron Brown’s race day ended abruptly.

Brown, who drives the Matco Tools Top Fuel dragster, was upset by Terry McMillen in the first round.

Brown’s Don Schumacher Racing crew obviously has a short memory.

Brown rebounded to take the provisional pole Friday night at the Mile-High Nationals in Morrison, Colo., with a 3.961-second pass at 286.19 mph.

“The conditions out here (Friday night) were really good,” Brown said. “But, people weren’t making it down the track because they were spinning the tires because the track is so good. We were back at our trailer and we thought we stepped it up because we kind of put the same power level that we had here last year when we ran a 3.88 at night. We wanted to get the car down the track and get some information so we could make it better for (Saturday).”

As Brown’s run began, he wasn’t overwhelmed by the power of his dragster.

“When I went down the race track, it took off and it was slow in a couple of areas,” Brown said. “Then, the car really took off hard from the 330 to 660 (foot) mark. It went almost 275 mph at half track, so we knew we were on a run. Then, it dropped a hole out there and when it dropped the hole it shred the blower belt, that’s why we only went 280 mph. The car shut off about 700 feet down the race track. We would have ran a 91, 92, or 93 if the car didn’t shutoff. We had all those other cars out to go after us and they got after it, but they needed a little bit more power. That’s where the mountain fools you, it gives you one number, but when it is just a little bit worse, it is a lot worse.”

Thanks to the high-altitude of Bandimere Speedway, Brown knows crew chiefs are frantically trying to find the right combination.

“This track is definitely a tuner’s race track,” Brown said. “The crew chiefs have their hands full and us as drivers, we’re just trying to keep the car in the groove.”

Brown also realizes his elapsed time is unlikely to keep him on the pole after Saturday’s qualifying.

“I do not think that 96 is going to hold,” Brown said. “You’re going to see some guys out there going for it, and I think you’re going to see a low 90 or a high 80 that will be the No. 1 qualifier. We just have to get the power level right and get our car hooked up.”