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We’ve got some of your favorite content creators featured in this Day 2 video blog post from Sick Week 2026 and that means Kevin and the KSR crew, Alex Taylor, and the Drag Drive Repeat boys are sharing some of their great content below. Watch all three videos and let us know what you think the biggest highlights are and we’ll let you know if we agree. Heck, we could be wrong, but we won’t know until we start arguing about it, will we? Day 2 did not go to plan for a lot of people on Sick Week 2026, so you are going to want to watch! Sick Week 2026 Day 2 | Who’s Still Standing? Drag Drive Repeat is dedicated to the drag and drive communtiy! We will visit with participants of events like Hot Rod Drag Week, Rocky Mountain Race Week 1.0 and 2.0, Sick Week, and many of the other events that are beginning to happen! If you are new to drag and drive style events, think of it like Two Lane Blacktop (you know, the old movie with the horrible ending). The participants of these events will drive their car from track to track, on public roads/highways, allowed only to use the parts/tools they bring with them in the car or in a trailer towed by the racecar. You must be self sufficient to compete in this type of endurance drag racing! There are no trucks with trailers that are following you to pick you up when you break. Sick Week Day 2!! Our Quickest Pass EVER on 8.5″ Tires, Then I BROKE it…..UGH!! The race for Rowdy Radial is TIGHT!!! The ‪@MotionRaceworksOfficial‬ Mustang El Toro steps it up to go quicker and so do we….but that creates a problem for us….one that we have NEVER seen before!! HUGE thanks to ‪@djfoto‬ for the killer thumbnail pic!! Check out his page at: / djfotoswe Check out our killer 2013 Tahoe build that we are GIVING AWAY to one of YOU!!! From today, January 28th, 2026 through February 28, 2026 at 11:59pm EST, you can get your entries to win this Tahoe at WinWithKSRMerch.com !!! THANK YOU ALL for following along with our adventures!! SIX Passes Later…. No 6 Seconds Day 2 Sick Week 2026 After 6 attempted runs on Day 2 of Sick The Mag Sick Week at South Georgia Motorsports Park, the best Alex could get was a 7.45. First pass she was one of the first big tire cars to go down and the track just wasn’t there yet and then the second attempt they had an issue with the water pump. She drove it like her life depended on it to get that 7.45 at least later in the day. With the track conditions changing drastically with each pass (she was using the quarantine lane to also run during the radial groups) and making adjustments, nothing was making a difference. In conclusion they think they have found the limit of runs on the tires. Something that they have been testing considering the 55’s weight is much more than the average car using them. Turning in a 7 after all day of trying definitely feels like a kick to the gut. But reality is the 55 is still in, the car itself isn’t mad and they’re on the road down to Bradenton for Day 3 #doitforgroot The post Sick Week Day 2 Video From KSR, Drag, Drive, Repeat, And Alex Taylor: This Day Did Not Go To Plan For Everyone! appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

Buried in the many, many pages of the Epstein files released by the US Department of Justice a few days ago, one of the last things we expected to find was reference to everyone’s favorite boxer-engined turbocharged sports sedan, the Subaru WRX. However, Car and Driver has dug out something interesting among the three million or so pages released at the end of January, revealing that Epstein was close to purchasing a WRX in late 2017 – until the brakes were put on the deal when it was discovered that the car was a manual. https://www.justice.gov/ A series of email exchanges between Epstein himself and his accountant, Richard Kahn, show that the latter had been looking around at WRXs to buy, eventually tracking down a suitable model at Carbone Subaru in Troy, New York – or so it seemed. The WRX Wasn’t Atually for Epstein Although the email exchanges are between Kahn and Epstein, it wasn’t actually the convicted sex offender who was looking for the punchy all-wheel drive sedan. Rather, the first batch of emails mention that the car was for ‘Jojo’ – most likely referring to Jojo Fontanilla, Epstein’s housekeeper. It seems that the deal was close to going through, until Kahn discovered that the WRX in question was a three-pedal model, and Fontanilla was looking for an automatic. Jojo ended up with a Legacy In the end, it seems that Fontanilla went down a slightly different route, opting for something a little larger and more relaxed than the WRX, but sticking with Subaru. A second round of emails from January 2018 show that a Subaru Legacy had been tracked down at another New York Subaru dealer, with Kahn proposing that he and Epstein contribute $25,000 and that Fontanilla provide the remainder towards the $33,772 out-of-the-door price. It’s unclear if this deal ended up going through, as the trail appears to end there. https://www.justice.gov/ While all this is obviously a miniscule part of the ongoing story unfolding around the release of the Epstein files, it’s nevertheless a little surprising to see such an enthusiast-focused car finding its way into the drama. View the full article

