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Rocky Talkie knows that Search & Rescue teams don't get the support they deserve, which is why the company started its own Awards program to help SAR groups around the country. View the full article

In celebration of a defining milestone in American motorsports, the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) has partnered with contemporary watch brand Filippo Loreti to unveil a collection commemorating NHRA’s 75th anniversary. This NHRA watch collaboration introduces two exclusive models, each available on a stainless-steel bracelet or performance rubber strap, designed to celebrate seven-plus decades of speed, engineering excellence, and championship legacy in professional drag racing. The licensing partnership was brokered by JRL Group, NHRA’s licensing agency. Since its founding in 1951, the NHRA has grown into the world’s premier drag racing authority, setting standards for competition, speed, and innovation across the motorsports industry. The 75th anniversary represents a historic moment for drivers, teams, and fans alike. To commemorate this milestone, the Filippo Loreti x NHRA 75th Anniversary collection captures the spirit of the dragstrip through bold design language, technical precision, and commemorative detailing worthy of the occasion. The collection features two celebratory references: A royal blue dynamic chronograph engineered with racing-inspired aesthetics and a highly legible dial layout. The design reflects the instrumentation and intensity of professional drag racing, emphasizing timing precision and visual impact. A two-tone sport-driven chronograph model that blends contemporary design with refined detailing, offering a versatile tribute to the NHRA’s enduring legacy and evolution. Each model is offered in two configurations: Stainless steel bracelet for a classic, structured presence High-performance rubber strap for a sport-forward, track-ready look This dual offering ensures flexibility for collectors and enthusiasts who move seamlessly between events at the track and everyday wear. In keeping with the personal connection many fans share with the sport, every watch in the NHRA 75th Anniversary collection includes complimentary caseback engraving. Customers may personalize their timepiece with a name, commemorative date, racing number, or meaningful message, transforming the watch into a bespoke tribute to NHRA history. This added customization reinforces the commemorative nature of the release while enhancing long-term collector value. Both models prominently feature official NHRA 75th anniversary insignia and dedicated case back markings to celebrate this historic date. Designed for durability and precision, the watches combine motorsport-inspired aesthetics with everyday functionality. The partnership between Filippo Loreti and the NHRA underscores a shared commitment to performance, precision engineering, and design excellence. By translating the energy of the dragstrip into a wearable mechanical instrument, the collaboration offers enthusiasts a tangible symbol of racing heritage. As the NHRA marks 75 years of championship moments and record-breaking runs, this collection stands as a lasting tribute to the athletes, innovators, and fans who have propelled the sport forward. The Filippo Loreti x NHRA 75th Anniversary watches are available now. Each model is available with a stainless-steel bracelet or rubber strap, with complimentary engraving included for all purchasers. This NHRA watch collection can be purchased at https://filippoloretiwatches.com/collections/nhra. The post NHRA Marks 75 Years of Championship Drag Racing with Signature Filippo Loreti Timepieces first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

The new KB399 is the most financially accessible Bimota ever, but is it worth it considering how heavily it's based on the Kawasaki ZX-4RR? Here's what we know.View the full article

The 2026 Osaka Motorcycle Show just wrapped, and Honda brought a couple of E-Clutch design concepts to the show that look production-ready.View the full article

Honda adds new production lines in India, boosting capacity to over 2 million motorcycles a year in a single plant. View the full article

It's not every year you reach an entire century of existence, so Ducati is inviting all its loyal fans around the world to go for a ride.View the full article

The Bimota BX450 takes the proven Kawasaki KX450X platform and gives it Italian tuning, race-proven upgrades, and serious off road capability. View the full article

The Fireball tools go-kart belt sander is something special, that’s for sure, and with 5 horsepower you’d think that it could hog away any material needed. And it does. But more power is always good, right? In the video below, Jason walks us through testing, upgrading, and testing some more as he sees just how good this big beast of a belt sander really is. I know it would do anything and everything I ever cared about, that’s for sure! Check it out and let us know what you think. Video Description: Many of you guys recognize this go-kart belt grinder I made on this channel a few years ago. Since then, it’s been used daily, and it’s time for an upgrade. Which brings the question: Is 10 HP too much for this belt grinder? Only one way to find out! The post How Dangerous Is A 10hp Belt Grinder? The Fireball Tools 5HP Go Kart Belt Sander Is A Scary Machine Now! appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

