Antron Brown piloted his Matco Tools dragster to the Top Fuel victory at the 18th annual DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals on a picture-perfect day at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday.

Tommy Johnson Jr. (Funny Car) and Tanner Gray (Pro Stock) were also winners at the fourth event of 24 on the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule.

Brown, who also won the event in 2016, raced to a 3.747-second pass at 321.04 mph to defeat Don Schumacher Racing teammate Tony Schumacher, who ran a 3.809 at 325.14 in his U.S. Army dragster. This was Brown's 46th career Top Fuel victory and first of the season.

It was also Don Schumacher Racing's 300th team win.

"Today was tough battles," Brown said. "When you race two of your teammates, you know you got a battle on your hands because you all have the same quality parts. And when you go up there, you have to throw everything up there.

"Especially with Tony, he hasn't been an eight-time (world) champion for nothing buddy, he knows how to race. We had to push hard."

Brown, who has been racing Top Fuel for 10 years, has won a race every year of his Top Fuel career. He is the only racer in NHRA history to have a win in 10 consecutive seasons.

He raced past Scott Palmer, No. 1 qualifier Steve Torrence and two-time 2017 event winner Leah Pritchett en route to the finals. Schumacher faced Terry McMillen and Doug Kalitta before seeing Brown in the final round.

In Funny Car, Johnson Jr. claimed his first victory at LVMS since 2001 when he outran rookie Jonnie Lindberg with a 3.933-second pass at 323.66 in his Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger R/T. It was his 15th career win and first of the season.

Lindberg pushed his Head Racing Toyota Camry to a 4.016 at 302.14 in his second consecutive runner-up effort in 2017.

"Today was a pretty trying day," Johnson Jr. said. "It was pretty hot, probably the hottest track we've seen this season yet. The guys did a great job. When we came out in the first round and were low ET by at least three hundredths, I thought, 'Oh, it's going to be a good day.'

"This is just a great facility. When I come in the gate, I have a good feeling because I've had some success here, a win prior to this, and a couple runner-up finishes."

Johnson Jr. pushed past Jim Campbell, Robert Hight and 16-time World Champion John Force before facing Jonnie Lindberg in the finals. Lindberg defeated Cruz Pedregon, Jack Beckman and Gary Densham before falling to Johnson Jr., who moved to second in the points standings. Lindberg is now eighth.

Gray, who is only 17 years old, became the youngest Pro Stock winner in NHRA history when he raced his Gray Motorsports Valvoline Chevrolet Camaro to a 6.681-second pass at 206.61 to defeat Bo Butner and his Jim Butner's Auto Chevy Camaro on a hole shot in the finals. Butner raced to a 6.678 at 206.76, but his reaction time of .088 at the start was too slow for Gray's .010.

"I can't thank everybody enough," Gray said. "My crew is definitely the reason I'm here. I do a small part. It feels really cool. I was pretty nervous.

"This was something I wanted to do since I was real young, and I finally got the opportunity to do it. When I started this deal, I told my dad I wanted to be the youngest Pro Stock winner. To be able to do that feels really cool."

Gray is now fourth in the points standings after taking on Drew Skillman, Greg Anderson and defending World Champ Jason Line before reaching the finals. Butner lined up against Alan Prusiensky, two-time World Champ Erica Enders and veteran Jeg Coughlin on the way to his finals appearance.

 

Complete results from the 18th annual DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals

TOP FUEL
Final finishing order: 1. Antron Brown; 2. Tony Schumacher; 3. Doug Kalitta; 4. Leah Pritchett; 5. Terry McMillen; 6. Steve Torrence; 7. Brittany Force; 8. Clay Millican; 9. Steven Chrisman; 10. Troy Coughlin Jr.; 11. Steve Faria; 12. Troy Buff; 13. Scott Palmer; 14. Tripp Tatum; 15. Terry Haddock.

Finals: Antron Brown, 3.747 seconds, 321.04 mph def. Tony Schumacher, 3.809 seconds, 325.14 mph.

