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The unmistakable rumble of nitro is back as the 67th annual Good Vibrations Motorsports March Meet officially got underway Thursday, March 5, 2026, at Famoso Dragstrip. Long regarded as the unofficial kickoff to the nostalgia nitro season, the historic March Meet opened under ideal Central Valley conditions, with sunny skies and temperatures in the high 60s welcoming racers and teams from across the country to the legendary quarter-mile. Thursday’s action saw qualifying begin for the event’s wide range of nostalgia and sportsman classes, with racers greeted by a sticky racing surface that produced strong early runs and set the stage for a fast weekend at one of drag racing’s most iconic facilities. While the majority of classes began their fight for qualifying positions, the nitro-powered headliners—including Nostalgia Top Fuel dragsters, Nostalgia Funny Cars, and the always unpredictable Fuel Altereds—took to the track for test sessions as teams dialed in their combinations ahead of official qualifying. Few events carry the tradition and prestige of the March Meet, an event that has produced decades of legendary moments at Famoso and continues to serve as one of the premier gatherings for nostalgia drag racing. The nitro show officially begins Friday, with racing starting at 9 a.m. and the first nitro qualifying sessions scheduled for noon and again at 3:30 p.m., when the thunder of nitromethane engines will once again shake the grandstands and send fans rushing to the fence. With strong fields across the board, excellent weather, and nitro machines ready to unleash their fury, the 67th Good Vibrations Motorsports March Meet is poised to deliver another unforgettable chapter in nostalgia drag racing history. This story was originally published on March 6, 2026. The post Nitro Returns to Famoso as 67th Good Vibrations Motorsports March Meet Begins first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Monster Energy has joined NHRA Rookie of the Year candidate Maddi Gordon and the championship-winning Ron Capps Motorsports team in a multi-year partnership beginning with the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season. Announced today at Gainesville Raceway ahead of qualifying for the season-opening NHRA Gatornationals, the partnership will see Monster Energy support Gordon’s rookie campaign competing in the sport’s premier Top Fuel class as a major associate-level partner. “This is a huge weekend for us,” said RCM team owner and NAPA Auto Care Funny Car driver Ron Capps. “We’re debuting as a two-car team with Carlyle Tools, it’s Maddi’s first-ever Top Fuel race, the start of NHRA’s 75th anniversary season, and now the cherry on top – we get to announce a partnership with Monster Energy. It’s a brand that carries a lot of weight and has always backed some of the coolest, most extreme athletes in the world, and there’s not much more extreme than what we do, driving these nitromethane-burning beasts at 330 miles per hour. It’s an incredible brand to be aligned with, and I’m beyond proud that Ron Capps Motorsports gets to make this announcement today.” The collaboration with Gordon and the fifth-year RCM organization will feature Monster Energy branding across both team entries, with a larger presence on Gordon’s Top Fuel dragster. The signature Monster Energy M-claw logo will be on full display Friday afternoon when Gordon stages her 12,000-horsepower Carlyle Tools machine in NHRA national event competition for the first time during the opening round of qualifying. Gordon arrives in Top Fuel after years spent both behind the wheel and working on race cars alongside her family where she developed a reputation for her hands-on approach and deep mechanical understanding. That work ethic and dedication reflect the kind of driven, high-performance athletes Monster Energy has long been associated with across the world of motorsports. “It’s really exciting to have a brand like Monster Energy supporting me as I begin my professional career,” said Gordon, who spent the past two seasons piloting her family’s Top Alcohol Funny Car where she picked up three national event wins and a regional championship. “They’ve been involved with some of the most incredible athletes in motorsports, so to now be a part of that Monster family is truly an honor, and honestly, somewhat surreal. If someone would’ve told me a few years ago that in 2026 I’d be driving for Ron Capps, in a fuel car, and with huge, well-known brands such as Carlyle Tools and now Monster Energy, I would’ve told them they were crazy! I’m just so incredibly grateful for the opportunity and proud to represent Monster Energy with this Ron Capps Motorsports team.” Gordon’s Monster Energy-backed Carlyle Tools Top Fuel dragster will make its competition debut this weekend, March 6-8, at Gainesville Raceway during the season-opening NHRA Gatornationals. Qualifying kicks off at 2:30 p.m. ET on Friday. This story was originally published on March 6, 2026. The post Monster Energy Joins Maddi Gordon, Ron Capps Motorsports For Multi-Year NHRA Partnership first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

