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When a timing system malfunction potentially affected the outcome of the semifinal match between multi-time Mid-West Drag Racing Series Pro Mod champion Keith Haney and 2020 PDRA Elite Top Sportsman world champion Buddy Perkinson Saturday night at the PDRA East Coast Nationals, Perkinson faced a tough decision. He could either accept PDRA officials’ ruling to rerun the race or decline the offer, accepting his loss to Haney. In a move that didn’t surprise anyone who knows the humble young driver from Virginia, he declined the rerun with a simple reasoning: “We lost that round and he won.” The issue occurred during the staging process under the lights at Darana Motorsports Park – Benson, NC. Haney and Perkinson sat in the pre-stage beams for a few moments, then Haney rolled in to stage. Right after, Perkinson’s top bulbs went out, followed by the stage bulbs illuminating. The three ambers dropped and both drivers left, with Haney’s .053 reaction time leading Perkinson’s .100. Haney, who made the last-minute trip to Darana when the MWDRS season opener was rained out, won with a 3.664 at 206.48 to Perkinson’s 3.691 at 204.79. PDRA officials, led by Series Director Tyler Crossnoe, put racing on hold as they reviewed footage and went to work identifying and fixing the problem. It was determined the timing system and the tree did malfunction, so officials told Haney and Perkinson they would rerun the race. Perkinson, however, declined the opportunity, allowing Haney to focus on his final-round matchup against eventual winner Tommy Franklin. On Monday morning, Perkinson took to social media to explain his side of the situation. “In drag racing, we are not supposed to have second chances,” Perkinson said. “Yes, the lights messed up my focus for sure. But [they] also very well could have messed up Keith Haney. If I would have went red and assumed I was deep staged or something of that matter, then I would have rerun, but I confirmed with Tyler that the tree dropped correctly for both of us and I was not actually deep staged, and the truth is we both missed the tree and he beat me. “If I would have won that round on a holeshot, I would have not felt right to rerun,” Perkinson continued. “There are plenty of times where a rerun is the correct thing to do. But for me, my feeling was that this is a heads-up race and the tree dropped and he was the better car that round and beat me to the finish line. “If we would have rerun and we won the round, much less the race, I wouldn’t have felt in my heart I won,” Perkinson added. “Everyone will have a different opinion and that’s OK, but for me, I let the button go late and I watched out the window Haney cross the finish line in front of me. We lost that round and he won.” This story was originally published on April 20, 2026. The post Buddy Perkinson Explains Decision to Decline Rerun in Pro Nitrous Semifinals at PDRA East Coast Nationals first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

In the pantheon of postmodern motorcycling, Deus Ex Machina occupies a space somewhere between a workshop and a cathedral. Since roaring out of Sydney in 2006, the ‘God from the Machine’ has preached a gospel of inclusiveness and run-what-you-brung resourcefulness. They’ve customized everything from... View the full article

We’ve got more from the Goodwood Member’s Meet and this is the really exciting stuff. There were some pretty wild moments at this year’s race and we love that they are always putting out highlight videos like this. And this is just from Day 1! Check out these amazing moments on track and let uw know which ones are your favorites! I mean these cars are getting raced like it’s for a championship, not for a fun weekend in expensive old rides. I don’t know that I would be able to keep myself from crying if I spun out my XKE in the dirt! Video Description: What a first day we’ve had at the 83rd Members’ Meeting presented by Audrain Motorsport. The celebrations of Hunt, Sheene, Button and Super Touring have been incredible, but the racing has been on another level. We’ve picked the wildest moments from the first day. You’re going to want to watch this one! The post Goodwood Racing Video: Here Are The 11 Wildest Moments From The 83rd Goodwood Members’ Meeting 2026 | Part 1 appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

