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Dean Harrison’s Tuesday Superbike benchmark remained unbeaten after Wednesday qualifying at TT 2026, while he topped Superstock and Michael Dunlop led Supersport and Sportbike. The post Harrison remains TT benchmark as Dunlop tops Supersport appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

The IHRA is moving its Triple Crown Finale to Maple Grove. Racers will have the chance to run the final two events at the historic facility.View the full article

The International Hot Rod Association announced today that the 2026 IHRA Triple Crown Finale, originally scheduled for Darana Memphis Motorsports Park, has been moved to historic Darana Raceway Maple Grove Park, creating the Triple Crown x2 doubleheader weekend at one of drag racing’s premier facilities. As much as the IHRA wanted to return to Darana Memphis Motorsports Park this season, scheduling constraints and the limited number of available weekends made it impossible to accommodate all Triple Crown events on the 2026 calendar. The result is a once in a lifetime opportunity for race fans and competitors alike. Darana Raceway Maple Grove Park will now host Triple Crown x2 during an action-packed four-day weekend, Sept. 10-13, featuring two IHRA Triple Crown events and some of the highest payouts in drag racing history. The IHRA Triple Crown series will begin June 19-20 at Darana Raceway in Hebron, Ohio, before concluding with the historic Triple Crown x2 weekend at Darana Raceway Maple Grove Park in September. The first IHRA Triple Crown event at Darana Raceway Maple Grove Park will feature qualifying on Thursday, Sept. 10, with eliminations on Friday, Sept. 11. The second Triple Crown race will include qualifying on Saturday, Sept. 12, followed by eliminations on Sunday, Sept. 13. Fans will experience the thunder and excitement of 12,000 horsepower Top Fuel Dragsters and Funny Cars blasting down the 1,000 foot racing surface at speeds exceeding 340 mph while chasing some of the highest payouts in drag racing history. The million-dollar IHRA Triple Crown bonus will be up for grabs for competitors in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Mod, Mountain Motor Pro Stock and IHRA Pro Stock. Any driver capable of sweeping the entire IHRA Triple Crown series, including the June 19-20 opener at Darana Raceway in Hebron, Ohio, and both Darana Raceway Maple Grove Park events, will earn a staggering $1 million bonus, creating one of the biggest paydays in drag racing history. Also competing for huge payouts and bragging rights during the historic weekend will be Top Fuel Motorcycle, Nitro Harley, Fuel Altered, Outlaw Pro Mod, Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car competitors. Single-day tickets are $40, with fans receiving a $10 discount when purchasing tickets online through IHRA.com. Weekend passes for the entire four-day doubleheader are available for $100. Fans are encouraged to secure tickets early and witness the sport’s top stars chase record-setting speeds, massive payouts and a potential million-dollar payday. Tickets for all IHRA Triple Crown events are available now at IHRA.com. This story was originally published on May 27, 2026. The post IHRA Announces Triple Crown x2 Event at Darana Raceway Maple Grove Park first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

The NHRA Potomac Nationals could shake things up in the nitro points standings. John Force Racing drivers are ready to make big moves.View the full article

THE WES BUCK SHOW – EPISODE 426 “SHAKEDOWNS, BORDER WARS, AND FULL-BLOWN CHAOS” THIS WEEK WE’RE TAKIN’ THE TRAIN STRAIGHT OFF THE TRACK. BIG EVENTS. BIG PERSONALITIES. AND ZERO CHANCE THIS THING STAYS UNDER CONTROL. First up, we’re kicking things off with Keith Haney and the one and only Donald “Duck” Long as they gear up for Shakedown at M-Town at legendary US 131 Motorsports Park. The Radial Outlaws Series and Midwest Drag Racing Series are rolling into Michigan, and you already know this thing is gonna be violent in all the best ways. Keith is bringing the racer-promoter energy, Duck is bringing the outlaw madness, and together these guys are helping put on one of the nastiest doorslammer throwdowns of the summer. Then it’s time for the Border Warz crew. Billy “The Kid” Hoskinson Chevy Reeves Sean “No Way” Umscheid And Justin Danger Nunley They’re all jumping in to talk about the upcoming Border Warz Showdown at RAD Torque Raceway in Edmonton, Alberta on June 6th, and this thing sounds absolutely insane. Big cars. Big personalities. Big crowds. The kind of event where somebody’s feelings are probably getting hurt before the night’s over. And with this group on the show? There is approximately zero chance anybody behaves themselves. Trash talk. Laughs. Racing stories. Chaos. This one is gonna be an all-timer. LET’S GET IT. Each week on The Wes Buck Show, Wes Buck, JT “Murder T” Hudson, and Mike Carpenter bring their unique insights and analysis to the most electrifying moments and storylines from a packed weekend of drag racing. SUBSCRIBE for the latest in drag racing: @dragillustrated GRAB YOUR MERCH: dragillustrated.store STAY CONNECTED: @thewesbuckshow @dragillustrated RACERS CLUB MERCH: racers.club Wanna sponsor the show? Contact us: wes@dragillustrated.com dragracing #wesbuck #KeithHaney #DuckLong #JustinDangerNunley #SeanUmscheid #BillyHoskinson #ChevyReeves #ShakedownAtMTown #BorderWarz #RADTorqueRaceway #US131 #MidwestDragRacingSeries #OutlawRacing #WBS #DI #RacersClub This story was originally published on May 27, 2026. The post The WBS | Justin ‘Danger’ Nunley, Nooo Waaay Guy, Chevy Reeves, Billy The Kid, Keith Haney, & Duck!! first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

