Antron Brown, former Pro Stock Motorcycle great who recently secured his fourth NHRA Top Fuel world championship, is set to take on the next challenge in his illustrious drag racing career. Next week, he’ll make his Pro Modified debut competing in the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals presented by Motion Raceworks, Dec. 5-8, at Bradenton Motorsports Park. It’s the first of three races in the inaugural Drag Illustrated Winter Series presented by J&A Service, with Brown planning to compete in all three events to chase another championship.
While Brown typically competes in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, he’s no stranger to Bradenton and the Snowbirds. Two years ago, he won the Snowbirds in his Pro 275 debut driving for Manny Buginga. He’s partnered up with Buginga again to make his Pro Mod debut. Brown will drive Buginga’s ProCharged red Lexus RCF tuned by legendary doorslammer tuner Steve Petty.
Brown, whose recent Top Fuel championship is his first since launching AB Motorsports, asserts that he isn’t just entering the shark-infested Pro Mod waters to participate. He’s coming to win.
“I do nothing in life to come out there just to be out there,” Brown said. “I want to come and I want to win and have a chance to win. I line up against big dogs every day. That’s what I do.”
Brown will be in familiar company at the Snowbirds, as his Top Fuel crew chief, Brian Corradi, is also debuting a Pro Mod entry of his own. Two-time NHRA U.S. Nationals Top Dragster winner Zach Sackman will drive that entry.
“Everybody on my team is involved,” Brown said. “Even my crew chief, Brian Corradi, has a car and he’s going to have Zach Sackman drive it. He’s a Top Dragster champion and he drives the wheels off a car. Brian’s bringing back a theme from back in the day that will be pretty cool.”
Brown and Sackman will compete against more than 60 drivers from Pro Mod and beyond, with drivers from Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings, drag radial classes, and more set to make their debut in Pro Mod as well. It will make for a unique cast of characters, and Brown is excited for the opportunity to mix it up with them.
“We cut up, we have fun, we keep our head down, and when we go to the starting line, don’t let the smile fool you,” Brown said. “Don’t get that twisted. When I put the helmet on and my visor goes down, I don’t care who you are. I don’t care if you’re a girl. I don’t care if you’re a little kid. I don’t care where you come from. I give nobody no false hope. If you’re going to beat me, you’re going to beat me. I ain’t letting nobody win.”
After the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals, the DI Winter Series presented by J&A Service will continue with the U.S. Street Nationals presented by M&M Transmission on Jan. 23-26, 2025; and the World Series of Pro Mod Feb. 27-March 1, 2025. Each race will feature a 32-car qualified field. The driver who earns the most points across all three races will be crowned the DI Winter Series champion.
