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I love Tony Angelo now more than ever. We get along great and he’s super fun to be around, but now that I know what his favorite muscle car is I think I love him even more! After dreaming about a ride like this his whole life, Tony found it after sitting for 40 years in a barn. It’s like a love story. They should make a Hallmark movie about this and have one of those male model looking dudes that always star in the Romcoms play him. You know, like a taller, better looking, more charm and less edge Tony Angelo. LOL I’m sorry, that may be taking it too far. Or maybe not. Maybe we should write a script and shop it around a bit. At any rate, in the video below you’ll see Tony and the gang on the adventure that delivers his dream car. Video Description: I’ve wanted a 1968 Chevelle since I was 14 years old. They have gotten more and more collectible and more and more expensive as the years have gone by and this week I found one CHEAP! A true BARN FIND. Watch Tony Angelo and the Stay Tuned Crew retrieve this thing during a blizzard WAY up north and try to make it home for some A-body action with this iconic Muscle Car! The post Tony Found His Dream Muscle Car Abandoned in a Barn for FORTY YEARS! And Then BOUGHT IT CHEAP! appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

Shannon and Jess are moving right along on the FJ40 and things just keep getting better. If you like a Landcruiser, you’ll dig this one. But if restored to factory is your jam, this one might not be quite up your alley. We dig them all, so we are in. Check it out as they put together a new roll cage for this beast. If you missed this FJ40 project that Shannon Campbell is working on, we’ve got a link below, but if you are back for the next installment in this build series you are in luck as well. In this new video you’ll see the roll cage bracing get finished up and all the work go into installing the engine and transmission. I think this is going to be a fun project, because I love FJ40s, but if you have any ideas of building a custom chassis for your FJ or Jeep, you should check this one out. CLICK HERE IF YOU MISSED ANY OF THE UPDATES ON THIS FJ40 PROJECT SO FAR Video Description: This week in the shop Shannon makes some big progress on the FJ40 build. He fabricates seat mounts integrated directly into the roll cage, mounts the engine and transmission, and finishes up all the remaining bracing in the roll cage. Each step brings this build closer to becoming a fully capable trail and race-ready rig. This episode ended up being a longer one, but there’s a lot of progress packed into it and we hope you enjoy hanging out with us for the ride. Jess and Kennedy also spend a couple days in the Valley for spring break adventures, so for those of you who are here strictly for the fabrication, we’ve added timestamps so you can jump ahead. The post FJ40 Land Cruiser Custom Fabrication: Big Progress, Big Video, Engine & Transmission Mounted + Roll Cage Bracing Complete! appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

Alex Hernandez and I have been friends for several years, and the night we met was pretty funny. We were both invited to dinner with a group of people that lets just say were a little mismatched, at least on the surface. Because all of us were car guys, there was some common language, but when Alex and I realized that we were both from Northern California we had an instant connection. Everyone knows that there is always some connection between people that grew up in the same area, even if they were from different neighborhoods. That is me and Alex. Alex is as hardcore as anyone about cars, and he and I immediatley clicked. When he told me about his Rose Gold Caprice build I’ll admit I wasn’t super excited, because I’m just not into Donks. I mean I appreciate them, and love that other folks like them, but they just don’t get me revved up usually. And then he told me about the engine combo, and I was immediately interested and excited. This beast makes 1,000 horsepower without working hard, and could make as much as 1,700 to the tire if it was turned up, as it runs the X275 legal F1X ProCharger on a built LS. The entire car was built through Sac Speed Shop, Alex’s company, and the car is epic because it runs as hard as it is pretty. In the video below you’ll see what makes this thing special and that they are not afraid to beat it like a rented mule! Video Description: Sac Speed Shop (Sacramento) built a renowned 1971 Chevrolet Caprice “donk” owned by Alex Hernandez, featuring a ProCharged LS7 or 427 LSX engine producing upwards of 900-1000 HP. This high-performance build features a distinctive rose gold/mauve finish, 26-inch Forgiato wheels, and custom Lingenfelter components, making it a prominent street-and-strip machine so sit back and enjoy the ride! The post Alex Hernandez’s 1971 Caprice Is Called Rose Gold, And While Pretty It’s Also Absolutely Brutal And Bad Ass! appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

