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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

Beat rising fuel prices with TeamMoto’s latest bike deals Fuel prices keep climbing, but your weekly transport costs do not have to climb with them! For plenty of Australians, the smartest way to cut the cost of getting around is not to drive less, but to ride more! Two wheels can mean lower fuel use, […] The post Cut fuel costs with TeamMoto’s Beat the Bowser Sale appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

Speedmaster, the global leader in high-performance automotive parts and motorsports culture, has increased its partnership to full primary sponsorship of John Force Racing’s Top Fuel Dragster team driven by Josh Hart in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Speedmaster was announced as a co-primary partner with Hart’s Burnyzz Speed Shop on Jan. 28 of this year. Both Speedmaster and Burnyzz Speed Shop will continue to have brand identification on all four of John Force Racing’s teams throughout the year. The Speedmaster Top Fuel Dragster will make its debut April 10-12 at the NHRA Winternationals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip. “I’ve never had a sponsor contribute so much so fast,” said Hart. “The partnership is beyond just parts and sponsorship for the race car. We quickly became friends. We quickly understand each other’s businesses. Jason’s been great. The whole Speedmaster team has really been kind of rallying behind this. He mentioned to me that this is a lifelong dream of his to be a primary sponsor on a Top Fuel car with John Force Racing. The fact that we were able to collaborate and put it together as quickly as we did is absolutely epic. Speedmaster stepping into the primary spot alleviates some pressure on me, puts them in the spotlight, which is what they deserve and, hopefully, it’s a long-term partnership for years to come.” Hart won the 2026 NHRA season-opening Gatornationals on March 8 in his John Force Racing debut. A second-round finish two weeks later at the Arizona Nationals finds the team second in the point standings heading into the Winternationals. “Even though we went out in the second round at Arizona, I think, as of right now, I may have already eclipsed all of my round wins from last year already this year,” Hart said. “So, for me, this early season has been very positive. There’s a lot of momentum, a lot of excitement. The track was hot in Arizona so we can’t beat everybody up over that. And we know that the conditions in Pomona are always good. So, I’m very confident. I think we’ll be right there in the Top 5 as far as qualifying goes, which will change our stars on race day. And we’ll get this Speedmaster team right back in line.” 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). The post Speedmaster Increases Partnership with JFR as Full Primary Sponsor on Josh Hart’s Top Fuel Dragster first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Leah Pruett and Matt Hagan are keeping their standards high as they enter this weekend’s Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip. Pruett will feature Rinnai Tankless Water Heaters as her Top Fuel dragster’s primary livery for the first time in the 2026 Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series season while teammate Matt Hagan will feature Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage on his Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car. Pruett, who stepped back into the seat of her Dodge dragster after starting a family, hasn’t missed a beat since her return. Currently fourth in points, Pruett qualified third at the season opener in Gainesville, Florida before a quarterfinal exit and she followed up that performance with a No. 2 qualifying position and runner-up finish at the NHRA Arizona Nationals just over two weeks ago. “Over the course of history, the Winternationals has been the kick-off race for the NHRA, where you first started to find your footing for the season. This year, being third on the schedule and an already 14 laps in, I feel an elevated level of preparedness for the Winternationals that I’ve never felt before,” said Pruett who won the 2017 and 2021 Winternationals. “I am more comfortable in the car than even at the start of the season. Winning the Winternationals in the past meant you hit the ground running. Right now, we already have momentum. It can be done; we can win and knowing we are capable is what excites me most.” Pruett, who with husband Tony Stewart splits her residence between Columbus, Indiana and Lake Havasu, Arizona, is originally from Redlands, California, just about 40 miles from In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip. “Racing in Southern California and at the Pomona Dragstrip specifically is forever sentimental because it’s home for me,” Pruett said. “Those purple mountains visible from the staging lanes and behind the tower always bring a sense of majesty to the races. That combined with not only the NHRA heritage but my own, puts it on another level.” The last time Pruett was in the driver’s