The Inaugural CHAOS Supernationals was held over Memorial Day weekend at the prestigious Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio. This marked the first time for the Chaos brand to roll through the historic gates of Summit Motorsports Park and despite an unfavorable forecast, the Chaos teams packed the pits with full fields in both Funny Car Chaos and DMP Awnings Nitro Chaos series. An action-packed day of testing on Thursday was just a preview of the ground pounding action on top for the remainder of the weekend. On Friday morning at the drivers meeting, series director Chris Graves and facility owner Bill Bader Jr met with the Chaos teams to go over the final plan for the weekend. The run schedule for Friday’s qualifying was moved up to ensure two rounds of qualifying in each series were able to be completed. Saturday was determined to be a wash, so all Chaos eliminations were bumped to Sunday! Sunday! Sunday! After two rounds of qualifying in Funny Car Chaos competition, Keith Zimmerer, Bobby Toth and Jordan Ballew qualified at the top of their respective A, B, and C fields as twenty-four outlaw floppers were now ready to rumble on race day. In DMP Awnings Nitro Chaos qualifying action, John Umlauf Jr. and Dave Belock proudly led the qualifying of their classes into elimination Sunday as well. Race teams took the day off on Saturday as the rain set in, but the entertainment wasn’t going to stop the Bader family, who hosted a pizza pit party for the Chaos teams in the pits. Not a slice was left on the property – and yes, all the beer was gone too! It was now time for Sunday’s eliminations and as promised from the beginning, despite the rain chances in mid-afternoon, the Summit Motorsports Park staff was bound and determined to complete this event. Nitro fumes and throttle whacks were filling the air by early morning as fans started pouring through the gates. After some great side by side drag racing in the opening rounds, it was time for the last runs of the weekend for the Chaos finalists, and first to the line was Oklahoma’s Jordan Ballew’s “Ballew Thunder” set to take on Joe Pirrone in the “Screamin Eagle” entry in the Wulff Pumps ‘C’ Field final. Both these drivers were coming in hot off wins at the last event at the Texas Motorplex. Ballew had clicked off career-best numbers earlier in the weekend and took a healthy starting line advantage but just ran out of ponies as his 4.27 at 167 mph was no match for Pirrone’s 4.07 at 180 mph, giving Pirrone his second consecutive event win. In the Alkydigger ‘B’ Field final round, first time Chaos racer Dale Duche and the “Burnin’ Benjamins” team from Pennsylvania was set to meet West Virginia’s Kurt Duckworth, also making his debut in the FCC series. Duckworth had been running well, but ran into mechanical issues in the semifinals and was unable to make the call for the final. On a solo shot, Duche clicked off a 4.21 at 173 mph to score a memorable win for the team. The Rodak’s Custom Roasted Coffee ‘A’ Field brought points leader and top qualifier Keith Zimmerer to the line with his Will Hanna-tuned, Texas-based “Penny Pincher II” team set to take on first-time finalist Alan Bradshaw in the “Dakota Pony II” owned by Dallas Schott. Both these cars were living in the 3.60 zone all weekend and this final round was sure to be a dandy. As they staged, the revs came up and Zimmerer’s car rolled through the beam, turning on the red light. Bradshaw, meanwhile, clicked off his best run of the weekend with a 3.64 at 206 mph as the team erupted in celebration on the starting line. DMP Awnings Nitro Chaos competition welcomed a pair of fuel altereds to the CP-Carrillo ‘B’ Field final round as Kansas’ Anthony Whitfield and team “Mighty Mouse” prepared for battle against Texan Chuck Loftin and the “Crap Shoot” team. Loftin took the starting line advantage and never trailed as his 3.94 at 176 mph took the win. The RBS Superchargers ‘A’ Field brought former series champion Garry Wheeler Jr. and the Oklahoma-based “Grand Prix Racing” fuel dragster team to the line against first-time finalist Dave Hill and the crowd favorite “Mad Max” Nitro Funny Car from Indiana. Hill took a slight starting line advantage, and in a side-by-side race, Hill’s 3.61 at 215 mph edged out Wheeler’s 3.67 at 204 mph as Hill and company took their first career Nitro Chaos event win. This story was originally published on May 27, 2026. The post Bradshaw, Duche, Pirrone, Hill, and Loftin Score Event Wins at Inaugural Chaos Supernationals first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Moscow, Russia, is a city defined by its stark contrasts: a sprawling metropolis where centuries-old Orthodox cathedrals sit in the shadow of Soviet-era brutalism and gleaming glass-fronted skyscrapers. It is a place of immense history and, increasingly, a thriving hub for high-end custom motorcycle... View the full article