We’ve all owned a set of valve covers or a timing cover or some other automotive part that has raised letters on them. And sometimes they have a different color of paint on those raised letters. The cheaper stuff is usually all just one color though and that’s because it takes effort to create a clean raised letter in a different color than the background. And over the years, I’ve heard of a few different ways to create this effect, but even the easiest ones are going to require a couple of steps to complete. In the video below from Old Glory Garage you will get a good look at the process, and the results, so that you can start working on your own raised letter parts. What do you think of his process? Do you have a better one? If you do have another suggestion, please comment with that process or reach out to me directly at chad@bangshift.com The post Painting Raised Letter Valve Covers Can Be A Pain, But When Done Right The Results Are Worth The Steps Taken appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

We shared Funny Car action from the IHRA Season Opener at Darana Motorsports Park, formerly GALOT, yesterday and loved the IHRA Nitro action. Fuel Altereds are part of the Nitro show as well, along with Top Fuel, so if you are a Nitro fan you’ll love it. Only the IHRA has three Nitro classes in competition, which means one hell of a show for fans online and in person alike. Video Description: IHRA Fuel Altered qualifying roars to life at Darana Motorsports Park! Friday night thunder from the IHRA Series Opener in Dunn, North Carolina showcases wild, sideways, nitro-burning Fuel Altereds battling for position in both qualifying sessions. Monday Morning Racer brings you wall-to-wall Fuel Altered qualifying action from the IHRA season opener at Darana Motorsports Park (formerly GALOT Motorsports Park). From tire shake to header flames, these unpredictable machines put on a show as teams fight to lock into the field and start their season strong. If you love old-school drag racing attitude, big horsepower, and short-wheelbase chaos, this is must-see footage from one of the most exciting classes in the sport. The IHRA is back, and Fuel Altereds are delivering the kind of edge-of-your-seat qualifying runs fans crave. Expect nitro cackle, wild launches, and drivers wrestling these beasts down the groove under the Carolina lights. FEATURES • IHRA Fuel Altered qualifying coverage • Both Friday qualifying sessions • Darana Motorsports Park debut IHRA opener • Raw drag racing atmosphere • Sideways launches and big horsepower passes. The post Nitro Video: FUEL ALTERED QUALIFYING FROM THE 2026 IHRA SEASON OPENER AT DARANA MOTORSPORTS PARK appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

Neal Chance Racing Converters has a new high-performance 4L80 torque converter. This converter is all 100% new parts with no OEM core. View the full article

Moto News Weekly Wrap March 24, 2026 What’s New: USA wins 2026 FIM Oceania Women’s MX Cup 2026 Atlanta Short Track – American Flat Track Report Liam Draper tops American Enduro Round Two 2026 AusProMX Round One – Wonthaggi Wrap 2026 AMA SX Round Ten – Birmingham Wrap 2026 Rally-Raid Portugal Wrap 2026 MXGP Round […] The post Moto News | Short Track | MX | Enduro | SX | Rally | MXGP | Oceania Women’s MX Cup appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup COTA Test Young Australian Archie McDonald has made an immediate impression ahead of the inaugural FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup, finishing second overall in the championship’s first official test at Circuit of the Americas. McDonald, riding for Australian Harley-Davidson dealership chain Joe Rascal Racing, posted a best lap of 2m14.010s […] The post Archie McDonald shines in maiden Bagger World Cup test at COTA appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

The post Team Moto | 🔥 March Mayhem is here! Don’t miss the action ⏰ appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

Triumph Speed Twin 1200 Cafe Racer DGR Edition Triumph has used the opening of registrations for the 2026 Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride to reveal a one-off Speed Twin 1200 Cafe Racer DGR Edition, built as this year’s Gentlefolk prize bike. While the charity ride provides the occasion, the motorcycle itself is the real point of interest. […] The post Triumph reveals one-off Speed Twin 1200 Cafe Racer DGR Edition appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

WorldSPB 2026 Portimao Test The FIM World Sportbike Championship arrives at Portimao this weekend with a far clearer shape than it had a few days ago. Monday’s official test was the first time the full class had been seen together in meaningful conditions, and it suggested the inaugural season may open with Kawasaki holding the […] The post Early FIM World Sportbike form guide shaped after Portimao Test appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

