BROWNSBURG, Ind. (January 28th, 2026) — AB Motorsports, owned and driven by four-time NHRA Top Fuel world champion Antron Brown, announced today that veteran crew chief and program advisor John Medlen has joined the organization as a consultant for the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.
Medlen, a respected leader in nitro racing for over three decades, brings hands-on experience, deep technical knowledge, and proven leadership to the AB Motorsports Top Fuel program.
In his consultant role, Medlen will work closely with the team, including crew chief Brian Corradi and co-crew chief Brad Mason, to provide strategic and technical support as the organization continues to build toward sustained championship success.
“I am very, very excited to have John Medlen come aboard AB Motorsports,” Brown said. “He brings a wealth of knowledge, and he will be a great addition to Brian Corradi, Brad Mason, and our entire team at AB Motorsports. John’s infectious personality, drive, and passion to win fit right in here, and his attention to detail is truly second to none.”
Medlen is a 30-plus-year nitro racing veteran whose career dates back to the 1980s, when he worked with drivers such as Rudy Toepke before going on to become a key figure at John Force Racing. Over the years, Medlen has also contributed to successful programs with drivers including Don Prudhomme, Cruz Pedregon and Paul Lee, and was part of Ron Capps’ championship nitro Funny Car team in 2021 and 2022.
“I’m very excited, encouraged, and optimistic. I’ve had the privilege to work with Brian and Brad previously,” Medlen said. “I’ve also worked with many of the crew guys, and even hired some of them who are on Antron’s team. I’m looking forward to a very fun and interesting season and complementing the team with my years of knowledge and tuning experience.”
With Medlen’s addition, AB Motorsports continues to strengthen its technical foundation as the team prepares for the 2026 season, reinforcing its commitment to excellence both on and off the racetrack.
Brown’s bid for a fifth Top Fuel world championship begins March 5–8 as the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series launches at the NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, Florida.
ABOUT AB MOTORSPORTS:
Established in 2019, AB Motorsports is a single-car NHRA Top Fuel team owned and operated by four-time world champion Antron Brown. The team competes on the 20-race NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series circuit thanks to the support of Matco Tools, Red Line Oil, Factory Motor Parts and its FVP brand, Hangsterfer’s Metal Working Lubricants, Summit Racing Equipment, Streamlight, Western Technical College, and Genesis Attachments.
Headquartered in Brownsburg, Indiana, AB Motorsports made its on-track debut in 2022 and has collected 13 wins throughout its first three seasons.
Brown, who serves as both the driver and owner of the AB Motorsports Top Fuel dragster, is the only competitor in NHRA history to have won races in both the Top Fuel and Pro Stock Motorcycle categories. In addition to his 51 No. 1 qualifier awards, Brown is an 81-time NHRA national event winner and became the first Black driver to win a major U.S. auto racing championship when he captured his first NHRA Top Fuel series title in 2012. He made history again in 2024 when he captured his first Top Fuel crown as a team owner, becoming the first Black championship-winning owner/driver.
In 2023, Brown launched the AB Motorsports Accelerate Program, an all-encompassing driver development initiative aimed at helping racers advance in their careers. Three-time Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion Angelle Sampey was the first athlete to join the Accelerate Program. She made her Top Alcohol Dragster debut in October 2023 and continues to compete in the category as she progresses toward the premier Top Fuel class.
For more information, visit www.antronbrown.com or @antronbrown on Twitter, and @antronbrowntf on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
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Medlen, a respected leader in nitro racing for over three decades, brings hands-on experience, deep technical knowledge, and proven leadership to the AB Motorsports Top Fuel program.
In his consultant role, Medlen will work closely with the team, including crew chief Brian Corradi and co-crew chief Brad Mason, to provide strategic and technical support as the organization continues to build toward sustained championship success.
“I am very, very excited to have John Medlen come aboard AB Motorsports,” Brown said. “He brings a wealth of knowledge, and he will be a great addition to Brian Corradi, Brad Mason, and our entire team at AB Motorsports. John’s infectious personality, drive, and passion to win fit right in here, and his attention to detail is truly second to none.”
Medlen is a 30-plus-year nitro racing veteran whose career dates back to the 1980s, when he worked with drivers such as Rudy Toepke before going on to become a key figure at John Force Racing. Over the years, Medlen has also contributed to successful programs with drivers including Don Prudhomme, Cruz Pedregon and Paul Lee, and was part of Ron Capps’ championship nitro Funny Car team in 2021 and 2022.
“I’m very excited, encouraged, and optimistic. I’ve had the privilege to work with Brian and Brad previously,” Medlen said. “I’ve also worked with many of the crew guys, and even hired some of them who are on Antron’s team. I’m looking forward to a very fun and interesting season and complementing the team with my years of knowledge and tuning experience.”
With Medlen’s addition, AB Motorsports continues to strengthen its technical foundation as the team prepares for the 2026 season, reinforcing its commitment to excellence both on and off the racetrack.
Brown’s bid for a fifth Top Fuel world championship begins March 5–8 as the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series launches at the NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, Florida.
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ABOUT AB MOTORSPORTS:
Established in 2019, AB Motorsports is a single-car NHRA Top Fuel team owned and operated by four-time world champion Antron Brown. The team competes on the 20-race NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series circuit thanks to the support of Matco Tools, Red Line Oil, Factory Motor Parts and its FVP brand, Hangsterfer’s Metal Working Lubricants, Summit Racing Equipment, Streamlight, Western Technical College, and Genesis Attachments.
Headquartered in Brownsburg, Indiana, AB Motorsports made its on-track debut in 2022 and has collected 13 wins throughout its first three seasons.
Brown, who serves as both the driver and owner of the AB Motorsports Top Fuel dragster, is the only competitor in NHRA history to have won races in both the Top Fuel and Pro Stock Motorcycle categories. In addition to his 51 No. 1 qualifier awards, Brown is an 81-time NHRA national event winner and became the first Black driver to win a major U.S. auto racing championship when he captured his first NHRA Top Fuel series title in 2012. He made history again in 2024 when he captured his first Top Fuel crown as a team owner, becoming the first Black championship-winning owner/driver.
In 2023, Brown launched the AB Motorsports Accelerate Program, an all-encompassing driver development initiative aimed at helping racers advance in their careers. Three-time Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion Angelle Sampey was the first athlete to join the Accelerate Program. She made her Top Alcohol Dragster debut in October 2023 and continues to compete in the category as she progresses toward the premier Top Fuel class.
For more information, visit www.antronbrown.com or @antronbrown on Twitter, and @antronbrowntf on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
Continue reading...
