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Metal Flake paint is one of those hot rod, custom, and lowrider touches that just hits home when done right. There are so many ways to use it, and the weight or size of the flake can be varied so much that the effects are truly amazing. I’ve always wanted to own a panel painted lowrider, gasser, or street freak with big heavy flake and lots of details. But painting panels and flakes is not for the timid. Flake, especially when you get into the heavier stuff, can be a challenge if you don’t use the right gun and tip. But with the right tools and techniques you can lay down some big flake and deep clear to get that unmistakable custom look. If you want to know how to lay down some heavy flake of your own, watch this video first and then let us know what you are going to paint. This little Pinto wagon is going to be something special for sure, as it has all the right gasser goodness. Video Description: Learn how to Flake like a pro! Pierre Janson aims for a heavy metal flake paint job on his Ford Pinto Gasser and the results surely do not disappoint! Learn how to properly apply full metal flake coverage with some kandy stripes as well! Pierre breaks down in detail what many view as a daunting process. The post How To Master Metal Flake Hot Rod Paint: This Ford Pinto Street Freak Gasser Hot Rod Is Going To Be Epic! Panels And Flake Baby! appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

Metal fabrication online superstore Trick-Tools.com has announced an expanded sponsorship with NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Chase Van Sant and the WAR/TK Motorsports team for the 2026 season. Trick-Tools has served as the primary sponsor of Van Sant’s Suzuki since his Rookie of the Year season three years ago. Now, reflecting its “The Next Level Awaits” philosophy, the company is elevating its role from individual bike sponsor to title sponsor of the team. “At Trick-Tools, we live by the idea that the next level is always within reach – for our team and our customers,” said Trick-Tools owner Bruce Van Sant, also Chase’s father. “Tim Kulungian (WAR/TK Motorsports owner, engine builder, and tuner) and his crew share that same drive to improve and push boundaries. Stepping into the title sponsor position felt like a natural progression, and NHRA gives us an ideal platform to showcase our business to fans, race teams, and fabrication shops.” “This team has great chemistry growing, and our partnership with Trick-Tools just creates more of it,” said Kulungian. “Tim and everyone that helps have been really hard at work this off-season,” noted Chase Van Sant. “So I’m itching to get on the bike and get our shot at some redemption from last year. “And having Trick-Tools on the trailer is kind of a ‘pinch me’ moment. Having the family business that I grew up with and this great team I race for fully combing in this way is like a dream. That big of a presence on the track and the highway is really cool, especially when it’s two of your biggest passions. I’m really excited for this year!” The partnership will make its debut at the season-opening Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway on March 6-9, kicking off the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and setting the tone for the championship battle ahead. Trick-Tools provides the largest selection of no-compromise metal fabrication tools, including tubing benders, notchers, brakes, shears, saws, grinders, and metal shaping equipment to weekend fabricators, race teams, and manufacturers throughout North America. Increasing its presence in NHRA competition reinforces the company’s commitment to supporting the builders and innovators who demand peak performance both in the shop and on the track.For more information on Trick-Tools and their products, visit www.trick-tools.com or follow them on social media. The post Trick-Tools Doubles Down with NHRA and Chase Van Sant first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

When the Honda CB750 debuted in 1969, it didn’t just move the goalposts—it quietly rewrote the rules of the game. Four cylinders. An overhead cam. Electric start. A front disc brake. All of it wrapped in a package that was refined and reliable enough to ride daily, and affordable enough to matter. T... View the full article