Jerry Bickel Race Cars is doing something that should surprise absolutely no one who’s been paying attention to how Rick Hord runs this operation: they’re making life easier for racers. Ahead of the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte April 24-26, JBRC is offering free shipping and direct pit delivery for any parts ordered by Thursday, April 16. That means you call Jerry Bickel Race Cars, place your order, and your parts show up at zMAX – no additional shipping costs, no hassle. That’s the kind of service that separates a parts supplier from a partner. “We’re not just selling parts, we’re supporting racers,” said Hord, owner of Jerry Bickel Race Cars. “If you’re heading to Charlotte, we want to make it as easy as possible to have what you need when you get there. Order it, and we’ll bring it to you.” The offer applies to the full JBRC catalog: chassis components, suspension parts, a wide range of products from the top brands in drag racing, and anything else in the Jerry Bickel Race Cars lineup. Whether you’re prepping for NHRA Pro Mod competition, making last-minute changes, or stocking up on spares for the season ahead, this is the window. “As a racer and a race team owner, I understand what it takes to show up at the track ready to compete,” Hord added. “My family has been doing this for three generations. We know the hustle. We know what it costs – not just money, but time and energy. If we can take one thing off a racer’s plate and save them a few bucks in the process, that’s what we’re going to do. That’s how we’d want to be treated, and that’s how we run Jerry Bickel Race Cars.” The NHRA 4-Wide Nationals marks a major early-season stop on the 2026 NHRA schedule, featuring the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports as it celebrates its 25th anniversary season. Expect a loaded field – and expect JBRC-chassied cars to be well-represented in the staging lanes. To place your order, contact Jerry Bickel Race Cars at 636-356-4727 or visit www.jerrybickel.com. Deadline for free pit delivery at zMAX is Thursday, April 16. This story was originally published on April 10, 2026. The post Jerry Bickel Race Cars Offering Free Delivery to zMAX Dragway for NHRA 4-Wide Nationals first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Welcome to this week’s Flashback Friday, where we take a look into the rearview mirror to revisit the machines that you, the reader, loved two years ago. April 2024 brought a diversity that stretched from the neon-soaked streets of Taipei to the rolling hills of France. We saw everything from Dax Ca... View the full article