Vergotz Racing has announced the expansion of its program with the addition of a second race car, as Drag Illustrated 30 Under 30 alumnus John Vergotz Jr. has acquired a 1941 Willys from Blake Housley. Vergotz Jr., who has been active in the racing scene since the age of eight, has been preparing for this next step while tuning the team’s 1969 Camaro, “The Dark Knight.” During recent testing at Dragway 42 in Ohio, Vergotz hopped behind the wheel of the Dark Knight to get some runs under his belt, where he recorded a personal best of 3.768 at 186 mph. The team plans to debut the newly acquired Pro Mod entry at Milan Dragway during the monthly Heads-Up Series on May 1. The event will serve as a shakedown ahead of a planned campaign in both PDRA Pro Nitrous and IHRA Pro Mod competition later this season. Originally built in 2020, the 1941 Willys is powered by a Pat Musi Racing Engines 959 and paired with a Rossler Transmissions Turbo 400 three-speed transmission. “Following in my dad’s footsteps has been a dream of mine since I started racing Jr. Dragsters at eight years old,” said Vergotz Jr. “Over the years, I’ve focused on learning the technical side of the sport, eventually stepping into a tuning role on ‘The Dark Knight,’ where we’ve run as quick as 3.65. Last year, my dad encouraged me to get behind the wheel and gain experience in the Pro Mod category. When this opportunity came along through Blake, we knew it was time to go all in.” Vergotz Jr. expressed gratitude to those who have supported his journey: “First and foremost, all glory goes to God. “I would first like to thank my parents. My dad, John Vergotz, has inspired me since day one to be involved in racing the way he is. None of this would be possible without him and his support. My mom, Tina Vergotz, I can’t thank her enough for all of her love and support of our racing program through the years. My mom and dad have inspired and supported me since day one so that I could chase this dream of mine. “Next, my girlfriend, Ashley Strauss. I can’t thank her enough for all of her love and support. She is my racing partner in crime and we’re excited to see where this new journey takes us. I love you babe! “Shane McLaughlin, my brother and right-hand man. A lot of this would not be possible without all of his help. He is always one phone call away from anything and everything I could possibly need. I couldn’t do this without him. “Lewie Wortman, my brother-in-law but has always treated me like a brother. He has been by my side since the beginning and has helped me grow to become a better racer and person. “Blake Housley, for everything he has done for me throughout this process and in years prior. Blake has helped me to become a better tuner and has helped me grow in the racing world in general. I couldn’t be more honored to be in the driver’s seat of the first car he has ever built. “Also would like to shoutout all of my siblings for their love and support through the years, Shane, Meagan, & Sarah along with my older brother Chase watching from above. I would also like to shoutout Keith Kelling & Kelling Equipment Repair, Jalen Burbage & JBR Solutions, Kyle Christ & Straight Line Media, Kameron Koch, Kyle & Cole Rokosky, Ryan Kerchevall, Jordyn Bradby (Weebo Motorsports) and all of the friends and family that have supported me throughout the years! “Thank you to all of the partners we are going to have on board, I couldn’t be more excited to strap into the seat!” This story was originally published on April 20, 2026. The post Vergotz Racing Expands Program with Acquisition of Pro Mod Willys first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