Small Tire Pro Stock is proud to welcome Mark Lendzion as Tech Director for the 2026 racing season. Lendzion will handle tech declaration forms and scale cars after qualifying and elimination rounds, and take on additional responsibilities when requested, for the racing series which is in its second year of competition and actively building a strong foundation in the motorsports community. It features cars with naturally aspirated combinations that run mid-7s to low-8s in the quarter-mile on Mickey Thompson 29.5X10.5 3062S ET Drag tires. Lendzion, an internal sales manager at Kyocera Unimerco Tooling in Saline, Michigan, grew up around performance cars and has owned several performance cars. He is also a mechanic, tuner and crew chief, and previously provided tech for the heads-up racing series at Darana Dragway, formerly Milan Dragway, in Michigan. “I am honored to serve as tech director for Small Tire Pro Stock for the 2026 racing season,” said Lendzion. “I have always loved high-horsepower, naturally aspirated combinations, and the cars in this series are impressive. I am excited to see Small Tire Pro Stock set up roots and be successful for years to come.” Lendzion’s first event with Small Tire Pro Stock will be at Muscle Car Mayhem, March 19-21 at South Georgia Motorsports Park in Georgia. From there, Small Tire Pro Stock will be in action May 22-23 at World Wide Technology Raceway in Illinois, as part of Nostalgia Drag Racing League Route 66 Rockabilly Reunion; July 10-11 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in Indiana, as part of Nostalgia Drag Racing League Hot Rod Nationals presented by Ray Skillman Automotive Group; August 8-9 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, as part of Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series NHRA North Central Division 3 Divisional Race; September 11-12 at Darana Raceway in Ohio, as part of Nostalgia Drag Racing League World Nostalgia Drags and October 23-25 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, as part of NHRA North Central Divisional Division 3 Fall Classic. “I and the rest of the Small Tire Pro Stock steering committee members were blessed when Mark offered his time and previous tech experience to support Small Tire Pro Stock in 2026,” said Dwight Ausmus, 2025 series champion. For information about Small Tire Pro Stock, please email smalltireprostock@gmail.com or visit the Small Tire Pro Stock Facebook page. The post Mark Lendzion to Serve as Tech Director for Small Tire Pro Stock in 2026 first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Last year PEAK ramped up their already strong fan engagement presence by joining Drag Race Bracket Bonanza (DRBB), the free bracket game for drag racing fans, as title sponsor for the Route 66 Nationals and World Finals editions of the game as well as sponsor of the race recap email distributed to thousands of players throughout the DRBB season. In 2026 PEAK will continue DRBB sponsorship of the Chicago NHRA national event presented by PEAK and add DRBB sponsorship of the NHRA Texas Fall Nationals. In addition to the PEAK Performance email sponsorship PEAK will be providing 30 PEAK Top Fuel dragster die-casts as additional prizes for top finishers in the DRBB regular season. “The support and engagement DRBB received last year from PEAK and the #PeakSquad was fantastic for our players,” said DRBB creator Elon Werner. “They had complete ownership of the Route 66 Nationals in Chicago on and off the track and the PEAK Performance post-race emails were our most impactful digital program for our thousands of players. Expanding the program to include Dallas as well as offering additional prizes for regular season player success will only make playing Drag Race Bracket Bonanza more fun for our players. PEAK will continue to be able to communicate with new and established fans through DRBB.”PEAK has offered prize packs to the top five overall finishers from the Chicago race the past two seasons and that program will be expanding to include the Texas Fall Nationals. The #PEAKSquad league is one of the most active in the DRBB player universe. Through coordinated social media posts that include participation from John Force Racing driver Jack Beckman as well as other PEAK social media influencers the engagement with drag racing fans is next level. “Drag Race Bracket Bonanza’s community are some of most engaged fans of the sport,” said Brian Bohlander, director of marketing – Sports & Partnership, Old World Industries (OWI). “The #PEAKSquad community thrives when we give them ways to get involved, and DRBB is the perfect platform to do that. The energy, the competition and the creativity make Drag Race Bracket Bonanza a natural fit for the PEAK brand and we’re excited to continue to grow together year after year.” Headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois, OWI continues to be a leading manufacturer of automotive and heavy-duty products under its PEAK and BlueDEF brands. The company has been a major sponsor in the NHRA for more than three decades, including as an official partner since the 2013 season. PEAK has also been a longtime sponsor of John Force Racing, which in 2026 includes Top Fuel driver Josh Hart, Funny Car world champion Jack Beckman along with Jordan Vandergriff and Alexis DeJoria. DRBB players will have the chance to fill out their brackets for the Route 66 Nationals when qualifying ends at Route 66 Raceway on Saturday, May 16. They will then have until the first round of eliminations begins on Sunday, May 17, to submit their picks. Fans can follow DRBB on social media for cool stats, prize updates, and info on Twitter/X at @dragracebb or @DragRaceBracketBonanza on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. And they can watch the NHRA broadcast on FS1. The post Drag Race Bracket Bonanza Builds on PEAK Performance in 2026 first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Dubbin Motorsports is set to open the 2026 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series season this weekend at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA GatorNationals at Gainesville Raceway, with driver Kirk Wolf returning behind the wheel of the team’s A/Fuel Dragster. The Minnesota-based operation enters 2026 with momentum built over several seasons of development, directed by team owner Dean Dubbin alongside tuners Clay and Chase Copeland and clutch specialist Trevor Jelinski. The Chase Copeland-built machine has demonstrated the capability to easily run in the 5.15-5.25-second range at 270-280 mph – performance the team expects to experience at Gainesville’s near-sea-level conditions this weekend. “We’ve had a good and businesslike off-season,” said team owner Dean Dubbin. “It’s the little things that have gotten in our way the past few years, and we have worked hard to eliminate those bugs that cause inconsistencies. This car is fast, the crew is one of the most experienced in Alcohol Racing, and Kirk is motivated and focused. We are capable of winning at any track on the schedule, and Gainesville is where we want to make that statement.” The GatorNationals carries significant weight on the NHRA calendar, ranking behind only the U.S. Nationals in drag racing prestige. For Wolf, a national event winner with the Dubbin program, the race represents an early-season proving ground. “I’m really excited to start a fresh season,” said Wolf. “We didn’t change a whole lot in the off-season, just the normal maintenance. We ended 2025 running really well, and I think we have the car and setup to win races this year. I have never been so hungry for a win.” The sting of last season’s Gatornationals is still fresh in the minds of everyone on the Dubbin team. Rain and cold temperatures at Gainesville Raceway derailed their Gatornationals. Kirk Wolf was qualified ninth after an electrical fault in Q1 and clutch-induced tire shake in Q2 ended both qualifying runs early. With Q3 cancelled, Saturday’s eliminations rained out, and no firm completion timeline from race officials on Sunday, the team was forced to withdraw from the race. “We are professionals at this, but we also have other full-time jobs,” said Dubbin. When the weather in 2025 caused delays, it created an uncertain race schedule that conflicted with our ability to get home to our primary jobs – so we had to withdraw. We all still feel the sting from that and would love to go out and blister this track and get some redemption.” Wolf agreed, stating, “It’s important for us to get things going early and be successful right out of the box. We’re not here to feel things out – we’re here to compete and win.” Dean Dubbin and his wife Karen will not make the trip to Gainesville, with Dean sidelined by a recent medical procedure. “I’m very lucky to have a team with a lot of depth; each person can step in and take over when someone is gone, so I’m confident that Team DMP/Kentex will do an outstanding job in Gainesville,” said Dubbin. “Karen and I will be attending the 4-wide race at Z-Max if everything keeps moving in the current direction.”The GatorNationals are scheduled for March 5-8 at Gainesville Raceway near Gainesville, Florida. Qualifying for Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car begins Thursday and continues through Friday, with eliminations starting Saturday and concluding on Sunday. This story was originally published on March 3, 2026. The post Kirk Wolf and Dubbin Motorsports Target Strong GatorNationals Season Start first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