After a sellout crowd in 2025, promoter Corey Stamper and track co-owners Seth and Zach Buff are bringing the 9th annual Strange Engineering Ronnie Buff Memorial featuring King of the South 3 into Shadyside Dragway May 21-24. The event guarantees to be better than ever, with more classes, bigger payouts, and a brand-new livestreaming partner in FloRacing. Once again, the King of the South small-tire invitational – 64 of the baddest 28×10.5 cars in the country – will headline the show, with the winner taking home $75,000. Last year, Larry Larson defeated Lyle Barnett by a miniscule .004 margin of victory to walk away with $75k. The two veterans will once again lead a stacked field with names like Ryan Martin, Bill Lutz, Kye Kelley, Ryan Mitchell and Brandon Sandlian returning once again. They’ll be joined by a host of huge names making their King of the South debut, including Shawn “Murder Nova” Ellington, Cory Reed, Scott Taylor, Cole Pesz, and Russell Stone. New this year will be payouts beyond the winner, with $2,000 going to the runner-up, $1,000 to semifinalists, $500 to the quarters, and $200 to the round-of-16. There is also a free entry, $1,000-to-win second chance race for first-round losers. “These are the baddest of the bad on a 28×10.5 tire,” said Stamper. “You can’t take anybody lightly in this field. I want the fastest of the fast, with side-by-side action, and when we put these 64 cars together, that’s what we looked for. We’re just trying to push it to make it better. We were talking about whether we should add money [to the winner] or pay back more, and I said, ‘Let’s pay back more.’ $75,000 is pretty big to win anyways, and if you make it down to16 cars in this field, you’re doing work, because it’s gangsters every round.” Making its debut in 2026 is the Knight of the South, a 16-car invitational on even smaller 26×8.5 tires. The class will pay $8,000 to win, with $1,000 for the runner-up and $500 for semifinalists. Returning to the Ronnie Buff Memorial is the hugely popular Lil Gangstas class led by Tom Gunner (better known as Jimmy Dale) and Michael Poland. The 64-car invitational will feature two races in one weekend, with $15,000 being paid to the winner on both Saturday and Sunday. In addition, the event will feature SC Raceworks Street Racer 6.30 Index, the Bracket Misfits 16-car invitational, IHRA Teen Championship Race, and the $7,500-to-win Kettle Kings Concessions Practice Tree Shootout on Friday night. “Our 6.30 Index class is probably one of the biggest growing classes we have at Shadyside,” Stamper said. “It’s averaging 20 to 35 cars, with a lot of people showing out in street-style cars. And the cool thing is it has the same rule set as Lil Gangstas, so if they decide next year they want to step up, all they got to do is get a little faster.” With King of the South exploding in popularity – last year, the fire marshal had to come and close the gates on Saturday due to the immense crowd – Stamper knew he needed to step up the production level in all facets of the event; not just with the race itself, but with the livestreaming broadcast as well. FloRacing stepped up, partnering with Stamper and Shadyside to bring complete eliminations coverage on Saturday and Sunday. “The past couple years my company, Spoold Media, has handled the feed,” said Stamper. “Flo came in with an opportunity to really put this out to the world, and they bring in such a professional operation, from interviews to multiple camera angles. After watching their coverage of the Winter Series and seeing the production and professionalism with it, I knew we needed the Strange Engineering Ronnie Buff Memorial to take that next step up in coverage. It’s awesome to see these racers, from the bigger names to even our local guys, be put on a national stage like never before.” Heading up FloRacing’s stream will be longtime drag racer Kayla Morton, who burst onto the reporting scene at the Drag Illustrated Winter Series, joining Courtney Enders, Brian Lohnes, and Mike Carpenter during Flo’s broadcasts of all three events. With close ties to many of the racers competing at Shadyside, Morton will be able to give an inside look at everything going on behind-the-scenes throughout the weekend. “This is an iconic race, the pinnacle for small-tire racers from across the U.S.,” said Morton. “An invite-only for cars that have proven their worth for a guaranteed purse of nearly $83,000. Shadyside feels gritty, exciting, and raw. It’s a mean dragstrip that is full of diversity. A place where all the people come together to be a part of a legendary event. There are big names here, but a 28-inch tire will humble those names quick. It’s a challenging tire to drive on and a race that requires six winning passes to secure the title. “I’m fired up to bring coverage for this event through Flo and to showcase the little things that make this event so special,” Morton added. “This is a race where you’re gonna find chicken on the bbq you’re welcome to eat, a beer to wash it down with, and then get to throw dice for dessert. Flo hit the jackpot here if you ask me. King of the South is always one for the books and I’m privileged to be the girl who gets to share it with the drag racing fans that can’t attend.” As in previous years, tickets will only be sold at the gate. Fans can watch testing on Thursday and Friday for $20 per day; Eliminations take place on Saturday and Sunday, which are both $35 per day. A “King Pass” is also available for $80, allowing spectators to attend all four days. For those on the fence, Stamper suggests arriving early and securing a weekend pass, as the event is almost guaranteed to sell out, and preparations are well under way to handle the crowds. “Show up early because it’s going to sell out,” said Stamper. “We’re already plowing the field that’s up by Seth and Zach’s grandma’s house, tearing trees down and flattening that out to add even more parking. They went and bulldozed the land on the third level of the pits to have room to bring in more rigs. They acquired new land to park spectators. We’re building up on as much as we can right now.” Fans can subscribe to FloRacing at www.FloRacing.com and watch the livestream via the following link: https://flosports.link/4rO8QAL The post King of the South Small-Tire Invitational Continues to Grow, Partners with FloRacing first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

The Ride, The Risk, and the City There’s a certain rhythm to riding through a city that never really slows down. Engines hum between traffic lights, tires trace imperfect asphalt, and every intersection carries a quiet sense of unpredictability. In places like Chicago, where congestion, tight lanes, and constant motion define the streets, riding demands more than a love of the road. It demands awareness and instinct. For many riders, especially those drawn to stripped-down machines and raw builds, the […] The post The Crash Isn’t the End—It’s Where the Real Fight Begins appeared first on Return of the Cafe Racers. View the full article