Semifinals: Schumacher, 3.775, 320.97 def. Kalitta, 3.782, 326.87; Brown, 3.797, 320.89 def. Pritchett, 3.919, 311.20.

Quarterfinals: Schumacher, 3.865, 316.45 def. McMillen, 3.916, 311.70; Pritchett, 3.770, 328.06 def. Force, 4.872, 153.39; Brown, 3.822, 318.24 def. Torrence, 4.035, 276.41; Kalitta, 3.778, no speed def. Millican, 4.913, 153.51.

Round 1: Clay Millican, 4.057, 230.84 def. Tripp Tatum, 10.253, 77.26; Leah Pritchett, 3.756, 328.30 def. Troy Buff, 5.415, 128.19; Brittany Force, 3.762, 329.26 def. Steve Faria, 4.505, 180.96; Tony Schumacher, 3.767, 327.98 def. Terry Haddock, Broke - No Show; Steve Torrence, 3.765, 324.51 was unopposed; Doug Kalitta, 3.743, 326.40 def. Steven Chrisman, 4.104, 248.48; Terry McMillen, 4.227, 269.03 def. Troy Coughlin Jr., 4.230, 194.32; Antron Brown, 3.752, 325.53 def. Scott Palmer, 5.501, 125.27.

Updated 2017 points standings: 1. Tony Schumacher, 382; 2. Leah Pritchett, 376; 3. Antron Brown, 357; 4. Doug Kalitta, 301; 5. Brittany Force, 258; 6. Steve Torrence, 251; 7. Clay Millican, 187; 8. Troy Coughlin Jr., 176; 9. Terry McMillen, 164; 10. Scott Palmer, 148.

FUNNY CAR
Final finishing order: 1. Tommy Johnson Jr.; 2. Jonnie Lindberg; 3. John Force; 4. Gary Densham; 5. Matt Hagan; 6. Alexis DeJoria; 7. Jack Beckman; 8. Robert Hight; 9. Jim Campbell; 10. Tim Wilkerson; 11. Courtney Force; 12. Ron Capps; 13. Phil Burkart; 14. Del Worsham; 15. Cruz Pedregon; 16. J.R. Todd.

Finals: Tommy Johnson Jr., Dodge Charger, 3.933, 323.66 def. Jonnie Lindberg, Toyota Camry, 4.016, 302.14.

Semifinals: Lindberg, 3.991, 318.92 def. Densham, 5.916, 126.78; Johnson Jr., 3.997, 319.45 def. J. Force, 4.128, 282.13.

Quarterfinals: Johnson Jr., 4.068, 268.71 def. Hight, Broke; J. Force, 3.987, 321.81 def. Hagan, 4.043, 318.24; Lindberg, 4.017, 325.37 def. Beckman, 4.096, 312.42; Densham, 4.551, 190.73 def. DeJoria, Foul - Red Light.

Round 1: Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 4.036, 312.86 def. Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 4.801, 173.01; Gary Densham, Mustang, 4.079, 287.29 def. Courtney Force, Camaro, 5.118, 153.39; Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.970, 328.54 def. Del Worsham, Toyota Camry, 6.251, 118.97; Jonnie Lindberg, Camry, 4.332, 250.37 def. Ron Capps, Charger, 5.607, 125.26; Jack Beckman, Charger, 7.322, 90.06 def. Cruz Pedregon, Camry, Foul - Red Light; Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 3.943, 320.97 def. Jim Campbell, Charger, 4.714, 181.28; John Force, Camaro, 4.454, 213.64 def. Phil Burkart, Charger, 5.853, 124.97; Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 4.054, 320.97 def. J.R. Todd, Camry, 9.752, 77.54.

Updated 2017 points standings: 1. Matt Hagan, 368; 2. Tommy Johnson Jr., 324; 3. John Force, 314; 4. Ron Capps, 275; 5. Courtney Force, 218; 6. Jack Beckman, 205; 7. Robert Hight, 201; 8. Jonnie Lindberg, 183; 9. Jim Campbell, 180; 10. J.R. Todd, 170.