The Festival of Power launches Santa Pod Raceway’s 60th Anniversary season with an Easter weekend chock-full of family entertainments underpinned by championship drag racing on two and four wheels. On-track, fast and loud action is the order of the day. Four supercharged, nitro-burning Funny Cars are the headline act, battling for the early lead in 2026’s Funny Car Cup. These volatile beasts each punch out more than 10,000 horsepower and shake the ground. The class speed record stands at over 300mph. A pair of similarly powered Top Fuel Dragsters will limber up in preparation for the coming season’s FIA European Championship. From Sweden comes the reigning champion, Susanne Callin, piloting Santa Pod’s own Slick Tricks Racing dragster. From Scotland comes a Top Fuel newcomer: Colin Millar is already a famous face whose Flyin’ Fyfer is one of the dominant entries in the wild Outlaw Anglia class. Now the Scotsman bids to earn a Top Fuel licence with a graduated series of observed runs throughout the weekend. No less fast and loud, the Festival of Power is renowned for the spectacle of its flame-and-thunder Jet Car show – and there will be an extraordinary motorcycle powered by steam, yes, steam. See it to believe it. Martin Hill’s Fireforce Jet Car stable will be represented by Fireforce 3, a Jet Funny Car, and Fireforce 5, a Jet Dragster. Roger Goring brings his Firestorm Jet Funny down from Yorkshire and Julian Webb’s Spiderman is another Jet Dragster. Oklahoma Willy is the name of a gleaming, road-legal Volkswagen pickup that motors up to the start line under its own piston power then lights up the Rolls-Royce fighter jet engine sitting behind the driver’s cab for a flame-throwing, afterburner-popping display as its blasts towards the finish line. A motorcycle driven by steam? Whoever would have thought of that? Graham Sykes did. Yorkshireman Sykes is one of those canny engineers who sees the world from a different angle and has designed and built a steam-powered rocket bike that can actually out-acceleratea Top Fuel Dragster. It’s a spectacular sight when it goes and it’s as net-zero as any powered vehicle can be. Ebullient Pro Mod cars contesting the opening round of the FuelTech Motorsport UK British Drag Racing Championship headline a full programme of national championship classes on two and four wheels. There’s an entry list of almost 300 and free access to the paddock allows spectators a close-up view of all the pitside activities. Off-track, the Live Action Arena is a focus for Monster Truck and stunt riding and driving displays. World record-holding stunt driver Terry Grant will be in action with his eye-popping precision driving show and Moto Syndicate is a brand-new FMX crew featuring former Red Bull and Nitro Circus performers, while Fusion Extreme puts on a pedal-powered jump box and ramp show. Sim Drive Five lets you race sitting still, courtesy of their cutting-edge race simulators, or you can indulge in a little Bull Axe Throwing, while a Dinosaur Walkabout, Mini Monster Trucks, inflatables, a climbing wall and visits from Bing and Peppa Pig are among the attractions to entertain the kids, plus an array of funfair rides. Camping for free overnight? There’s an abundance of food and drink to sustain you and live music to keep you dancing the night away once the racing winds down. The Festival of Power is an event for all the family – championship drag racing on the track and all manner of entertainments alongside. The Festival takes place over Easter weekend, from Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th April (not Easter Monday). Tickets are bookable only online or by phone – visit https://santapodtickets.com/p/fop or telephone the Box Office at 01234 782828. Full event information can be found at https://santapod.co.uk/events/festival-of-power/#StarsOfTheShow. This story was originally published on March 23, 2026. The post Festival of Power Launches Santa Pod’s 60th Anniversary Season first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

2026 Australian ProMX Championship Round One – Wonthaggi Round one of the 2026 Australian ProMX Championship at Wonthaggi delivered clear early benchmarks across the major classes, with Jed Beaton sweeping MX1, Alex Larwood doing the same in MX2, Lachlan Turner taking maximum points in MXW, Jack Deveson edging Hayden Draper for the MX3 overall, Blake […] The post Jed Beaton dominates 2026 ProMX Wonthaggi season opener appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

