NHRA team owner and driver Antron Brown has appointed veteran partnership specialist Kevin Contardo to lead sponsor relations for his AB Motorsports (ABM) team for the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.

As director of business operations, Contardo will oversee ABM’s existing partnership programs while pursuing new relationships with both endemic and non-endemic brands. He will also collaborate closely with ABM’s hospitality, merchandising and machine-shop departments as he builds upon the strong foundation Brown has successfully established through his first four years of NHRA team ownership.

Contardo brings more than a decade of sponsorship development experience to AB Motorsports. His previous roles include serving as director of strategic partnerships for John Force Racing and JCM Racing.

He also held the position of director of global partnerships at Oak View Group, a global sports and live entertainment venue management company, and served as director of strategic partnerships for the Nashville Zoo. His in-depth partnership management experience, paired with his extensive motorsports background, makes him uniquely positioned him to support ABM’s continued growth.

For more information, visit antronbrown.com.

Red Bull motorsport advisor Dr Helmut Marko has decided to leave the team, bringing to an end over two decades of influence as part of the multiple championship-winning set-up.

Marko helped develop young talents through his own team and then in partnership with Red Bull in the early 2000s, prior to Red Bull entering F1 in 2005. From that point onwards he was an advisor across both Red Bull and its sister team – now called Racing Bulls – often identifying and signing young drivers to become future options for the Red Bull F1 program.

The 82-year-old Austrian was a close friend of Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz, who died in 2022, and Marko’s position was under threat during 2024 after a power struggle with then-team principal Christian Horner. Despite ultimately outlasting Horner this year, Marko as now confirmed he will leave his position at the end of the year.

“I have been involved in motorsport for six decades now, and the past 20-plus years at Red Bull have been an extraordinary and extremely successful journey,” Marko said. “It has been a wonderful time that I have been able to help shape and share with so many talented people. Everything we have built and achieved together fills me with pride.

“Narrowly missing out on the world championship this season has moved me deeply and made it clear to me that now is the right moment for me personally to end this very long, intense, and successful chapter. I wish the entire team continued success and am convinced that they will be fighting for both world championship titles again next year.”

Having been seen as a key ally to Red Bull’s four-time world champion Max Verstappen, Marko will depart as the team is now led by Laurent Mekies, who took over from Horner as team principal in July.

Known for both his impressive ability to uncover talents that can reach F1 and his often ruthless approach to underperforming drivers, Marko has never been far from controversy. He had to apologize for comments made relating to Sergio Perez’s ethnicity in 2023, and drew criticism in some quarters for branding Isack Hadjar’s tearful reaction to his pre-race crash on his F1 debut in Australia as “embarrassing”.

Red Bull also had to put out a statement saying it sincerely regretted the online abuse aimed at Kimi Antonelli following the Qatar Grand Prix just over a week ago, when Marko repeatedly said the Mercedes rookie had intentionally let Lando Norris through late in the race. The team stated that the claims from Marko were “clearly incorrect”.

Marko has also seen his influence on the young driver program impacted by changes to the structure in recent seasons – with Guillaume Rocquelin taking on a prominent role three years ago – but Red Bull’s CEO of corporate projects and investments Oliver Mintzlaff says the departure was one he didn’t want to accept.

“Helmut approached me with the wish to end his role as motorsport advisor at the end of the year,” Mintzlaff said. “I deeply regret his decision, as he has been an influential figure for more than two decades, and his departure marks the end of an extraordinary era.

“Over more than 20 years, Helmut has earned incomparable merits for our team and the entire Red Bull motorsport family. He played a decisive role in all key strategic decisions that made Red Bull Racing what it is today: a multiple world champion, an engine of innovation, and a cornerstone of international motorsport.

“His instinct for exceptional talent not only shaped our junior program but also left a lasting impact on Formula 1 as a whole. Names like Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen stand for the many drivers who were discovered, supported, and guided to the very top under his leadership. His passion, his courage to make clear decisions, and his ability to spot potential will remain unforgettable.

“After a long and intensive conversation, I knew I had to respect his wishes, as I gained the impression that the timing felt right for him to take this step. Even though his departure will leave a significant gap, our respect for his decision and our gratitude for everything he has done for Red Bull Racing outweigh it.

“Helmut Marko will be deeply missed, both personally and professionally. We wish him all the very best for the future and hope that he will remain closely and warmly connected to the team.”

Front Row Motorsports and 23XI Racing’s trial against NASCAR is officially underway. Last week, the biggest trial in the sport’s history began, with both sides entering court for 10 days of action. However, what will happen if Front Row Motorsports comes out on the losing side? Well, the organization’s future could become really bleak.

According to FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass, Front Row Motorsports would “likely” shut down within a year of the trial, pending any appeals. It would mean that Zane Smith, Todd Gilliland, and Noah Gragson would become free agents, leaving the three drivers without a ride in the NASCAR Cup Series.

If Front Row Motorsports loses the trial, it could mark the end of what was a long tenure in the Cup Series, but everything is still on the table. 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports want to come out of this trial against NASCAR as winners, hoping that it leads to meaningful changes for the sport.

Parker Eatmon has a new home for the 2026 NASCAR season. Last week, Niece Motorsports announced that Eatmon will drive the No. 42 truck part-time during the 2026 NASCAR Truck Series season. The 19-year-old driver’s 2026 schedule has yet to be announced.

Eatmon primarily spent the 2025 season competing full-time in the zMAX CARS Tour Late Model Stock Series. The Niece Motorsports driver also finished second overall in the Virginia Late Model Triple Crown. In 2026, Eatmon will compete in several Late Model races alongside his Truck Series schedule.

Tyler Reif will be the “anchor” driver of the No. 42 truck, but Eatmon, Conner Jones, and others will run select events throughout the campaign. It might not be many races for Eatmon in 2026, but he will be getting experience for the 2027 NASCAR season, hoping to earn more races.

Chris Knight

Chris Knight has served as a senior staff writer and news editor for CATCHFENCE.com since 2001.

In his 20-plus years with CATCHFENCE.com, he has covered NASCAR’s top three national series, often breaking news and providing exclusive at-track content, including in-depth race weekend coverage.

He also offers insider coverage of the entire Motorsports platform, including the ARCA Menards Series.

In 2022, Knight became co-owner of CATCHFENCE.com.

In addition to his active duties at CATCHFENCE.com and other Motorsports-related endeavors, he is also a frequent contributor to SiriusXM Satellite Radio NASCAR Channel 90.

You can follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @Knighter01 or on Instagram, Snapchat, or Threads at @TheKnighter01.

He can be reached by email at [email protected].