Lucas Oil returning to NHRA nitro ranks with AB Motorsports

This morning Antron Brown announced that longtime supporter of the motorsports industry Lucas Oil Products, Inc, has joined his team AB Motorsports as the official lubricants partner for the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series.

Since it's founding in 1989 by husband and wife team Charlotte and Forrest Lucas, Lucas Oil has manufactured and distributed automotive oils, additives and lubricants and has been a fixture in the NHRA community.

Antron has enjoyed a longtime relationship with the Lucas family for decades and a large part of what spurned this new partnership is the family values shared by both owners.

In 1998 when Antron started his NHRA career aboard a Pro Stock Motorcycle, Lucas Oil signed on to support the young upstart and he credits Charlotte and Forrest for helping him to compete full time during those early NHRA years. They would step in and to fulfill any open races on Antron's schedule. Since that time Lucas Oil has remained a steady part of the Brown family's racing operation, supporting all three of Antron's children's Jr Drag Racing careers, along with Antron's father Al and uncle Andre's Super Comp team, all of which still proudly fly the Lucas Oil logo to this day.

Lucas Oil helped Antron 'sweep the Swing' in 2009

Lucas Oil helped Antron 'sweep the Swing' in 2009

Lucas Oil has continued to a fervent supporter of the NHRA community, but in the recent years their familiar red-white-and-blue logo has synonymous with the NHRA Sportsman, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle categories. With this new partnership, they will returning to the NHRA's nitro ranks in a full time capacity for the first time since 2018.

Brandon Bernstein, Director of Partnership Marketing at Lucas Oil and former driver of the Lucas Oil Top Fuel dragster, had this to say about the new partnership, "We have been focusing our marketing efforts on the Sportsman-level racer and Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle categories for the last few years, but have always kept close tabs on the NHRA's Top Fuel and Funny Car competitors. When Antron announced he would be forming his own operation in 2022, we knew that teaming up with him would be the perfect opportunity to return to the nitro folds on a full-time basis and, once again, have a major presence in 11,000-horsepower racing. Antron has been part of the Lucas family for many years and is an incredible marketing force. We know he’ll be an excellent ambassador of the Lucas Oil brand, and we look forward to seeing the Lucas logo back in the Top Fuel winner’s circle.”

Antron and Brandon Bernstein at PRI announcing the partnership

Antron and Brandon Bernstein at PRI announcing the partnership

Antron had this to say about the partnership, "Family is very important to their operation and it's very important to mine as well. “We share similar values, and I think that’s part of what has kept this relationship so close for so many years. The Lucas’s are good people and I like to be a part of good people. Lucas Oil played such an important role in the earliest part of my career, and I’m so glad we will get to team up again as I embark on this new chapter with my new team. They have been tried-and-true supporters of mine for many years, and I can’t wait to be able to return the favor both on and off the track.”

AB Motorsports will make it's debut as a single car operation in 2022, campaigning the Matco Tools Toyota Top Fuel dragster with Antron at the wheel and crew chief Brian Corradi tuning the car. Since this is an associate level partnership, it will include branding on Antron's championship winning Top Fueler, firesuit, crew shirts and race haulers. Additionally Lucas Oil will manage AB Motorsports' double sided trackside VIP hospitality operation where guests will be treated to a front row view of the Matco Tools team as they wrench on Antron's 333.66 mph dragster while enjoying chef prepared meals and refreshments.