Phoenix native Travis Shumake returned to Firebird Motorsports Park with several goals as he made his Legacy Nitro Funny Car debut during the FMP NHRA Arizona Nationals this weekend. The second-generation driver was racing to honor his late father Funny Car standout Tripp Shumake and he was representing long-time Arizona area sponsor Fry’s Food Store as well as Kroger Health, Red Line Oil and Yates Buick and GMC. Driving Dave Benjamin’s Nostalgia Funny Car Shumake made three qualifying attempts but missed making the eight-car field. Shumake has plans to build on this experience to race more Legacy Nitro Funny Car national events including plans for a possible appearance at the historic Winternationals, the 1000th Funny Car event in NHRA’s 75-year history. “I came into this event wanting to qualify and make a solid impression,” said Shumake, who holds professional licenses in Top Fuel and Nitro Funny Car. “I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, and I am pleased we improved on our runs from Q1 to Q2. In the last session I couldn’t get the car into reverse and we missed our shot at that last run. I think we have a much quicker run ready to go and you never know what can happen in drag racing. I want to thank Dave Benjamin for the opportunity to drive the Fry’s Food Store Funny Car this weekend. The car looked amazing.” In the opening qualifying session on Friday Shumake made a shakedown run to get acclimated to the new racecar posting a 11.903 second at 64.22 mph run to get on the qualifying sheet. In the second round with track temperatures soaring past 140 degrees Shumake and the Fry’s Food Stores Funny Car stepped up with a solid 5.892 second run at 137.64 mph. On Saturday in the final qualifying session Shumake was looking to run quicker that 4.921 seconds and following his burnout he could not get his race car into reverse and had to shut off on the starting line. “A year ago we set the top speed of eliminations in Top Fuel running 330.88 mph and this year we were making a big change in categories. This sport is very humbling,” said Shumake. “I learned a lot and we got a ton of attention for Fry’s Food Stores and Kroger Health. I got more comfortable in the Funny Car every time I strapped in. I know this won’t be my last Legacy Nitro Funny Car race.” On Saturday morning Shumake along with NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Car superstars Ida Zetterstrom and Julie Nataas signed autographs in the Kroger Health display that featured Shumake’s Fry’s Food Stores Top Fuel dragster as well as other race cars. The trio spent time with fans taking photos and also promoting Kroger Health initiatives to hundreds of Arizona Nationals fans. “The Saturday morning autograph session was tremendous,” said Shumake. “We talked with so many fans about the Fry’s Funny Car, my dad and also all the cool things Kroger Health is doing. Having Ida and Julie there was great and I think we started a lot of race fans days on a positive note before it go too hot. I was also able to talk with fans about our Fry’s Top Fuel dragster.” The race weekend appearance was made possible through the continued support of Fry’s Food Stores, which has partnered with Shumake for multiple seasons. “Fry’s has always believed in the hometown story,” Shumake said. “They understand how special Phoenix is to me and why honoring my dad here matters so much. They have been an amazing supporter of my drag racing career and the sport in general.” The next opportunity for Shumake to race in the Legacy Nitro Funny Car Series will be the historic NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, California, April 9-12, 2026. For more information visit www.nhra.com. The post Travis Shumake’s Arizona Nationals Debut Full of Promise for Future Events first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Once a teenage dream machine, this RD350LC returns as a nostalgic hybrid with sharper handling, a bigger engine and a classic Yamaha livery.If you had a bike in the shed and a television in the mid-1970s, there’s a good chance you were dying to get your hands on a liquid-cooled Yamaha two-stroke. Ya... View the full article

