reporter

The Road Glide Limited and Street Glide Limited aren't new from top to bottom, but they have enough updates to entice more than a few prospective buyers.View the full article

There's a Real Market For ItWe're still chuckling at The Drive's sitdown with Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis about a single-cab, 6.4 V8-powered model. It's not the answer people were hoping for, but he did hit the nail on the head when he said niche products like that are "for you and six other friends of yours." That said, he's aware that there are niches that make more business sense than that. The publication had another talk with the executive, and the answer does give us hope that Ram will make a sport truck down the line. If you remember the Ram 1500 DC650 package from a few months back, the reception around it has been positive, and it's gotten the Ram boss thinking about rolling out a potential rival for the F-150 Lobo. Fox Factory Vehicles Testing the WatersDuring the interview, Kuniskis revealed to The Drive that the DC650 was a way to see if consumers would react positively to a lowered, high-performance Ram model. Built in cooperation with Fox Factory, the DC650 packs a supercharged 5.7-liter Hemi V8 with 650 hp, Ridetech coilovers, 22-inch wheels, and a body kit that would look right at home at Daytona. Buying the car as a complete package will set interested punters back at least $89,995. Turns out, there's a good number of people out there more than willing to shell out that amount of cash for it. The CEO admitted that the reception towards it has exceeded expectations. Fox Factory Vehicles The Muscle Car and Pickup ConnectionIt may not seem like it, but muscle car buyers and pickup buyers can be put in the same basket. Kuniskis explained that building a factory sport truck casts a wider net in the customer pool. "If you look at the muscle car buyer, the muscle car buyer’s, number one, not even close, 
number one, most likely garage mate to their muscle car, is a light-duty pickup truck. So, the muscle car buyer is also a light-duty pickup truck buyer. So there is automatically a really solid connection in there, but it’s not super obvious, because the size of the truck business is so big, it’s a fraction," said Kuniskis. Various So, Ram Sport Truck Confirmed?Well, not quite. The CEO didn't outright confirm that they will build an F-150 Lobo rival just yet. His exact words were "Am I telling you, we’re gonna build a sport truck? No, I’m not telling you we’re going to build a sport truck. I’m telling you, there’s clearly a market for them." It's a bit of a tease, but there is circumstantial evidence that Ram is putting serious thought into it. Remember, Kuniskis himself is resurrecting the SRT division, and a hot Ram would be a good fit for that. Ram itself is no stranger to the niche, with models like the SRT-10 from 20 years ago and the limited-run Rumble Bee from around the same time. Should Ram build it? Well, the F-150 Lobo is doing pretty well for itself, and we doubt the company wants Ford having all the fun. It won't be a single-cab, but we're all for a speedy, lowered Ram. If it were up to us, we'd take out the off-road bits of the TRX, slam it to the ground, and call it the 1500 SRT. Fox Factory Vehicles View the full article

This American-built electric adventure motorcycle packs instant torque, low weight, and legit trail-ready hardware. View the full article

A closer look at Reigning Champ’s GORE-TEX outerwear and what its cold-weather design suggests about real-world performance.View the full article

The L87 Recall Drama So FarGM's current 6.2-liter V8 made headlines for all the wrong reasons in 2025. Internally known as the L87, it's been slapped with recalls and lawsuits since April of last year. The reason? It's mainly due to manufacturing defects in connecting rods and crankshafts. It would fail without warning, and there are some cases wherein it would blow up with very low miles. With over 1,000 complaints, GM is now facing multiple class-action lawsuits over the L87 engine. The company has suggested changing the oil viscosity, but it was still failing, nonetheless. The Feds have gotten involved in the matter, and the investigation has kicked into high gear, according to the ODI documents published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). James Ochoa NHTSA Steps InNHTSA has now opened a probe into the whole matter. At the time of writing, GM has recalled 721,000 vehicles worldwide, with 597,571 in the U.S alone. But what the agency will also investigate are the post-recall engines and those that followed the advice of using thicker oil. The agency also notes "failures of both remedies" in its latest filing. Why is a safety agency involved in this? For starters, it's NHTSA that keeps track of all recalls in the U.S. Secondly, the sudden loss of power at highway speeds is a major cause for concern. With that, NHTSA is raising questions about GM's solutions regarding the engine and truly pinpointing the main reason behind the failures. Chevrolet The Band-Aid SolutionThe recall was first issued in April 2025, and GM recommended the use of 0W-40 oil instead of 0W-20. In theory, the thicker oil should provide more wear protection by coating the cylinders with a more protective layer. However, the adverse effect of that higher fuel consumption was the least of the problems. Even with the proposed solution, cases continued to rise. Even replacement engines were failing at some point, so there's more to it than just changing the oil. Since then, NHTSA has received 36 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) stating that the oil change still resulted in engines giving up. One of the suits alleges, "owners are presented with two bad options: do nothing and risk catastrophic engine failure or get the recall and pay hundreds of dollars more for gasoline." I Do Cars/YouTube The Affected VehiclesIf you're reading this and own a full-sized GM pickup or SUV, you can relax if yours is equipped with the 5.3-liter V8. But say you have the 6.2-liter and you're worrying if it'll be a ticking time bomb, check if your vehicle was built after June 1, 2024. GM says engines built after that are not affected by the defect. The L87 engine is optional on several trims of the Chevrolet Silverado, Suburban, and Tahoe, as well as some GMC Sierras, Yukons, and Yukon XLs. It is, however, standard on High Country versions of the Silverado, Suburban, and Tahoe, Denali (and up) versions of GMC's full-size range (except HD trucks), and the Cadillac Escalade. View the full article