seat at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip was the NHRA Finals of 2023 where she faced off in a winner-takes-the-championship final round against now two-time and reigning world champion Doug Kalitta. Pruett finished runner-up and third in the championship points standings. But a lot has happened since then. “I’ve thought a lot about that day, that final round. Finishing a race weekend with a Wally is always the goal. Getting the win this weekend in Pomona would also simultaneously finish that last piece of unfinished business. But that chapter has closed and so much life has taken place since then,” Pruett explained. “The Winternationals carries with it new beginnings, with new orders of business that are far greater than just one round at one racetrack against one team.” Pruett will have extra to compete for this weekend. The Top Fuel team earned a spot in the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge by making it past the quarterfinals in Arizona. Pruett will have a rematch against semifinal opponent Kalitta during Saturday qualifying. “I am in my element when I’m competing and the more I can be in that element, the better. No simulator in the world can give you the experience that something like the Tortilla Tussle (aka the #2Fast2Tasty Challenge) does,” Pruett said. “I’ve always thought the #2Fast2Tasty challenge was neat. It gives fans a chance to see competition on Saturday and if you couldn’t put down great qualifying on Friday, it still gets you the chance to qualify at the back of your class in the session. There’s the added value of the bonus championship points and a bit of a cash bonus for the guys. So, it’s a win all the way around to be in it.” On the Funny Car side, Matt Hagan and his JHG team will also compete in the #2Fast2Tasty Challenge. Hagan raced to a semifinal finish in Arizona. He’ll get the chance to redeem himself against 2025 Rookie of the Year Spencer Hyde for a chance at the bonus points and cash prize. “The Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, racing within a race, is always great. I think it gives you an opportunity to get your adrenaline up and get out there and recreate what could happen on Sunday,” said Hagan who took home the overall Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge trophy at the end of the regular season last year. “Competition is competition, I don’t care whether we’re racing lawn mowers or racing fuel Funny Cars. You just want to see the win light come on and know that you did a better job than the person beside you. It’s another accomplishment and Mission Foods have done a great job putting money back in our guys’ pockets and give them something to be motivated about. I want to thank Mission Foods for continuing this program, continuing the money and continuing to give out the trophies and accolades that come along with it.” Hagan finished second in the 2025 NHRA championship points battle after winning what would be the final race of the season in Las Vegas due to a rain out at the NHRA Finals. He’s kicked off the 2026 season with a No. 5 qualifying position and quarterfinal exit in Gainesville, Florida and a No. 4 qualifying effort and semifinal finish in Arizona, putting him fifth heading into race three of 20. “Momentum is everything. We ended 2025 really strong. We didn’t get the chance to compete in Pomona at the Finals I really thought we had something to really contend for the championship, and we just had it pulled out from underneath our feet,” Hagan said. “But we’re still right there. Qualifying well, winning rounds. And you know, Pomona has been good to me. It’s one of the racetracks where we’ve had a lot of wins, been crowned champion there multiple times. Long story short, track record is good there.” Hagan is the winningest active Funny Car driver at In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip with seven victories at the facility, second overall only to legend John Force who has 17. At no track has Hagan raced in more final rounds; at the Winternationals alone Hagan has made seven final round appearances with a total of four wins (2023, 2018, 2017, 2015). “We have a lot of momentum and things are going well so I’m excited to get out to Pomona and put on a show for these fans. I think that’s the biggest thing that we forget sometimes when we get so caught up in the winning and the glory and all the all the other things that come along with it,” Hagan said. “You have to remember you have to put on a great show because without our fans we don’t get to do this. A great show sells tickets and a great side-by-side drag race sells tickets and that’s what we’re looking forward to doing out there this weekend.” Competition at the NHRA Winternantionals at In-N-Out Pomona Drag Strip begins with four rounds of qualifying Friday at 1:30 and 4 p.m. and Saturday at 12:30 and 3 p.m. Eliminations are slated for Sunday at 11 a.m. Television coverage of the event will air on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) beginning Sunday with a qualifying show at 11:30 a.m. ET and a Finals show at 6:30 