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Tony Stewart Racing has announced Award Winning XXI Martinis as their newest partner for the NHRA 75th anniversary season. Distilled and bottled in the United States, XXI Martinis offers a collection of ready to serve flavored martinis. “We’re excited XXI Martinis has come on board with TSR for the 2026 NHRA season,” said Tony Stewart, owner of Tony Stewart Racing. “They’re becoming a well-known brand, and we look forward to building their popularity, sales and distribution into our fanbase and family of partners.” Co-Founded by serial entrepreneur Shannon Keeran and legendary Las Vegas bartender, Angelo Bottley, XXI Martinis was developed and launched in 2021. The brand, known for their flagship Espresso Martini, has quickly grown to become a national brand and is also available in the British Virgin Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, and is offered in over 4,000 bars, restaurants and retail stores nationwide. “We operate in such an intense atmosphere and with such high horsepower partners, it only makes sense to give a little balance for when we are done with the day and want to enjoy a good, smooth, cocktail. XXI Martinis is the answer for that,” said Leah Pruett, driver of the TSR Top Fuel dragster. “I’m a fan and I think this is the perfect environment for them to grow their footprint.” “The opportunity to be partnered with Tony Stewart Racing is a hard one to pass up. We see the potential growth and we’re excited about it,” said Shannon Keeran, co-founder and CEO of XXI Martinis. “The teams fit our brand perfectly and with ambassadors like Leah, Tony and Matt to help tell XXI Martinis’ story, it’s an all-around win for us. We believe that great martinis, great friendships and great occasions come from the right ingredients, the right mindset, the right chemistry and just a bit of alchemy. This partnership with Tony Stewart Racing follows that same recipe.” XXI Martinis will be featured on Pruett’s Top Fuel dragster and four-time world champion Hagan’s Funny Car for the full 20-race Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series season. The logo will make its debut at this weekend’s Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway March 6-8 in Florida. To locate XXI Martinis at a store near you and to learn more about the brand please visit https://xximartinis.com/ and make sure to follow @xximartinis on Instagram and Facebook. The post XXI Martinis Joins Tony Stewart Racing in NHRA first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Last season at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals was the kickoff to Pro Stock driver Dallas Glenn’s first world championship season. This season, he’s looking for another win at Gainesville Raceway at the 2026 NHRA Mission Drag Racing Series season opener, which starts NHRA’s 75th anniversary season. Glenn wheels the RAD Torque Systems Chevrolet Camaro for Pro Stock powerhouse KB Titan Racing. Last year’s Gainesville win was his first of eight wins en route to his championship, enjoying another banner season in the Pro Stock ranks. As he and the rest of the stars of the NHRA Mission Drag Racing Series return to the legendary facility, Glenn is thrilled to be back at Gainesville. “It feels really good to get back to the track just because of how busy we’ve been at the shop during the off-season,” said Glenn. “I’m really excited to be back out competing and seeing all the people in this traveling circus and all of our friends. I’ve had success at Gainesville before, and I would really like to continue that success there.” Glenn’s 2025 Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals marked his first win over his KB Titan Racing teammate and six-time Pro Stock world champion Greg Anderson. The two battled all season for the points lead and the championship, but Glenn’s performance in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs gave him the edge, as he won four of the five races in the postseason. “In 2024, I finished in second by a few thousandths to Greg. We didn’t have a very good Countdown,” Glenn said. “Then last year I didn’t stumble at all. We definitely had a lot of luck when we needed it and I think that was key. What I want to do for this year is take the bull by the horns and take control of everything. You do your job good enough, and your car’s good enough, and you work hard, and put yourself in the right position, you shouldn’t need the luck.” Last year, Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Chad Green (Funny Car), Glenn (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all won on the hallowed grounds of Gainesville Raceway to open the year. This year’s race will again be broadcast on FS1, including eliminations at 12 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 8. It’s the first of 20 races during the 2026 season and along with a full slate of racing, fans can expect a multitude of events to celebrate the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals and NHRA’s 75th anniversary, including: Appearances from a host of NHRA legends during the event, including Kenny Bernstein, Don Garlits, Joe Amato, Don Prudhomme, Shirley Muldowney, Darrell Gwynn and Bob Frey. A celebration of Bernstein’s historic 300-mph run from 1992. A free, limited-edition NHRA 2026 season poster to the first 6,500 fans in attendance on Sunday. A new-look Nitro Mall, special displays and 75th anniversary stage in Nitro Alley. Race winners will get the special NHRA 75th anniversary Diamond Wally, along with the Gatornationals traditional Golden Gator trophy. In the Top Fuel ranks, reigning world champ Doug Kalitta will again face a talented field of competitors, including reigning Gainesville winner and four-time champion Antron Brown, Shawn Langdon, Justin Ashley and 2025 regular season champ Tony Stewart. Chad Green won his second career Funny Car race last season, beating three-time world champ Ron Capps. Austin Prock earned his second straight title and after a move to Tasca Racing, he’ll look to keep rolling against four-time champ Matt Hagan, class newcomer Jordan Vandergriff, Jack Beckman and Daniel Wilkerson. Pro Stock Motorcycle’s Gaige Herrera has never lost in Gainesville. Last year, he won his third straight, defeating rival Matt Smith. He’ll look for four in a row against reigning world champ Richard Gadson, Angie Smith, Steve Johnson and Jianna Evaristo. The weekend will also feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Flexjet Factory Showdown and the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series. Fans will also be invited all weekend long to the Nitro Alley Stage, which hosts Nitro School, meet and greets, music and more. Race fans in Gainesville can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that introduce and celebrate each of the drivers racing for the prestigious Wally on Sunday and includes the fan-favorite SealMaster Track Walk. As always, fans get a pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction. Fans have a chance to see teams in action and service their cars between rounds, get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers and more. Fans can visit NHRA’s Nitro Alley, where sponsors and vendors create an exciting atmosphere that includes interactive displays, merchandise, and food and fun for the entire family. NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying features two rounds at 1:30 and 4 p.m. ET on Friday, March 6, and the final two qualifying rounds on Saturday, March 7 at 12:30 and 3 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 10 a.m. ET on Sunday, March 8. The first round of the Right Trailers Top Fuel All-Star Callout takes place at 12:15 p.m. on Saturday, with the semifinals slated for 2:15 p.m. and the final round at 3:30 p.m. A special Callout broadcast will also air at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday on FS1.To purchase tickets to the 2026 Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, fans can visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. Children 12 and under are free in general admission areas with the purchase of an adult ticket. For more information about the NHRA, visit www.nhra.com. The post Pro Stock’s Dallas Glenn Returns to Gainesville as Reigning World Champion first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