The 1999 Harley-Davidson Softail occupies a sweet spot in the Milwaukee timeline. It was the final year of the venerable 80-inch Evolution engine, a motor prized by purists for its mechanical simplicity, housed in a chassis that mimics the clean lines of a vintage hardtail. It is a canvas for those ... View the full article

They’ve got the band back together once again, but this time Freiburger and Finnegan are getting MULTIPLE youtube hero vehicles together as both the Limo Crew Cab dually AND Stubby Bob will be together on this one. What could possibly go wrong? Nothing if you listen to Finnegan, and everything if you listen to Freiburger. But we have faith in the dynamic duo and that means that we’re either in for some fun, excitement, or disappointment. Hell, maybe all three! I could tell you more, but where is the fun in that? Watch this and let us know what you think. Video Description: Get D/F STUBBY BOB gear here: https://shop.davidfreiburger.com/ Finnegan and Freiburger are together again for this adventure involving Stubby Bob the wheelstanding dump truck, Finnegan’s stretched Limo Truck, plus a wild engine build happening inside the Limo Truck as we drive down the road. The post STUBBY BOB, the LIMO TRUCK, FREIBURGER, FINNEGAN, and a Big Road Trip That Sets A Gas Mileage Record! What Could Possibly Go Wrong? appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

ATI Performance built these SFI Flexplate Kits to handle massive horsepower. Protect your custom GM driveline from catastrophic failure.View the full article

I’ve known Alan Johnson for a while now. I’ve realized lately that whenyou get my age, in this industry, it means that you get to know people for way longer than you ever expect when you first meet them. I met Alan and Angie Johnson at a Goodguys Show or Power Tour at some point in the mid to late 2000s and have seen them at everything from Goodguys to Bonneville to Drag Week since. They build great cars, are as into them as any of their customers, and they’re just nice people. And while they do build incredibly nice cars, they appreciate hot rods of all kinds. And like I said, they are just nice people. I remember being at home during Drag Week one year, after Hot Rod had told us we couldn’t be there covering it anymore, and my dad was on Drag Week with all our friends and had a clutch problem in his 1968 Z28 Camaro. Our buddy Bubba called over to Johnson’s Hot Rods and asked if there was any way they could borrow a lift to work on dad’s car and then limped it over there. Not only did Alan and the crew give them access to the lift and tools, but Alan and his team jumped in and very quickly had the trans, bell housing, and clutch out of Dad’s Camaro for inspection. After sourcing new parts they were just as quick to shove it back together and get him down the road, which was awesome. And before you think that Alan and the crew were doing this because of who I am, know that he didn’t even know that my dad was my dad until they were halfway done putting the car back together. They are just good people. And they build a hell of a hot rod! Watch the video below to learn more about them and see how they do what they do, thanks to the folks from Holley. Video Description: Alan Johnson of Johnson’s Hot Rod Shop turned a lifelong obsession with cars into one of the most respected names in custom builds. For over 30 years, he’s blended timeless design with modern Holley powered performance and unmatched reliability. That philosophy was on full display at SEMA 2025 with a refined 1980 Trans Am Pace Car built for his wife Angie. The post Holley Pro Spotlight: Alan Johnson Talks About How They’ve Built 30 Years of Craftsmanship at Johnson’s Hot Rod Shop appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

Bartone Bros. Racing is proud to announce that legendary tuner Steve Boggs has been inducted into the prestigious International Hot Rod Hall of Fame. The ceremony took place Thursday evening at the University Hilton in Gainesville during the 2026 Gatornationals weekend. Boggs, the mastermind behind the “Pirate Ship” Top Alcohol Funny Car owned by Tony Bartone and driven by Sean Bellemeur, joins an elite class of drag racing luminaries honored for their lasting contributions to the sport. His induction celebrates a career spanning more than six decades of innovation, championships, and record-setting performances. The partnership between Boggs and team owner Tony Bartone began in 1992 at Sanair Raceway in Quebec, when Bartone made what would prove to be