France now criminalizes extreme speeding with jail time, heavy fines, and license bans for reckless drivers. View the full article

I love me some 8.1 horsepower, and in the video below our friend Richard Holdener is back at Westech Performance doing some cam testing on his dyno mule 8.1. He also does some testing with a carb vs efi. Everyone is always asking whether or not these engines can make more power and torque with a carburetor, and here is the test that will tell you. Regardless, these 8.1 big blocks make good power, respond really well to camshaft upgrades, and they love boost just like most good engines. You really can’t go wrong with these engines for your tow rig. Check out the video results below. Video Description: HOW TO MAKE 500 HP WITH A GEN 7 8.1L BBC. ARE THERE ANY CHEAP 8.1L PERFORMANCE OR TOWING CAMS? HOW MUCH IS A CAM SWAP WORTH ON AN 8.1L? HOW MUCH POWER IS A DART DUAL-PLANE INTAKE WORTH ON AN 8.1L? CARB VS EFI-WHICH ONE MAKES MORE? DO I NEED SPRINGS WITH A CAM SWAP ON MY 8.1L? WILL MY IDLE QUALITY SUFFER WITH A CAM SWAP? CAN I MAKE 500 HP WITH MY 8.1L? CHECK OUT THIS VIDE WHERE I TESTED THE NEW (LOW BUCK) STAGE 1 RHP/ELGIN CAM FOR THE 8.1L GEN 7 BBC. I COMPARED IOT TO THE POPUALR ZZ502 CAM. I ALSO COMPARED THE DUAL-PLANE, DART CARB INTAKE AND EDELBROCK 850 VRS CARB TO THE EFI INTAKE. FULL DYNO RESULTS-AND THE NEW RHPE STAGE 1 CAM IS AVAILABLE AT RICHARDHOLDENERPERFORMANCE.COM. The post CHEAP 8.1L CAM TEST-HOW TO ADD 30 HP AND 30 LB-FT FOR TOWING. 8.1L DART CARB INTAKE VS EFI-WHO WINS? appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

For some reason, people often underestimate the technology that goes into drag racing parts. I think it is because they think that going in a straight line is so simple. Of course these are the same people that zig zag down the dragstrip when given the chance to actually race their cars, and who never look at the data available with their EFI systems. With rare exception, nobody tunes their cars like drag racers. But let’s get back to some of that technology. In this case it is the tires, the only connection between the race car and the race track, that is up for discussion. In the video below, Brian Lohnes is going to talk about the history and technology that has gone into drag slicks and has led to the incredible performances that drag cars are capable of today. And while slicks have changed dramatically over the years, so has all the other technology that helps make more power so it can use that tire technology. One doesn’t work without the other. Check it out. Video Description: The story of drag racing is typically seen as one defined by insane horsepower. The super fuels, the massive blowers, the acceleration that is unmatched by any wheel driven vehicle on Earth. But that actually isn’t the root of the story. The real foundation of it all? Traction. And where did that come from? It came from tire shops at first. Taking old passenger car tires and gluing more rubber on them than they were ever supposed to hold. Next it came from a genius of a man from a small town in Massacusetts who quite literally invented the scratch built drag slick. And it’s only gotten faster from there. This is the story of the genesis of traction. Of the birth of the one thing that drag racing has relied on more than nitromethane, more than superchargers, and more than steel tubing. Slicks. The tires that make drag racing the incredible sport that it is today. The post Slicks: The Sticky History of the World’s Fastest Racing Tires – There’s Way More To Them Than You Might Think appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

You can buy a Hammer and Dolly kit for as little as $25, so there is no reason that you shouldn’t get a set. Plus, even a cheap set can be tuned up to be better than stock, without spending any more money. But what if you are walking the Pomona Swap Meet and see a couple of dollies for sale? Do you know if they are ones you need? The truth is, just like most other tool kits, the manufacturers sometimes throw extras in just so the kit sounds better. After all, who doesn’t want the 8 piece set if it is the same price as the 6 piece? Number sell and they know it. But here’s the good thing. If you buy a set of hammers and dollies, and they come with an extra one or two that isn’t of any real use, you can always use your grinder and sander to shape them into something you would actual use. In the video below, you’ll see Mike Wagner at Cornfield Customs share some info on what hammers and what dollies are useful and should be included in your toolbox. He also goes over a couple other metal shaping hand tools that you might want to look into. We’ve also shared another of Mike’s videos where he shows you how to tune up your hammers and dollies to get the best finish out of them. With these two videos you’ll be ready to start learning how to use them! Video Description: In this episode I go over basic types/ styles of hammers, dollies, slappers and some other handy hand tools I recommend. The post Tool Tech: Bodywork Tools 101 – What Hammers And Dollies Do You Really Need In Your Toolbox? And How To Dress Them For Smooth Metal. appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