As Top Fuel speeds climbed on the regular last year in the National Hot Rod Association, the spotlight turned to the only part of a 12,000-horsepower nitro monster that actually touches the track: the tires. When the now-retired two-time class champion Brittany Force blasted past 340 mph – twice in a matter of weeks in the summer of ‘25 – it wasn’t just a team accomplishment. It was proof of product dominance for Goodyear, the exclusive tire supplier for NHRA’s nitro categories. But the question facing the manufacturer entering this weekend’s season kickoff at the Gatornationals is this: At 340-plus mph, are current tire compounds and construction still sufficient, or is it time for changes? Todd Rogers of Goodyear’s drag racing division says nope. “We’re still in a good place right now,” Rogers said. “Brittany had run 340 multiple times. She did it twice (last year) in Brainerd, and her tires looked really good on every one of those runs.” That visual inspection isn’t casual. Goodyear engineers are stationed at the top end at every NHRA National event, immediately evaluating tires after high-speed passes. Rogers said he and two engineers routinely examine the tires as soon as the car returns from a pass. “We gather the serial number off every tire so we can track the runs – who ran it, where they ran it, and how many times,” he said. “We’re looking them over as closely as we can right there.” The focus is on surface condition, structural integrity, and any signs of compound distress. At extreme high speeds, rear slicks experience massive centrifugal forces, distortion, and heat buildup in less than four seconds. Any irregular wear pattern or structural anomaly becomes a critical data point. “In Brittany’s case, they’ve looked really clean – almost brand new,” Rogers said. Since nitro tires are designed to wrinkle dramatically at launch, absorbing torque before growing in diameter at speed, that’s impressive. The construction – particularly the carcass shape and internal reinforcement – has to withstand repeated and extreme deformation. Goodyear’s current Top Fuel and Funny Car slick has been in place since 2016. Rogers, who joined the drag racing group in 2017 after time with Goodyear’s NASCAR program, said the company’s comfortable with the mold and carcass design that define the tire’s structural foundation. Despite the incredible physics of these tires, accidents can happen. Top Fueler Shawn Reed experienced a horrific crash at last year’s Nationals near Seattle, one serious enough to put him on the sidelines for more than a month with broken ribs and a mangled finger. He would come back like a boss in September, winning an IHRA nitro race in Hebron, Ohio, to shake the dust off and again the following weekend at his NHRA Pro return in Reading, Penn. A notable portion of the crash involved one of the tires on his rail losing integrity. Reed said after the race he didn’t blame Goodyear for the tire failure. “We had a meeting with them and they found no reason to why that tire came apart and I’m OK with it,” he said. “There doesn’t have to be a reason. I think if you look too deep for a reason you just find someone to blame and you know what, I’m not a blamer. They’re building the best tires they can and NHRA is doing the best they can to keep the track clean. “They check it all the time; they pull that FOD (foreign object damage) mat around and I mean they got 10 or 12 guys over the wall after every pass, looking at stuff. I can’t blame any one of us. It’s just a freak accident that happened and I’m OK with the call.” Goodyear didn’t make any alterations to their tire after Reed’s accident, but if any adjustment were to be made, it would most likely involve the compound rather than the construction. “We would just try to toughen up and firm up that compound a little bit,” Rogers said, noting that Goodyear’s compound specialists collaborate across racing divisions to evaluate potential changes. Altering a compound involves adjusting blends of carbon black and other reinforcing agents that affect hardness, wear resistance, and heat tolerance. A tougher compound could slightly reduce peak speeds by limiting tire growth or traction characteristics, but Rogers emphasized that drivability is paramount. “Our goal would be to have the same drivability with a little tougher compound,” he said. “But you don’t know until you get it on track and get feedback from the driver.” That feedback is paired with detailed data analysis from onboard telemetry systems, allowing engineers to study wheel speed, tire growth, and traction performance down to fractions of a second. Since NHRA shortened nitro racing from 1,320 feet to 1,000 feet in 2008, speeds have steadily climbed despite the reduced distance. While some in the sport periodically advocate for a return to the full quarter-mile, Rogers said Goodyear has not conducted in-depth research into what that would require from a tire standpoint. “If we did, we’d have to study what those speeds would be and probably look at introducing a tougher compound,” he said. For now, Goodyear’s concern level remains low. As long as 340-mph runs result in tires that “look great” at the finish line, teams won’t see drastic changes. This story was originally published on March 6, 2026. The post Goodyear Ready for Nitro in 2026 first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Honda’s long-awaited CB1000F just cleared EPA certification, strongly hinting the retro liter-bike is finally coming to the US. View the full article