It was at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip that John Force Racing’s Jordan Vandergriff got his first taste of the sensory overload that is NHRA drag racing and it’s there during the April 8-10 NHRA Winternationals that the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car driver hopes earn his first event win in the sanctioning body’s 1,000th Funny Car race. This weekend will be the first time the California native has competed in the Winternationals but he does have prior experience at the legendary drag strip. In the last event of his 11-race Top Fuel rookie season, at the 2019 NHRA Finals, Vandergriff beat Austin Prock in Round 1 before losing to Leah Pruett in the second. “Pomona is my hometown track,” said Vandergriff. “It’s the track I grew up going to and it holds a special place in my heart because it’s where drag racing was introduced to me. I’ve only run there once before, in my rookie year at the Finals. So, this will be my second time there and I can’t wait to be in the Cornwell Tools Funny Car. “Pomona was where I first got the feel for the speed and what it was about,” Vandergriff added. “It was the heyday of Tony Schumacher, when he was winning everything and John Force was winning everything. It was just a different era of drag racing when I was growing up, and now, to be ushering in this new era of drag racing at Pomona is unreal. I can’t wait to go back.” Vandergriff sits seventh in the Funny Car point standings after the season’s first two races. He earned a semifinals finish at the season-opening Gatornationals in his John Force Racing debut and a second-round showing two weeks later in the Arizona heat. Overall, John Force Racing drivers have won 32 times in three events at In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip (17 times in the Winternationals, 14 times in the Finals plus John Force’s win in the 50th Anniversary NHRA Nationals in 2001). “Getting my first win in the NHRA’s 1000th Funny Car race, at my hometown track, would be amazing. I think you couldn’t write a script any better than that, and Hollywood’s not too far away. It just would be unbelievable for it to happen and we’re going there with the idea that it’s going to happen. We have a good Cornwell Tools Chevy, and the weather should come into the wheelhouse, so we’ll be ready. Chris Cunningham and Jason Bunker (crew chiefs) will tune that thing up and I’m going to hop in it and try to get that win.” The post Jordan Vandergriff Eyes First Funny Car Win in NHRA’s 1,000th first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Drag Illustrated has released its 2026 Interview Issue, the March/April 2026 edition of the magazine, with two-time NHRA Pro Mod world champion Stevie “Fast” Jackson appearing on the cover following his $75,000 victory at the U.S. Street Nationals presented by M&M Transmission at Bradenton Motorsports Park. The Interview Issue is now available to read for free in digital format at digital.dragillustrated.com, with print copies set to arrive in subscriber mailboxes later this month. The U.S. Street Nationals marked the second of three races in the 2025/2026 Drag Illustrated Winter Series presented by J&A Service and delivered one of the most competitive Pro Mod fields in history. Jackson’s breakthrough victory came in commanding fashion, as he navigated a 32-car field where every entry ran in the 3.50s, ultimately defeating Derek Menholt in the final round with a .011 reaction time and a 3.566-second pass at 210.80 mph. The win not only secured the $75,000 payday, but also marked Jackson’s first triumph in DI Pro Mod races after years of near-misses. “I’m super proud to get the cover of Drag Illustrated this month!” Jackson said. “My rockstar team at KTR is the driving force behind our success and they deserve the credit. I get to do what I love every single day and I am bless beyond measure. 2026 is ours!” The cover story, written by Craig Cook, dives deep into Jackson’s long-awaited victory, the culture behind Killin’ Time Racing, and the relentless pursuit of performance that has defined his career. The feature also explores the team’s rise to consistent final-round contention in the Winter Series and Jackson’s broader impact as both a driver and businessman. “Stevie Jackson embodies what this series is all about: elite performance, relentless work ethic, and a willingness to bet on yourself at the highest level,” said Wes Buck, founder and editorial director of Drag Illustrated and promoter of the Drag Illustrated Winter Series. “That U.S. Street Nationals win wasn’t just a big payday – it was validation for a team that’s been knocking on the door in the toughest Pro Mod environment we’ve ever assembled. Putting him on the cover of this issue felt like the only move.” DI #199 leans into its “Interview Issue” theme with a lineup built around in-depth conversations and insider perspectives from across the sport. In addition to Jackson’s cover feature, the issue includes a Q&A with Funny Car rookie Jordan Vandergriff, a behind-the-scenes look at new NHRA national event venues, and a range of features highlighting resilience, growth, and evolution across drag racing’s top levels. “This issue is about letting the people who are shaping the sport speak for themselves,” said Nate Van Wagnen, Drag Illustrated editor-in-chief. “From Stevie’s perspective on winning at the highest level to the voices driving change across the NHRA and beyond, DI #199 is built on real conversations with real substance. It’s one of the most complete snapshots of where the sport stands right now.” The Interview Issue is available now in digital format at digital.dragillustrated.com. Print editions will be delivered to subscribers in the coming weeks. This story was originally published on April 10, 2026. The post Drag Illustrated Releases 2026 Interview Issue Featuring Stevie ‘Fast’ Jackson first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