a career-defining hire. The duo has worked together since, winning championships and setting records across multiple decades. Together with Bartone and driver Sean Bellemeur, Boggs forms one-third of the “Killer B’s”—a trio that has dominated the Top Alcohol Funny Car class with five NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series championships, more than 65 event wins. Under Boggs’s tuning leadership, the team has amassed an extraordinary winning record, with Bellemeur currently sitting at 48 NHRA Nationals wins entering the 2026 season. “Steve Boggs being inducted into the Hall is one of the coolest things I will ever witness in this sport,” said driver Sean Bellemeur. “There is no one more deserving. His credentials speak for themselves. Steve prides himself on doing well with things that have either failed for others or trying something completely different. That’s a surefire way to become a legend in this sport. He truly is the GOAT of tuners.” Team owner Tony Bartone reflected on the decades-long partnership that has defined both their careers. Bartone first met Boggs in 1992 and hired him on the spot—a decision that would shape the trajectory of Bartone Bros. Racing for the next 34 years. “After an hour-long conversation with my brother Michael back in 1992 in our trailer here in Quebec, our winning collaboration launched,” Bartone said. “With his tuning expertise combined with my driving, we have set records and won a lot of Wallys, winning the championship in 1996 taking 38 win lights in a row. When most guys have started feeling their age and technology scares them, Steve has embraced it and has only made my hot rods faster. I can’t be more proud of Steve getting into the Hall, and we are not stopping here.” For Boggs, what started with a wooden cart built by him and his brother Ronnie as kids in Ohio has resulted in a career that has amassed more than 120 national wins and over eight national championships. “I started racing with my brother Ronnie, and then he quit in 1992, and I was looking for a job,” Boggs said. “I was helping two other guys with Funny Cars, but I wasn’t too happy. Tony Bartone was there at Sanair Raceway in Quebec. I heard Tony was looking for someone. I talked with him and his brother, and we struck a deal. That is when my career really moved forward. “Tony had all of the tools—the car, the parts, the crew, and the money. We had a motto: ‘You tune it and I’ll drive it.’ We started off winning a few regionals. Then in 2000, we set the ET record in Reading. We had a big year in 2003 with an A-Fuel dragster, setting the national ET record at Pomona and the speed record at Gainesville. We went on to set the national record at Las Vegas and Pomona with that car. “The next chapter was in 2013, when Tony’s brother built a Nostalgia Top Fuel car. After the first year of learning the package, we built a new car. That was the answer. We got that new car and won three championships in a row, ran low 5.50s, and went 274.79 mph—I remember the numbers. “In 2016, my brother and I received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Bob Frey (who was also inducted yesterday). That was really nice, as my brother passed away in 2010.” The last ten years, after Bartone stepped out of the car, began the “Killer B’s” era of Bartone, Boggs, and Bellemeur. “In 2015, we hired Sean Bellemeur for a one-off to drive in Dallas. Prior to that, he had run seven national events and was a runner-up. He got in our car and won the event at Dallas. During 2017, Sean drove for us part-time as he had a commitment to his dad, Gregg. Let me tell you, he is one hell of a driver. We ended up fifth in the points. In 2018, he drove for us full time. There is not a doubt in my mind that I am up here right now because of Tony Bartone, Sean Bellemeur, and our crew. Tony is one of the best owners, Sean is one of the best drivers, we have the best crew, and I do OK. It’s a team effort to win. “Finally, I want to thank Don Garlits and the committee for voting for me. I want to thank my family for putting up with the travel and racing talk over six decades of racing. I have my family and friends here, some who have known me since I was a kid. It’s the families who pay the price when we are gone 20-25 weekends a year, and it is appreciated.” The International Hot Rod Hall of Fame induction comes during a milestone weekend for Bartone Bros. Racing, as the team kicks off their #DriveFor6in26 campaign at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals. Earlier Thursday, Bellemeur piloted the “Pirate Ship” to a 5.49-second pass at 265 mph—the quickest run among TAFC competitors in the first session of the season. Boggs’s induction adds to an already decorated legacy for Bartone Bros. Racing, which has established itself as one of the most successful operations in Top Alcohol Funny Car history. The team’s five championships and consistent dominance reflect the technical expertise and racing acumen that Boggs brings to the track every weekend. A huge thank you to our incredible team sponsors: Red Line Synthetic Oil, Roger Dean Chevrolet, Talon Air, LLC, and NGK Spark Plugs, along with our valued product supporters, Simpson Performance Products and Taylor Motorsports Products.For more information on Bartone Bros. Racing, including race recaps and photos, please visit the team site at www.BartoneBrosRacing.com. The post Steve Boggs of Bartone Bros. Racing Inducted Into International Hot Rod Hall of Fame first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