TVS is a huge name in India and throughout that portion of the world. But surpassing Yamaha to become the third-largest motorcycle manufacturer is big news. View the full article

MotoGP's head honcho, Carmello Ezpeleta, weighed in on whether the series' Middle East-based Qatari race will occur this season due to the ongoing war the US started with Iran, and how it's boiled over to other countries.View the full article

A fresh 550 million-euro loan lets KTM repay Bajaj’s bailout and move its debt to an international banking consortium.View the full article

The deal between Hel Performance and Harrison Billet may broaden the availability of high-end billet calipers across the global motorcycle aftermarket.View the full article

BMW designed a custom R1300 R Superhooligan to compete at the 2026 Daytona 200. The project celebrates the 50th anniversary of the brand's race win at the first Daytona 200 superbike race.View the full article

Alpinestars just dropped the Supertech R7 helmet, which is aimed as a more road-focused alternative to the S-R10, while still being track-capable and more affordable.View the full article

Win a Yamaha YZF-R9 at YamaFest! Entries now open to any brand track or road bike Now’s your chance to win the YZF-R9 ridden by Prima Primac Yamaha GP Star Jack Miller at the 2025 Australian Grand Prix pre-event parade. The lucky door prize is being offered by YamaFest organisers MotoSchool – simply enter for […] The post Win a Yamaha R9 signed by Jack Miller at YamaFest! appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

There's always people who are going to scream the sky is falling. Contrary to the internet tells you, drag racing is doing fine.View the full article

2026 Progressive American Flat Track Round One – Royal Enfield Short Track at Daytona I KICKER AFT Singles Tom Drane (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) opened his 2026 KICKER AFT Singles title defense in the same victorious fashion by which he closed out the 2025 season to secure his shiny new #1 plate. The […] The post Drane brothers top Singles and Invitational classes at Daytona I appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

BSA Leisk Moto Imports – LMI Official Announcement British-born motorbike brand BSA Motorcycles is set to officially launch in Australia this year, bringing its exciting line-up of reimagined classic models to yet another new continent. The global bike manufacturer has appointed Leisk Moto Imports (LMI) as the official importer and distributor for the Australian market. […] The post BSA is back! Leisk Moto Imports bring BSA to Australia appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

MotoAmerica 2026 Round One – Daytona Troy Herfoss has led an Indian 1-2-3 in the King of the Baggers class for Qualifying 1 at Daytona, as the series kicks off, James Rispoli topping the Super Hooligans Q1, with Beau Beaton 14th as he and the Irving Vincent acclimatise. PJ Jacobsen took top Q1 honours in […] The post Herfoss tops opening Baggers qualifying session at Daytona appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

We’ve got another fresh gallery of photos from the Lone Star Throwdown, a Texas sized show that never disappoints! If you missed our previous galleries, don’t worry because we’ve got a link below for you to check out. If you’ve been waiting for the next one, here it is. (Words and Photos by Chad Reynolds) I hit the Lone Star Throwdown in Conroe Texas this weekend and as usual was blown away by the turnout of great trucks. When I arrived at the just after it opened, I have to admit I was a bit worried. The place was not full. Not by a long shot. Now we normally get down here to the show an hour or so later, so I was trying to convince myself it was going to be okay, but I wasn’t doing a very good job of it. That was until about 10, when a definite increase in the hum around the places started happening and cruise traffic started really increasing. By the time I left the show a few hours later it was hopping as usual. And while the morning started off chilly and overcast, the grounds were in great shape with little or no wet spots from the showers that were expected Friday. And by 10 am I had to take my hoodie off because it was just too warm. It was great weather for a truck show friends. The food trucks were slinging snacks, although I didn’t see the hot chocolate ans s’mores folks from last year that made a killing. It really was a great day at the show. Lone Star Throwdown, or LST as it’s often referred to, is one of the premier custom truck shows in the country, and it happens rain or shine. This show is always one of my favorites. It draws folks from all over the country, along with Canada and Mexico. In 2027 you’ll find us on site with the OBS Suburban project you guys don’t know about yet. And maybe a merch stand, who knows. Here is our sixth gallery of photos, with more coming over the next several days. Check back tomorrow for more! CLICK HERE IF YOU MISSED ANY OF OUR PREVIOUS LONE STAR THROWDOWN PICS The post More Lone Star Throwdown 2026 Truck Show Pics: Mini Trucks, Full Size Rigs, Lifted Bro Dozers, And A Camaro In The Texas Sun appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

MotoAmerica 2026 Troy Herfoss rolled out at Daytona overnight as he ramps up his 2026 campaign to wrestle the King of the Baggers crown back from Harley-Davidson’s Kyle Wyman. Also getting acquainted with the famous banking was Beau Beaton, turning laps on the Horner brothers’ stunning Irving Vincent, the bespoke Australian-built machine back at Daytona […] The post Beau Beaton hits the banks of Daytona on the Irving Vincent appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