The 2025/2026 offseason brought numerous changes to the sport, but one thing that remained constant is the Franklin family’s ownership of the Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series. Though rumors swirled that the series was up for sale last fall, those rumblings settled in late October when Tommy and Judy Franklin announced, “After 12 seasons of PDRA Drag Racing, we are not ready to stop here. See you in 2026.” Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in DI #199, the Interview Issue, in March/April 2026. The Franklins, who were a part of the founding owners group when the series began in 2014, have been the sole owners for the last several years, guiding the PDRA through growth and evolution. The family purchased Virginia Motorsports Park in late 2017 and similarly not only kept that facility open and operating as a dragstrip, but revitalized it and elevated its status. As if that wasn’t enough, the family also fields cars in multiple classes, with Tommy racing in the co-headlining Pro Nitrous division alongside his daughter, Amber Denton, Amber’s husband, Blake Denton, competing in Pro Street, and Amber’s younger sister, Ashley Franklin, racing in Top Dragster. The offseason did see VMP change hands, though, as the Franklins sold the track to Darryl Cuttell and IHRA Motorsports. The move frees up the Franklins and key team members like PDRA Series Director Tyler Crossnoe, who previously served as vice president of VMP, to focus entirely on series initiatives. VMP is still scheduled to host two Red Line Oil PDRA Series national events as well as all three PDRA Triple Threat Bracket Series events. In the weeks leading up to the season-opening PDRA Carolina Nationals presented by Pee Dee Fleet, March 25-28, at Darlington Dragway, Drag Illustrated spoke with Tommy Franklin to find out what comes next for the PDRA. Why was it important to you and Judy and your family to keep the PDRA going? PDRA is special. I think that one of the things I realized was what we have – the level of racing in the regions that we race and the schedule, just the whole layout – it’s special. We have a lot of racers that have supported us over the years, and I just honestly felt like I couldn’t walk away from that. It was nothing against any of the other organizations. There’s room for all of us out here and everybody will succeed. I never felt like PDRA would look like it looks or look like it did if we were to move on. Got deep into my feelings and just said, hey, as long as people are showing up at the gate to support us, then I’m going to support them as much as I can. What is it about the PDRA and what you’ve built that you’re most proud of? I’ve tried to put my finger on it because it’s hard to try to understand what is so special. It’s a national-event-caliber race. It has all of the workings of that. The competition is crazy good. The car quality is crazy good. It’s a national-event-style event, ran with organization, ran with safety, ran with performances that are unheard of, but then it’s just like you’re hanging out at your local dragstrip on Friday night. Everybody is such a tight-knit group. I think that’s what changes it. It doesn’t have the corporate feel, and I hope it never gets the corporate feel. Series Director Tyler Crossnoe previously also served as the VP at VMP. He’s now full-time focused on PDRA. How important was it to keep Tyler on board as the series director? I’m excited to see what we can do with giving it 100% of our efforts. And I hate to say that because I don’t want to sound like we weren’t giving 100% effort, but it’s hard to put all the effort all the time. When you had a racetrack and had the series and all of that to do, it’s easy to say, hey, sometimes maybe we’re not looking deeper and further into what can be better or bigger and where that goes. I’m really excited to be able to put resources towards working on PDRA every day of the week. That’s the most exciting part to me. Obviously, Tyler is a smart guy who cares about the racers, who wants to make sure that the racers have a great place to race, and has the integrity to know that it’s an event that has to go off in the right manner. Whether we like the decision or not, it has to go off in the right manner. Safety is first and everything has to be legit. We try to do all of that. Everybody will always have their stories, but we know what we do on our side, so that’s all we can do. I think he’s great to lead that. I think it’ll show up even more now that he has more time to focus on just the PDRA. What was critical to continue in 2026 and where did you want to build on and improve? We have a great racer base, as I’ve said, and the competition level is high. I want that to continue. I want that to only get better. Over the past 10-plus years, I feel like we’ve taken Pro Mod racing to a level that is crazy where these guys can compete as close as they do and be as competitive as it is. I want that to only continue. I love the sport. I love the classes that we have. I said Pro Mod, but what about Top Sportsman, Top Dragster, the Jr. Dragsters? Every class that we have, the competition level is so high. I think that’s one of the things that I’m most proud of with PDRA. It’s not, “I’m going to go race over here and collect this check.” You’re going to earn it. We see people that choose not to come race with us because it’s not easy pickings. And I’m OK with that. I want everybody to know that if they’re going to come over here, they’re going to come over here to win and accomplish. I’m OK with that. That’s what I want to continue to build, that reputation where everybody knows, “Hey, this is the hardest grounds to race on and we’re going to come over here and try to conquer it.” What are your goals for the season? My goal is just to continue to grow our racer base and really focus on growing our fan base. I think that we have a great product. Drag racing’s a hard sport to come watch because it’s a 12-hour-long day to watch it from start to finish, and you’re going to do that for two or three days. But when people come out, I want them to know that there’s some of the best competition on the racetrack at all times. We’re going to focus on that. We’re going to focus on letting people know when the classes that they want to watch are out there competing and narrow that down to a window where they can see some good racing. I’ve told everybody, “We do what we do. We just have to focus on what we do and make it the best pass that goes down the racetrack every time.” And I think the rest comes with it. And there’s always a lot of noise and chatter out there. The Internet’s a wild thing, so we just need to continue to be noticed and let our racers elevate themselves and get out there in front of the people that they deserve to be in front of. This story was originally published on April 10, 2026. The post Building Something Special: Tommy Franklin On The Future of The PDRA first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