Steve Johnson will continue to celebrate his historic 40th year of NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle competition by bringing his 200-mph Suzuki to Maryland International Raceway, May 29-31, for the inaugural NHRA Potomac Nationals. It’s the second time this month that the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series makes its spectacular debut at a new racing facility during their 75th anniversary Nitro tour. Johnson will be looking to add to his points total as he enters the Potomac Nationals clinging to10th in the NHRA Mission Foods standings. After a season opening semifinal finish in Gainesville, the independent team has suffered through a string of early exits hampered by rare parts breakage. The 5th race of 14-event Pro Stock Motorcycle season will be Johnson’s all-time, class leading 524th career NHRA national event and he hopes to turn things around in front of the Maryland race fans. The Alabama-based racer will be making his first appearance at MIR, with the race already holding special meaning for Johnson. “When we used to race at the Summer Nationals in Englishtown, early in my career, all the Pro Stock drivers spoke about racing at Budd’s Creek,” remembers Johnson. “I loved hearing all the exciting tales about their famous Wednesday night Pro Stock shows at MIR. Now, 38 years later, I actually get to race there. I’ve heard the race fans are crazy smart too. The extra bonus about racing in Maryland is that my main support and longtime sponsor, Robert A Tull Inc. of Maryland’s Finest Home Builders, lives in the area and will be helping us out all weekend.” Johnson has plenty of experience racing on new tracks over the course of his 40 years on the NHRA tour. “When racers talk about the knowledge gained while racing at their local track, I get envious,” admits the 12-time national event winner. “I don’t have a local track, but clearly, I’ve been racing on many of them for a long time. Obviously, every track is different, and racers are extremely detail oriented. From the slope of the track, the transition from concrete to asphalt, bumps, where the sun hits the track and so many other details, I promise you it all adds up to giving local racers an advantage. “We are very excited about NHRA’s first race in the Northeast this season and we’ll be up for the task,” Johnson adds. “It should be really fast, and I’m looking forward to seeing how savvy and knowledgeable the race fans are in Maryland.” This story was originally published on May 27, 2026. The post Steve Johnson Eager to Bring NHRA Drag Racing to Maryland International Raceway first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

As the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series marches toward the heat of summer, Alexis DeJoria and John Force Racing’s Bandero Café Chevrolet SS Funny Car team have turned up wick on their recent performances leading into the inaugural NHRA Potomac Nationals presented by JEGS at Maryland International Raceway on May 29-31. With a semifinal finish two races ago in the Southern Nationals and a runner-up showing two weeks ago in the Route 66 Nationals, the Mike Neff / Jonnie Lindberg-led team is providing DeJoria with a race car capable of going rounds and eventually capturing her first NHRA Funny Car event victory since October 2021 in Bristol, Tenn. “Honestly, I don’t have any expectations heading to Maryland. We’ve never raced there, so it’s new territory for all of us,” said DeJoria. “There are so many factors at play when it comes to assessing a new track. One thing I can say is we have a great tune-up for hot or cold weather.” DeJoria started off the 2026 season with a final-round appearance but was followed by a first-round exit in Phoenix. Since then, she has won at least one round of eliminations in each of the four succeeding races. To put a point on it, DeJoria’s 10 round wins after just six events this season matches the total number she earned in the entire 2025 season. “Now that we have the consistency we were working on, Mike (Neff) and Jonnie (Lindberg) will be shooting for those low E.T.s and high mph,” DeJoria said. “At John Force Racing, we have a team full of experts who know what they are doing, which means a high level of confidence for me as a driver, even when we’re looking at a new facility. My faith in this crew is unwavering. After winning the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge and getting another runner-up in Chicago, we’re on a good trajectory.” NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 2:30 and 5 p.m. ET on Friday, May 29, with the final two rounds Saturday, May 30, at 12:30 and 3 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for Sunday, May 31, at 11 a.m. Television coverage on FS1 includes a qualifying show Friday from 7-8 p.m. ET, a second qualifying show Saturday from 7-8 p.m., and the eliminations broadcast Sunday from 3-6 p.m. This story was originally published on May 27, 2026. The post Alexis DeJoria Heats Up Performance as Summer Nears Heading Into Inaugural NHRA Potomac Nationals first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