South Georgia Motorsports Park in Adel, Georgia is always a hotspot for horsepower, and the track has been bustling with back-to-back big events the past few months. After presenting an action-packed 2 nd Annual Spring Break Ford Nationals presented by Whipple Superchargers in late February, track owners Raul and Jennifer Torres and their team members are preparing to welcome racers from across the country for Muscle Car Mayhem presented by Whipple Superchargers, March 19-21, 2026. This is the first year for the event. “Because our inaugural Spring Break Ford Nationals presented by Whipple Superchargers in 2025 gave former NMRA racers a place to call home and went so well, we knew we had to extend an opportunity to former NMCA racers, too, so we created the inaugural Muscle Car Mayhem for 2026,” said Raul Torres. “I was inspired to produce this event because we have experienced first-hand what it feels like to lose a race, series or even a racetrack. The racers coming to Muscle Car Mayhem presented by Whipple Superchargers planned every spring to drive south to open their race season, and it is our honor to now give them that place to race in the spring at South Georgia Motorsports Park.” To choose an inspired list of classes for the new event, Torres worked closely with Rollie Miller, Roger Conley, Don O’Neal and Ron Turransky. “We collectively came up with what we thought would be the best possible show to put on for our fans, while giving the previous NMCA racers a place to race,” said Torres. Classes to be contested include Small Tire Pro Stock, which offers $1,500 to win and $750 to runner-up, Xtreme Street ($3,000 to win, $1,000 to runner-up), NA Factory Stock ($3,000 to win, $600 to runner-up), Stock/Super Stock Combo ($4,000 to win, $750 to runner-up), Street Warrior 10.10 ($2,000 to win, $400 to runner-up), Street Race 8.60 ($2,000 to win, $400 to runner-up), Nostalgia Super Stock vs. Nostalgia Muscle Car ($2,000 to win, $400 to runner-up), Open Comp ($2,500 to win, $500 to runner-up), Rumble ($1,500 to win, $250 to runner-up), Street King ($1,500 to win, $250 to runner-up), King of the Street ($1,000 to win, $400 to runner-up), True Street ($1,000 for quickest average, $500 for second-quickest average, $100 for 9.00, 10.00, 11.00, 12.00, 13.00, 14.00 and 15.00 averages), and Tremec Transmissions Stick Shift ($2,000 to win, $500 to runner-up). The event will also include a car show and swap meet. “My measuring stick for success of the Muscle Car Mayhem presented by Whipple Superchargers will be the response from our racers and fans who attend the race,” said Torres. “If they leave our race as happy as they came in, we know they will come back, which will allow the race to grow in the future. Ensuring continued success of this event will take endless hard work, which my family and team members are willing to put in for this industry.” On Thursday, March 19, gates will open at 8 a.m. and a test and tune session will be held 10 a.m.-5 p.m. On Friday, March 20, gates will open at 8 a.m. and qualifying will be held 9 a.m.-6 p.m. On Saturday, March 21, gates will open at 8 a.m. and eliminations begin at 9 a.m. “We are very grateful for sponsor support of this event from Whipple Superchargers and Tremec Transmissions,” said Torres. “We will exceed our partners’ expectations.” For more information about the Muscle Car Mayhem presented by Whipple Superchargers and South Georgia Motorsports Park, visit www.goracesgmp.com. This story was originally published on March 5, 2026. The post South Georgia Motorsports Park Set to Host Muscle Car Mayhem Presented by Whipple Superchargers first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Gary Pritchett takes over as the 2026 Top Fuel driver for Foley Racing. Owner Doug Foley plans to expand their NHRA and IHRA presence.View the full article