The 66th edition of the famed NHRA Winternationals will be a celebration of Funny Car history as the sanctioning body presents the 1000th Funny Car race in its 75th anniversary season. Legends will be on site, and a special trophy will be presented to the Funny Car winner. One of the significant figures recognized will be the late Tripp Shumake, winner of the 100th Funny Car race. The well-respected driver will be celebrated on track as well by his son Travis Shumake, who will honor his late father, with a paint scheme honoring the winning livery from the 1981 NHRA Southern Nationals. “This is going to be an emotional weekend for me for sure,” said Shumake. “My dad was so well liked by everyone when he raced, and he is a part of history winning the 100th Funny Car race. To be able to honor him with the Little Hoss Funny Car will be amazing. We learned a lot in Phoenix, and I really want to put on a good show for the fans this weekend in Pomona.” Driving for Funny Car veteran Dave Bejamin, the Funny Car will feature the famed Little Hoss colors of his father’s original car owner, Johnny Loper. The second-generation driver will be making his second career start in the Legacy Funny Car Series with the support of new season–long sponsor Le Tour as well as Total Seal. Shumake is adding Le Tour wines, a non-alcoholic wine that tastes like the real thing. Le Tour starts with real French grapes, sourced from trusted vineyards and made using traditional winemaking methods. Through a gentle dealcoholization process, the alcohol is removed keeping the flavor and structure intact. “Getting together with Le Tour wines for the rest of the season will be very exciting,” said Shumake. “I love wine and I love drag racing. Their dealcoholization process means I can enjoy both at the track. This is a great environment for them to activate and introduce Le Tour to a huge audience. We are planning on all sorts of fun things with other drivers and at races all over the country.” The Legacy Funny Car Series will have two qualifying sessions on Friday, April 10 at 3:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Prior to his qualifying runs Shumake will be a featured guest on the NHRA stage at 12:00 p.m. to talk about his racing career and his father Tripp. On Saturday Shumake will have one final shot to make the eight-car qualified field with a final qualifier at 12:05 p.m. The first round of eliminations will be contested on Saturday afternoon with the semifinals and final round held on Sunday, April 12 between the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series eliminations. For information on tickets or schedules visit www.nhra.com and for more information on Travis Shumake and his racing program head over to www.travisshumake.com. The post Travis Shumake Honors Father Tripp During Winternationals, 1,000th Funny Car Race first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series roared back to In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip this week for the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals, launching another chapter in the sanctioning body’s 75th anniversary season. Thursday belonged to the backbone of the sport — the sportsman racers — and they didn’t waste any time getting after it. With qualifying kicking off the weekend, Super Street, Stock, Super Comp, Super Stock, and Super Gas quickly rolled into first-round eliminations, turning Pomona into a battleground from the first hit down the strip. Early-round pressure, tight competition, and zero room for error set the tone as racers began carving their path through the ladders. While the nitro-powered machines and Pro Stockers waited in the wings, the sportsman ranks carried the weight of opening day — and delivered. That balance shifts Friday. Sportsman eliminations resume at 8:30 a.m., but the intensity only builds as Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock fire off their first qualifying runs of the weekend. The energy established by the sportsman racers carries forward as the first blasts of nitro shake Pomona and signal the arrival of the sport’s headline acts. All of last season’s NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series world champions are on hand this weekend, including Top Fuel champion Doug Kalitta, Funny Car champion Austin Prock, and Pro Stock champion Dallas Glenn, joined by a deep field of contenders and proven winners across all three categories. Rising talent like Maddi Gordon adds another layer of intrigue as the next wave looks to make its mark. By the time the weekend builds to full song, Top Alcohol cars will join the fight, and Legacy Nitro Funny Cars will deliver a thunderous blast from the past, giving fans a full-spectrum look at NHRA’s evolution — from its roots to today’s nitro-burning firepower. From first-round sportsman battles to the looming arrival of nitro-fueled chaos, Pomona is already alive — and the Winternationals is just getting warmed up. This story was originally published on April 10, 2026. The post PHOTO GALLERY: Pomona Fires to Life Thursday at NHRA Winternationals first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Los Angeles native Alexis DeJoria is using her hometown roots as the inspiration for her and her John Force Racing Bandero Quality Tequila Chevrolet SS Funny Car team to end up in winner’s circle at the conclusion of the April 8-10 NHRA Winternationals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip and, in doing so, capture victory in the sanctioning body’s 1000th Funny Car race. “Pomona is where I first saw Funny Cars in person. I went there for the Winternationals when I was 16,” said DeJoria. “I’ve also gone there for swap meets and stuff for my personal car collection but that was the first time I had ever seen professional drag racing in person and John Force in particular. Winning the 1000th Funny Car race would be incredible. There’s the special trophy getting a special trophy and the prestige and obviously just the history of that racetrack. The whole year is significant for NHRA with the 75th anniversary, but Pomona, that’s the place I’ve always wanted to win. I’ve been to the finals (2021 In-N-Out Burger Finals), qualified number one (2014 Finals) but never got the trophy so we’ll see.” DeJoria is currently sixth in the Funny Car point standings after two of 20 races on the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Calendar. She finished runner-up in her John Force Racing debut at the Gatornationals and went out in the first round at Phoenix two weeks later to JFR teammate Jordan Vandergriff. “I’m looking forward to racing in Pomona, looking for redemption after that finish in Phoenix,” DeJoria said. “We started off really strong, went to the finals at the first race of the season and then dropped down by losing first round in Phoenix. So, I’m definitely looking for redemption and Pomona’s always kind of been one of my home tracks because I’m a California native born and raised. I’ve never won there before so that’s always been on my bucket list. So, we’ll see what happens this weekend but I’m hoping for the best and continuing our early success with this Bandero team.” Bandero team crew chief Mike Neff has experienced the ultimate success at the Winternationals during his initial stint at John Force Racing. The Hemet, Calif., native was the crew chief for John Force when he won the Funny Car class in 2013 and qualified No. 1 in 2014. Overall, John Force Racing drivers have won 32 times in three events at In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip (17 times in the Winternationals, 14 times in the Finals plus John Force’s win in the 50th Anniversary NHRA Nationals in 2001). “I think the Bandero team is gelling really well and for a brand new team that says a lot,” said DeJoria. “I’m very, very grateful to be on such a successful team. You can just tell early on who’s going get along with who and where troubles happen, but I really haven’t seen any of that go down. We’re really blessed and I can’t wait to see what we’re going to achieve in our future, especially in the immediate future by going out there and having a good showing in Pomona.” The post DeJoria Hopes Hometown Edge will Help Capture NHRA’s 1,000th Funny Car Race first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Triumph Motorcycles America has issued a recall for the 2026 Trident 800 due to a potential insufficient low-beam headlight illumination.View the full article