When a Recall Is Actually the System WorkingRecalls often get painted as scandals, but most of the time, they’re proof the system is working. Modern car factories are complex and automated, with layers of checks to catch anything that falls out of spec. Usually, recalls are voluntary and happen before anyone gets hurt. They’re there to protect owners from problems they’d never notice on their own. That’s exactly what happened with American Honda’s new recall. A production robot lost sync for a moment, and a few vehicles left the factory with a defect – not because of a bad design, but because of a glitch on the line. The issue was found, reported, and fixed before it led to any injuries or crashes. Honda Which Models Are AffectedAccording to a document published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the problem lies with the driver’s seat cushion frame. During assembly, a robot that tightens bolts glitched, loosening bolts that were already torqued. Some seat frames that should have been scrapped ended up getting installed in finished cars. Thankfully, only 32 vehicles are affected, which is a drop in a bucket by recall standards. The list includes some 2023 Honda Accord and Accord Hybrid units, a few 2024 Honda HR-V and Pilot models, and a handful of 2024 Acura Integras from short production runs. If the bolts are loose, the driver’s seat could rock or wobble, which is risky in case of a crash. So far, Honda hasn’t reported any injuries or deaths – just a few warranty claims. Honda What Owners Should DoThe fix is quite easy – Honda and Acura dealers will swap in a properly assembled seat cushion frame for free. Owners will get notified directly, and you can check your VIN to see if your car is included once the recall starts. Honda has already fixed the problem at the factory by adding extra torque checks and updating the robot’s software. If you’re an owner, don’t ignore the recall notice you’ll receive. Book the free repair as this is how recalls are supposed to work – spot a real-world issue, fix it, and move on. Honda View the 5 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

The WalzWerk X-Plorer BMW GS is perhaps the perfect neo-retro motorcycle on any contintent, and I would do just about anything to have one in my garage. View the full article