There’s a new car and a new team, but the end goal remains the same for Funny Car standout Austin Prock, who enters the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season as the back-to-back world champion. But there’s been plenty of change for Prock heading into this weekend’s Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway to kick off NHRA’s 75th anniversary. After winning consecutive championships, Prock and his team are now with Bob Tasca’s Funny Car team and Ford Racing, serving as one of the off-season’s biggest bombshells. The team has been hard at work to get ready for Gainesville in their 12,000-horsepower PPG Mustang Dark Horse, but the objective hasn’t changed. After winning 17 times the past two years, Prock and his team have no other plans but to keep their hot streak going. “It’s been a lot of work and a lot of long hours, seven days a week, for most of the off-season and still right now,” Prock said. “We bit off a huge chunk and we’re just sorting through it. We’ve had a little bit of success in testing, but we’ll keep working and we’ll be ready. All we have to do is qualify and be ready by Sunday. We’ve got a few more days to sort through this and I’ve got the best people in the business working with me.“There’s no doubt in my mind we’ll be a front-runner this year. We do have to be patient, but I don’t think anybody here wants to be patient. We know what we’re capable of doing and we know we can go out there and win the first race.” Last year, Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Chad Green (Funny Car), Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all won at Gainesville Raceway to open the year. This year’s race will again be broadcast on FS1, including eliminations at 12 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 8. It’s the first of 20 races during the 2026 season and along with a full slate of racing, fans can expect a multitude of events to celebrate the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals and NHRA’s 75th anniversary, including: t’s the first of 20 races during the 2026 season and along with a full slate of racing, fans can expect a multitude of events to celebrate the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals and NHRA’s 75th anniversary, including: Appearances from a host of NHRA legends during the event, including Kenny Bernstein, Don Garlits, Joe Amato, Don Prudhomme, Shirley Muldowney, Darrell Gwynn and Bob Frey. A celebration of Bernstein’s historic 300-mph run from 1992. A free, limited-edition NHRA 2026 season poster to the first 6,500 fans in attendance on Sunday. A new-look Nitro Mall, special displays and 75th anniversary stage in Nitro Alley. Race winners will get the special NHRA 75th anniversary Diamond Wally, along with the Gatornationals traditional Golden Gator trophy. The Gatornationals remains one of the few races Prock hasn’t conquered the past two years, but doing so during the milestone year would be a memorable moment for the standout. He’ll have to deal with the likes of four-time world champ Matt Hagan, three-time champ Ron Capps, Jordan Vandergriff, who is making his Funny Car debut for John Force Racing in Gainesville, Jack Beckman and Daniel Wilkerson. Prock knows he’s again being chased, but it hasn’t changed his mindset as he hopes to start the season with one of the biggest wins in his career. “I’ve wanted to win here so bad. My grandfather was in the finals here and I’ve never won here, so to win for the family, that would be cool and to win for Ford Racing and Tasca Racing on our first weekend, that would be a dream come true,” Prock said. “I think everyone would be really excited. “We always want to go out there and dominate, that’s just how this team is. We’ve just got to keep our heads down, stay positive and keep working hard and towards our goal.” Top Fuel’s Brown is after a repeat win, taking on reigning world champion Doug Kalitta, the returning Leah Pruett, racing legend Tony Stewart, Shawn Langdon, Justin Ashley, Clay Millican and Tony Schumacher. The 2025 Pro Stock season was dominated by KB Titan Racing, with standout star Dallas Glenn earning his first world title. Glenn will take on teammate Greg Anderson, six-time world champ Erica Enders, Jeg Coughlin Jr. and Aaron Stanfield. Pro Stock Motorcycle’s Gaige Herrera has never lost in Gainesville. Last year, he won his third straight, defeating rival Matt Smith. He’ll look for four in a row against reigning world champ Richard Gadson, Angie Smith, Steve Johnson and Jianna Evaristo. The weekend will also feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Flexjet Factory Showdown and the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series. Fans will also be invited all weekend long to the Nitro Alley Stage, which hosts Nitro School, meet and greets, music and more. Race fans in Gainesville can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that introduce and celebrate each of the drivers racing for the prestigious Wally on Sunday and includes the fan-favorite SealMaster Track Walk. As always, fans get a pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction. Fans have a chance to see teams in action and service their cars between rounds, get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers and more. Fans can visit NHRA’s Nitro Alley, where sponsors and vendors create an exciting atmosphere that includes interactive displays, merchandise, and food and fun for the entire family. NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying features two rounds at 1:30 and 4 p.m. ET on Friday, March 6, and the final two qualifying rounds on Saturday, March 7 at 12:30 and 3 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 10 a.m. ET on Sunday, March 8. The first round of the Right Trailers Top Fuel All-Star Callout takes place at 12:15 p.m. on Saturday, with the semifinals slated for 2:15 p.m. and the final round at 3:30 p.m. A special Callout broadcast will also air at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday on FS1. To purchase tickets to the 2026 NHRA Gatornationals, fans can visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. Children 12 and under are free in general admission areas with the purchase of an adult ticket. For more information about the NHRA, visit www.nhra.com. The post After Changes, the Goal Remains the Same for Funny Car’s Austin Prock Heading to Gainesville first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