I have to say that I have only had a couple of jump packs ever, but the one I have now does work pretty good. I haven’t put it through anything ultra tough, but when I’ve needed it to get my junk to run when the battery was down, it worked. Mine is from TopDon and I have had it for over a year and it works great. But most of these jump packs make wild claims as to power, so lets see how they actually stack up against each other and their own factory claims. Video Description: What kind of advantage does a Sodium-Ion jump starter bring vs lead acid and lithium-ion? What about a heated one for cold climates that brings itself up to temperature before operating like the GOOLOO GT4000? We but these, and more, to find out using Jumpy the Ampeater, out jump starter testing robot. We do not accept any tools shown on the channel from any brand, nor do we take any sponsorships, partnerships, discounts, product placement deals, pre-market brand samples, money, items or compensation of any kind from brands, tool makers or otherwise in the planning or creation of these videos. The post New Jump Pack Battery Tech: Are They Worth It? Testing These New Little Jump Packs To Find Out If Any Of Them Are Worth Owning appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

When a buddy of mine saw this thing on Facebook Marketplace, and shared it to a group chat, I took one look at it and thought that a smart person would buy this thing, bag it, and then road trip the hell out of it. A smarter person would probably just buy it and drive it, but I’m not that smart. It’s got a 413 in it, which is cool as hell, and it makes real power so it should drive really nice. This is a luxury ride, and with fresh interior and paint it just needs some finishing touches, and it will be ready to roll. Can you imagine you and all your friends road tripping across America in this cool Chrysler? I’m not a Mopar guy, but this is one clean and classy ride. A Chrysler Imperial was the Mopar equivalent of a Cadillac back then, so this car was luxury, and class, and style which is obvious with just one look at it. So somebody out there in BANGshift land should buy this thing and let us know how much fun it is. Or invite us out for a road trip. I’m totally down. Now if someone bought this thing and did a Gen3 Hemi blown combo in it, with an 8hp, you know it would be an absolute riot. Take that, bag it, add some killer stereo and Vintage Air, and off you go. There are just too many ways to love this car. CLICK HERE TO SEE THE ORIGINAL AD AND MAKE AN OFFER ON THIS COOL 1962 Chrysler Imperial The post This Clean 1962 Chrysler Imperial is Road Trip Greatness! Buy This Thing And Haul All Your Friends On Power Tour Or Rocky Mountain Race Week! appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

Santa Pod Raceway is pleased to announce that FuelTech has been appointed main title sponsor of the Motorsport UK British Drag Racing Championship. The partnership brings one of the world’s leading motorsport electronics and engine-management companies into the top tier of UK drag racing, marking a major step forward for the Championship’s visibility, technical innovation and international engagement. The newly named FuelTech Motorsport UK British Drag Racing Championship showcases the popular Pro Modified class and will benefit from an expanded media presence, increased competitor support and enhanced integration of advanced engine-management technologies. The collaboration reflects the shared vision of FuelTech and Santa Pod Raceway to foster the next generation of performance and competition excellence in drag racing. Anderson Dick, Founder & CEO of FuelTech,said: “Santa Pod Raceway has long been a symbol of drag racing passion and innovation in Europe. Partnering with Santa Pod and the Motorsport UK British Drag Racing Championship allows FuelTech to support a community that values the same things we do, technology, performance, and the thrill of true competition. We’re excited to help bring new energy to the Championship and to work closely with Santa Pod as we push the sport forward together.” “FuelTech has become a global force in performance motorsport, and their