Firebird Motorsports Park proved to be an unfortunate Achilles’ heel for John Force Racing as none of its four teams advanced further than the second round of eliminations Sunday in the FMP NHRA Arizona Nationals. The Burnyzz Speed Shop / Speedmaster Top Fuel team with Josh Hart and the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car team with Jordan Vandergriff were eliminated in the second round of competition while the PEAK Chevrolet SS Funny Car of Jack Beckman and the Bandero Premium Tequila Chevrolet SS Funny Car of Alexis DeJoria bowed out in Round 1. Hart defeated Justin Ashley in Round 1 (4.000 seconds to 4.115) to set up the second-round matchup with Leah Pruett. Hart got the holeshot (.075 to .098) but hazed the tires midway through the run, slowing to 4.081 seconds at 275.62 mph to Pruett’s 4.887 at 319.52. “The Burnyzz Speed Shop / Speedmaster dragster struggled big time in the heat, but the bottom line for me is I’m getting better at the lights and racing is fun again. “I’m super proud to be a very small part of such an awesome team, so proud of John Force Racing and the entirety of this group. We’re off to California.” Vandergriff got the automatic win in Rd. 1 when DeJoria red-lit and then went on to run the second-quickest pass of the session (3.984 seconds at 318.62 mph), giving him lane choice for Rd. 2 against Matt Hagan. Hagan took the holeshot by one-hundredth-of-a-second and they were even halfway through the run when both cars smoked the tires. Both drivers tried to pedal but their engines had clicked off so they coasted across the finish line, Hagan taking the win at 4.621 seconds at 189.71 mph to Vandergriff’s 4.650 at 181.86. “We were having a good side-by-side run until we both smoked the tires at half-track,” said Vandergriff. “It felt clean early, and then I felt it start to pull the tires loose. I lifted and tried to give it a stab again but there was nothing there. I think if I had more runs, I might have caught it quicker. But you know what? I’m just a few runs into this career here and I think I’m doing okay so far.” As was the case at Gainesville two weeks prior when Vandergriff and Beckman faced each other in the first round, the all-John Force Racing first-round matchup at Firebird meant that one car would not advance to the second round of eliminations. This time it was DeJoria and the Bandero Premium Tequila Chevrolet SS Funny Car team. “It was a tricky weekend for the Bandero Chevy team,” said DeJoria. “We weren’t able to make any full pulls down the racetrack and we were lucky to get in on our first run Friday, going 4.08, smoking the tires and having to drive a bit at the top end. This morning, we had to race, one of our teammates, Jordan Vandergriff so we knew at least one of us is going to the 2nd round, but it always sucks when you have to go up against a teammate. It’s been ridiculously hot out here. I feel really bad for the guys. They’ve been working so hard, and there’s 106 degree weather, just so I could go out there and not do my job on the starting line.” Beckman had lane choice as the No. 2 Qualifier, left the starting line just six-thousandths-of-a-second (.085 to .091) after Wilkerson. The Peak SQUAD Chevy SS was driving away past half-track but slowed nearing the finish line, which allowed Wilkerson to sneak past at the lights. Beckman ran 4.021 seconds at 273.88 mph to Wilkerson’s 4.001 seconds at 322.06 mph. “We hurt a piston and it could have happened as early as the burnout,” said Beckman. “These things are very finicky on the burnout. We’re going to address that moving forward to Pomona. The car was on low ET of the meet, and I know everybody says that, but if you look at our numbers, we are 200ths quicker than every single car out there to 660 foot. And then what happens is, as the pistons stops sealing, the combustion gases get down into the oil pan. NHRA mandates a pan pressure switch so when it gets to a certain level, it disconnects the throttle. That is in place to prevent all that pressure from pushing the oil and gaskets out onto the racetrack. I get it. It bit us on that run. We needed 30 more feet of acceleration and we would have got it done but it’s something we can address. We’ve gotten beaten up, two races this year. I don’t think we’re gonna get beaten up next race.” The third of 20 events on the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series is the April 10-12 Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona, Calif. This story was originally published on March 23, 2026. The post No Desert Magic for John Force Racing in Phoenix first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Canadian Funny Car standout Spencer Hyde continued to build momentum in his sophomore NHRA season with a stellar performance at the FMP NHRA Arizona Nationals presented by NGK Spark Plugs, powering the Head Contractors and Engineers Racing Funny Car to a runner-up finish in one of the hottest race weekends in NHRA history. “Overall, a