The Comeback is Real2028 can't come soon enough, as, by then, the Nissan Xterra will be back in showrooms if all goes to plan. Sold from 1999 to 2015, the Xterra served the company well as its compact off-roader, long before the overlanding craze hit the mainstream. Now that nearly everyone is making an off-road-oriented vehicle these days, it's about time Nissan re-entered that space. It isn't just a flight of fancy, either, as Nissan itself confirmed back in August 2025 that it's reviving the SUV. The best part is that the company is targeting a sub-$40,000 base price for the truck-based SUV. In a world where the median price of a brand-new car is at the $50,000 mark, this is welcome news, indeed. Cole Attisha Using Adobe Photoshop, Gemini 3 Pro, and Midjourney 7.0 Even Better NewsBut the Xterra won't be the only truck-based SUV we could expect from Nissan soon. According to Automotive News, dealer principals were shown a 'family of body-on-frame vehicles' during the North American Automotive Dealer Show meeting. One of the models shown was allegedly the Xterra. However, a 'family' of vehicles implies there's more than one model. With that, The Drive reports that there were five truck-based vehicles shown during the convention. If true, Nissan is working double-time to revive, and more importantly, revitalize its truck and SUV range. The Five (Alleged) ModelsThe Xterra is a bit of a no-brainer, but the four other models are of particular interest. It's said that the truck-based Pathfinder was also shown to dealers, as well as the next-generation Frontier. If so, the Pathfinder will be going back to its roots, and we reckon it'll slot in between the XTerra and Armada in the SUV family. As for the Frontier, it's about time for an all-new model. But it's not just Nissan that will be getting more rugged offerings soon. It's also claimed that there will be Infiniti versions of the Xterra and Pathfinder. The name of the lux'ed-up Xterra is still unknown, but the plusher Pathfinder might be called QX60. The latter has all the potential to be a proper Lexus GX rival. Cole Attisha Using Adobe Photoshop, Midjourney 7.0, and Gemini 3 Pro A Lot at StakeThese models couldn't come soon enough for Nissan. Truck-based vehicles represent a good chunk of sales in America, whether as an SUV or pickup. Nissan has been missing in action for quite some time already. At the moment, the only model that fits the bill is the flagship Armada and the Frontier, plus the Infiniti QX80. Nissan just has three, whereas Toyota has models such as Tacoma, 4Runner, Land Cruiser, and Sequoia, not to mention the Lexus GX and LX. It's no secret that Nissan has a lot of catching up to do. There's a lot riding on these future models, and the company's next couple of years hang in the balance. Still, a bold move from Nissan, and it shows that they're more than determined to stay afloat. Cole Attisha Using Adobe Photoshop, Midjourney 7.0, and Gemini 3 Pro View the full article

YouTuber Cleetus McFarland, aka Garett Mitchell, is showing just how serious he is about the dream to compete in NASCAR’s Daytona 500 one day. Carrying on despite the tragic death of his mentor and NASCAR legend Greg Biffle, Mitchell now plans to run double duty at Daytona. Along with running the ARCA Menard’s Series season-opener at Daytona, he also plans to make his NASCAR Craftsman Truck ...Keep readingView the full article

Subaru didn’t have the brightest 2025 in the United States, as sales were down 3.6% compared to 2024. Unfortunately, this downward trend has continued into the new year, with the Japanese brand seeing a 9.1% year-on-year drop in sales in January 2026. Like Honda in its own sales report, Subaru pointed to severe winter storms as one of the main challenges last month, causing temporary closures at several locations. Still, Subaru will be disappointed that only two of its nine model lines managed to increase sales compared to a year ago. Hatchbacks, Sedans, and EVs Hit Hardest 2025 Subaru Impreza Subaru View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article Overall, Subaru sold 42,157 vehicles across the country last month, down from 46,354 in January 2025. Here’s a look at how each model fared. The Impreza and Legacy were the biggest losers, with sales down over 52% for both. The Legacy’s numbers aren’t a mystery, since the midsize sedan has gone out of production, but the 2026 Impreza’s higher price and smaller lineup simply aren’t cutting it with buyers. WRX sales were steadier, but still down 23%. The new Subaru Outback hasn’t seen any growth over the old one yet, but Subaru did say dealers are still transitioning from the older, 2025 model to the new one. Fortunately, the Forester compensated somewhat for poor sales elsewhere, with a 22.2% increase in sales to keep it as the brand’s most popular model. “January brought major winter storms that blanketed much of the country and led to temporary closures at many locations, yet Subaru retailers delivered another standout month,” said Troy Poston, Senior Vice President of Sales, Subaru of America Inc. “Their resilience and industry-leading customer service shine through no matter the conditions. With a rugged, reliable lineup spanning gas, hybrid, and fully electric vehicles, Subaru is poised for continued growth and ready to help every customer find their ideal match.” What Subaru Needs To Get Back On Track Kristen Brown Subaru needs to focus on its crossover range, where the bulk of its sales stem from. Although the Crosstrek and Forester are finally available with hybrids, they’re too expensive. The Crosstrek Hybrid starts at $33,995, whereas you can get a Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid for $29,395. For a Forester Hybrid, you need to cough up at least $36,595, which is $4,695 more than the RAV4 Hybrid. From Hyundai to Honda, hybrid sales are soaring right now. EV demand has dipped, but consumers still want efficient options, and hybrids occupy that sweet spot. By positioning its hybrid crossovers at a higher price point, Subaru is losing out to rivals. Furthermore, there is currently no hybrid option for the three-row Ascent. Subaru also needs more affordable gas-powered models in the budget segment. An Impreza now starts at $26,595, whereas the much fresher Kia K4 Hatchback begins at under $25k. Subaru’s hatch doesn’t outshine its rivals in any particular area, either, making the price hard to justify. Related: 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid Pricing Makes The Bigger RAV4 Look Like A Bargain Final Thoughts Subaru Subaru is in a tough spot right now. The automaker still has a small but loyal following in the United States, but anyone looking for a reliable Japanese car will find more diversity and value from Honda and Toyota. Subaru’s one competitive advantage used to be that it was seen as the go-to Japanese brand for anyone wanting something more rugged and capable on dirt roads. But rivals have responded: Honda is seeing huge success with its TrailSport sub-brand, Toyota has a new RAV4 Woodland, and even Mazda (a brand known more for on-road dynamics than adventure-minded vehicles) now has the capable CX-50. Subaru doesn’t need a total overhaul, but its hybrid pricing strategy needs an urgent rethink. Besides this, a marketing strategy that goes beyond the brand’s rugged image—at a time when many rivals are offering the same thing—could be just what it needs. View the full article