After a productive PRO test session in Gainesville last month, Del Worsham and Julie Nataas head into this weekend’s Gatornationals carrying strong momentum into the start of the 2026 season. During testing, the duo made several successful passes, highlighted by Nataas’s new personal-best 3.94-second run. The milestone marks a significant step forward as she continues gaining experience in Nitro Funny Car competition. “We made some solid runs in testing,” said Worsham. “I really enjoy having Julie in the car and watching her get more and more comfortable. Every time she straps in, she processes more. She’s always been strong on feedback, but now she’s giving us insight that sometimes goes beyond what the computer is telling us about what the car is doing.” For Nataas, the progression has been tangible. Still, she knows the learning curve in Funny Car never levels off. “With every lap, I feel more confident,” Nataas said. “But this class demands that you never get comfortable. I’m constantly trying to stay ahead of the car, anticipate it, feel it, and learn from every run. Testing was encouraging, but I know there’s still more in me and more in the car.” This weekend marks a single-race opportunity for Nataas as she continues pursuing the funding necessary to compete more consistently this season. While performance progress has been clear, securing the partners required to keep the car on track remains the critical next step. Primary support for this event comes from Hedinger’s Equipment and J&A Service, two companies with deep ties to performance and perseverance in motorsports. Hedinger’s previously backed Worsham and supported Nataas during her Top Alcohol Dragster campaign, continuing a relationship built on trust and long-term belief in the team. J&A Service, known throughout the sport for standing behind grassroots racers and emerging talent, brings its namesake work ethic to the Funny Car stage this weekend. Also continuing its support is Richmond Gear, which has expanded its relationship with Worsham into a broader multi-race program in 2026.“Richmond Gear is proud to sponsor Del Worsham’s Funny Car for the 2026 season. Racing has always been at the core of the Richmond brand, and this partnership reflects our deep roots in the sport,” said Steve Filipiak, Director of Marketing at Richmond Gear. “We’re thrilled to be working with Del and his team. Winners Run Richmond!” This story was originally published on March 3, 2026. The post Worsham & Nataas Bring Testing Momentum to the Starting Line of the 2026 Season first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