“How’s it going?” someone asked STM Powersports Snow Outlaws snowmobile drag racing series boss Chad Nyhus. It was qualifying day for the World Finals and deep puddles spread over the pit area on Spirit Lake at Three Lakes, Wisconsin. Cracks in the ice were showing beneath the water, the purpose-built snow-packed racing surface had lost two inches of depth, and the sun overhead made the afternoon balmy and warm on this February 27th. “Terrible!” replied the wide-eyed Nyhus. The saving grace was that a cold front was scheduled to sweep in overnight, firm up the ice and track, and make for a dramatically different – and better – racing environment on Friday. But even as event conditions improved after sunset, the struggles of marquee teams were just starting. Outlaw One team that didn’t struggle much on Friday night was Johnathan Lentzkow and his eye-popping “Tasmanian Devil” Outlaw class sled. “Conditions Friday night were a challenge for all racers,” said Lentzkow, noting that the temperature was 45 degrees and the track was “pretty slow” at the start of the session. His 3.71 at 144 miles per hour (with a 1.10 sixty foot) held up for number one. Dominick Ernst and the screw-supercharged, nitro “Eagle-1” he rides had the same conditions as everyone else. “The Three Lakes event brought a lot of challenges for the team,” reported Ernst. “The track conditions were very tough due to the high temperature, but the Snow Outlaws crew were able to keep the track top notch for what they had to deal with. “We had a very solid pass (first round), but unfortunately the Dragy didn’t stay connected for the run so we were forced to run a second qualifier and we put down a 3.77 at 147.25 mph.” Like many, Ernst chose to sit out the final qualifying round. “We choose to not run the third qualifier due to not being confident on putting down a better time, so we just stayed conservative.” “We’re real happy we qualified number one out of eleven Outlaw sleds,” continued Lentzkow, who then ran a 3.50 flat at 151mph on Saturday in the quarterfinals. That was against St. Germain number one qualifier Ethan Erhardt and advanced Lentzkow to the semis against Ernst. At this point, Ernst and the “Eagle-1” looked more like a sitting duck than the national bird of the USA. “With the track being hard as concrete, we were eager to turn up the Eagle and put down amazing numbers,” said Dominick. But what immediately followed was an amazing struggle. Round one found Ernst lining up against IHRA’s Darryl Cuttel and his Hypersports-built Kawasaki. Fortunately for Ernst, Cuttel redlit, as the Eagle-1 snapped a belt and sent raw fuel out the pipes and the laundry out the back. Next round looked pretty similar to the first. “After round one, Glenn Hall tore apart the secondary clutch, changed out rollers, and checked over the download while Ryan Bauer helped pack the chute and did all the other maintenance on the Eagle. “We finished getting the sled back together with only two minutes to spare. In round two we went up against R. Dustin. And yet again we were able to have luck on our side because Dustin also went red on the light and we yet again snapped a belt. “With all the issues we were having with the belt, talking over with Glenn we decided to tighten up the track, turn down the launch and turn it up on the big end.” And it worked. Against Lentzkow, Ernst had a reversal of fortune. Eagle-1 launched cleanly this time and it was the Tasmanian Devil’s turn to tank. “Boost hose came off,” reported Jonathon, who watched Eagle-1 pull away with a 1.10 sixty foot and a 3.43 at 161.29. Lentzkow was still stoked with his team’s run. The graphics on his sled show the famed Australian creature eating right through a Hypersports HRC-4 cylinder head and block—like what’s in the Eagle-1. That’s attitude! “Just goes to show a little Cat twin cylinder on gas (with turbo) can compete in Outlaw with the big dogs! Could not be prouder of Team Lentzkow Racing and Ingvall Motorsports “I’ve got to thank tuner Jon Ingvall, my dad John Lentzkow, my teammate in grass racing turning wrenches, Leigh Ireland, Scott Bieski and Clint Hoist. Special thanks got to go out to Hypersports, to Craig Campton and Glenn Hall, and also Chad and Jenny Nyhus for building a fantastic track. “Can’t wait for next year. The Tasmanian Devil will be faster yet.” Now it was time for a final round pairing between Ernst and St. Germain winner Tyson Enerson and his compressed air supercharged, Hypersports, gasoline-fueled two-cylinder sled. “We knew Tyson was going to be a handful, so we left the leave the same and turned it more on the big end. “When the light turned on, the Eagle-1 went a 1.04 sixty foot and was able to put down a very solid pass with a 3.37 at 161.59, pulled off the win, and got the Outlaw championship.” “We’re very happy with our weekend and our season overall,” said Enerson. “We jumped up to the Outlaw class knowing we had our work cut out for us on maybe a little bit of an underdog engine platform. As a team, though, we were able to put the power down with the help from our Compressed Air Supercharged system. We’re still refining the tuning of the system and throughout the weekend we continued to make it faster every pass. “We found ourselves against Eagle for the final again for a rematch. We put a little more power into it for the final pass, but getting it to the finishline without any hiccups is the number one priority. And in the end, Eagle had a little more in it and we took runner-up. “We are still extremely proud of what we have accomplished with this unique build, overcoming many challenges along the way yet having some pretty incredible success. Dave Mart and myself want to thank everyone that has been involved, especially Blake Matney for the tuning help and the CAS team for making it possible. We’re looking forward to building more Compressed Air setups in the near future.” And of course, Ernst was also pleased. “Couldn’t be more happier with the weekend results,” said Dominick. “The Snow Outlaws crew gave us a concrete-like track all day in eliminations, and I couldn’t thank everyone with the crew enough. “Huge thank you to Chad and Jenny Nyhus for allowing me to pilot the Eagle-1, the BIGGEST THANK YOU to Glenn Hall and Ryan Bauer for all their help over the weekend and also at the St. Germain race! There was no lack of effort at all and it was nonstop thrashing! “Thank you to Craig Campton, Doug, Derek, Eric and anyone else I’m missing that works at Hypersports for building the most badass Outlaw snowmobile on the planet! “Thank you to my mom Shona and Brian for going to both of the Snow Outlaws events to support me on the Eagle! Thank you to my wife Ashley for allowing me to be a part of this journey with the Eagle-1 and being my number one supporter! Thank you to my dad Matt for your support, my grandparents, friends and family for cheering me on! “Thank you to all the media that was at the events – IHRA, Eatmyink by Tim Hailey, Super Sled Online by Chris Riley, TRVideoagraphy by Todd Reuter, TRC (That Racing Channel), and Troy Fisher Photography by Troy Fisher!” Pro Xtreme 55 St. Germain Pro Xtreme 55 winner Brian Sullivan’s Friday night testing started off as badly as Ernst’s raceday did. Actually, worse. While Ernst didn’t make it 60 feet in his first two eliminations rounds, Sullivan and his “John Deere” sled didn’t make it out of the trailer the first two qualifying rounds on Friday night. “We had some issues we caused in the calibration of the throttle position sensor,” said Sullivan. “That made the sled over-fuel. Took us a bit to figure out. “We got it figured out for third round and made a pass sled got a little high.” An understatement, as Sullivan rode a “Biker Boyz”-style wheelie the whole 500 feet. “So for Saturday, we made some chassis and suspension changes. The track was way harder and faster than Friday and I was very concerned about our round one draw. It was Ryan Santry and he was last year’s season champ. He drove around me last year, which has never happened with my sled. His sled puts up big mile per hour.” But now it was Santry’s turn