commitment to innovation aligns perfectly with how we want to develop drag racing in the UK,” said Keith Bartlett, CEO of Santa Pod Raceway. “Their involvement will not only raise the technical bar but also grow the profile of the Championship with fans and racers alike.” FuelTech is a global leader in engine-management systems, data acquisition and motorsport electronics. Known for its FT-series ECUs and integrated PowerFT platform, FuelTech powers world-class race vehicles across drag racing, circuit racing, drifting, and other high-performance disciplines. With operations in the USA, Brazil and Europe, FuelTech provides cutting-edge solutions, built by racers for racers. The Motorsport UK British Drag Racing Championship is the premier national drag racing competition in the United Kingdom. Sanctioned by Motorsport UK and hosted at Santa Pod Raceway, the Championship is contested over six rounds and showcases elite drivers and teams in the Pro Modified class. Colourful and unruly, Pro Mods are drag racing’s quickest, fastest “doorslammers” – vehicles resembling production cars in appearance with suspended chassis and functional doors. The production-car resemblance is skin-deep; beneath, these are pure-bred, purpose-built racing machines with dragstrip performance credentials far exceeding those of even the most potent production car. Thundering V8 engines power them, some supercharged or turbocharged on methanol, others unblown on petrol pepped up by nitrous oxide and sporting massive cubic capacities stretching beyond 14 litres. It is a British series with international appeal. 2025’s champion, Andres Arnover from Estonia, is the third overseas racer to win the crown since Pro Mod became the championship class in 2007, and racers come from across Europe to compete in Santa Pod’s two combined FIA/Motorsport UK rounds in May and September. Arnover’s quickest elapsed time, 5.695sec, and fastest speed, 254.71mph, in his turbocharged Mustang were the championship season’s best performances.Santa Pod Raceway is Europe’s premier drag racing venue, hosting national and international championships, lifestyle festivals, and world-record-setting motorsport events. Known as the “Home of European Drag Racing,” Santa Pod continues to innovate while preserving the sport’s rich heritage. This story was originally published on March 6, 2026. The post Santa Pod Raceway Announces FuelTech as Main Title Sponsor of the Motorsport UK British Drag Racing Championship for 2026 first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

If you aren’t familiar with the Ridler Award at the Detroit Autorama, the quick and dirty is that it is arguably the most coveted car show award on earth. It is also never without drama. These cars are built and finished to a detail level not seen on anything else and just being chosen for the Great 8 is an accomplishment to be proud of. In order to qualify for the Ridler you must be showing your car for the very first time ever at the Detroit Autorama. You can’t have shared the build online, you can’t have spoken about any details, you can’t have spilled the beans at any level. If you do, then you’ll be disqualified. In the video below, the 8 finalists who have made it to the Great 8 are highlighted before one became the winner of the 2026 Ridler Award itself. Watch. Video Description: From 1,000hp street machines to meticulously reimagined classics, this year’s finalists prove the Ridler competition is tighter—and bolder—than ever. The post Check Out The Great 8 Contenders at the 2026 Detroit Autorama! Any One Of These Could Have Won The Ridler. appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

(Words and Photos by Joe Grippo) Here in the northeast section of the country we are in the deep freeze so most of the fun stuff moves indoors. We took a break from off season race car upgrades and maintenance, and made trip to Lebanon, Pennsylvania to check out the DragFest Indoor Drag Racing Showcase. It’s a great static gathering of drag cars, show cars and more. A few area dragstrips were in attendance handing out 2026 schedules along with a few of the cars that are regulars at their facilities. Numidia Raceway and South Mountain Dragway were set up loud and proud. A bunch of racing clubs displayed member cars and promoted their upcoming appearances. Back Seat Drivers a group of vintage style front engine dragsters and the Mid Atlantic Nostalgia Drag Racing Association (MANDA) each dominated a few of the rooms at the Lebanon Convention Center. This year’s show had some amazing survivors and barn find type stuff. Check out the 1957 Ford with twin carbed Y-Block and Paxton Supercharger, the killer tunnel rammed big block chevy powered ’68 Camaro resplendent in B/MP trim, complete with a quarte window full of Atco Dragway kill stickers! Killer stuff. My favorite machine in show was the