fantastic weekend,” said Hyde. “We made it down seven out of eight runs. We’re not usually great on hot racetracks. We learned some stuff in Gainesville, and really showed that we applied what we learned. We had the most consistent race car here, which is a lot to be proud of.” The reigning NHRA Rookie of the Year showed strength from the outset, earning his second career No. 1 qualifier thanks to a blistering 3.979 second pass at 317.64 mph during Friday’s opening qualifying session. Hyde added to his qualifying success with a total of seven bonus points, including three for the top run and four more for posting the second quickest elapsed times in the second and fourth qualifying sessions. With a consistent hot-weather setup dialed in by crew chief Jim Head and car chief Dave Leahy, Hyde entered race day confident in his race car, a sureness that translated into strong, steady performances under extreme track conditions.Hyde opened eliminations with a first-round matchup against No. 16 qualifier Blake Alexander. Hyde delivered his best run of race day, a 4.014 second pass at 315.64 mph, to secure the win light and advance to the quarterfinals. “Getting past the first round is always such a weight lifted off your shoulders,” said Hyde. “As long as you win a round, you don’t feel like you wasted a whole weekend.” As temperatures climbed and track conditions became increasingly challenging, Hyde continued to excel. In the second round, he defeated J.R. Todd to move into the semifinals, locking in a spot in the upcoming Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, an opportunity to earn additional bonus points and prize money. Hyde then faced Matt Hagan in the semifinals and once again came out on top, advancing to the third final round of his young Funny Car career. Sunday’s grueling conditions tested teams across the board, turning race day into a true endurance challenge. In the final, Hyde matched up against veteran Ron Capps, a longtime mentor. Despite a strong effort, Hyde was edged out at the starting line and was unable to close the gap before losing traction late in the run, settling for a runner-up finish. “It sucks getting off the tire in the final there and being so close to my first win,” said Hyde. “I watched these guys work so hard to turn this thing around in the heat. When Capps blew up and hit the wall, we had to wait for that clean up, and we had 40 minutes less than everybody else. These guys turned it around in less than 40 minutes, and they were exhausted. I just wanted so badly to win for them.” Hyde credited the strength of his team and partners, including OUTLAW Beer and Jim and Janet Russell of the Caine Group, for helping make the weekend possible. With the runner-up finish, Hyde moves to a career-best No. 2 in the NHRA Funny Car points standings, signaling a strong start to what is shaping up to be a breakout sophomore campaign. “My first win is coming,” said Hyde. “We’ve got a consistent race car. I’m driving good. Jim’s tuning good. Nobody’s making mistakes out there. Our time is soon.” Hyde and the Head Racing team will be back in competition in three weeks at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals on April 9-12 at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip. It’s a significant race because it will be the 1,000th Funny Car race in NHRA history. There will be two qualifying sessions on Friday, April 10 and two qualifying sessions on Saturday, April 11. For tickets or more information on the NHRA Winternationals visit nhra.com. This story was originally published on March 23, 2026. The post Hyde Runners-Up in Phoenix, Moves Into No. 2 Spot in Funny Car Standings first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Leah Pruett has many great memories at Firebird Motorsports Park, dating back to her Junior Dragster days and winning her first Top Fuel race in 2016. The new mother was seeking another one Sunday in the NHRA Arizona Nationals, reaching the final round in her Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) Rayce Rudeen Foundation Dodge dragster. Pruett settled for an impressive runner-up finish in just her second race since returning to the cockpit, while TSR Dodge teammate Matt Hagan drove to the semifinals in the Funny Car class. Pruett, who nearly won the 2023 NHRA Mission Top Fuel world championship before taking a two-year layoff to start a family with husband Tony Stewart, returned to action two weeks ago at the NHRA Gatornationals with a quarterfinal finish in her TSR Dodge Direct Connection dragster. This weekend at the Arizona Nationals, Pruett was set to fight for the race win after qualifying second Saturday at 3.788. With air temperatures over 100 degrees and track surfaces over 140, all of the Nitro teams were studying their charts for the proper traction at the tricky track, and Pruett’s crew chiefs Neal Strasbaugh and Mike Domagala were no different. However, the TSR brain thrust was on its game Sunday with