From Pit Lane To Boardroom: Antron Brown On Tech, Team Building, And The Next Title Run
About this episode
Antron Brown shares insights from his racing career and the upcoming 2025 season, discussing the importance of technology and teamwork in drag racing. He highlights the significance of the PRI show for discovering the latest innovations in performance racing. Brown reflects on last year's challenges and the team's efforts to improve for the next season, including new team members and strategies. He also touches on his long-standing partnership with fellow racer Angel and the dynamics of their successful collaboration.
Want to know what actually moves the needle in modern Top Fuel? We bring Antron Brown into the shop and pull the tarp back on the Performance Racing Industry show, the small edges that decide Sunday, and the strategy behind building a champion when the big power gains are gone. This is a story about tools, people, and timing.
We start where the real work happens: aisles of new coatings, valves, intakes, CNC upgrades, and welders that shave hours in the shop and deliver repeatable performance at the track. Antron explains how PRI helps teams compare innovations, strike deals, and spot the one tweak that becomes a tenth. From Machinery Row to limited-time discounts, it’s the tech pipeline that fuels a season.
Then we dig into 2025. The car was fast and qualified near the front, but razor-thin margins swung the wrong way. Antron talks candidly about matchup luck, when to roll the dice, and when spinning the tires is a self-inflicted wound. With the field locked on power, he outlines the next frontier: process. Enter John Medlen, joining Brian Corradi and Brad Mason to sharpen R&D, discipline, and the tiny checks that make a setup repeatable. With AB Fab, the team can machine, iterate, and respond faster than the calendar.
We also explore a second AB Motorsports car with Angelle Sampey. The plan is careful, built on seat time, system comfort, and sponsor partnerships that make growth sustainable. Antron’s history with Angelle—back to U.S. Army Pro Stock Motorcycle—shows why trust compounds speed. And yes, the rival to beat is clear: Coletta Motorsports. The path forward is equally clear—do the small things right, every round.
If you love racing tech, team-building, and the mindset that wins when everyone is fast, this one’s for you. Tap play, subscribe for more deep dives, and leave a review with the sharpest insight you picked up—what detail do you think decides a title run?
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PRI show
"Well, the P.R.I. show, what it actually does is, is like a performance race industry show. So, when we, when we get to go there and everything else is that we get to go see all the new latest technology out and everything and to see what's going on into today's performance world is what we do."
The PRI show is a big event for people in the racing world where they can see new tools and technology. It's like a special shopping event just for race car professionals.
The PRI show, or Performance Racing Industry show, is an annual trade event focused on the racing industry. It showcases the latest technology and equipment for performance racing, allowing industry professionals to network and discover new products.
intake
"You'll see something new and special. And when you see it, you're like, Hey, check that out. And some mile bring them, like, you know, a new intake out, or you have like a new valve with a special coating that they're bringing out at PRI."
An intake is a part of a car's engine that brings in air. Better intakes can help the engine work better and make more power.
An intake refers to the system in an engine that draws in air for combustion. Upgrading the intake can improve engine performance by allowing more air to enter, which can lead to increased power.
valve
"And when you see it, you're like, Hey, check that out. And some mile bring them, like, you know, a new intake out, or you have like a new valve with a special coating that they're bringing out at PRI."
A valve in a car engine helps control how air and fuel get in and out. Better valves can help the engine run more smoothly and powerfully.
In an engine, a valve controls the flow of air and fuel into the combustion chamber and the exhaust out of it. Upgrading valves can enhance engine efficiency and performance.
CNC
"You'll see some new machines that are out, like on, like on the aisles like centroid came out with their new CNC and a 560 XL, which we got one of those last years, but they got new bells and whistles out in a link in electrical have some new things out."
CNC is a way to use computers to control machines that make parts for cars and other things. It helps create very precise and detailed items.
CNC stands for Computer Numerical Control, a technology used in manufacturing that allows machines to be controlled by computers. This precision enables the creation of complex parts and components.
drag racing
"Like right now people understand and drag racing that you can't make big gains anymore. There's no more. Oh, we're going to redesign the cylinder head or we're going to change this."
Drag racing is a sport where cars race in a straight line to see who can go the fastest. It's usually done on a track that's a quarter mile long, and the goal is to reach the finish line first.
Drag racing is a type of motor racing where cars compete to be the first to cross a finish line over a straight distance, typically a quarter mile. It emphasizes acceleration and speed, often featuring modified vehicles for maximum performance.
cylinder head
"Oh, we're going to redesign the cylinder head or we're going to change this. We're going to make this. We're going to do this and do that."
The cylinder head is part of an engine that sits on top of the cylinders. It helps control the flow of air and fuel into the engine and the exhaust out, which is important for how well the engine runs.
The cylinder head is a crucial component of an internal combustion engine, located above the cylinders. It houses the intake and exhaust valves, and its design significantly affects engine performance and efficiency.
blow
"Or we're going to change the blow. We're going to brand new blow or we're going to do this to the car."
'Blow' usually means using a device that helps an engine get more air, which makes it more powerful. This is done with things like superchargers or turbochargers.
In automotive terms, 'blow' often refers to a supercharger or turbocharger, which are devices used to increase an engine's power output by forcing more air into the combustion chamber. This process allows for more fuel to be burned, resulting in greater power.
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