bproauto, a leading provider of original equipment (OE)-backed, quality-tested and competitively priced aftermarket parts, announced today the company has formed a partnership with Chad Green Motorsports (CGM) and recent Gatornationals Funny Car champion driver Chad Green for NHRA Mission Drag Racing Series events beginning this weekend (April 10-12) in the famed NHRA Lucas Oil Winternationals at the historic In-n-Out Burger Dragstrip at the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds in Pomona, Calif. Launched in 2023 to the North American market, bproauto offers a growing range of new maintenance and repair products designed for most makes and models to wholesale partners and customers through dealership service departments. The expanding auto parts line makes its introduction to the 300-mile-per-hour world of NHRA drag racing with the successful CGM Funny Car team that has Green of Midland, Tex., leading the Funny Car point standings heading into this weekend’s competition at the famed In-n-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip. Green is no stranger to the Pomona winner’s circle as well after he captured the In-n-Out World Finals in 2023. “We are very excited to have bproauto as a partner with Funny Car star Chad Green and his CGM drag racing organization in the NHRA drag racing series this year,” said Dustin Pedley, global head of bproauto at Stellantis. “NHRA Funny Car racing takes high-quality performance and outstanding teamwork. We believe the bproauto brand is a great match with the high-powered straight-line action and the excitement for the racing fans. We wish Chad and his racing team the best in putting the bproauto Funny Car in the winner’s circle.” The CGM operation, based in Brownsburg, Ind., fields two nitro-burning Funny Cars throughout the 20-race NHRA Mission Drag Racing national tour with the veteran Green piloting one 12,000-horsepower monster and his son, Hunter, a former U.S. Nationals Top Alcohol Dragster champion, splitting the driving of the second car with four-time NHRA National event winner Blake Alexander. bproauto will serve as an associate partner with Green’s Funny Car beginning this weekend in the NHRA Lucas Oil Winternationals and primary sponsor for the CGM machine at the New England Nationals in Epping, N.H., on June 5-7; the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio, on June 25-28; and the Las Vegas Nationals in Las Vegas, Nev., on Oct. 29-Nov. 1. “Bringing bproauto on board as a partner is so exciting for our CGM team,” said Green. “We want to do a great job for the company with our Funny Car starting this weekend at the NHRA Winternationals. The NHRA fan base is a perfect complement for this bproauto association, and we can’t wait to have the NHRA crowd check out the bproauto aftermarket catalog and directory. This partnership is great for CGM and the NHRA Drag Racing Series.” Green and new bproauto association begins this weekend (April 10-12) with action set for Friday, April 10, with qualifying rounds at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. PDT. Saturday’s (April 11) qualifying will take place at 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. PDT, with final eliminations on Sunday, April 12, at 11 a.m. PDT. Fox Sports 1 will telecast Sunday’s eliminations at 3:30 p.m. PDT/6:30 p.m. EDT. The post bproauto Announces Partnership with Chad Green Motorsports for NHRA Drag Racing Series Events first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Certain years and production ranges of 390 Dukes and RC 390s are now included in the e-throttle recall the company issued in late 2025.View the full article