J.C. Beattie Jr.’s breakout season in Pro 632 received another major boost at the Summit Racing Equipment PDRA East Coast Nationals presented by FuelTech, where the progress he made at the season-opening Carolina Nationals rolled into a second consecutive win. Beattie qualified No. 1 at the season opener and won the first two rounds at Darlington Dragway, and when the race continued at Darana Motorsports Park – Benson, NC on Thursday, he followed through to earn his first win in the class. Beattie extended his win streak by four rounds on Saturday, ultimately getting the win over a red-lighting David Cook Jr. in the final round. Beattie ran a 4.170 at 170.17 in his nitrous-fed ATI Performance Products ’18 Camaro, while Cook posted a quicker 4.163 at 168.87 after going .004 red. “We’ve been around 632, paid our dues running with an N/A motor, and last year we just had stupid stuff learning the car,” Beattie said. “We have a total of about 60 runs on this car now between racing and testing, and it’s still a little bit of a work in progress. But we’ve got a great tuner, Dave Hanlon. We’ve got a great motor from Reher-Morrison. We’ve got Todd and Scott and the guys at the shop as well, doing the transmissions and converters. I’m always grabbing them, moving them all over the place. It all just came together, and two 660 Men is pretty awesome.” Qualified No. 2, Beattie opened eliminations with a win over Kevin McCurdy, who was driving the same car that Jeff Melnick drove to the 2023 and 2025 world championships. Beattie ran a 4.151 at 174.14 to McCurdy’s 4.234. Beattie and second-round opponent Jason Ventura left the starting line together, but Beattie pulled ahead to win with a 4.206 at 169.98 to Ventura’s 4.231. With a bye run in the semis, Beattie launched and lifted to a 4.820 at 109.92. While Beattie was fielding his own car, he was also managing a multi-car Jr. Dragster program that includes his son, 2024 Top Jr. Dragster world champion James Beattie III. That effort also netted the event win in Top Jr. Dragster with driver Kole Paone. “We had four Juniors on the other side [of the pit] that we run with my son and Richard Tilghman’s two kids. I brought my girlfriend’s son down as well, so we ran a bunch of Juniors around the big car,” Beattie said. “We were able to win in Top Jr. as well with my girlfriend’s boy and then rack up another one with [the Pro 632 car]. Another goal was to win with one of the Juniors so we’ll take it. I’d sure love to be in a winner’s circle picture with my son in one of them, as would Richard with either of his kids. So that’s the next goal.” Having already checked off the team’s goals of getting a No. 1 qualifier award and a win in Pro 632, Beattie is thrilled with the progress, but he’s not resting. He’s motivated to stay on top of the class as the series continues on next month at the PDRA Mid-Atlantic Showdown presented by Classic Graphix, May 21-23, at Virginia Motorsports Park. “We just need to tighten the package up a little more,” Beattie said. “We didn’t qualify No. 1. We were right there and we think there’s a little bit left here and there. We’re picking at small numbers now. It kind of brings me back to my class racing when I’d run Stock, Super Stock, things like that, where you’re looking for thousandths, and that’s where we are. That’s what’s fun about 632. The top grouping, everybody’s right there. It’s a race four or five guys can win and I just wish some more people would put them together and come race with us because it’s fun. It’s a lot of fun.” This story was originally published on April 20, 2026. The post J.C. Beattie Jr. Leaves PDRA East Coast Nationals With Two Pro 632 Wins first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Fuel additives are some of the most criticized products you’ll see at an auto parts store. Most people feel that fuel and oil additives are a lot of snake oil, and honestly it’s understandable. Without being able to see what they do, and without real test results, normal people are skeptical and when you see the claims that many of these make it’s no wonder. The more outrageous the claims, the harder it is to believe, but then it also makes people skeptical of all of them. So what kind of scientific testing do you need to either think they aren’t worth having, or to decide they do something good? Check out the video below from the Motor Oil Geek to see why he says dieself fuel additives aren’t all they are cracked up to be. Video Description: Thanks to the help of Andrew ‪@RepairGeek‬ , we tested 7 more popular diesel fuel additives: 2 Cycle Oil, ATF, Marvel Mystery Oil, Howe’s, Amsoil 4-in-1, Lucas Cetane Booster and Motorcraft. Let’s find out if they actually work—or if you’re wasting your money. We ran controlled lab testing on: Lubricity (ASTM D6079) Cetane number (ASTM D613) Fuel cleanliness (ISO particle count) Then we added a surprise candidate – Premium Diesel Fuel. Let’s see the results! All of these products improved the lubricity of the fuel, but not all of them increased the cetane of the diesel fuel. Some brought along unwanted tradeoffs for that performance enhancement. In the end, the results made it clear that not all diesel fuel additives are created equal. Some work better than others, and there’s actually a better alternative. We’ve previously covered 6 other diesel fuel additives, so here’s the link to that video ( • EXPOSED: The TRUTH About Diesel Additives ). Let’s get into the science behind these diesel fuel additives. To learn more about the new TopTier fuel specs, check out this link: https://www.toptiergas.com/wp-content… To learn more about used oil analysis, check out https://www.speediagnostix.com For a deeper dive into the science of lubrication, check out my good friend Rafe Britton’s channel ‪@LubricationExplained‬ The post Should You STOP Buying Diesel Fuel Additives? Here’s What The Motor Oil Geek Has To Say About It! appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