Survivor 1971 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler street machine; you can’t miss it in the gallery! A real deal time capsule from the early ‘70’s, this is one of only 353 Spoilers built in 1971, which is special enough, but the wild custom paint job and body work applied in ’73 is mind-blowing. The colors, design layout, and murals kept me coming back to it all day. And don’t sleep on the extra-stuffed diamond tufted custom interior with that crazy console! Dig into the photos for much more! The gang at Motorama Productions put this and other shows on throughout the year. I’ll be hitting a few more soon. The post More I-24 Lebanon Dragfest 2026 Photos! This Indoor Drag Racing Showcase Features Some Amazing Race Cars, History, And More! appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

Tony Stewart Racing has announced Award Winning XXI Martinis as their newest partner for the NHRA 75th anniversary season. Distilled and bottled in the United States, XXI Martinis offers a collection of ready to serve flavored martinis. “We’re excited XXI Martinis has come on board with TSR for the 2026 NHRA season,” said Tony Stewart, owner of Tony Stewart Racing. “They’re becoming a well-known brand, and we look forward to building their popularity, sales and distribution into our fanbase and family of partners.” Co-Founded by serial entrepreneur Shannon Keeran and legendary Las Vegas bartender, Angelo Bottley, XXI Martinis was developed and launched in 2021. The brand, known for their flagship Espresso Martini, has quickly grown to become a national brand and is also available in the British Virgin Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, and is offered in over 4,000 bars, restaurants and retail stores nationwide. “We operate in such an intense atmosphere and with such high horsepower partners, it only makes sense to give a little balance for when we are done with the day and want to enjoy a good, smooth, cocktail. XXI Martinis is the answer for that,” said Leah Pruett, driver of the TSR Top Fuel dragster. “I’m a fan and I think this is the perfect environment for them to grow their footprint.” “The opportunity to be partnered with Tony Stewart Racing is a hard one to pass up. We see the potential growth and we’re excited about it,” said Shannon Keeran, co-founder and CEO of XXI Martinis. “The teams fit our brand perfectly and with ambassadors like Leah, Tony and Matt to help tell XXI Martinis’ story, it’s an all-around win for us. We believe that great martinis, great friendships and great occasions come from the right ingredients, the right mindset, the right chemistry and just a bit of alchemy. This partnership with Tony Stewart Racing follows that same recipe.” XXI Martinis will be featured on Pruett’s Top Fuel dragster and four-time world champion Hagan’s Funny Car for the full 20-race Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series season. The logo will make its debut at this weekend’s Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway March 6-8 in Florida. To locate XXI Martinis at a store near you and to learn more about the brand please visit https://xximartinis.com/ and make sure to follow @xximartinis on Instagram and Facebook. The post XXI Martinis Joins Tony Stewart Racing in NHRA first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Last season at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals was the kickoff to Pro Stock driver Dallas Glenn’s first world championship season. This season, he’s looking for another win at Gainesville Raceway at the 2026 NHRA Mission Drag Racing Series season opener, which starts NHRA’s 75th anniversary season. Glenn wheels the RAD Torque Systems Chevrolet Camaro for Pro Stock powerhouse KB Titan Racing. Last year’s Gainesville win was his first of eight wins en route to his championship, enjoying another banner season in the Pro Stock ranks. As he and the rest of the stars of the NHRA Mission Drag Racing Series return to the legendary facility, Glenn is thrilled to be back at Gainesville. “It feels really good to get back to the track just because of how busy we’ve been at the shop during the off-season,” said Glenn. “I’m really excited to be back out competing and seeing all the people in this traveling circus and all of our friends. I’ve had success at Gainesville before, and I would really like to continue that success there.” Glenn’s 2025 Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals marked his first win over his KB Titan Racing teammate and six-time Pro Stock world champion Greg Anderson. The two battled all season for the points lead and the championship, but Glenn’s performance in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs gave him the edge, as he won four of the five races in the postseason. “In 2024, I finished in second by a few thousandths to Greg. We didn’t have