The Potomac Nationals will give Ron Capps a chance to grow his points lead. Maddi Gordon is ready for a fresh start at a new track.View the full article

MotoGP's paddock is becoming more and more a trove of former Formula 1 personnel, as the legendary team boss, Ross Brawn, has just taken a job as advisor to Pramac Yamaha. View the full article

Not all quick release steering hubs are the same. We take a look at what you need to think about when picking a hub for your build.View the full article

For veteran Top Fuel and Funny Car driver “Nitro” Joe Morrison the start to the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season has been fast and not so furious. The part-time racer has been working extensively with his Right2Breathe® Project and while that program continues to grow and change lives his opportunities to race have taken somewhat of a back seat. This weekend he will make his 2026 NHRA national event debut racing the Herzhauser Racing Funny Car at the inaugural Potomac Nationals presented by JEGS. This will be the third time this season Morrison has gotten behind the wheel of the Herzhauser Racing Funny Car and the opportunity to get back in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series is top of mind. “I am thankful for the opportunity to drive this Herzhauser Funny Car at Maryland International Raceway. When you can race an NHRA national event that is a big deal,” said Morrison. “We have had a lot going on with Right2Breathe so that has kept me off the track. Getting to race at an inaugural event is always cool because there will be so many new fans there.”Morrison has experience at MIR racing in the nostalgia Funny Car ranks on several occasions in the past. This weekend the New Jersey resident is looking forward to mixing it up with a tough Funny Car field and one of the new tracks on the NHRA schedule. “I saw the reaction from the fans to the race at South Georgia Motorsports Park and I think we will see the same kind of excitement this weekend in Maryland,” said Morrison. “The fans that come out this weekend will see some great racing action and our goal is to get into the show and then give whoever we race in the first round all they can handle. I have a couple races under my belt already this season, so I feel really good in the race car.” Leading up to the national event Morrison through the Right2Breathe® Project will be producing a PSA on the health risks of pneumonia. The sudden tragic death of NASCAR legend Kyle Busch has brought the dangers of pneumonia to the forefront of lung health and preventative care which are two to the core elements Morrison has built the Right2Breathe program around. “Losing Kyle too quickly to pneumonia highlights how important early detection and preventative medical attention can be for anyone,” said Morrison. “Everyone at Right2Breathe is sending their prayers to the Busch family and we are hoping this tragedy will raise awareness for everyone to listen to your body and take care of your lung health. Our mission with Right2Breathe is to help others live better and live longer by getting diagnosed as early as possible.” Since 2016, the Right2Breathe Project has provided free lung screenings to thousands of dedicated NHRA Drag Racing fans at motorsports venues nationwide. The Right2Breathe® Project is a dynamic, grassroots initiative focused on Lung Health Education, Awareness, and Screening. This campaign is hosted at various public venues, including automotive and sporting events across the United States. They had a presence at the Norwalk, Charlotte, Epping, Reading, Indianapolis, Dallas and Pomona over the years as well as at the Hot Rod Reunion in Bakersfield. Prior to the race Morrison will be one of over two dozen drivers at the pre-race FanFest event on Thursday night at The Barns at New Market in Mechanicsville, Md. (29133 Thompson Corner Road). Driver autographs are slated from 5:30-6:30 p.m. and include a host of NHRA standouts, including four of the points leaders in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Along with a chance for fans to meet Morrison and get autographs, the festive atmosphere and kickoff to the inaugural NHRA weekend will also include Jr. Dragsters, live music, food and drink vendors, a classic car show, and more. For fans traveling to St. Mary’s County for the race, they can visit www.visitstmarysmd.com for planning resources, including lodging options, area attractions, and local retail and restaurant options. “Getting to do FanFests before a race is one of the highlights of the weekend,” said Morrison. “I did the FanFest before the Gatornationals this year at Burnyzz Speed Shop and it was awesome. This event is shaping up to be just as fun for the fans. I can’t wait to meet the Maryland fans and get them fired up for the race weekend.” Morrison and the Herzhauser Funny Car team will have two qualifiers on Friday and two on Saturday to grab a spot in the 16-car Funny Car field. Final eliminations will get underway on Sunday at 11 a.m. ET. Fans looking for tickets or more information can visit www.nhra.com and for more information on Joe Morrison and his racing activities visit www.nitrojoemorrison.com. The post “Nitro” Joe Morrison Ready to Race at Potomac Nationals first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

