While NHRA is in winter mode, dealing with changes to teams and drivers, there’s news in both this series and in others to talk about. There’s movement between teams, new partnerships to unveil and new team members to introduce.
While the 2025 season wasn’t one that 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Top Fuel champion Antron Brown is cheering about, the four-time dragster titleholder is making plans for NHRA’s 75th anniversary season beginning the first week of March 2026 at Gainesville Raceway and doing a major segue to Drag Illustrated’s Winter Series at Bradenton Motorsports Park in Florida.
Both Brown and his AB Motorsports crew chief Brian Corradi are splitting time between the team’s Brownsburg IN headquarters and Bradenton as they enter Drag Illustrated’s Winter Series. A new partnership with Robots Done Right is the catalyst for this adventure, even though both Brown and Corradi trace their knowledge and appreciation of the Winter Series to Pro Mod racer Manny Buginga, who introduced them to the three-race campaign.
The duo’s appreciation and enthusiasm for the Winter Series caused them to purchase a Pro Mod Camaro, which they’ll field during the upcoming three races that take place in both 2025 and next year. Robots Done Right, a leading buyer and seller of previously-owned industrial robots and robotic equipment is along for the ride, The driver for the Robots Done Right Pro Modified Chevrolet Camaro as it makes its debut this December 5-7 weekend is multiple NHRA champion Bo Butner.
“A huge thank you to Robots Done Right for taking an interest in our Pro Mod team and helping us get our drag racing fix during what can sometimes feel like a very long off-season,” Corradi stated. “Antron and I have really fallen in love with Pro Mod and radial cars these past few years. It’s been a lot of fun to race in a different capacity when we’re not running in the Mission Foods series. Having the support of Robots Done Right will be key in our taking our program to the next level.”
Robots Done Right is a Warren, Ohio-based company that helps customers enhance their manufacturing processes through automation. Their single robotic arms to arc welding packages and complete turnkey cells can help streamline many factory applications. The company is taking its participation with AB Motorsports farther as it places branding on Brown’s Top Fuel dragster for the 2026 season that starts in March.
“We’ve always loved drag racing,” admitted John McGill, Robots Done Right co-founder (with his son, Matt). “We have been wanting to become involved with a team for some time now. My family and I owned an Xfinity team for eight years, so being involved in motorsports in an official capacity is nothing new to us. We were introduced to Brian Corradi through a mutual friend, Mike DiDomenico, who also drives a Pro Mod [car]. Matt and I have really enjoyed getting to know Brian, especially since we share that Ohio connection.
“Through Brian, we met Antron and his world-class AB Motorsports operation. We believe in everything Antron stands for,” McGill said. “It’s clear why he’s a fan-favorite and has been so successful in this industry. It quickly became apparent that we wanted to formally align ourselves with Antron and Brian, and through this new partnership, we’re able to support grassroots racers, while also gaining major exposure through Antron’s Top Fuel team. We’re looking forward to a great 2026 season with both teams.”
AB Motorsports isn’t the only team adding to its infrastructure. As the company expands from Pro Stock to Top Fuel in the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, as well as its Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series operations and Pro Mod cars, Elite Motorsports team owner Richard Freeman realized he needed someone to help in the arena of operations and partnerships, landing Michelle Domagala as the largest professional drag racing team’s first vice president.
Domagala, who for the past 28 years has been the administrator for PRO, the Professional Racers Owners Organization, is joining Elite Motorsports with the intent to acquire new partnerships, maintain current relationships and build Elite Motorsports’ branding both on and off the racetrack.
Freeman had the opportunity to get to know Michelle Domagala even better when they worked together to put on the two PRO Superstar Shootout races held at Bradenton Motorsports Park the past two winters. “Michelle is one of the hardest-working individuals in the sport,” he declared. “Those races wouldn’t have happened without her. This sport is really all about the people, and Michelle is one of the people I felt Elite Motorsports needed as we shift into this new era,” having purchased the assets of Josh Hart Racing and taken on the obligation of fielding a Top Fuel car for three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart, who earned his first two dragster victories this past season after becoming NHRA’s 2024 Rookie of the Year.
“We’re going on 20 full years of being in this business,” Freeman continued, “and we’ve got big plans. Michelle has offered a fresh perspective and will be instrumental in keeping us on the right path as we continue to change the sport for the better.”
In addition to her new VP position with Elite Motorsports, Domagala will continue her work with PRO, while she and husband Mike, who serves as co-crew chief on TSR Nitro’s Top Fuel dragster, will partner with Elite Motorsports through their business, Premium Motorsports Products (PMP). This cooperative venture will further accommodate their international clientele and help Elite HP, Elite Motorsports’ high-performance parts, cars and engine division, reach a broadened audience, the team said.
“REichard and I have always worked well together,” Domagala explained. “I see his vision clearly, and I believe in the excitement he’s bringing to the sport. Elite Motorsports has always done things a bit differently. The culture Richard has built and the people he’s surrounded himself with are truly second to none,” she attested. “I look forward to contributing to our unique brand and continuing Elite’s innovative approach to the sport of drag racing.”
As she works side by side with Freeman, Domagala is also charged with maintaining partner deliverables and relationships, alongside the team’s director of communications and sponsor relations, Sara Slaughter. The duo will work with Innovative Creation Experts, the marketing firm owned and operated by Natalie Jahnke, to execute social media strategy. On the team side of operations, Courtney Enders continues he4r role managing crew and personnel.
Elite Motorsports is one of many teams taking part in Drag Illustrated’s Winter Series that begins December 5-7 on the Bradenton Motorsports Park dragstrip. Elite will feature two Pro Mod entries: one for six-time NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Pro Stock champion Erica Enders and the other for three-time NHRA Factory Stock Showdown world champion Aaron Stanfield. The initial race for this series is the Snowbird Outlaw Nations, while the U.S. Street Nationals are set for January 23-25 and the final Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod is scheduled February 25-28, all hosted by Bradenton Motorsports Park in the city of the same name in Florida.
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