PRO STOCK
Final finishing order: 1. Tanner Gray; 2. Bo Butner; 3. Jason Line; 4. Jeg Coughlin; 5. Erica Enders; 6. Greg Anderson; 7. Shane Gray; 8. Chris McGaha; 9. Allen Johnson; 10. Deric Kramer; 11. Vincent Nobile; 12. Alan Prusiensky; 13. Tom Huggins; 14. Matt Hartford; 15. Drew Skillman.

Finals: Tanner Gray, Chevy Camaro, 6.681, 206.61 def. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.678, 206.76.

Semifinals: T. Gray, 6.691, 206.67 def. Line, 6.703, 206.26; Butner, 6.714, 206.42 def. Coughlin, 6.739, 205.10.

Quarterfinals: Coughlin, 6.751, 206.10 def. McGaha, 20.745, 32.12; Line, 6.695, 206.10 def. S. Gray, 6.732, 205.91; T. Gray, 6.702, 206.57 def. Anderson, 6.717, 206.42; Butner, 6.695, 206.45 def. Enders, 6.713, 206.80.

Round 1: Shane Gray, Chevy Camaro, 6.703, 207.21 def. Drew Skillman, Camaro, Foul - Red Light; Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.734, 206.07 def. Matt Hartford, Camaro, Foul - Red Light; Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.683, 207.11 def. Vincent Nobile, Camaro, 6.785, 205.94; Tanner Gray, Camaro, 6.665, 206.51 def. Deric Kramer, Dodge Dart, Foul - Red Light; Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.676, 203.31 def. Allen Johnson, Dart, 6.721, 205.41; Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.659, 206.64 def. Alan Prusiensky, Dart, 6.827, 177.00; Jason Line, Camaro, 6.673, 205.79 was unopposed; Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.747, 206.48 def. Tom Huggins, Dart, 6.842, 202.67.

Updated 2017 points standings: 1. Greg Anderson, 380; 2. Jason Line, 367; 3. Bo Butner, 299; 4. Tanner Gray, 296; 5. Shane Gray, 278; 6. Jeg Coughlin, 266; 7. Erica Enders, 219; 8. Chris McGaha, 193; 9. Drew Skillman, 190; 10. Vincent Nobile, 183.

Sportsman final-round results

Top Fuel Harley: Jay Turner, Dixie, 6.460, 215.10 def. Mike Pelrine, Harley, 7.433, 138.31.
Top Alcohol Dragster: Garrett Bateman, 5.384, 271.24 def. Casey Grisel, 8.195, 112.59.
Top Alcohol Funny Car: Shane Westerfield, Chevy Camaro, 5.547, 265.17 def. Doug Gordon, Camaro, Foul - Red Light.
Competition Eliminator: Alan Ellis, '23-T Ford, 6.535, 187.89 def. Tony Mandella, Chevy S-10, 8.490, 155.45.
Super Stock: Mike Loge, Plymouth Barracuda, 11.549, 113.04 def. Tim Hall, Dodge Dart, Foul - Red Light.
Stock Eliminator: Chris Hall, Chevy Camaro, 11.013, 94.94 def. Phil Mandella Jr., Chevy Chevelle, Foul - Red Light.
Super Comp: Ryan Herem, Dragster, 9.056, 153.21 def. Luke Bogacki, Dragster, 9.049, 167.24.
Super Gas: Rick Cates, Chevy Corvette, 10.155, 138.20 def. Tim Parker, Chevy Camaro, 11.894, 118.82.
Top Dragster: Chuck Phelps, Dragster, 6.603, 200.32 def. Kyle Seipel, Dragster, 6.941, 197.36.
Top Sportsman: Dean Hall, Chevy Corvette, 7.295, 188.89 def. Ed Olpin, Chevy Camaro, 7.160, 192.28.