If you or anyone you know has a 2024 Fly Wing Snake 250 EFI, every last one of them sold in the US just got recalled for a brake pad defect.View the full article

Elite Motorsports wants to build on its success in Chicago. The team is ready to make a deep run on race day at MDIR this weekend.View the full article

The Kalitta Motorsports camp had dominated in 2026. The team has a chance to keep the points leads in both nitro categories this weekend. View the full article

Several years ago the restoration body parts business went to a whole new place when companies started offering complete bodies for our favorite American classics. 1969 Camaros were one of the first, and over the next few years other Camaros, Mustangs, classic trucks, and more were created and available to the public. There was a huge level of excitement and apprehension when that happened, as folks realized what was possible. Excitement because brand new bodies, that don’t need crash and rust damage repaired sound like an amazing thing. Apprehension though because while they are complete bodies, they are NOT actual cars. This meant people had lots and lots of questions. How do you register one? Is it called what it looks like on the title? Can it be insured? All these, and more, are valid questions to ask in a situation like this. One of the other questions that people asked was more philosophical. Should we be building completely new classics? Does it diminish the cool factory of the original? Does it devalue the originals? Again, all understandable questions. So when the Juncheng Vehicle Company showed up at the SEMA show with a whole booth full of awesome bodies for all kinds of your favorite import AND domestic classics, heads turned. The 240Z and AE86 Corolla bodies were two of the most talked about, and for good reason. They look awesome! Sitting next to their classic Bronco bodies, Land Cruisers, Defenders, and more, these are pretty impressive. Check out the process of building these machines, as it really is cool, and listen to Larry Chen as he navigates through the impressive manufacturing process, and into the emotional side of things. Video Description: Tucked away in Baoying, China, is a behemoth manufacturing plant quietly reshaping the classic car market by producing high-end replica bodies and components for some of the world’s most iconic cars. Jiangsu Juncheng Vehicle Industry Co., Ltd. sits about three hours north of Shanghai by train, where body shells for Broncos, Defenders, 240Zs, and the coveted AE86 are brought to life. Larry Chen takes you inside the factory to show the entire process from start to finish and explores the impact this may have on car culture in the future. The post Will These Replica Classic Car Bodies Reshape The Car Industry? Juncheng Vehicle Co. Is Replicating Icons In China appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

We’ve shared plenty of Kevin Tetz videos over the years around here, and I can tell you that Kevin sure knows what he’s talking about. The number of TV and YouTube personalities that have learned how to paint, or how to paint better, from him is pretty impressive. And that doesn’t even count the millions of hot rodders at home who have watched him over the years. So when Kevin puts out a video and says that this three step process will help you create a paint job that is as smooth as glass, you knows he’s telling the truth. So check it out and see what new things you can learn that will help with painting your own ride. I’m ready, are you? Kevin’s techniques know no ends, so check out his Paintucation content below, and at a serious discount! 50% OFF RIGHT NOW! Video Description: Hey, I’m Kevin Tetz, in this video, I’ll show you how to achieve a glass-smooth finish using a paint spray gun for a two-stage basecoat clear coat paint job. Learn my simple three-step method for how to spray 2 stage custom paint, Guaranteeding GLASS SMOOTH paintjobs every time. We’ll cover all the techniques from surface prep, Sealer, basecoat application, and show you how to spray clear coat perfectly!!!. There are no HACKS! Just technique… Paintucation can show you how!!! https://paintucationu.com/products/pa… University course is HALF OFF!!! till the end of May!!! Jump on that value. Go to www.paintucationu.com for training, swag, DVDs and more!!! Follow me: www.Paintucation.com www.instagram.com/paintetz www.facebook.com/handsoncarskt #paintucation #learningpainting The post Use This 3 Step Secret to GLASS FLAT Paint! Kevin Tetz Shares Decades Of Experience That Will Make Your Paint Job A Success appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

