In 2024, Antron Brown was at the top of his game. The veteran Top Fuel racer had won five times and secured his fourth career Top Fuel championship. The question was how many more events and titles would he win. Tony Schumacher’s eight titles were likely out of reach, but tying Joe Amato with five seemed very possible.
Then 2025 came, and Brown won the season opening Gatornationals. A shot at a fifth title, and perhaps an outside shot at catching Schumacher’s 88 Top Fuel wins, both felt very possible.
“I want to be the regular-season champ, and I want that ceremony, and it all starts at the Gatornationals,” Brown said at the time. “It’s one of our biggest races each year, and you’ve got to show out and build that momentum. There’s a lot at stake at all these races, and it’s going to bring a whole different mindset, and that all starts in Gainesville.”
However, that would be the highlight of his season as he was only able to secure two runner-up finishes for the remainder of the season and finished ninth overall in Top Fuel points.
2026 Season At A Glance
One could be forgiven if they gave up on Brown, or thought he was washed, but he has proven that narrative wrong this season. The 50-year old has one Top Fuel win and has earned 755 points on the season, 338 points to the good of the cutline for the Countdown to the Championship.
Most notably, Brown captured a bucket list 66th Top Fuel victory at Bristol.
“I’ve been wanting one of these diamond Wally’s ever since they brought them out, so winning one was huge,” Brown said. “The thing about it is, that when you see these special things that come out and then to be mentioned as an NHRA Top 75 driver, it’s a dream come true, and to get this for 75 years and be a part of it and say you got one, they can never take it away.”
Looking Forward
While Brown has not clinched a spot in the Countdown, he has a strong lead and will likely clinch a spot. The battle for the top seed is realistically between Shawn Langdon and two-time Top Fuel champion Doug Kalitta. Brown currently sits fourth in points, which would decrease his gap to 40 points if he is able to maintain the position. While he is not the odds on favorite, it is very possible that Brown will be in contention for the 2026 season title.