In the mid to late 1990’s there were a bunch of custom mini trucks and fullsizes that got bought at truck shows all over and then sent overseas to Japan. I had a friend who got an offer on his S10 Blazer that he just couldn’t pass up, and after using the money to build a different truck they contacted him to buy that one too. There were lots of cars and trucks going to Japan and it blew me away. I had no idea they were that into our cars and trucks, but man they were. And 30 years later the Japanese love American cars even more. You gotta see what it is like there. The post American Car Culture in Japan is AMAZING! You’d Never Guess That The Japanese Would Be This Ate Up With Old American Cars! appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

Last week we shared Freiburger’s video of him and Derek from Vice Grip Garage working on his stone stock Model A Ford. The goal was to get the thing to run and drive and then road trip it. Well, they were successful, or at least successful enough to hit the road, so in this video they are jumping in and heading out. Do you think they’ll make it all the way across the desert in this thing? And how many mechanical gremlins will rear their ugly head during the trip. If you missed the first video, where David and Derek get this thing running, use the link below to check it out. Otherwise, watch their adventures below and let’s see what happens. CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VIDEO WHERE DEREK AND DAVID MAKE THE MODEL A RUN Video Description: We are road tripping a stock 1929 Ford Model A 425 miles across the desolate desert! Of course there will be plenty of mechanical problems along the way, but you can’t be stopped when you have Derek Bieri from Vice Grip Garage at shotgun! The post Freiburger Is ROAD TRIPPING HIS STOCK 1929 MODEL A with Derek from Vice Grip Garage After They Thrashed To Make It Run appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

FFRE and Noonan partner to release a solid Billet Coyote Block designed to handle 3000+ HP, solving some failure points of stock castings.View the full article

Reigning NHRA Pro Stock world champion Dallas Glenn will add a new chapter to his racing résumé this weekend, making his Pro Modified debut at the U.S. Street Nationals presented by M&M Transmission, the second of three races in the Drag Illustrated Winter Series presented by J&A Service. Glenn will be driving the J&A Service screw-blown ‘63 Corvette owned by Jim and Annie Whiteley at Bradenton Motorsports Park January 22-25. While Glenn’s primary focus remains on defending his Pro Stock championship, the opportunity to step into one of drag racing’s quickest classes presented itself late last season. “Jim and I talked about it near the end of the season last year,” Glenn said. “I asked him if he was going to be racing at the Winter Series, and he said he’d really like to put me in one of his cars to go down there and work on some combos. He really wanted me to get a chance to drive a Pro Mod at least once, so we just went from there.” The weekend also ties into longer-term plans surrounding KB Titan Racing’s highly-anticipated move into Pro Mod competition in 2026 and beyond. In the short-term, however, the focus is firmly on Bradenton and giving Glenn some seat time in a screw-blown Pro Mod. “I know they’re still getting the whole KB Titan Pro Mod thing established,” said Glenn. “Jim was thinking that this probably couldn’t hurt – throw me in there, bring some more attention to it, work on the combo, and let people see that we have something to offer.” Glenn will arrive at the U.S. Street Nationals having tested recently at Bradenton Motorsports Park. Despite weather limiting his on-track time, the early results were encouraging. After Whiteley spent multiple days testing earlier in the week, Glenn climbed into the Corvette late in the test session and quickly posted competitive numbers. On just his fourth run, Glenn delivered a 3.588-second pass at 209.88 mph. “The air was really good, and Jim had tested Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday,” Glenn said. “So when I got in it, I didn’t have to worry about trying to get the car dialed in at the same time. I could just focus on learning how to drive. The car’s looking great and I felt pretty comfortable in it after four runs.” Transitioning from an NHRA Pro Stock car to a screw-blown Pro Mod might represent a significant shift in both speed and driving style, but Glenn acknowledged the learning curve has been manageable – and perhaps, contrary to what some might think, simpler. “With the Pro Stock car, you’re shifting four times before the eighth-mile, staging with the clutch, and there’s just so much more going on inside the car,” said Glenn. “The Pro Mod gets up to about the same speed in half the distance and a couple seconds less, but you really only have to let go of the button and focus on driving. I feel like it came to me pretty quick.” While Glenn has not ruled out future Pro Mod appearances, he emphasized that his commitment remains with Pro Stock and defending his championship. “Pro Stock is still where my heart is, but I’m definitely not going to rule anything out,” Glenn said. “If Jim wants to go somewhere and race on an off weekend and he tells me to jump in and I don’t have anything going on, I’ll happily go jump in. It’s a really fast Pro Mod, and they are a lot of fun to drive.” The DI Winter Series routinely attracts one of the deepest Pro Mod fields of the year, with the recent Snowbird Outlaw Nationals presented by Motion Raceworks seeing 80 cars attempting to qualify for the 32-car field. Glenn is realistic about the challenge of simply getting in the show, but also confident in both his driving abilities – he’s widely known in Pro Stock as “Double-O Dallas” for his exceptional reaction times – and the capability of tuners Rickie Smith and Brandon Snider. “I know how difficult it’s going to be just to qualify because there’s a ton of really high-quality cars,” said Glenn. “But I 100% believe the car is fast enough to qualify, and I’ll be a little bit disappointed if I don’t, because I know how good the car is. What happens from there is a bonus, but I’m pretty confident. If I can get qualified, I’m definitely going to be trying to live up to the nickname. I think we’re going to have a lot of fun.” This story was originally published on January 19, 2026. The post Reigning NHRA Pro Stock Champion Dallas Glenn Set to Make Pro Mod Debut at U.S. Street Nationals first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