As the NHRA celebrates its 75th anniversary this season, fans can expect to see plenty of familiar and even nostalgic elements – the return of legends, the celebration of the people and moments that made NHRA history, and even official uniforms that harken back to the “glory days” of the sport. But the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series tour will also see some new scenery as an unprecedented four new venues join the national event tour. It’s the first time a new track has joined the lineup since the inaugural New England Nationals at Epping, New Hampshire’s New England Dragway in 2013. And excluding the formative years of the NHRA professional series, it’s the first time four new venues join the tour in one season. Two of these new tracks are owned and operated by longtime track operators with extensive experience outside of hosting NHRA national events, while the other two are led by comparatively green owners. In the days leading into the 2026 season, Drag Illustrated spoke with these new NHRA national event track owners to get their perspectives on all the things that come with hosting an NHRA national event for the first time. Editor’s Note: This is an excerpt from a roundtable interview that originally appeared in DI #199, the Interview Issue, in March/April 2026. The first in this series featured South Georgia Motorsports Park’s Raul Torres. Stay tuned for interviews from U.S. 131 Motorsports Park’s Jason Peterson and Rockingham Dragway’s Dan VanHorn. Royce Miller is the owner of Maryland International Raceway in Budds Creek, Maryland. MIR will host the inaugural NHRA Potomac Nationals May 29-31. Miller and his family have owned and operated MIR since 1989. Though he sold the track to IHRA’s former parent company, IRG, in 2015, he stayed on as track GM and reacquired the track in 2021. Located around an hour south of downtown Washington D.C., MIR and its Potomac Nationals will introduce fans around the nation’s capital to NHRA professional drag racing during the United States’ 250th anniversary. MIR will also host a Division 1 double divisional in mid-June. How long has hosting an NHRA national event been on your wish list? Well, we had talked to NHRA for probably the last four or five years. We’ve had informal discussions about it. I was just looking for the window of opportunity, and they called me when they were ready. What are the opportunities that come with hosting one? What are the challenges? The World Cup Finals, the largest event we do, we are at capacity, so the NHRA race won’t be bigger than that because we can’t physically hold any more than what we hold for that event. World Cup is the template we’re using for all of our logistics here: food, parking, things like that. As far as the facility stuff goes, NHRA is going to handle what they’re going to put where, and all those kind of things. I own a farm next door that we use for parking. We have a great relationship with the motocross track next door to us. During their National, we provide space and the logistics for their event, and they are, in kind, doing it for the NHRA event and the World Cup. So for that reason, we have enough parking for the capacity of seating. This is just one more major event that we add to our facility here, which increases economic impact in the region, and notoriety, as far as the visibility of the raceway to new companies and racers that run national events only. Those are all pluses. We have a great relationship with our community and our county government. We are seen as an asset and not a liability with the powers-to-be. What have you done already to prepare and what’s left to do? The main thing we had to do that NHRA and Top Fuel racing in general required was replacing the jersey walls with the poured walls, and the higher walls that we need for the fuel cars, where it steps up at the 1,000-foot mark. Then, the gravel trap and the catch system for these cars is more elaborate than what we had prior because we didn’t run those type of cars. Those are the biggest things that we’re doing. Now, we’re also taking advantage of this opportunity to rewire the Compulink timing system. Bob Brockmeyer, Larry Crispe, and myself wired it in ’92 together. And the three of us are going to rewire it. We’re putting all the conduit in now. We just finished, actually today, all the new conduit on the back of the walls and getting everything out of the ground that’s been there for 35 years. I’m excited about that improvement. All the concrete walls are done in the gravel trap. The poles are set. It’s a new longer and wider gravel trap over what we did have. Larry Crispe is going to get the nets here and installed. We still have some debris fencing to build around it. But we’ll have all those well before the national though. At the turnoff, we are widening that about 12 foot to help with the turn radius and stacking on the sides. The rest is more cosmetic. This is year one. We’re trying to be careful on what all we do, and find out after year one, what’s the priority after that. But there’s only so much we can get done in the amount of time that we’ve had. This winter has been hateful with the weather we’ve had in February and late January. What do you hope this event accomplishes for your track, your fans, racers, community? The NHRA national event is the pinnacle of our sport. If you’d have seen the track when I took over in 1990, it looked like a deserted airport. So to be able to have navigated over the 38 years that I’ve been here to get to this point, personally, it’s very satisfying. I’m looking forward to standing between the first pair of Top Fuel cars going down the track, knowing that we took it from where it was to this level. I’m proud of that point, to have brought that to this area, with the exposure, it’s wonderful. I do believe this will bring in more notoriety for the track and this area, between the people that attend the event and people that will see us on television, and think “I wondered what that place looked like,” because we have a very limited road frontage here. When you drive by, if you don’t pull in, you don’t know how big we really are. We’re the first Fox network televised event of the year. So you want to make sure you’re ready for it and dot your Is and cross your Ts the best you can. The post Maryland International Raceway’s Royce Miller Discusses Preparation For NHRA Potomac Nationals first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