a very good Countdown,” Glenn said. “Then last year I didn’t stumble at all. We definitely had a lot of luck when we needed it and I think that was key. What I want to do for this year is take the bull by the horns and take control of everything. You do your job good enough, and your car’s good enough, and you work hard, and put yourself in the right position, you shouldn’t need the luck.” Last year, Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Chad Green (Funny Car), Glenn (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all won on the hallowed grounds of Gainesville Raceway to open the year. This year’s race will again be broadcast on FS1, including eliminations at 12 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 8. It’s the first of 20 races during the 2026 season and along with a full slate of racing, fans can expect a multitude of events to celebrate the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals and NHRA’s 75th anniversary, including: Appearances from a host of NHRA legends during the event, including Kenny Bernstein, Don Garlits, Joe Amato, Don Prudhomme, Shirley Muldowney, Darrell Gwynn and Bob Frey. A celebration of Bernstein’s historic 300-mph run from 1992. A free, limited-edition NHRA 2026 season poster to the first 6,500 fans in attendance on Sunday. A new-look Nitro Mall, special displays and 75th anniversary stage in Nitro Alley. Race winners will get the special NHRA 75th anniversary Diamond Wally, along with the Gatornationals traditional Golden Gator trophy. In the Top Fuel ranks, reigning world champ Doug Kalitta will again face a talented field of competitors, including reigning Gainesville winner and four-time champion Antron Brown, Shawn Langdon, Justin Ashley and 2025 regular season champ Tony Stewart. Chad Green won his second career Funny Car race last season, beating three-time world champ Ron Capps. Austin Prock earned his second straight title and after a move to Tasca Racing, he’ll look to keep rolling against four-time champ Matt Hagan, class newcomer Jordan Vandergriff, Jack Beckman and Daniel Wilkerson. Pro Stock Motorcycle’s Gaige Herrera has never lost in Gainesville. Last year, he won his third straight, defeating rival Matt Smith. He’ll look for four in a row against reigning world champ Richard Gadson, Angie Smith, Steve Johnson and Jianna Evaristo. The weekend will also feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Flexjet Factory Showdown and the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series. Fans will also be invited all weekend long to the Nitro Alley Stage, which hosts Nitro School, meet and greets, music and more. Race fans in Gainesville can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that introduce and celebrate each of the drivers racing for the prestigious Wally on Sunday and includes the fan-favorite SealMaster Track Walk. As always, fans get a pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction. Fans have a chance to see teams in action and service their cars between rounds, get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers and more. Fans can visit NHRA’s Nitro Alley, where sponsors and vendors create an exciting atmosphere that includes interactive displays, merchandise, and food and fun for the entire family. NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying features two rounds at 1:30 and 4 p.m. ET on Friday, March 6, and the final two qualifying rounds on Saturday, March 7 at 12:30 and 3 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 10 a.m. ET on Sunday, March 8. The first round of the Right Trailers Top Fuel All-Star Callout takes place at 12:15 p.m. on Saturday, with the semifinals slated for 2:15 p.m. and the final round at 3:30 p.m. A special Callout broadcast will also air at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday on FS1.To purchase tickets to the 2026 Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, fans can visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. Children 12 and under are free in general admission areas with the purchase of an adult ticket. For more information about the NHRA, visit www.nhra.com. The post Pro Stock’s Dallas Glenn Returns to Gainesville as Reigning World Champion first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