MotoGP 2026 Ducati Lenovo Team Ducati has unveiled its 2026 MotoGP line-up and Desmosedici GP at Madonna di Campiglio, marking the official start of a season that carries both historical significance and strategic importance for the Borgo Panigale manufacturer. Luigi Dall’Igna – Ducati Corse General Manager “This season, in terms of value and hopefully also […] The post Ducati Desmosedici GP26 in high-res – Team Launch appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

Ford and Carhartt want to promote real "Carhartt-type" workIf there is one brand that is synonymous with both white- and blue-collar workers, as well as construction sites and the world's fashion magazines, it is none other than the American heritage brand Carhartt. Born in Dearborn, Michigan, in 1889, the workwear brand has been known the world over not just for being a go-to brand for style influencers and fashionistas, but more so as a tried-and-true brand that has produced tough, long-lasting quality clothing essentials for multiple generations. Although you may be able to find people of all stripes wearing Carhartt everywhere from a rising skyscraper, oil rigs, and mechanics' shops, to your local third-wave coffee shop, it has been linked to another Dearborn-based company for nearly 100 years: Ford. According to Ford, Carhartt has produced clothes for Ford's factory workers since the 1920s, with workwear programs between the two companies dating back to the 1970s. Ford View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article However, the two companies are now getting together to serve the next generation of skilled labor. In an announcement at the Detroit Auto Show on January 13, Ford CEO Jim Farley and Carhartt CEO Linda Hubbard announced that they will be linking up on a multi-year strategic partnership designed to support what they call the "Essential Economy." The two companies aim to "create long-term impact" by focusing on specific initiatives to support the trades, including workforce development, community building, and the development of new products. “Hamilton Carhartt founded our company on a simple principle: listen to hardworking people and build products that help them do their jobs safely and effectively,” Hubbard said. “For 136 years, we’ve stood with the skilled trades by making durable gear they can rely on. That commitment has since grown to include support for programs that provide people with the skills and training needed for meaningful careers in the trades. We’re excited that our partnership with Ford will help us advance this important work.” Ford View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article Ford aims to equip the auto technicians of tomorrow with tools, training, and fresh, new clothesPart of that commitment is direct support, and, according to Ford, it aims to partner with high schools and community colleges to provide fast-track training programs and ensure a strong pipeline from education to the workforce. This also includes a partnership between Ford Philanthropy and Ford dealers with the TechForce Foundation to support Ford Auto Tech Scholars, its scholarships for potential automotive technicians in the U.S. As part of its new partnership with Carhartt, the next batch of Ford Auto Tech Scholars will receive fresh, new custom Carhartt gear (or "drip," as the youth say), as well as a new tool lending program for prospective Detroit-area auto technicians through ToolBank USA. Ford says that it will be donating a ProPower onboard-equipped F-150 to the Detroit ToolBank upon its opening in February 2026, which it will use to extend its outreach across Southeast Michigan. “This is such a great match because we're all committed to making sure workers have the best equipment and gear that they can get. ToolBank USA is inspiring people to do more with their hands while changing lives in our local communities,” Ford CEO Farley said. “Who better to expand their mission and bring the next hub to this great city than two iconic Detroit companies, Ford and Carhartt.” Ford A Carhartt Super Duty is comingSince late 2025, Ford and Carhartt used uniform services provider Cintas to outfit dealership technicians with the legendary brand's clothing, including Ford/Carhartt-branded shirts, pants, jackets, sweatshirts, footwear, and accessories. However, they are going one step further with their expanded collaboration. Ford and Carhartt also announced that, in addition to new merchandise, which "explores the intersection of heritage workwear and automotive craftsmanship, uncovering shared values of durability, innovation, and local pride," the two are linking up on a new 2027 Super Duty Carhartt truck, which is coming later this year. No exact details have been revealed as of yet; however, Ford noted that the vehicle is inspired by the brand and that its designers injected inspiration that executives gained from a visit to Carhartt's downtown Detroit store, where they got up close with the different colors and textures of the brand's storied pieces, as well as the elements surrounding the store. The lone detail revealed by Ford, the truck's wheel, is said to be inspired by the Detroit city manhole covers outside the store. "Carhartt's DNA is all about hardworking people, doing incredible things with their rugged apparel, which is as necessary as the tools they use — just like our trucks serve builders as tools for their trade," Ford Global Licensing senior manager Tyler Hill said in a statement. Final thoughtsFord CEO Jim Farley has been very vocal about the growth of the skilled trades. On a November 2025 episode of the Office Hours: Business Edition podcast, Farley said Ford had 5,000 open mechanic positions that it is struggling to fill, despite it being a position that can open up a pathway toward an $120,000 annual salary, noting that its stuggle to fill jobs that require training or manual labor are signs that there is a shortage of skilled tradespeople in the U.S. “We are in trouble in our country. We are not talking about this enough,” he said at the time. “We have over a million openings in critical jobs, emergency services, trucking, factory workers, plumbers, electricians, and tradesmen. It’s a very serious thing.” This new partnership with Carhartt is just one piece of the puzzle. In an interview with Business Insider, Ford Philanthropy president Mary Culler added that these seemingly dirty, unglamorous jobs have a real perception problem in today's connected-car era, as techs will be working mostly with technology and not wrenches. "People we talk to tell us, 'I didn't realize it wasn't the greasy job I expected,'" Culler told BI. "People don't understand that it's a very high-tech job, it's a very computer-intensive job." View the full article