to struggle, and a line-lock issue launched his yellow Yamaha prematurely while behind him, Sullivan sailed on as expected. “Made a really nice pass to be honest,” Santry said of his redlight run. He vowed to be ready next year. Next up for Sullivan was a rematch of the St. Germain final against Kyle Viney. And just like then, Sullivan won, then had a bye to the final. Races don’t get any better than the final between Sullivan and Josh Bormann. “Best race I’ve ever been part of!” said Josh. “It was an awesome race,” agreed Sullivan. “I got him by just a bit on the holeshot, but by the end he was right next to me. I didn’t know who won—it was only by about 2 inches. “Need to thank my crew of my brother Corey, Brandon Kinserdahl, Mike Kovacevich, and Norm Kowitz. Without them, I wouldn’t be racing. Thanks to Hypersports for building an amazing machine and the great support they provide, and Snow Outlaws for all the time and effort they put into the track and races. Without them we won’t have a place to run these machines.” Bormann’s Dragy showed that his machine ran a stout 3.60 at 148 mph on that 2 inch loss in the final. And his weekend, too, was one of mechanical uncertainty. “Friday we unloaded and the sled was fouling plugs,” said Bormann. “I found out from coolant. We drained all coolant and ran dry. We made three partial hit test passes. All seemed good and we were excited about Saturday. “First pass Saturday, the sled had no RPM and didn’t run great, but got the win (against Chris Young). Come to find out, the turbo fins were all broken. My teammate Jagger Ashley broke his driveline first round and we were supposed to line up second round against each other. I made a single bye run with the broken turbo while the team pulled Jagger’s turbo off to put on mine between round two and three. “We ran semifinals and it was better – still down 20 pounds of boost – but got the win (against David Thibault). Come to find out, the wastegate sensor and a wire on the O2 sensor took a shit. We fixed both those and put a tune-up in it and said ‘Let’s see what happens against Sullivan! “We both left the line almost same time. It was neck and neck the entire run. I looked over at the stripe and I couldn’t tell who won! I heard he got the win light, but I wanted to see the footage of how close it really was! Within a couple inches.” Pro Modified The struggle storyline stops at Pro Modified – at least for winner Nate Bay. Runner-up Dan Bickel’s sled has been a bit more complicated, so we’ll start with him. “This snowmobile has been a struggle since Three Lakes in 2025,” said Bickel. “Ron Umland had gone and done some testing the week before St. Germain and found a bad injector, and looking things over found a secondary clutch issue also. We sat out and aimed to have things ready for Three Lakes. We all showed up Friday to do the same thing every Snow Outlaws entry does and that’s to win. “First round of testing, we had been just trying to find the tune-up and looking at data. Second round seemed to be better and it left with the best – the ProLine sled owned and driven by Frank Wittlief. We may have something after that pass. “We made no boost in first or second round of testing, so we were looking to find boost. We serviced the sled, topped everything off and went up for third round and they paired us up with St. Germain winner Jagger Ashley and I left the line and knew we had work to do, and got a face full of coolant. Soaked head to toe! “So Friday night, we searched for the boost leak and cleaned everything up from the coolant. We suspected coolant was just overfull, and no boost was made that round again and down on power! After looking things over, we thought we may have figured things out. “Saturday, first round against Jimmy Trumbull, left the line. All conditions being perfect and the sled – feeling the best – the run had been the best yet. We still had an issue after the coolant issue soaked me again, but came to realize we would be going to the semifinal as Trumbull left early on the light. We would deal with coolant issue after we are done and finish in the winners circle. Pro Mods sat the second round out and jumped straight to the semis. “Third round, we faced Dante Gratti and all I wanted was a good clean pass and both to leave on the light of starter Sam Shackleton. But Gratti left early, so that took us to the final round to face Nate Bay. We had him on the tree and a close race at the end, however fell short to him.” Bay was understandably stoked by the win. “It’s always has been a lifelong dream of mine to race at Snow Outlaws. This year was my first time I finally was able to make it out, and just to race it I was on cloud 9, with all top racers and such a professional setup. But then to win it was just something I could never imagine. “Jesse Bruns and I teamed up a few years ago and it’s been great. We built this Hypersport stock chassis sled and last year it won this same race with Jesse on it, and we made the finals in every race we ran except for one. “I can’t thank Jesse enough for everything he does between wrenching on it, tuning it and driving it all over country. Craig and his team at Hypersports has been amazing. Between the powerplant, suspension and Snow Sharks, the sled is a rocket. “Then Troy Meier – we can’t thank him enough for his dyno. Jesse has spent weeks dynoing and fine tuning. Troy Knutson for all of his amazing fab work on the sled. Badjaxon Logistics, Ultimate Undercoat and Accessories, City Hill Construction are all huge contributors. Ryan Stell and my dad Eric have been behind me and my biggest supporters my whole race career. “We have the sled for sale. It’s a back-to-back winner at Snow Outlaws Three Lakes and a proven winner everywhere else. We have some plans for next year on the dirt and snow, so we will see what happens. Thank you to everyone that supports me and the sport.” And now back to Bickel. “Coming into Three Lakes, it was a special moment for me to have my brother Andy Bickel at a race of this caliber in the ten years of my Snow Outlaws career. It was also a special moment for me to have my mentor/coach and crew chief for my grass racing career of 25 years in September – Jamie Waack – there on Saturday for every round. Ron Umland of Oconto Falls, Wisconsin – the owner and the guy behind spinning wrenches on this—that makes it all possible. Clint Holst for finding the line, and Corey Klemens, and Bad Chad Johnson had a huge part in the team success this weekend. “The engine will be looked at, as we believe it’s burning coolant and building pressure in the coolant system. We plan to make a few changes and be back for Snow Outlaws in 2027. Thanks to Snow Outlaws, IHRA, Eatmyink, Troy Fisher Photography, Studio 77, Casey Hauck Performance, STM, Hannen Performance, Pro Stock Inc., Hellevation Elevated Traction, Tracks USA, Knutson Fabrication Inc., Scott Taylor Engineering, Pingel, Novotny Machine Works, and Arctic Cat.” Shutdown Area Another Snow Outlaws season has come and gone too soon, and it was a big one. The addition of the IHRA live webcast allowed the whole world to see the incredible professionalism of the series and racers in the most challenging conditions. Now it’s the offseason, and this sport has a long one. A long one to build, rebuild, and prepare for what everyone hopes will be a full race season in 2027. Chad and Jenny Nyhus and the whole Snow Outlaws crew show constantly how they’re able to turn a “Terrible!” situation into a major success in the most fluid of conditions. Snow Outlaws racers are built the same way. Now for everyone a happy, productive, and struggle-free off-season. So until it snows again… The post Struggle to Success at Snow Outlaws Three Lakes Finals first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Marketed towards the ‘serious adventure rider,’ and aptly named the Trailhead, Scorpion was pretty direct about the purpose of this lid, but what makes an adventure helmet an adventure helmet? The list is exhaustive, but in short, a good ADV helmet is like a multi-tool—it needs to be able to do a li... View the full article

