Athletics Alumni Spotlight

Antron Brown, Men's Track and Field

 

 

March 16^th is International Sports Car Racing Day, which will allow us to look at former MCCC men’s track and field alumni Antron Brown, who has become a highly successful NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) driver.  

 

In 2012, Brown was crowned the NHRA Top Fuel World Champion, the first African American to win a major US auto racing championship.  Brown has won three World Championships (2012, 2015 and 2016), has 74 career titles: 58 Top Fuel and 16 Pro Stock Motorcycle titles and has 49 career #1 qualifying positions.

 

In 2022, Brown forms his own team, AB Motorsports and finished ranked second in standings in his rookie season.  It marked Brown’s 25^th consecutive top 10 finish, which ties him with Doug Kalitta for consecutive finishes among active drivers.  Brown was named AutoWeek’s Top Fuel Driver of the Decade for his performances throughout the 2010s.  In August 2018, Brown won his 50^th Top Fuel race at the NHRA Northwest Nationals and became the fourth driver in NHRA history to achieve that feat.  In 2015, Brown became the first NHRA driver quicker than 3.7 seconds.

 

While at MCCC, Brown excelled in track and field, competing in the long jump and 100 meter dash.  Brown qualified for the 1996 NJCAA Indoor National Championship in the 55 meter dash.  Brown was ranked #1 in the country in the 55 meter dash in the now defunct 55 meter dash as a freshman (6.27 seconds) before clocking 10.2 for 100 meters.

 

Brown graduated from MCCC in 1997 with a degree in Business Administration.  Brown was headed to Long Island University on a full track scholarship with the hopes of making the Olympics.  At this time, NFL player Troy Vincent was starting a race team and asked Brown to join.  Brown opted to race motorcycles in NHRA competition for the team owned by Vincent, which launched Brown’s new career.

 

Brown was a track standout at Northern Burlington Township High School before coming to MCCC, where he excelled in the long jump and sprints.  Brown had been involved in sports most of his life and was naturally fast, allowing him to find a great deal of success on the track.

 

At the end of 2022, Brown brought his national event victory event to 71, reset his best speed to 335.73 mph and recorded a top 10 NHRA finish for the 25^th consecutive season.

 

Brown’s drive to success in sports started early in his life, continued at MCCC and has led him to become one of the most successful African American and NHRA drivers of all time.  Brown’s track to success started at MCCC and has led him to success on the national stage.  

 

To follow and learn more about Antron Brown, visit: https://antronbrown.com/

 

To read more about MCCC Alumni Success Stories, visit: https://www.mccc.edu/athletics_alumni.shtml