impressive round wins by Pruett over Cameron Ferre, Gatornationals winner Josh Hart and reigning NHRA Mission Top Fuel champion Doug Kalitta. After wins of 3.827, 3.887 and 3.887 in the early rounds, Pruett faced longtime rival Shawn Langdon, a fellow competitor in Junior Dragsters with Pruett. Langdon entered the final round with two consecutive Arizona Nationals titles (2024 and 2025), but Pruett had lane choice. Both drivers had nearly identical reaction times off the starting line, but Langdon’s 3.877 beat Pruett’s 3.930 for the California driver’s third straight Phoenix win. Despite the final round loss, Pruett ranks fourth in the current NHRA Mission Top Fuel points entering the next round on April 10-12 at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, Calif. “The attitude and confidence in our program really showed throughout the entire weekend of having a good handle on our horsepower level,” said Pruett, who had son, Dominic, in tow when she wasn’t in the car and talking with the team. “So, besides the final round win, I couldn’t be more happy with my team, especially in these conditions. I am so grateful. This weekend was a great testament to my team and my crew chiefs (Strausbaugh and Domagala) who really carry the team. I feel ten times better than I did in Gainesville, and I didn’t think that that was possible. “We’re competitive and we’re happy with our consistent runs and being quick given the hot conditions. But that doesn’t mean that we’re not allowed to take a moment and be a little bit bummed and upset about a final round that we all wanted really bad. It’s wild. Our crew chiefs were darn near perfect. And that’s what we build on. That is momentum.” Four-time NHRA Funny Car champion Matt Hagan, Pruett’s TSR teammate, was seeking another Arizona Nationals race win after qualifying fourth in the 16-car field in the nitro-burning TSR Johnson Horsepowered Garage Dodge//SRT Hellcat. Hagan, a past Arizona Nationals race winner in 2015, 2017 and 2019, took his 12,000-horsepower HEMI® engine-powered machine to round wins Sunday over former world champ Cruz Pedregon and new John Force driver Jordan Vandergriff. Facing the No. 1 qualifier, Spencer Hyde, in the semifinals with a track surface of 144 degrees, Hagan jumped to a starting line advantage and held the lead until his mount lost traction at mid-track. Hagan regrouped and fought back to miss out at the finish line by a few feet with Hyde’s 4.185 to Matt’s 4.211. “It was a super tricky weekend,” said Hagan, who heads to the NHRA Winternationals fifth in the Mission Funny Car points. “Obviously, the air temperature was super-hot, triple digits, as well as a hot track. I’m really proud of my TSR guys. They put a great racecar underneath me. There was a bad bump in the left lane and trying to navigate thatbump with the heat was tough. When the car goes over that bump, it wantsto spin the tires. “With what we had in front of us, I was really proud that our guyswere able to get me down on the track. In the second round, the crew clickedoff the motor, and in third round, I clickedit off myself because I was over next to the wall due to some (cylinder) holes out. Butwe lost by less than half a car length. We’re not beating ourselves. We are giving ourselves an opportunity to win. I just will try to turn some more win lights onand take race wins before we get too far into this season.” TSR team owner Tony Stewart, driving the Elite Racing Top Fuel dragster, actually ran against his wife in qualifying for the first time in Top Fuel competition in Friday’s first qualifying round. Pruett beat Stewart to the finish line. Stewart qualified fifth at Phoenix and advanced to the quarterfinals after a strong 3.823 run against Shawn Reed. But in the quarterfinals, Stewart lost to Maddi Gordon, 3.851 to 3.950. “I don’t think Tony and I really got to enjoy our first head-to-head experience (in qualifying),” Pruett admitted. “With it being Q1 and the new schedules were printed, and we’re like, ‘oh, yeah,’ we’re gonna run each other. We actually had very similar performances as well. So, we have that first one out of the way, but I’m looking forward to when we get to absorb the moment more in the future.” The NHRA Lucas Oil Winternationals in Pomona, Calif., is the next NHRA Mission Drag Racing Series event scheduled for April 10-12 at Los Angeles County Fairgrounds. Nitro qualifying will begin on Friday, April 10, at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. PDT, while Saturday’s action is set for at 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. PDT. Final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. PDT on Sunday, April 12. The Fox telecast will be viewed at 6:30 p.m. EDT/3:30 p.m. PDT on Fox Sports 1. This story was originally published on March 23, 2026. The post Pruett, TSR Dodge Team Battle Triple-Digit Heat to Record Top Fuel Final Round Finish at NHRA Arizona Nationals first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

The Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series offseason comes to an end this week as the 2026 season kicks off at the KTR Drag Racing Carolina Nationals presented by Pee Dee Fleet, March 25-28, at Darlington Dragway. The first of seven races on the 2026 PDRA schedule, the Carolina Nationals marks the series’ return to Hartsville, South Carolina, for the first time since 2023. Two headlining Pro Modified classes and a loaded lineup of supporting professional and sportsman categories will make for a weekend of nonstop action. “We can’t wait to get the season started at the Carolina Nationals at Darlington Dragway this weekend,” said Tyler Crossnoe, series director, PDRA. “It’s been a long winter since we crowned our 2025 world champions in October, and our team has been busy working behind the scenes to make sure this season is a memorable one for racers and fans. The PDRA was built on a great place to race for all competitors and putting on a great show for the fans in the process. We plan to continue that in 2026 and do it better than ever.” Built in 1976, Darlington Dragway has a rich history in the world of Pro Modified racing with a number of “firsts” on its list of highlights. The track is now under the operation of Pro Mod racer John Doc and his Nasty Racing team. “Darlington is special,” Crossnoe said. “Darlington was the original proving grounds for Pro Modified and it’s been a popular stop on the PDRA tour multiple times throughout our 12-season history. We’re eager to return, especially with a racer like John Doc now at the helm.” Doc is one of the drivers expected to compete in WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive, one of the two headlining Pro Mod classes. He ran the full season in 2025 and finished eighth in the final points standings. Second-generation driver and tuner Ty Tutterow enters Darlington as the reigning world champion in the class. Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous presented by Jerry Bickel Race Cars features some of the quickest and fastest nitrous-fed Pro Mods in the world, with speed record holder Marcus Butner rolling into 2026 as the reigning world champion for the first time. Three-time world champion Tommy Franklin is also back, as well as his daughter, Amber Denton, who’s set to run her second full season in Pro Nitrous. The reigning world champion in Liberty’s Gears Pro Street presented by KTR Drag Racing will not defend his title, as two-time champion Ethan Steding made the move to Pro Boost over the offseason and plans to pursue a title there. Retired NFL superstar Fletcher Cox, who earned his first career win as a driver last season, is expected to field his nitrous-fed “Training Day” ’69 Camaro, leading a growing list of drivers who harness big horsepower on 33×10.5 slicks. PDRA Pro 632 presented by Mark Williams Enterprises and 1320 Fabrication Super Street presented by Brian’s Heating & Cooling are also returning for the 2026 season. Jeff Melnick earned his second Pro 632 world championship in three years last fall to enter as the reigning world champion, while former Jr. Dragster driver Connor McGee picked up his first career Super Street season title. Sportsman racing has been a key component of the PDRA since the inaugural 2014 season, and that will continue this season with MagnaFuel Elite Top Sportsman presented by PAR Racing Engines, Greenbrier Excavating & Paving Elite Top Dragster presented by American Race Cars, MagnaFuel Top Sportsman, ATI Performance Products Top Dragster presented by TBM Brakes, and Edelbrock Bracket Bash presented by Philadelphia Racing Products. The future stars of the sport will compete in the Carolina Nationals in the PDRA’s Jr. Dragster ranks, Pro Jr. Dragster and Classic Graphix Top Jr. Dragster. Pre-race testing will be available for competitors on Wednesday and Thursday before Top Sportsman and Top Dragster start qualifying on Thursday evening. The new Laris Motorsports Insurance Coffee & Donuts meetup is set for Friday at 8:10 a.m. with Jr. Dragster qualifying to begin on-track activity at 9 a.m. Pro qualifying sessions are set for noon, 5 p.m., and 8:15 p.m. On Saturday, Jr. Dragster will wrap up qualifying at 9 a.m. with sportsman eliminations to follow. Pre-race ceremonies will kick off at 12:15 p.m. Tickets are available for $20 on Thursday, $25 on Friday, and $30 on Saturday. Discounted Junior and Kids tickets are also available, while kids 5 and under get in free. Purchase tickets at www.PDRA660.com or at the gate. PDRA fans around the world can catch all the action live on the official event live stream through www.FloRacing.com. This story was originally published on March 23, 2026. The post Red Line Oil PDRA Series Returns to Darlington For 2026 Season-Opening Carolina Nationals first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Pacemakers Dragway in Ohio could be redeveloped into mobile homes after officials recommended rezoning part of the historic racing facility.View the full article