ASBK 2026 BCperformance Kawasaki Tom Edwards will join Hayden Nelson at BCperformance Racing for the 2026 ASBK season as the Kawasaki-backed squad steps up to the Next Generation Supersport category with the Ninja ZX-6R. Team Manager Kelvin Reilly and his Sydney-based squad are still awaiting delivery of some of the parts required to transition the […] The post BCperformance Kawasaki confirm Next-Gen switch and new signing appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

The Gruesome Story Behind Tupac's BMWA black 1996 BMW 750iL with a dark history has once again "popped up" for sale after being on the market for over eight years. The car Tupac Shakur was in when he was gunned down in a drive-by shooting was originally offered for sale at $1.5 million in 2017, with no takers. Now, Celebrity Cars of Las Vegas has relisted it at an even more astonishing $1.75 million. You might think a car with this sort of history (with an M70 V12 to boot) would appeal to collectors, but there’s one aspect that’s tanked its value: it’s been completely restored. Bullet holes were plugged and painted over, and the original black leather interiors were refinished, leaving no signs of the events of that fateful night in 1996, except for some dings in the insulating sheet behind the door cards. The irony here is that for collectors seeking a car with legitimate ties to music history, its pre-restoration battle scars are exactly what would have made it more appealing despite the high price tag. Celebrity Cars Las Vegas View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article This BMW Was Restored When It Was A Year OldCelebrity Cars’ acquisition of the BMW is an interesting story in itself. The 1996 7-Series, leased to Death Row Records, the label Tupac Shakur had signed with just months before his death, was towed to a police junkyard as evidence, and it was eventually restored and auctioned off in 1997 by BMW Financial to recoup its investment. The next owner managed to put over 100,000 miles on the clock over a few years before realizing its connection to Tupac Shakur. It was then sold to a collector who further refined the restoration, including having custom wheels made that replicated the set that was on the car at the time of the shooting, which were subsequently damaged in the attempt to get away from the shooters. Celebrity Cars bought the vehicle from the collector and had it listed for a price that was hard to digest nearly a decade ago. Tupac’s BMW was even featured on the TV series Pawn Stars in 2018, but no sale occurred thanks to its high asking price. Cold Case Heat Drives DemandCelebrity Cars is said to have been firm on its selling price, having reportedly turned down an offer for $900,000 from an overseas buyer when the car first went on sale with them. The prime suspect in Tupac Shakur’s shooting is set to face trial on 21 January 2026, and Tupac’s own Hummer H1 is to be auctioned a few days after, probably sparking an increase in inquiries about the car the rapper had his last ride in. Pawn Stars/YouTube View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article The BMW in which Tupac was gunned down has been described as art, similar to a 1928 Cadillac once owned by Al Capone. However, unlike the Cadillac, the restored BMW doesn’t wear its history on its sleeve. The only visible signs of what occurred are barely visible after taking half the door apart, thanks to the restoration job. To most collectors, that’s like asking top dollar for a Picasso that’s been painted over. View the full article