Lone Star Roundup is one of those car shows that is a destination for hot rodders all over the world. I know several folks who regularly drive down for the Roundup from Canada, and from all corners of the United States, plus folks from all over the world. It brings a huge crowd to Austin Texas each year and has been for decades. Check out our friend John Jackson from Not Stock Photography as he takes in the show. Video Description: #LonestarRoundup #carshow #austin I hadn’t brought the corvair van to Lonestar Roundup since 2012, and I had forgotten how awesome this show can be when you just cruise and hangout with friends. I decided this year to not be an old “fuddy duddy” and hit up as many parties and hangouts as I could. I wound up making three separate videos of the parties I went to, and still didn’t make ones of the Friday shop crawl,the HopUp Party, and Austin Speed Shops open house . That’s what is great with this show is with all the side events, and Austin at your fingertips you’d be hard pressed to find a HotRod/Custom car show that offers you more. This video is just cars from the show, and me just wandering around per usual checking stuff out. The corvair got picked to be one of the feature vehicles up on the hill for the first time ever, and can’t thank the Kontinentals enough for the hospitality. Thanks for Watching JJ ‪@NotStockPhoto‬ The post “The Lonestar Roundup Rod & Kustom Show” Just Like Bob Wills, It’s Still the King in Texas And This Traditional Hot Rod Show Never Disappoints appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

A year ago, Blake Denton earned his first career win in Pro Street at the Summit Racing Equipment PDRA East Coast Nationals presented by FuelTech. Now in his second full season in the class, Denton is eager to pursue a Pro Street world championship to go along with his 2023 season title in Super Street. He put his first win of the season on the scoreboard Saturday night at Darana Motorsports Park – Benson, NC, delivering a meaningful birthday victory for engine builder Pat Musi behind the wheel of the same Musi-powered “Bonnie” ’69 Camaro that Musi’s late daughter, Lizzy, drove in No Prep Kings competition. Denton tied low E.T. of eliminations with his 3.943 at 201.76 in his final-round win over rookie Andy Mac, who finished with a 4.056 at 185.77. It was a double-up for the Tommy Franklin Motorsports team, as Franklin, Denton’s father-in-law, won in Pro Nitrous. “This one’s for Pat,” said Denton, who thanked Tommy and Judy Franklin, Pat and Liz Musi, wife Amber Denton, crew members “Big Brown” and “AT,” his parents, Pat Musi Racing Engines, Weld Racing, Lincoln Electric, Stroud Safety, Red Line Oil, and Menscer Motorsports. “I can’t thank our guys enough. They bust their tails out here. It’s been a hot weekend and they haven’t given up on us. They had to swap a motor last round for the finals [on Franklin’s Pro Nitrous entry]. They’ve been killing it this weekend and I just can’t thank them enough for it.” Denton showed promise in the opening round, where he ran a 4.045 at 191.81 to get past newcomer Graham Hayes. He recorded a 4.059 at 190.94 in the second round to defeat fellow young gun Joel Wensley Jr. and his 4.099. The 2023 Super Street world champion then showed his driving chops in the semifinals as he left on class E.T. record holder Richard Reagan and powered to a 3.984 at 192.52 to beat Reagan’s 3.943 at 195.79 on a holeshot. The East Coast Nationals was a major points weekend for Denton, who is now the points leader going into the Mid-Atlantic Showdown presented by Classic Graphix, May 21-23, at Virginia Motorsports Park. He went out in the semifinals of the season-opening Carolina Nationals, which started at Darlington Dragway in March and wrapped up Thursday evening at Darana, while Fletcher Cox went on to win that race. But Cox stepped out of his nitrous-fed, Musi-powered “Training Day” ’69 Camaro after the win to focus on his new Pro Boost ride and handed the wheel over to Andy Mac. Since the points go with the driver, not the car, in PDRA, Denton is now one full race ahead of Mac and one of the strongest cars in the class right now. “I was still in the Darlington race and had an unfortunate mishap in the semifinal round and I got pushed off [the starting line], so that kind of set me back,” Denton said. “To get a clean slate for the weekend and come out with the win…it’s good for me because it gives me the confidence going into the rest of the season that I’ve got a little bit of edge up on everyone else.” This story was originally published on April 20, 2026. The post Blake Denton Earns Back-to-Back PDRA East Coast Nationals Victories in Pro Street first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Following a 2025 season that resulted in a No. 2 finish in the Super Street points standings, Austin Vincent and the Vincent Performance team went to work over the offseason converting their nitrous-fed ’88 Mustang over to a FuelTech EFI setup. Those efforts paid off this weekend at the Summit Racing Equipment PDRA East Coast Nationals presented by FuelTech at Darana Motorsports Park – Benson, NC, where Vincent earned a decisive win over reigning world champion and No. 1 qualifier Connor McGee in the final round. McGee left the line first, but Vincent powered ahead with a 4.517 at 167.01 to McGee’s 4.569 at 156.35. “It took a ton of hard work over the offseason,” said Vincent, who thanked FuelTech, Vincent Performance/Vincent Racing Engines, Ron G. at Afterworks, Nitrous Express, Diamond Pistons, Davis Technologies, Jesel, and the team’s other partners. “We finally made the switch over to EFI, which has been a long time coming, and the second race in and already in the winner’s circle, which is great. We ran really good at the first race. Of course, it got postponed and it kind of threw us for a loop with the different weather, but we were able to get through it and get here, so that was really good. We work – of course, everyone works their butt off – but we really do put in a lot of work and it just shows it’s paying off.” Vincent qualified No. 2 and fired off a 4.622 at 152.97 to dispatch returning fan favorite Brad McBride in the first round. He was uncharacteristically late in his second-round match with Mike Freeman, but Freeman slowed to a 4.901 while Vincent charged to a 4.549 at 167.34. Newcomer Ryan Altman went red by .014 in the semis against Vincent, throwing away a 4.647, but Vincent was ready with his 4.528 at 166.70. The final round was the latest in a series of late-round battles between Vincent and McGee, who were the two contenders for last year’s Super Street world championship. “It’s always a really good race,” said Vincent, who finished second in the championship hunt by around three rounds. “My first win, we ran him in the semis. I know it wasn’t the final, but I won by one ten-thousandth on a holeshot. That was one of the greatest races you’ll see. Then last year I ran him again in the final when I won here. I was perfect on the tree in the final, and he unfortunately went red, but it just shows that we’re always up on it against each other. Right now, we’re the two best teams in the class and it’s always fun getting to race them. What makes it really cool is that Brian [McGee, Connor’s father] and my dad [Samuel] actually used to race together against each other.” Saturday’s performance was validation for Vincent that his team made the right moves over the offseason. Now second in the points standings behind McGee, who won the season opener at Darlington, Vincent is eager to chase another win, starting in about a month at the PDRA Mid-Atlantic Showdown presented by Classic Graphix, May 21-23, at Virginia Motorsports Park. “You win, it pushes you; you lose, it pushes you,” Vincent said. “That’s the life of all us racers – we always want to do better. We were already talking about when we’re going testing before the next race because we’ve got to find something. I feel really good about our offseason changes. I know it’s only going to get better from here, so I’m really looking forward to seeing what the rest of the season holds.” This story was originally published on April 20, 2026. The post Offseason Changes Lead to PDRA East Coast Nationals Win For Super Street’s Austin Vincent first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