We’ve talked about California SB 1392 in the past, and are thrilled that despite not making it to a vote in 2025, the bi-partisan group of California law makers who support it are still pushing forward and hoping for big things in 2026. If passed and implemented, the law would allow a larger group of classic vehicles to be issued an exemption from California’s strict emissions testing laws. This would only apply to classic cars that are insured as such. With it becoming increasingly hard to find emissions testing facilities that can, or will, test older vehicles, it is becoming harder and harder to legally drive some of those machines in California. But this new law could help make classic car ownership much easier in California. Here’s the background on this bill. Leno’s Law creates a narrow, phased-in, collector-only pathway to a smog-check exemption for certain older vehicles. The bill starts with vehicles manufactured before the 1981 model year and gradually expands, reaching vehicles manufactured before the 1986 model year by 2032. Importantly, it does not change the existing pre-1976 exemption already in law. This proposal intends to solve a practical problem many owners already recognize: testing options for older vehicles are becoming harder to access, less predictable, and more expensive as legacy testing infrastructure declines. Leno’s Law is also designed to focus on true collector vehicles: those used primarily for shows, parades, charitable functions, and historical exhibitions, rather than as an owner’s primary mode of transportation. DIAMOND BAR, Calif (May 26, 2026) – Leno’s Law, the renewed effort in California to secure relief for car collectors by modernizing the state’s emissions testing requirements, is picking up momentum, with a global community of car enthusiasts showing staunch support for SB 1392. The bill is now bolstered by support from California’s lowrider community and the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA)’s International Historical Commission. The bipartisan bill, authored by Sen. Dave Cortese, with Sen. Shannon Grove as a principal coauthor and TV legend Jay Leno and the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) as the sponsors, recently passed out of the California Senate with strong bipartisan support and is now under consideration in the Assembly, awaiting a committee referral. In an acknowledgment of the undeniable cultural importance of providing a pathway for modernizing the state’s laws on collector vehicles, California’s iconic lowrider community is standing up for Leno’s Law, submitting more than 1,700 letters in support of passing the bill. “Lowriders and classics are built with pride, shown with purpose, and driven for the community. Leno’s Law is about protecting those who keeps these cars alive: the builders, the painters, the upholsterers, the chrome shops, and the clubs that put in the work year-round. SB 1392 keeps our culture on the road and gives the next generation a fair shot at preserving the rides they love,” said letter organizer Joseph Mendez, CEO of The Lowrider Grind, a cultural hub for the lowrider community. Additionally, the FIA, via its International Historical Commission, has sent a letter urging the Senate Appropriations Committee to vote in favor of Leno’s Law, citing the bill’s potential for preserving California’s leadership in both clean air and cultural heritage. “California has long been recognized as a leader in environmental policy and a trendsetter in automotive culture,” writes Giuseppe Redaelli, president of the FIA International Historical Commission, and Willem Groenewald, FIA’s secretary general for mobility, sustainability, and tourism. “SB 1392 strikes a thoughtful and balanced compromise by respecting air quality goals while protecting an essential element of California’s cultural and economic fabric. It is intentionally bounded, does not create a broad rolling exemption, and creates only an optional pathway for qualifying collector vehicles. It ensures that rare and historic vehicles, some of which are displayed in world-renowned California museums and celebrated by enthusiasts around the world, can be preserved without undue regulatory burden.” “Leno’s Law has always been about more than our state’s antiquated emissions tests, or the high-dollar auctioneer space that people perceive car collectors to exist within. Rather, it has always been about providing a foundation for the next generation of car enthusiasts, of acknowledging California’s rich automotive heritage, and reminding us that in these divided times, our vehicles unify us and spark a joy that transcends generations and demographics,” said Victor Muñoz, SEMA’s senior manager for state government affairs. “As we share that story with lawmakers in Sacramento, there are no better allies to have by our side than the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile and Joseph Mendez and his lowrider family.” ABOUT SEMA The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) serves as a leading voice for the worldwide car culture, representing over 7,000 member companies that create, buy, sell, and use specialty-automotive parts that make vehicles more unique, attractive, convenient, safer, fun, and even like new again. Business member benefits include product development resources, market research, networking, education, legislative advocacy, and more. The Association organizes the annual SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nev., and actively supports the career and business opportunities that the aftermarket generates. The industry contributes nearly $337 billion in economic impact to the U.S. economy, supports 1.3 million jobs nationally, and generates nearly $53 billion in parts sales annually. For more information, visit www.sema.org. The post SUPPORT SURGES FOR LENO’S LAW AS CAR CULTURE DEMANDS COLLECTOR’S RIGHTS: Letters Pour in from California’s Lowrider Community and International Car Rreservationists in support of California SB 1392 appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

