As the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series wraps up its thrilling 2025 campaign, all eyes turn to the In-N-Out Burger Finals at Pomona Dragstrip this weekend. The event, set for November 13-16, puts four pro championships on the line in a high-stakes finale. Antron Brown, the 2024 Top Fuel champion and team owner of AB Motorsports, enters the 75th anniversary with his Matco Tools team fresh off a Gator Nationals win to open the year.

Since their debut in 2022, AB Motorsports has already won 12 races. Antron Brown’s contribution as a driver-owner has played a huge role in this. As the finale heads towards Pomona, Antron Brown opened up on what is it that has kept the team successful all these years.

Brown’s winning mindset powers AB Motorsports

In a candid chat, Antron Brown opens up about steering his team through drag racing’s twists. The 80-time NHRA winner stresses evolution as key to staying ahead. “Oh man, I see it evolve in leaps and bounds,” he says, recalling the shift from chasing 300 mph quarters to blasting past 330 in just 1,000 feet.

This mindset mirrors the sport’s evolution since Kenny Bernstein’s rare pioneering run in 1987, which is now very common in NHRA. Brown’s own records, like his 3.655-second advance time, show how tweaking parts unlocks next-level speed in the sports. And these mechanical tweaks are also the reason behind AB Motorsports’ 2024 championship charge with 65 Top Fuel wins overall.

Balancing owner and driver roles, Brown builds success around his crew. “You’re only as good as the people that you surround yourself by,” he notes. “So you got to be able to motivate them to be the best version of themselves.” Since launching AB Motorsports in 2022, he’s turned a second-place finish that year into a title run, thanks to smart hires like crew chief Brian Corradi.

This people-first approach also helped Brown to win the 2025 Gator Nationals trophy, proving proper motivation always turns potential into poles and wins. Ahead of the 75th season, Brown shares this to rally his squad for bigger battles.

Brown believes in turning setbacks into a learning stage. “When you go through the low time, that’s when you’re doing learning. You got to take the learning phase as a growing phase.” After getting sixth in the championship standings with only three wins in 2023, the team dissected weak spots to dominate 2024, which helped them in outpacing rivals like Doug Kalitta.

As Brown spills his mantra, which shows his hunger for growth and a dominating next season, he already warns others that “we’re bringing out all the guns, and we’re coming out blazing.” This is also the reason why AB Motorsports thrives: relentless growth keeps them championship contenders.

With Brown’s blueprint set, the NHRA horizon expands beyond stars like him.

Rockingham Dragway gears for NHRA comeback in 2026

Rockingham Dragway, a staple since 1970, steps back into the NHRA spotlight with a national event lined up for September 25-27, 2026. The North Carolina track, once home to All-Star races from 1989 to 1998, left but rejoined the Southwest Division in 2015. New owners Dan VanHorn and Al Gennarelli bought it in 2022 and invested funds to revive its glory. This comeback ties perfectly into NHRA’s 75th anniversary, drawing pro classes for a full-throttle weekend.

VanHorn captures the buzz: “This is an exciting moment in Rockingham Dragway’s rich history to host an NHRA national event during their 75th anniversary season.” He credits local backers like Richmond County Tourism for sealing the deal, turning his dream into reality. Crowds in the past came to this racetrack to listen to the nitro roars. However, upgrades like extra asphalt pits now promise smoother runs. It’s a nod to drag roots, boosting the area’s economy with an expected fan burst.

Progress fuels the fire, as VanHorn adds, “There’s been a lot of work and resources put into this facility, and we’re proud of what has been accomplished in such a short time.” The upgrades at the racetrack include scoreboards and fences getting facelifts ahead, ensuring top-shelf racing.

From its NASCAR ovals to drag strips, Rockingham’s revival honors motorsport heritage while eyeing future races. Fans gear up for this survival, as this return could spark a new era.