Former Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Antron Brown made drag racing history at NHRA Houston when he won his first Top Fuel event becoming the first cross over driver from PSM racing to do that. Brown drove the Matco Tools-sponsored dragster, which is tuned by Lee Beard, to victory when he took an exiting come-from-behind win over Larry Dixon. Brown’s Top Fuel win came in only his 4th start in the category. Prior to his switch to Top Fuel this season he had amassed 17 career wins in the Pro Stock Motorcycle category.

Brown, who had qualified 12th, beat Doug Foley, Cory McClenathan and Doug Kalitta to advance to the final round.

Texan Alan Bradshaw earned his 2nd straight pole position in NHRA Top Fuel racing when he sped to 4.526 secs to pace the field and set low ET of the meet. Bradshaw however suffered a stinging first round red-light which handed an upset win to 2007 European FIA Champion Urs Erbacher. For Erbacher, who is from Switzerland, it marked the first time in 30 years that a racer from Europe had won a round in Top Fuel. The last to do that was England’s Clive Skelton, at Pomona, in 1978.

John Force’s aspiring daughter Ashley Force came close to joining Brown in the history books, In Funny Car eliminator, she advanced to the final round for the 2nd time in her career but was once again was denied an opportunity to become the first ever female winner in the NHRA category. A tardy .142 RT did not help her cause in the final round as California’s Del Worsham prevailed in a 4.933 secs 316.60 mph to 4.971 secs 302.62 mph decision.

For Worsham, the victory was a gratifying development as it ended a winless streak which dated back to Indianapolis in 2005. Del’s victory, which came in the K&N Filters/CSK Chevy Impala, featured impressive consistency, while turning back opponents Jerry Toliver, Tim Wilkerson and John Force.

Cruz Pedregon had low ET of the meet during qualifying at 4.834 secs, while JFR team driver Mike Neff carded top speed at 319.45 mph.

Greg Anderson beat Kurt Johnson in the Pro Stock final round. Anderson’s 53rd career win was assured when his 6.692 secs at 207.37 mph easily outdistanced Johnson’s ACDelco Chevy Colbalt which shook the tires hard.

Anderson’s march in the Summit-sponsored Pontiac GXP came from the 6th qualified position and also featured wins over Greg Stanfield, Matt Hartford and Allen Johnson.

Kurt Johnson recorded low ET of the race while earning the pole at 6.638 secs. KJ’s legendary father Warren Johnson provided the event’s most harrowing moment when the motor of his GM Performance Parts Pontiac GXP let go during the 2nd qualifying session. Warren was blinded by smoke and his car crossed lanes and clipped the guardwall in the incident, forcing his team to scramble to make necessary repairs.

Defending NHRA POWERade World Champion Matt Smith won big in Pro Stock Motorcycle when he defeated recent NHRA ACDelco Gatornationals winner Matt Guidera in the final round. Smith won that championship match, 7.060 secs 187.76 mph to 7.140 secs 185.03 mph.

Smith’s victory came on the fastest motorcycle of the event – his pole qualifying effort of 6.929 secs aboard the now NitroFish-sponsored Buell held up as low ET of the entire meet. Smith beat Junior Pippin, Angelle Sampey and Andrew Hines in earlier round competition.

For the 2nd race in a row the Jegs Pro Mod Challenge featured an upset winner in the form of class newcomer Joe Baker. Baker, who won during Florida’s ACDelco Gatornationals driving a ’41 Willys, was behind the wheel of Roger Burgess’s ’63 Corvette at Houston and still managed to make it to victory lane.

In the final round Baker held off Toronto’s Tony Pontieri for the event title winning an exciting 6.022 secs 219.19 mph to 6.048 secs 237.42 mph match-up. Pontieri’s final round appearance was the third of his career within NHRA Jegs PM Challenge circuit racing.

Low ET of the meet in PM went to homestate racer and defending series champion Josh Hernandez who ran a swift 5.962 secs.

Canada’s Raymond Commisso qualified 2nd (5.967 secs) and set top speed of the meet at 244.87 mph.