This 632 cubic-inch big-block Chevy makes 1,000+ HP naturally aspirated with EFI, DR-17 heads, and race-proven parts—and you could win it.View the full article

The DAB Motors DAB 1 electric supermoto packs approachable performance in an electric platform built for urban riders.View the full article

KTM's new RC 160 pairs lightweight handling with rider-focused tech and a high-revving single-cylinder engine built for learning fast.View the full article

The new Alpinestars “All Terra” collection is the high-end, tech-heavy, earth-toned adventure motorcycle gear you’d expect from Astars.View the full article

The Thai season opener at Buriram brought the heat in multiple ways, including on the three-wheeled taxis you'll see spiriting tourists around.View the full article

Yamaha’s decision to bring the 2026 Ténéré 700 World Raid to American dealerships reflects the growing domestic interest in Rally Raid and long-distance navigation-based competition.View the full article

Heads up if you own a 2022-2024 Bonneville, Speed Twin, or Scrambler 900, because this recall affects every single one of them.View the full article

Yamaha plans to shift corporate functions to Georgia and sell its Southern California headquarters to improve asset efficiency.View the full article

Moto News Weekly Wrap March 02, 2026 What’s New: Speedway as a career? See what that entails… Trial des Nations Team Management appointed Maxxis renew MX3 sponsorship 2026 East Coast MX Series Round Two Cancelled Wonthaggi to kick off ProMX 2026 on March 21 Kawasaki secures ProMX MX1 naming rights Dean Wilson defends UK SX […] The post Moto News | Wild Board GNCC | MX | SX | AFT | Enduro appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

Drag and drive events will test both man and machine. Brandon Doller drove his twin-turbo Nova from Indiana to Florida. View the full article