One of the largest Pro Nitrous fields in recent history came down to a unique final round at the Summit Racing Equipment East Coast Nationals presented by FuelTech, pitting three-time PDRA Pro Nitrous world champion and series co-owner Tommy Franklin against Keith Haney, who’s the owner of the Mid-West Drag Racing Series as well as a multi-time champion in that series. When the tree dropped Saturday night at Darana Motorsports Park – Benson, NC, it appeared to be Haney’s race as he left first with a .007 reaction time, but a flash of fire out of his hood scoop signaled the end of his day while Franklin drove past with a 3.676 at 206.64 in his Musi-powered “Jungle Rat 3.0” ’69 Camaro. Haney recorded a 3.966 at 148.01 in the runner-up effort. “First off, happy birthday to Pat Musi. He’s a great friend, great engine builder, great guy, period,” said Franklin, who also credited Mark Beatty from Red Line Oil, class sponsors Switzer Dynamics and Jerry Bickel Race Cars, and all the team’s supporters. “My team’s awesome. It’s a busy pit in our pits. There’s a lot of cars over there, but everybody, when we’ve got to do work on anything, they all jump in there. These wins are all big, and we love them all. We struggled a little bit in the heat, but hey, the team overcame. Jeff Pierce is a badass tuner and got this thing back turned around, and we were excellent in the heat today.” Franklin qualified No. 4 and started race day with a 3.714 at 205.10 to get the first-round win over Chris Rini and his 3.774. He lined up against 2015 world champion “Tricky” Rickie Smith in the second round, with a consistent 3.711 at 205.29 taking out Smith’s 3.750. When the sun went down and conditions cooled off, Franklin dipped into the 3.60s with his 3.669 at 205.60 to knock out past Elite Top Sportsman world champion Tim Molnar and his 3.707 in the semifinals. After the win, Franklin reflected on the state of Pro Nitrous, the class he’s called home since before he banded together with a small group of other drivers and team owners to form the PDRA in 2014. It’s currently the only place where nitrous Pro Mods compete against each other without boosted combinations. “Pro Nitrous is an awesome class,” Franklin said. “Twenty cars at Darlington, 21 cars here. There’s more of them out there. This is the class. This is the way the class needs to be built. This is the way that people want to compete. The competition is tight. It’s some badass racing out there. The boosted world has left us, but that doesn’t mean that nitrous cars don’t matter. They do exist and they’re the coolest cars on the planet.” Franklin also highlighted the family aspect of the PDRA and why he feels so strongly about what the series offers. “I think everybody knows we do this as a family. I probably wouldn’t do it if I wasn’t doing it as a family,” Franklin said. “I love coming out here racing with my family. I love the whole aspect of it. I’ve said this multiple times this weekend: PDRA is a family. It’s a tight-knit group. This is not corporate America. It won’t be, and I love what we have. I love the group that races with us, the heart that goes into it. Everybody’s supporting everybody.” The family aspect was on full display in the winner’s circle, as Franklin’s “Jungle Rat 3.0” ’69 Camaro was paired up with the “Bonnie” ’69 Camaro previously driven by the late Lizzy Musi and now piloted by Franklin’s son-in-law, Blake Denton, in tribute to Lizzy. Denton earned the Pro Street win, successfully defending his first career win in the class at last year’s East Coast Nationals. Oldest daughter Amber Denton also competes in Pro Nitrous, and her younger sister, Ashley Franklin, races in Top Dragster. Tommy’s wife, Judy, holds it all together. “To come out here and do it with my family, they put a lot into it,” Franklin said. “Judy, first of all, just for dealing with it. We’re all racing. Amber’s ate up with it. Ashley’s ate up with it, and Blake obviously is ate up with it as well, and he’s wheeling that Pro Street car good. It’s just a good time. We love it, and to be able to double up at anything is awesome. My girl Ash was on fire today and she took it down to the semis and lost by .001. It’s tough racing out here. I love doing it with everyone and one day we’ll get a three-peat. We can’t do four because we’ve got me and Amber in the same class, but we can get three wins in one day.” Adding a win to his No. 1 qualifier award and semifinal exit at the season-opening Carolina Nationals, Franklin is now the Pro Nitrous points leader going into the next stop on the PDRA tour, the Mid-Atlantic Showdown presented by Classic Graphix, May 21-23, at Virginia Motorsports Park. This story was originally published on April 20, 2026. The post Tommy Franklin Takes Pro Nitrous Points Lead With PDRA East Coast Nationals Win first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

