Scouting America has entered a season-long partnership with AB Motorsports for the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, creating STEM-based learning opportunities for youth at select national events. The initiative connects hands-on education with real-world applications inside a Top Fuel racing environment.
The program pairs Scouting America with four-time Top Fuel champion Antron Brown and his AB Motorsports team. It will show Scouts how math, engineering, data, and teamwork drive Top Fuel performance, turning classroom concepts into race-day decisions.
The partnership will debut at the NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, with expanded youth engagement beginning later in April at the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals in Charlotte. Officials say the effort aligns with NHRA’s long-standing educational outreach.
Scouting America, which serves nearly one million youth nationwide, views the program as an extension of its leadership and skills-based development model. The collaboration brings its core values into a motorsports setting built on precision and teamwork.
“Our new partnership with AB Motorsports represents an exciting opportunity to connect the spirit of Scouting with the innovation, teamwork, and determination that define motorsports,” said Roger Krone, president & CEO of Scouting America. “Whether it’s learning how to solve problems under pressure, working effectively as a team, or pushing themselves to reach new goals, AB Motorsports embodies the very qualities we strive to cultivate in every young person who wears the Scout uniform. Together, we’ll inspire young people to aim higher, work harder, and discover their potential, on the track, in their communities, and throughout their lives.”
The initiative is supported by World Wide Technology, adding a corporate component focused on expanding STEM awareness. Organizers say the program will highlight how engineering and data-driven decisions influence race-day performance.
David L. Steward, Founder and Chairman of World Wide Technology, said, “We are thrilled to sponsor Antron Brown and Scouting America. As a world-class NHRA competitor, Antron will help us drive excitement for both Top Fuel racing and the science and engineering Scouts will learn.”
At select events, Scouts will participate in engineering demonstrations, team-building exercises, and interactive learning sessions. The experience will include guided access to Brown’s pit area, where they can observe how technical preparation translates to competition.
Additional activities under consideration include entry-level mechanical design and competition-based learning challenges. The goal is to reinforce classroom concepts through real-world application.
For Brown, the partnership reflects a continuation of his involvement in youth mentorship. He emphasized the importance of connecting education to career pathways within motorsports and beyond.
“This is bigger than racing,” Brown said. “This sport has given me so much, and I’ve always believed it’s important to give that back to the next generation. When young people walk through our pit and see how much math, engineering, technology, and teamwork goes into what we do, it opens their eyes. If we can help them connect what they’re learning in school to real careers and real opportunities, that’s a win far beyond the race track. It’s about showing them what’s possible and helping them believe they can chase big dreams in any field they choose.”
Brown said the partnership was built on relationships developed over time within the motorsports community. He pointed to shared values between stakeholders as a key factor in bringing the program together.
“It all starts with relationships,” Brown said. “Curtis (Francois, World Wide Technology Raceway Owner and CEO) and Chris (Blair, World Wide Technology Raceway Executive Vice President and General Manager) introduced me to David (Steward) years ago, and we built a connection based on trust and a shared commitment to making an impact. That’s what makes partnerships like this possible.”
NHRA officials say the program complements existing outreach efforts, including the YES (Youth & Education Services) program. That initiative has connected students with STEM learning at national events for more than 30 years.
“NHRA is proud to support the collaboration between Scouting America and four-time Top Fuel champion Antron Brown,” NHRA President Glen Cromwell said. “NHRA has always been committed to engaging young people by utilizing real-world applications of science, technology, engineering and math. Partnerships like this, connecting Antron and Scouting America, only help inspire the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers, and we’re thrilled to see this partnership take place at NHRA events across the country.”
The partnership’s rollout begins in Pomona and expands throughout the season. Organizers expect it to evolve as additional programming is introduced at future events.
As NHRA continues to position itself as a platform for education and engagement, the collaboration with Scouting America and AB Motorsports adds another layer to that effort. It places STEM learning alongside competition, with the goal of influencing the next generation of innovators.