The Benchmade Triage pocket knife is headed to the moon on Artemis II, showing just how overbuilt a proper EDC tool can be. View the full article

Royal Enfield's Flying Flea EV is coming. And the Indian launch pricing is kind of astonishing, even moreso if you go with the available battery subscription option. How will riders react?View the full article

There are too many Oil Treatments and Additives to count nowadays, and many of them make claims that are hard to believe. Over the years there have been so many of them and while some have good reputations there are others that people have referred to as snake oil. I know that there are a couple of them that I’ve used over the years and have had good luck with. But with that said, I never had oil analysis done to prove they were working. Well that analysis has been done and the video below will show the results. Video Description: Are oil additives a smart upgrade… or a bad idea? In this video, we put popular motor oil additives to the test—starting with what they actually add to your oil. Using lab analysis, we break down the chemistry inside these products and show how they change the original oil formulation. Then we go a step further. We run industry-standard tests to see if these additives improve performance—or make things worse. From wear protection to oxidation stability, the results might surprise you. These results should be taken within the context of our recent live stream where we showed the results from a detailed data analysis from over 10,000 used oil samples – https://youtube.com/live/EhTRucBH2SQ If you’ve ever wondered whether oil treatments are worth it, this is the data-driven answer. DISCLAIMER: This video is not intended to disparage any products. This video is for informational purposes only and presents independent laboratory test results and industry standards. For more about used oil analysis, check out https://www.speediagnostix.com The post The TRUTH About Oil Additives Revealed, With Real Test Results From The Motor Oil Geek appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

iKamper’s Skycamp 4.0 rooftop tent makes UTV overlanding faster, easier, and way more comfortable on any adventure. View the full article

The sign-off for MotoGP's next Concorde Agreement should've been finalized ages ago, but the series' directors and executives don't want to pay teams and manufacturers any more money, essentially holding everything hostage. View the full article

Josh Hart is enjoying the move from owner to drive. We sat down and talked with Hart about his move and much more. View the full article

Yamaha kept the best parts and changed the rest with a major update to the R7 for 2026. Here's what we have to say after our first hands-on ride with the motorcycle. View the full article

Drag Race Bracket Bonanza officially secured a major Nitro Sponsorship. Fans compete for rare historical prizes at upcoming racing events.View the full article

The 2026 Moto3 title race remains wide open before Jerez, with Quiles on top after three rounds and close finishes, red flags and drama already shaping the season. The post Moto3 2026 season so far – Quiles leads chaotic title chase into Jerez appeared first on MCNews. View the full article