The sound, the shake, the unmistakable presence of nostalgia drag racing came roaring back to life April 18-19 as the ANRA launched its 2026 season at Famoso Dragstrip. With a strong car count filling the pits and near-perfect weather overhead, the season opener delivered exactly what racers and fans have come to expect from one of the West Coast’s premier nostalgia series—tight competition, diverse machinery, and a weekend that felt as much like a reunion as it did a race. The efforts of Tim and Lisa Huddleston and the Famoso Dragstrip crew once again played a key role in keeping the event running smoothly from start to finish. By the time eliminations rolled around, the racing matched the atmosphere. Joe Trotsky powered his way to the Nostalgia Eliminator 1 victory, while Robert “Duke” Baker added another win to his resume in Nostalgia Eliminator 2. Aashlee Balistreri rounded out the headline classes with a win in Nostalgia Eliminator 3, continuing to make her presence felt in ANRA competition. The always-competitive gas classes delivered across the board. Casey Treur led the charge with the A/Gas win, Brent Handley followed in B/Gas, and Brian Smith secured the C/Gas victory. Gary Hardee and David Dockson completed the lineup of winners in D/Gas and E/Gas, respectively. Beyond the core eliminator classes, the depth of the field showed. Brad Thompson claimed the Sportsman win, Mike Brock topped Open Wheel, and Jesse Howe drove to the Hot Rod victory. The next generation of racers added another layer to the weekend, with a full slate of Junior competitors showcasing the future of the sport. Logan Oliveira captured the Junior Comp win, while Connor Casner, Dillon Welch, Caden Casner, and Ava Barta each scored victories across the JR Group categories. Off the track, ANRA owner Butch Hedrick brought the community together Saturday night with a racer-focused barbecue, reinforcing the family atmosphere that continues to define the series and keep competitors coming back year after year. If the season opener is any indication, ANRA’s 2026 campaign is set to deliver a steady dose of nostalgia horsepower, competitive racing, and the kind of grassroots energy that keeps Famoso Dragstrip firmly planted as a cornerstone of West Coast drag racing. This story was originally published on April 20, 2026. The post Nostalgia Thunder Rolls Through Famoso as ANRA Opens 2026 Season in Style first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