p.m. ET. The post Leah Pruett and Matt Hagan Riding Momentum Heading into Pomona first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Camrie Caruso Motorsports is proud to announce that Allen Johnson, one of the most accomplished and respected names in NHRA Pro Stock history, will take the wheel of the Green Genie Mountain Motor Pro Stock Car as Camrie Caruso steps away from driving duties for the 2026 season to focus on starting a family. While Caruso will be away from the driver’s seat this season, she plans to remain involved with the team and is expected to return to competition next season. Johnson, a celebrated NHRA Pro Stock veteran, is best known as the 2012 NHRA Pro Stock World Champion and a seven-time winner of the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals, earning him the title “King of the Mountain.” Following a decorated 22-year career with Mopar, Johnson retired from full-time Pro Stock competition in 2017, but his impact on the sport has continued. In 2023, he made headlines once again in Factory X, becoming the first member of the Jesel 200 MPH Club. This special opportunity also marks a reunion of one of drag racing’s most respected championship combinations. Jim Yates, who worked alongside Johnson during his NHRA Pro Stock championship run, will once again be calling the shots as tuner, while Adrian Long continues as car chief. “This wasn’t an easy decision, but family comes first,” said Camrie Caruso. “I’m stepping away for this season to focus on starting a family, but I fully plan to be back behind the wheel next season. In the meantime, I can’t think of anyone better than Allen Johnson to drive this car. His experience, talent, and success speak for themselves, and having Jim Yates and Allen back together again with Adrian Long as car chief makes this really special. It truly feels like we’ve got the band back together.” The Green Genie Mountain Motor Pro Stock entry will hit the track backed by an outstanding group of partners, including Green Genie, CDL Training Academy, Woods Creek Coffee, VP Racing Fuels, The HubSaver, and Iconic Apparel. “We’re proud to continue pushing forward with our program and representing all of the incredible partners who support us,” Caruso added. “This team has worked hard to build something special, and I’m excited to watch it continue this season, and I couldn’t be more thankful for the partners who stand by us season after season.” With Johnson’s championship pedigree, Yates’ proven tuning expertise, and a strong team behind the scenes, Camrie Caruso Motorsports is ready to make a statement with the Green Genie Mountain Motor Pro Stock program. This story was originally published on April 9, 2026. The post Allen Johnson to Drive Green Genie Mountain Motor Pro Stock Car for Camrie Caruso Motorsports first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Elite Motorsports, one of the most dynamic teams in NHRA Drag Racing, brings its seven-car camp to the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Drag Strip, race three of 20 on the 2026 Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series schedule. After five years, Jeg Coughlin Jr., a six-time world champion and future Hall of Famer, is back in the familiar yellow and gold of JEGS, the company his family started, cultivated and still actively promote. With two races under his belt in the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, Jeg Jr., the 69-time Pro Stock national event winner sits eighth in points after a semifinal finish at the sweltering NHRA Arizona Nationals. “On to Pomona! I love Pomona and Southern California, and it looks like we’ll be treated with some cooler temperatures after the scorcher we had in Phoenix. Whatever the weather brings, we’ll be ready to make some laps,” Jeg Jr. said. “I’ve had a lot of success at Pomona. I think one of the headlines after, fortunately, one of my many wins there was ‘Jeggy’s Love Affair with Pomona.’ And really, it’s been just that.” Jeg Jr. has taken home the Wally at Pomona Dragstrip in Pro Stock eight times, fourth most in the category and second most of any active Pro Stock drivers. He has wins at the NHRA Winternationals in 2020, 2000 and 1999. He also won the additional 50th Anniversary Nationals event contested in 2001. “I’ve gotten the chance to be in the winner’s circle for the Winternationals and the fall Finals, I’ve won championships at Pomona and raced in the sportsman series. It’s just an exciting place to be,” Jeg Jr. said. “With LAX right up the road, we have fans from Australia, Hawaii and all over the United States. All there to cheer on NHRA Drag Racing. It feels like a reunion every time we come out to Pomona with all the fans I’ve met over the years. So, I’m excited to get back behind the wheel and see if we can make some more noise.” In addition to regular competition in the NHRA Winternationals, Jeg Jr. and teammate Greg Stanfield, driver of the Janac Brothers Racing Pro Stock entry, will also compete in the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge during Saturday qualifying. For championship bonus