The 2026 eighth-mile doorslammer season is set to begin this weekend as Bradenton Motorsports Park hosts the U.S. Street Nationals presented by M&M Transmission, Jan. 22-25. It’s the second of three races in the 2025/2026 Drag Illustrated Winter Series presented by J&A Service, a Pro Mod championship series paying out more than $300,000 in total purses and bonuses. The U.S. Street Nationals is also the season opener for the FuelTech Radial Outlaws Racing Series, adding drag radial racing’s best to a show that also includes True 10.5, Lil Gangstas, and more. “Excitement for the U.S. Street Nationals is at an all-time high,” said Victor Alvarez, track owner and promoter, Bradenton Motorsports Park. “For weeks now, we’ve had teams from all over the country coming here to test and get ready for this weekend’s race. We had an incredible, record-setting Pro Mod field to kick off the Winter Series at the Snowbirds. The field should be even quicker this weekend based on the times we’ve been seeing in testing. We have huge payouts across the board in all of our classes, plus it’s the kick-off for the FuelTech Radial Outlaws season. BMP is the place to be this weekend.” When the second annual DI Winter Series began at the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals presented by Motion Raceworks in early December, PDRA world champion Jason Harris set himself up for what could be a historic three-race stretch. He qualified No. 1 in his Harts Charger-boosted “Party Time” Harold Denton tribute ’69 Camaro and went on to earn the $50,000 Pro Mod win. Harris is now the only driver in contention for the Jerry Bickel Race Cars Clean Sweep Challenge, which will award a brand-new rolling Pro Mod chassis if he qualifies No. 1 at the U.S. Street Nationals and the Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod, as well as the Elite Motorsports Million, which offers up an unprecedented $1 million bonus for winning all three Winter Series events. “Everyone will be watching to see what Jason Harris does this weekend,” said Wes Buck, Drag Illustrated founder and Winter Series promoter. “He’s competing for prizes that our sport has never really seen before. That’s what the Winter Series is all about – elevating the sport of Pro Modified drag racing. Jason and his team are more than up to the challenge, but they have a whole pack of killers coming after them. We had 15 cars in the 3.50s during qualifying at the Snowbirds. We had side-by-side racing throughout eliminations. This weekend, the competition is only going to be tougher.” Brazil’s Sidnei Frigo is second in the Winter Series points standings after finishing the Snowbirds as runner-up to Harris. Reigning Winter Series champion Ken Quartuccio sits third, but he recently announced a step back from racing to focus on business opportunities. Multi-time PDRA Pro Boost world champion Kevin Rivenbark is fourth, and 2024 Snowbirds winner Kye Kelley rounds out the top five heading into the $75,000-to-win U.S. Street Nationals. Additionally, the U.S. Street Nationals will include $40,000-to-win True 10.5 – which will compete with the clocks on after running as a no-time class at the Snowbirds, $20,000-to-win Lil Gangstas, $10,000-to-win Pro 10.5, $4,600-to-win 4.60 Bike, 6.50 and 7.50 Index – both $2,500 to win, and Jr. Dragster ($500 to win). As the FuelTech Radial Outlaws Racing Series season opener, the U.S. Street Nationals will also play host to Pro 275 ($15,000 to win), X275 ($10,000 to win), Limited Drag Radial ($7,500 to win), and Ultra Street ($7,500 to win). Bradenton Motorsports Park will offer testing for U.S. Street Nationals competitors in the days leading up to Thursday qualifying. Thursday’s schedule includes radial qualifying at 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., Pro 10.5 qualifying at 12 p.m. and 5:45 p.m., and one Pro Mod qualifying session at 4 p.m. Qualifying continues Friday with Pro Mod sessions at 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and radial sessions at 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Eliminations get started Saturday beginning with the radial classes at 10:30 a.m., while Pro Mod will run a final qualifying session at 2:30 p.m. before running one round of eliminations at 7 p.m. Sunday’s on-track action starts with index eliminations at 9 a.m., while Pro Mod and the radial classes will follow at 10:30 a.m. and 11:45 a.m., respectively. General admission tickets are available for $35 per day on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday, while tickets for Saturday are $40. Active military and children ages 12 and under get in free. VIP packages are also available. Fans can watch the race through the official event livestream on www.FloRacing.com. For a detailed schedule, tickets, and other event info, visit www.RaceBMP.com. This story was originally published on January 19, 2026. The post U.S. Street Nationals Set to Ignite Bradenton as Winter Series, Radial Outlaws Seasons Collide first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Over-The-Top LuxuryAutomotive customization is all about standing out and being unique. Owners use cars as a canvas on which they show their tastes and personalities. This is especially true for owners of luxury vehicles, the people more inclined to show off their wealth and love the idea of being gawked at. It has allowed companies like Mansory and more to carve out a niche as the go-to for extreme custom builds. However, someone else is vying for the top spot for an over-the-top build. Meet Keyvany—and just like Mansory, this tuner also hails from Germany. Abstract BuildKeyvany is an outfitter for the rich, specializing in custom modifications for cars and yachts. The company's latest creation, the Keyvany Porroo, is not just turning heads; it's breaking necks and searing eyeballs. When it comes to taking things to the extreme, none come as close. At first glance, what we see is a bright yellow and black colorway, with all the possible exterior modifications slapped onto the body. The front bumper has been heavily reworked to incorporate a bigger grille, with aerodynamic fins and gills added. The side is the same; it gets a wheel arch panel and a thick side skirt. While the rear gets a tiny spoiler up top and a rear splitter to complement the whole kit, it also comes with massive 24-inch rims. These added parts are made from carbon fiber, the material used abundantly by enthusiasts with deep pockets. The interior is as striking as the outside, and it features a very yellow colorway found on most of the panels that are most likely made with pricey leather. Keyvany has also wasted no time in stamping its identity across most of the interior with the brand name found on the headrests and other commemorative plaques. In all fairness, the interior looks to be of good quality despite the design. Rounding it all off is a custom Keyvany exhaust kit that isn't actually all about sound. According to the tuner, it adds an additional 60 hp, bringing the total power up to 900 hp. Is That a Ferrari?Underneath all that tinsel is actually a Ferrari Purosangue. However, any trace of the Prancing Horse has been somewhat erased. It looks unrecognizable, and we wonder what Maranello has to say about this 1-of-1 modification. Whatever the thought process was behind the Porroo, Keyvany must be applauded for its determination to build and sell this, knowing very well that there is a huge market for cars like this, despite the fact that it looks like what Bumblebee would do if he cashed in on all the Transformers movie money. View the 4 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