As Top Fuel speeds climbed on the regular last year in the National Hot Rod Association, the spotlight turned to the only part of a 12,000-horsepower nitro monster that actually touches the track: the tires. When the now-retired two-time class champion Brittany Force blasted past 340 mph – twice in a matter of weeks in the summer of ‘25 – it wasn’t just a team accomplishment. It was proof of product dominance for Goodyear, the exclusive tire supplier for NHRA’s nitro categories. But the question facing the manufacturer entering this weekend’s season kickoff at the Gatornationals is this: At 340-plus mph, are current tire compounds and construction still sufficient, or is it time for changes? Todd Rogers of Goodyear’s drag racing division says nope. “We’re still in a good place right now,” Rogers said. “Brittany had run 340 multiple times. She did it twice (last year) in Brainerd, and her tires looked really good on every one of those runs.” That visual inspection isn’t casual. Goodyear engineers are stationed at the top end at every NHRA National event, immediately evaluating tires after high-speed passes. Rogers said he and two engineers routinely examine the tires as soon as the car returns from a pass. “We gather the serial number off every tire so we can track the runs – who ran it, where they ran it, and how many times,” he said. “We’re looking them over as closely as we can right there.” The focus is on surface condition, structural integrity, and any signs of compound distress. At extreme high speeds, rear slicks experience massive centrifugal forces, distortion, and heat buildup in less than four seconds. Any irregular wear pattern or structural anomaly becomes a critical data point. “In Brittany’s case, they’ve looked really clean – almost brand new,” Rogers said. Since nitro tires are designed to wrinkle dramatically at launch, absorbing torque before growing in diameter at speed, that’s impressive. The construction – particularly the carcass shape and internal reinforcement – has to withstand repeated and extreme deformation. Goodyear’s current Top Fuel and Funny Car slick has been in place since 2016. Rogers, who joined the drag racing group in 2017 after time with Goodyear’s NASCAR program, said the company’s comfortable with the mold and carcass design that define the tire’s structural foundation. Despite the incredible physics of these tires, accidents can happen. Top Fueler Shawn Reed experienced a horrific crash at last year’s Nationals near Seattle, one serious enough to put him on the sidelines for more than a month with broken ribs and a mangled finger. He would come back like a boss in September, winning an IHRA nitro race in Hebron, Ohio, to shake the dust off and again the following weekend at his NHRA Pro return in Reading, Penn. A notable portion of the crash involved one of the tires on his rail losing integrity. Reed said after the race he didn’t blame Goodyear for the tire failure. “We had a meeting with them and they found no reason to why that tire came apart and I’m OK with it,” he said. “There doesn’t have to be a reason. I think if you look too deep for a reason you just find someone to blame and you know what, I’m not a blamer. They’re building the best tires they can and NHRA is doing the best they can to keep the track clean. “They check it all the time; they pull that FOD (foreign object damage) mat around and I mean they got 10 or 12 guys over the wall after every pass, looking at stuff. I can’t blame any one of us. It’s just a freak accident that happened and I’m OK with the call.” Goodyear didn’t make any alterations to their tire after Reed’s accident, but if any adjustment were to be made, it would most likely involve the compound rather than the construction. “We would just try to toughen up and firm up that compound a little bit,” Rogers said, noting that Goodyear’s compound specialists collaborate across racing divisions to evaluate potential changes. Altering a compound involves adjusting blends of carbon black and other reinforcing agents that affect hardness, wear resistance, and heat tolerance. A tougher compound could slightly reduce peak speeds by limiting tire growth or traction characteristics, but Rogers emphasized that drivability is paramount. “Our goal would be to have the same drivability with a little tougher compound,” he said. “But you don’t know until you get it on track and get feedback from the driver.” That feedback is paired with detailed data analysis from onboard telemetry systems, allowing engineers to study wheel speed, tire growth, and traction performance down to fractions of a second. Since NHRA shortened nitro racing from 1,320 feet to 1,000 feet in 2008, speeds have steadily climbed despite the reduced distance. While some in the sport periodically advocate for a return to the full quarter-mile, Rogers said Goodyear has not conducted in-depth research into what that would require from a tire standpoint. “If we did, we’d have to study what those speeds would be and probably look at introducing a tougher compound,” he said. For now, Goodyear’s concern level remains low. As long as 340-mph runs result in tires that “look great” at the finish line, teams won’t see drastic changes. This story was originally published on March 6, 2026. The post Goodyear Ready for Nitro in 2026 first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

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