Three-time NHRA Top Fuel champion Antron Brown is set to enter his 26th consecutive season as a professional drag racer — a year that will mark primary partner, Matco Tools’ 17th season with the fan-favorite driver. Brown will debut a special Matco Tools ‘45th anniversary’ livery this weekend in Gainesville, the site of his Pro Stock Motorcycle debut in 1998.

Brown is in pursuit of his milestone 75th career NHRA national event victory in 2024, after clinching three wins in 2023, bringing his total win count up to 74 national event victories overall (16 of them came in Pro Stock Motorcycle).

The 2024 campaign marks Brown’s third season as an NHRA team owner.

“There’s a lot going on at this first race of the year. We qualified for the Pep Boys Top Fuel Callout on Saturday, so it’s crucial we come out of the gate strong in Friday qualifying,” Antron Brown said. “Having a good outing in Gainesville is very important because if you can get that momentum flowing, it really sets your season up for success. I can see in my team’s eyes that they’re energized and ready to go.

“We’re sporting our new red, white, and blue colors with our Matco Tools ‘45th anniversary’ livery, and we’re coming down here with our heads down and focused. All of our partners are geared up, they’re pumped, and this is going to be a great weekend to kick this all off so we’re super happy, super proud, and ready to go out here and do what we do and get this year off to a great start.”

Brown won Top Fuel at Gainesville in 2013, and runnered-up in 2006, 2014, and 2017 in Top Fuel, and 2006 in Pro Stock Motorcycle.