Tony Stewart Racing enters the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway with Leah Pruett back in the seat of her Dodge Top Fuel dragster and four-time world champion Matt Hagan behind the wheel of the Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car. During Friday’s first qualifying session, Pruett, a 12-time Top Fuel national event winner, will make her first competitive pass since stepping out of the seat to start her family in 2023. “To say this race is just like any other would be a massive understatement. I’ve been working for months to be prepared for this weekend. The anticipation is high. I’m going to have to try and lie to my body, tell it that it’s just another race,” Pruett said. “I haven’t made a side-by-side pass with someone in years, so I am very much looking forward to that, and the cadence of a race weekend. The competitive spirit inside of me has been reignited in a way that only driving a Top Fuel dragster with this team can do.” Pruett is looking for her first victory at the Gatornationals. It will be the 11th time she’s competed in Top Fuel at Gainesville Raceway. After six days of testing at the facility, the Top Fuel favorite is well-poised for a successful weekend. “The test sessions have been very promising in so many ways both with the car and the team performance wise. It’s shown me that some things I’ve been working on in the off season have worked, and others I’ve had to scrap and regroup, and continue to fine tune; all the way down to the last testing day,” Pruett said. “Gainesville and the Gatornationals has always stood for new beginnings for me. From the first time I drove a Pro Mod, to launching TSR Nitro, to now and my return to the seat. I’ve never won this race, but it would be a huge milestone in and of itself. Our goals will be the same as they’ve always been, good full pulls, low qualifying times, keeping my reaction times low, and turning on win lights.” Tony Stewart Racing Funny Car teammate Matt Hagan is entering his 19th professional NHRA season looking for his fifth NHRA title crown. Hagan and his Dodge Funny Car team will be chasing a third victory at Gainesville Raceway. He picked up back-to-back wins in 2022, the first victory for the newly formed Tony Stewart Racing Nitro team, and 2023 and had a runner-up finish in 2018. “The Gainesville Gatornationals is always a great event. It’s a big race and a cool way to kick the season off. It’s always usually sold out, and it looks like we’re going to have some great weather so I’m super excited about it and I can’t wait to get going,” said Hagan who has also secured three No. 1 qualifying positions at the facility. “There’s going to be 19 Funny Cars onsite so goal one will be to just get down the racetrack and get on the board. You need to qualify before you worry about winning the race and Mike Knudsen and Phil Shuler do a really good job of keeping that mentality. Having nineteen cars is no joke. There will be guys sitting on the sideline watching on Sunday and we’re going to do everything we can to make sure that’s not us. “You never know what can happen with nitro in the tank, but I’m fired up to debut this Dodge//SRT Hellcat with its patriotic theme,” said Hagan who got his Alcohol Funny Car license at Gainesville Raceway. “I’ve got some great memories here. Getting my Alcohol license, getting the first win for Tony Stewart Racing here. I’m ready to get that Gator trophy with the Wally this weekend. I think we got a shot at it and I’m excited about it.” The Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals kicks off with four rounds of qualifying Friday at 2:30 and 5:00 p.m. and Saturday at 12:35 and 3:00 p.m. Eliminations are slated for Sunday at 10 a.m. Television coverage of the event will be on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) on Sunday with a qualifying show at 10 a.m. and eliminations coverage at noon ET. This story was originally published on March 5, 2026. The post Leah Pruett Makes Her NHRA Driving Return; Matt Hagan Ready to Start 2026 on a High Note first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

The Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown expands its 2026 calendar. This nine-race season guarantees intense V8 muscle car drag racing.View the full article

If you missed this FJ40 project that Shannon Campbell is working on, we’ve got a link below, but if you are back for the next installment in this build series you are in luck as well. In this new video you’ll see the chassis go under the FJ40 for fitment and some clearancing of sheet metal. I think this is going to be a fun project, because I love FJ40s, but if you have any ideas of building a custom chassis for your FJ or Jeep, you should check this one out. CLICK HERE IF YOU MISSED ANY OF THE UPDATES ON THIS FJ40 PROJECT SO FAR Video Description: Shannon is back in full fabrication mode on the FJ40. In this episode, he preps both the front and rear axles and builds the upper four-link mount on the rear axle as this build continues to take shape. Pita swings by to lay down welds on the chassis and steering mount, while Donnie and Shannon tackle a big job—cutting the floor out of the FJ40 and replacing it with fresh sheet metal. (hence the invisible floor thumbnail with Wonder Woman herself LOL) This one is packed with real progress, problem-solving, and hands-on fab work from start to finish. The post FJ40 Land Cruiser Custom Fabrication: More Build Updates, Including Axle Prep, Four-Link Mounts & Major Floor Replacement. appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article