points and a cash prize, each will have a rematch against their NHRA Arizona Nationals semifinal opponents in the first qualifying session of the day before a winner is crowned during the final qualifying session. Jeg Jr. will face nephew Cody Coughlin while G. Stanfield will race reigning world champion Dallas Glenn. With his semifinal appearance in Arizona, G. Stanfield enters the weekend sixth in points as he looks for his third professional win at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip. His first victory came during the 2000 NHRA Finals in the no longer contested Pro Stock Truck category while his first Pro Stock victory came in the fall of 2011. Both years he was also runner-up at the Winternationals. Six-time world champion and winningest female in motorsports history Erica Enders and her Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage / Melling Performance / R+L Carriers team lead Elite Motorsports in the Pro Stock points standings. After a semifinal finish and quarterfinal exit to start the season, the two-time In-N-Out Burger Pomona Drag Strip winner sits fifth, a vast improvement from the 12th-place the team was in this time last year. Enders most recently won the Winternationals in 2022. In Top Fuel, motorsports icon Tony Stewart and the R+L Carriers team are holding their own sitting sixth in the points after two consistent weekends. In his first season under the Elite Motorsports banner, Stewart has qualified fifth and had quarterfinal exits at both the NHRA Gatornationals and Arizona Nationals. Stewart, who broke through for his first Top Fuel win in the spring of 2025, is looking to make it to the finals of the Winternationals for the second consecutive year. He came up short to Clay Millican last season. Aaron Stanfield and his JHG / Melling / Janac Brothers team are no strangers to success at Pomona Dragstrip. A. Stanfield most recently picked up victory at the historical venue during the fall NHRA Finals in 2023. The versatile driver had a Winternationals victory at the venue in 2021 against six-time champion Greg Anderson and came up short to teammate Enders at the same event in 2022. Troy Coughlin Jr. racing the reverse black and yellow midnight version of the JEGS Pro Stock car is looking for his first final round appearance at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip. While clear performance progress has been made, the five-time Pro Stock winner currently sits 14th in points after a pair of first round exits to start the season. Also searching for not only his first taste of victory in Southern California but in the professional Pro Stock class is Stephen Bell in his 1320 LLC Pro Stock entry. Bell, who will race at least 10 events this season with Elite Motorsports, is 15th in points after qualifying 14th and exiting in the first round at the Gatornationals and Arizona Nationals. Competition at the NHRA Winternationals at In-N-Out Pomona Drag Strip begins with four rounds of qualifying Friday at 1:30 and 4 p.m. and Saturday at 12:30 and 3 p.m. Eliminations are slated for Sunday at 11 a.m. Television coverage of the event will air on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) beginning Sunday with a qualifying show at 11:30 a.m. ET and a Finals show at 6:30 p.m. ET. The post Elite Motorsports Looking for Continued Success at NHRA Winternationals first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

The John Scotti Canadian Championship Series is pleased to announce that the Quick 32 Sportsman Series will return to the NHRA National Open double-headers at Toronto Motorsports Park in Cayuga, Ontario. The events are set for Victoria Day Weekend, May 15-17, and Labour Day Weekend, September 4-6, 2026. “Bruce Mehlenbacher’s Quick 32 Sportsman Series (Top Dragster and Top Sportsman) draw a great group of Canadian and American teams. We want those teams,” said John Scotti. “They’re second to none, all first-class teams, and great competitors. It is natural to include them again for the advancement of the Canadian Series.” The event features two full days of qualifying and eliminations on Saturday and Sunday. There will also be a Test & Tune session on Friday. “The Quick 32 Sportsman Series is looking forward to working with everyone at Toronto Motorsports Park, NHRA’s Glenn Grow and the NHRA John Scotti Canadian Championship Series Motorsports Park,” said Bruce Mehlenbacher of the Quick 32 Sportsman Series. “The teams are excited to be included in the event and to return to Toronto Motorsports Park.” The event will feature classes such as the Quick 32 Sportsman Series (Top Dragster and Top Sportsman), Can-Am Stock/Super Stock Series, Nostalgia Super Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, Super Street, and Junior Dragster. Competitors can earn NHRA grade points, which help determine their eligibility for major NHRA events and give them a chance to win a Wally, the most prestigious trophy in drag racing. The post NHRA Welcomes Quick 32 Sportsman Series Back to John Scotti Championship Series first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article