BMW R 1300 R Superhooligan BMW Motorrad has rolled out a one-off BMW R 1300 R Superhooligan at Daytona Bike Week, using the 84th Daytona 200 weekend (March 5 to 7, 2026) as the backdrop for a very deliberate bit of heritage linking. The custom build is intended to commemorate two key moments from 1976: […] The post BMW R 1300 R Superhooligan revealed as Daytona tribute special appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

Sherco Australia MY26 Two-Stroke Finance Offer Sherco Motorcycles Australia have announced the launch of a new low‑rate finance promotion designed to help more riders hit the trails this peak enduro season. For a limited time, eligible MY26 Sherco Factory 2‑Stroke Enduro models are available with highly competitive finance rates through SHERCO FAST FINANCE, powered by […] The post Sherco launches low-rate finance offer on MY26 two-stroke Factory range appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

Max Fricke on professional Speedway How to make a career in Speedway Speedway is often reduced to a highlight reel: four laps, no brakes, steel shoes skimming the dirt and elbows brushing at 130 km/h. What rarely makes the highlight packages is the infrastructure behind it. The planning, logistics, financial risk and technical precision required […] The post Max Fricke on what it takes to go pro in Speedway – Feature Interview appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

Jemma’s 10,000 km Aussie adventure supported by SW-MOTECH If you’re going to tackle 10,000 kilometres of Australia’s most unforgiving terrain, including the Simpson Desert via the French Line, you’d better make damn sure your gear’s up to the task! Jemma Wilson and her dad, Ted, knew this when they partnered with SW-MOTECH for their unsupported […] The post An outback adventure with Jemma Wilson supported by SW-Motech appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

NHRA announced today that the thrilling new Right Trailers Outlaw Street Series, which features some of the major names from the famous Street Outlaws franchise, will debut on April 24-26 at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte as part of NHRA’s 4-Wide Nationals. The exciting new showcase for 2026 will feature 10 drivers, with three rounds of qualifying over the course of Friday and Saturday in Charlotte, followed by semifinals and finals on Sunday at zMAX Dragway. The loaded field for the debut and the four-race series will include the biggest names and the legendary figures from Street Outlaws, including Shawn Ellington, Ryan Martin, Scott Taylor, Jeff Lutz and more. The full field for the first race in Charlotte will be revealed in the coming weeks, but the excitement level is high for the group set to make their NHRA debut during the 75th anniversary season. “I think this is an incredible opportunity for NHRA and our outlaw group to work together,” Taylor said. “We are excited to come out and light the boards with our steel roof and quarter cars, as I truly believe it will shock the world to see how fast these cars are. We are looking forward to hanging out with new and current fans.” The collaboration marks a major moment in NHRA’s milestone year, with the biggest names from Street Outlaws helping put on a show for fans during the four-race campaign this season. The debut takes place at the Bellagio of Dragstrips in Charlotte, giving fans a marquee opportunity to watch the new Right Trailers Outlaw Street Series – along with the high-octane, intense action of four-wide racing in the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series – all at one monumental race. It also marks the only four-wide race of the season in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle, as fans get to witness one of the wildest spectacles in motorsports. Add in the stars from Street Outlaws in this debut showcase and it has the makings of an epic weekend. “The Right Trailers’ Outlaw Street series is sure to bring a new fan base to NHRA and bring those fans to the existing NHRA teams,” Right Trailers President Michael Scott said. “I have been a fan of many of the racers that will compete in the Outlaw Street series and am excited to see how big this deal gets.” Added Taylor: “Outlaw Street is about bringing a new audience to NHRA while giving longtime fans something exciting and different. These are racers that fans already know and follow. Now, they’ll see them compete on one of the biggest stages in drag racing.” Ellington, who drives the famed “Murder Nova,” is a fan favorite known for his black Chevy Nova and fierce racing style. Ellington has long been a key figure in the Street Outlaws scene, as has Martin, who is the reigning powerhouse and a multiple-time champ on the No Prep Kings circuit with his Fireball Camaro. Martin is also hugely popular in the series, showcasing a strong blend of speed and consistency to build his impressive standing in the sport. Taylor is another veteran in the Street Outlaws racing community, bringing a wealth of experience and a reputation as a fearless competitor. To see the debut of the Right Trailers Outlaw Street Series in action on April 24-26 at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte, fans can purchase tickets at www.zmaxdragway.com. For more information about the NHRA, including the 2026 schedule, please visit www.nhra.com. This story was originally published on March 2, 2026. The post Debut of Right Trailers Outlaw Street Series set for NHRA’s Stop at ZMAX Dragway first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