A 1974 BMW 2002tii is up for auction on Cars and Bids, and it is the kind of listing that reminds you how much of BMW’s modern identity was built on small, light sedans with sharp responses and simple hardware. Finished in Inka Orange and showing 18,300 miles, it is presented as a clean title California car, and it mixes period charm with a handful of owner style updates that will matter to bidders who want to drive it regularly. View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article What The Listing IncludesThe 2002tii is the fuel injected version of the classic 2002, and the listing leans into its analog appeal. The seller notes that the original transmission has been replaced with a five speed manual, and the car wears European market bumpers and rides on 13 inch wheels with lowering springs. Inside, it is described with black trim and cloth upholstery, plus a BMW M shift knob, with the overall presentation aiming for a lightly upgraded driver rather than a concours restoration. View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article Condition Notes And What To WatchThe seller discloses a long list of small issues that read like a realistic ownership checklist. The listing mentions paint imperfections and worn rear light seals, plus a cracked passenger side rear light. There are scratches on one front wheel, and the tires are old enough that most buyers will plan on replacement early. The cabin shows wear on touch points, and the listing calls out missing trim on the defroster slider. There is also cracked rubber at the fuel filler neck and cracked front upper strut mount top hats. The seller states the car was repainted in 2024 and lists maintenance and parts, but bidders should expect to verify any claims the same way they would on any vintage auction car. Why The 2002tii Still Pulls Enthusiasts InThis auction lands in an era when BMW collectors can chase everything from vintage royalty to modern performance bargains and oddball swaps. At the top end, the rarest BMWs are drawing serious attention, like the BMW 3.0 CSL Batmobile. At the other end, there is still demand for fun driver focused cars that deliver BMW character without the museum rules. Then there is the internet friendly side of the hobby, where creativity wins clicks. The 2002tii sits in the middle of all that, desirable because it is the blueprint, small, direct, and still easy to understand. View the full article

Kork Ballington occupies a rare space in Grand Prix history, the kind reserved for riders who combined speed with mechanical sympathy and timing that bordered on prophetic. Born in Rhodesia and racing under the South African flag, Ballington arrived in Europe during a period when Grand Prix paddocks... View the full article

Jaguar's rebrand took place late in 2024, and more than a year on, we're still waiting to see the British manufacturer's first car under this new strategy in production guise. Becoming arguably the most talked-about automaker in recent years certainly has its pros, but with a never-ending barrage of criticism coming the automaker's way from all corners as Jaguar bids farewell to combustion for good, one dealer has voiced their concerns, and their comments only add to speculation over whether Jaguar has a shot at success in its EV era. Speaking with German publication Automobilwoche on condition of anonymity, a sales representative at a local dealer suggested that Jaguar could lose dealers unless it provides clarity over its future. What the Anonymous Jaguar Dealer Representative Said Jaguar Translated from German, the comments made read as follows: "If we are honest, there is currently no business case for the brand. We have signed that we want to continue with Jaguar in the future. However, whether we will fulfill this declaration of intent will only become clear once we know Jaguar's future strategy. Then we can decide whether it suits us or not." This seems concerning. If those tasked with promoting Jaguar's new approach to customers are unsure of what the brand has in store, even a year on from the reinvention of the automaker, one can't help but wonder if Jaguar itself knows what is coming in the next year or two. The Type 00 concept that accompanied the rebrand has been spied undergoing testing and is expected to be launched late in 2026 or early in 2027, but it seems that dealers haven't yet been informed of what changes they must make ahead of its arrival. However, not all dealer representatives are so pessimistic about the change. Jaguar's Rebrand is a Fresh StartRelated: Jaguar's Wild Rebrand: The Internet's Collective Meltdown Has Missed the Point According to Andreas Everschneider, who serves as the CEO of the Association of German Jaguar and Land Rover Dealers, this uncertain future could have upsides as Jaguar takes aim at Bentley and the like: "The new start is an opportunity. But we don't know what to expect, how big the market is, or which customers will buy the vehicle." Interestingly, Everschneider told Automobilwoche that German dealers will lease the first new Jag under the rebrand, not sell it. This appears to be a way of removing some uncertainty for customers, but it also lets Jaguar avoid lower residual values as the brand tries to move further upmarket. Hopefully, Jaguar will reveal more information when orders open (reportedly in March or April). Until then, dealers, customers, and commentators remain in the dark, and with the global appetite for EVs far from ravenous, Jaguar faces an uphill battle to assert itself as a key player in the luxury game. Jaguar View the full article