Charley Boorman and Richard Hammond, two of the most famous motorcyclists of our generation, are headlining the Adventure Bike Rider Festival in the UK. View the full article

It’s time for another Daily Junkyard Crawl with Steve Magnante, and this time it’s another really cool Pontiac. How about a real deal 1987 Pontiac Firebird Formula 350 that has had a few good go fast parts installed over the years? This is a savable machine, and one that is cool because of not only what it is but the history behind it. So who wouldn’t want to save this one? Check it out in Magnante’s video below. It brought back memories as I remember racing several 3rd Gen Firebirds back in the day, including a Turbo TA that we used to street race against in the mid 1990’s. Check this thing out and let us know if you decide you have to own it! The post Steve Magnante’s Daily Junkyard Crawl: THIS RARE FIREBIRD FORMULA 350 HAS HAD A HOD ROD LIFE! COME SAVE IT! appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

The Spirit of Autopower Comp Coupe is a pretty radical machine, and a staple in the land speed racing community. This thing is based off a little tiny first generation Honda Civic, but the rest is pure race machine. This thing is stretched and streamlined, and has been stupid fast at El Mirage and on the salt at Bonneville. If you have ever been to either race, you’ve seen the Spirit of Autopower 3. This is a special racing machine with a great history. But what happens when you take a machine like this and head out to the silty, soft, and unforgiving dirt that is the El Mirage dry lake bed? What if you are trying to run 250 mph? This is not for the faint of heart, and definitely not for the inexperienced. So what happens to a machine like this when you hit a big bump out on the lake bed, while going nearly 230 miles per hour? You pucker up, that’s what happens. Watch this video and tell me that you wouldn’t have had to have a moment to collect your thoughts after this ride. Video Description: Experience the intense action and raw challenges of land speed racing at the iconic El Mirage dry lake bed with Team AutoPower and their legendary streamliner, The Spirit of AutoPower #131. In tough windy conditions that had everyone concerned about safety, third-generation land speed racing driver Brad White pushed The Spirit of AutoPower #131 to an incredible 228 miles per hour. What started as a strong run quickly turned into a heart-pounding moment when the car struck a bump on the course. Thanks to Brad’s exceptional skill, quick reactions, and a bit of luck, a potential disaster was avoided and the car stayed on track. Unfortunately, the high-speed impact severely damaged the quick-change rear end, ending the day’s runs for this passionate team. This video captures the highs and the very real dangers that come with chasing speed on the salt and dirt of El Mirage. Huge respect to all the drivers, crews, and officials who make Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) events possible. Land speed racing demands courage, preparation, and deep respect for the conditions and fellow competitors every single time the cars run. Team AutoPower Driver: Brad White – Third Generation LSR Driver Car: The Spirit of AutoPower #131 Event: SCTA El Mirage Land Speed Racing The post Wild Ride at the May 2026 El Mirage California SCTA Meet – The Spirit of AutoPower III Comp Coupe Hits A Bump at 228 MPH! appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

ZXMoto just became the first Chinese brand to win in WorldSSP, and now it’s coming for motocross, too, with this all-new dirt bike built for serious contenders.View the full article

Here we go with Part 2 of Tony Angelo’s bumpside Ford build continues! Here we go with Part 2, where all of it really starts coming together to make the noise and the tire smoke. I love donor vehicle builds like this one. What I mean by that is when you buy a car, or parts from the wrecking yard, to build something new and exciting in a way it never was before. My 1956 Chevy station wagon for instance, has a 1994 Caprice 9C1 cop car chassis and drivetrain under it. It was a great way to get a modern efi drivetrain, plus big brakes and much better suspension, all while repairing the rusty floors. We used everything we could out of the donor cop car and it worked out great. In the video below, Tony is going to take suspension from a Crowne Vic and a Mustang, along with a nice stroker small block to make something cool as hell out of this old farm truck. Check it out and let us know what you think. And remember, while the aftermarket is awesome you can sometimes get just what you need at the wrecking yard if you are on a budget. Keep that in mind for your next build, because money saved on one project is money you can use for fancy high end parts on another! Video Description: This week on Stay Tuned, Tony Angelo and the Stay Tuned dudes get back on their insane F100 giveaway project! They tossed in the front and rear subframes with ‪@rangeindustries1808‬ swap brackets, installed a nasty ‪@BluePrint_Engines‬ 347ci stroker from ‪@speedwaymotors‬ , and backed that with a Tremec TKX 5 speed box from ‪@AmericanPowertrain‬! Can they get this thing fired up and once step closer to ripping down the road? Stay Tuned! The post Turning This Old Farm Truck into a Killer Street Machine Using Scrapyard Ford Parts! Bumpside Ford Goodness Part 2! appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article