There was not a vehicle involved the first time Antron Brown visited Minnesota with the idea of traveling rapidly. He was here in 1996 to participate in the 55-meter dash in the National Junior College indoor track and field meet.
“We ran in this large fieldhouse in Minneapolis,” Brown said. “I came in with the best time [6.27 seconds]. I didn’t win. Finished second.”
Outdoors, Brown would run a 10.2 seconds in 100 meters for Mercer County Community College in New Jersey. “I played all the sports as a kid, and I was fast,” he said this week.
There’s fast with your legs, and then there’s fast with what Brown has been busy with for the past 28 years — which is racing on the National Hot Rod Association circuit, for 10 years on motorcycles, and since 2008 in Top Fuel dragsters.
The Lucas Oil Nationals are being contested for the 43rd time this weekend at Brainerd International Raceway. Brown was making the rounds in the Twin Cities on Thursday, promoting what is annually BIR’s biggest event.
He had some media interviews, made a visit to the Vikings practice complex in Eagan as they scrimmaged New England, then threw out a ceremonial first pitch at Target Field.
“Seriously, Brainerd is one of the favorite stops for all of us,” Brown said. “It’s August, it can be hot, but the nights are cool up there in the north country. And then they have ‘The Zoo,’ not as crazy as it used to be, but hardcore fans having a great time late into the night.”
Not to mention the early morning.