 In the current world of custom motorcycles, the "tracker" aesthetic is the ultimate expression of the "go fast" philosophy. Born on the dirt ovals of America, the street tracker takes the DNA of flat track racing—wide bars, slim tanks, and 19-inch wheels—and adapts it for urban hooliganism. Wh... View the full article

Super Bowl champion Fletcher Cox, who jumped behind the wheel of his nitrous-assisted “Training Day” ’69 Camaro after retiring from a 12-season career with the Philadelphia Eagles, went into the Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod presented by Red Line Oil with a shot at the DI Winter Series presented by J&A Service Pro 10.5 championship. Led by multi-talented tuner Phil Shuler, Cox performed under pressure and secured both the championship and the $25,000 WSOPM Pro 10.5 event win. Cox went to the final round of the 2025 Snowbird Outlaw Nationals to kick off the Winter Series in December, then lost to Nick Agostino in the second round of the U.S. Street Nationals in January. That put him third in points going into the WSOPM, with less than one round separating points leader Agostino, USSN winner Jerry Morgano, and Cox. At WSOPM, Cox qualified No. 2 with a 3.879 at 190.27 and set low E.T. of the opening round of eliminations with a 3.906, which also stood for low E.T. of eliminations. Morgano qualified No. 1, but he lost his first-round matchup, taking him out of the championship hunt. Agostino then lost in the second round, putting Cox in control. He defeated Chris Tuten in that round, then drew the bye run for the quarterfinals. In a side-by-side race against Tim Partin, Cox ran a 3.910 over Partin’s 3.917, securing the championship and a trip to the final round. Ironically, Cox received a massive, custom Victus Sports baseball bat as a championship trophy. “My mindset, honestly, after I found out we won a championship, I celebrated at the top end – just for a second,” said Cox, who thanks his crew – Shuler, Andy, Nova Joe, Mark, and Chase – as well as girlfriend Kaycee, sponsors LAT Racing Oils, VP Racing, Menscer Motorsports, Glass Life Atlanta, and Diamond Pistons. “A bunch of the team came down there and celebrated, Kaycee [girlfriend] came down and celebrated. After that, my deal was to just focus and refocus. That’s what a lot of people struggle with. Focus on right now, on the task at hand. But now I know I still got another round to go win and a chance to do it. I did my normal routine after every pass – I went into the motorhome, relaxed my mind, and was ready to go for the finals.” He left the starting line first every time in eliminations, including in the final round over fellow title contender Joel Wensley Jr. Cox ran a 3.928 at 190.78 to Wensley’s 3.973 at 192.85. “I think the biggest thing about the Winter Series races is they bring the best out in you,” said Cox, who earned his first career win in PDRA Pro Street last season. “I look at it as, the first race we came here and went rounds. Second race, I don’t know what happened or what I was thinking. I went .400 on the tree and was the joke of the weekend. But the focus was to come here and win, knowing that we had a chance to win a championship. When ‘Training Day’ shows up, and this team that Phil Shuler and myself put together, we’ve got a chance to win. That was the most important part.” This story was originally published on March 2, 2026. The post From Tackles to 10.5 Glory: Fletcher Cox Wins Winter Series Pro 10.5 Championship, WSOPM Pro 10.5 Title first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

The Gatornationals FanFest At Burnyzz Speed Shop Returns. This event features numerous NHRA stars and much more.View the full article