The PDRA East Coast Nationals rocked Darana Motorsports Park. Here's a recap of all the racing action from this huge event. View the full article

The RORS was in action again at Alabama International Raceway. Here's a recap from the epic Bama Outlaws event. View the full article

Ducati’s new electric motorcycle patent focuses on narrow packaging and precise motor control using an unconventional sensor layout. View the full article

The HRC Performance Shop pilot program expands access to race-spec parts and support for US riders looking to take racing seriously. View the full article

A study across the last 14 years, after Michigan repealed its own motorcycle helmet laws, found that there was a 26% increase in death and injury among motorcyclists since the repeal. View the full article

Dennis White's racing obsession began all the way back in 1966. White is a true Ford fan that races a stunning Fairlane. View the full article

Now available for sale on Collecting Cars, this Ducati MHR1000 presents a bold and meticulously crafted custom take on one of the brand’s most iconic bevel-drive machines. Created as a unique, one-off build by Stile Italiano, it pays homage to NCR legend Rino Caracchi. Built around a 1984 base machine, this motorcycle has undergone comprehensive customisation and is powered by an air-cooled 973cc bevel-drive L-twin engine, equipped with carburettors and paired with a five-speed manual transmission driving the rear wheel. […] The post FOR SALE: 1984 Ducati MHR1000 – Rino Caracchi Tribute appeared first on Return of the Cafe Racers. View the full article

It's just a good thing this bike doesn't have a belt drive, because this ride could potentially be even trickier and more of a pain.View the full article

Airoh expands its lineup in the US with its Commander 2 and Bandit on- and off-road helmets. And they look pretty damn good. View the full article

When you think about the quickest motorcycles on the planet, you likely don't think they'll be powered by steam. You should probably check your biases, as there's a new king of speed and it's powered by the same stuff that powered the Titanic. View the full article

There’s something undeniably right about taking an ‘80s sportbike and stripping it back to its raw essentials—and this 1985 Kawasaki GPz750 wears that philosophy well. Reimagined under previous ownership, the bike now leans fully into cafe racer territory with a cohesive blend of vintage aggression and modern touches. The transformation starts up top, where clip-on handlebars sit low beneath the triple clamp, paired with bar-end mirrors for that classic racer stance. A custom diamond-stitched bump seat flows neatly into a […] The post Bike Of The Day: 1985 Kawasaki GPz750 Cafe Racer appeared first on Return of the Cafe Racers. View the full article

Both ape hangers and lane filtering are on deck to be outlawed and positioned as legal infractions if you have or engage in either one. Let's dive in.View the full article

Kensei Matsudaira emerged from Road Atlanta with a clean Talent Cup sweep, backing up Saturday’s win with a second Sunday victory, while Australian Sam Drane recovered from a difficult opening race to finish fourth in race two and remain fourth in the standings. The post Road Atlanta Talent Cup Wrap | Matsudaira sweeps, Drane rebounds appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

Hank Vossberg and Matthew Chapin shared Twins Cup honours at Road Atlanta, where red flags, crashes and a battered Bodie Paige helped shape a dramatic second round of the 2026 MotoAmerica season. The post Aussie teenagers stay in points fight as Road Atlanta shakes up Twins Cup appeared first on MCNews. View the full article