New data from Cox Automotive shows the TeslaCybertruck suffered the steepest sales decline of any electric vehicle nameplate in the United States during 2025. After a strong first full year on sale in 2024, Cybertruck volume fell sharply in 2025, highlighting how quickly early demand can cool once initial reservation energy fades and mainstream buyers weigh the tradeoffs. Tesla View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article What The Cox Automotive Data ShowsCox Automotive reports Cybertruck sales of 38,965 units in 2024, followed by 20,237 units in 2025, a decline of 48.1 percent and a loss of 18,728 units year over year. The slide steepened at the end of the year, with fourth quarter sales falling from 12,991 in 2024 to 4,140 in 2025, down 68.1 percent. On a volume basis this drop stands out against other EV models, because the Cybertruck was moving meaningful numbers before momentum reversed. The Cybertruck remains a highly distinctive product, but that distinctiveness can narrow the pool of buyers once early adopters are satisfied. Visibility of real world compromises has also increased, especially in harsh weather. When a vehicle relies heavily on novelty and presence, issues that feel small on paper can carry outsized weight in shopper perception, particularly as competition improves and incentives elsewhere pull attention away. Safety And Technology Signals Are MixedThe sales decline does not mean the Cybertruck is failing every test that matters. It has earned strong safety recognition, after months of debate about its structure and materials. Driver assistance also remains a pillar of the Tesla pitch, with owner anecdotes reinforcing that point. Even so, strong safety results and attention grabbing technology do not automatically translate into sustained demand when pricing, usability, and public perception pull in different directions. Tesla Why It MattersAccording to Cox Automotive, the Cybertruck went from being a hot new thing to having a more typical demand pattern in less than a year. By the fourth quarter of 2025, it was clear that things were getting tougher. Tesla’s big task now is to keep sales steady without just counting on the buzz. For the broader electric vehicle market, this is a wake-up call that while having a unique product can spark a lot of interest, lasting success really hinges on how practical it is for everyday use. View the full article

There was minimal movement throughout the NASCAR Cup Series garage during the off-season, but still enough to talk about. Beyond driver moves, there were also a couple of manufacturer changes and a flurry of crew chief swaps that will be notable stories to follow during the year. Here's a look at what's different for 2026: Drivers on the move Connor Zilisch, Trackhouse Racing ...Keep readingView the full article

A 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupe is up for auction on Cars and Bids, offering the full gullwing experience in a package that looks aimed at someone who actually plans to use it. The car is listed with 67,500 miles, Iridium Silver Metallic paint, and a Classic Red interior, and it is being sold out of Marietta, Georgia with a reserve in place and bidding sitting around $160,000 at last check. View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article A Driver Miles Gullwing SupercarThe SLS remains one of the most distinctive modern AMG cars, because the shape, the doors, and the naturally aspirated V8 all feel like they come from a brief moment when Mercedes decided to build something theatrical without apology. Under the hood is the 6.2 liter V8 rated at 563 horsepower and 479 pound feet of torque, driving the rear wheels through a seven speed automatic and a limited slip differential. The listing also calls out 19 inch front and 20 inch rear wheels, heated seats, carbon fiber interior trim, and a Bang and Olufsen surround sound system. View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article What The Listing ShowsThis example sits in a different lane than the low mileage collector cars that sometimes appear, like a 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Gullwing, or even a 2011 Mercedes SLS AMG Gullwing. Here, the appeal is that the miles suggest the car has been used and maintained rather than stored, although bidders still need to read the disclosures carefully. The listing references a Carfax history that notes front end damage reported in January 2017, with the seller stating the front right has been repainted. Condition notes include chips on the front end, scratches on the front wheels, tires dated 2016 and 2018, and interior wear on upholstery and door panels. The seller also notes tinted windows, a recent oil and filter change, and replacement door struts, with one key included. How To Think About ValueFor buyers, the main question is whether this is the right SLS lane, because the market has multiple flavors and use cases, including later variants like the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT that can command different money depending on spec and mileage. A higher mile SLS can make sense if you want the experience without paying peak collector premiums, but the tires, paintwork history, and disclosed wear all become part of the real cost of entry. View the full article