Being in the right place at the right time to help someone who needs it, when you know it's the right thing to do, can make all the difference.View the full article

A Case of Mistaken IdentityRemember that orange Genesis G80 Magma we reported last week? Turns out, it’s not quite what we thought. Genesis is still interested in building a BMW M-rivaling luxury sports sedan, but this specific car has a different story. Apparently, that bright Magma Orange G80 seen in the Middle East is actually called the G80 Performance. It’s not built by Genesis itself, either. Instead, Dubai-based W Motors – the same company that developed the GV80 Desert Edition – handled the engineering and assembly. That’s why only a handful will be made, and only for the said region. This all started with a 2024 partnership between Genesis and W Motors, focused on special projects and custom performance builds. The G80 Performance is one of the fruits of that deal. Genesis’ European team handled the design, while W Motors turned a regular luxury sedan into something much more serious. The end result looks like a concept car, but it’s fully road-legal – just extremely rare. W Motors/Korean Car Blog What the G80 Performance Actually IsAccording to brochures obtained by Korean Car Blog, the G80 Performance is powered by a reworked 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6, now good for 510 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque. That’s a big jump over the standard G80 (375 hp and 391 lb-ft in its most potent version), putting this car squarely in the high-performance luxury league. Power goes to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic. The upgrades go deeper than just the engine, with the chassis getting extra reinforcement and KW coilovers. Brembo GT brakes handle stopping power, while a Quicksilver Performance exhaust gives the car a more aggressive soundtrack. The Magma-inspired look isn’t just for show. Carbon fiber shows up on the front bumper, rear diffuser, spoiler, mirrors, and side skirts. It rides on 21-inch BBS FI-R forged wheels wrapped in Michelin ultra-high-performance summer tires. W Motors/Korean Car Blog Only 20 Units for the Middle EastThe Magma theme is also evident in the cabin (you can see why there was confusion before, right?). Black Alcantara covers most surfaces, broken up by orange stitching and seatbelts. Recaro bucket seats, carbon fiber trim, and a D-cut Alcantara steering wheel make it clear this isn’t just a regular G80 in a special paint job. As previously reported, only 20 units are planned, all of which are headed to customers in the Middle East. Pricing has not been announced, but the car is intended as a collector-grade model rather than a regular production option. W Motors is responsible for aftersales support, including a two-year or 60,000-kilometer warranty, service contract, and roadside assistance. In case you’re wondering if there’s a chance to get one in the US, well, if money is not an object, we don’t see why you can’t – that’s if there’s any build slot left. W Motors/Korean Car Blog View the 7 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

Ride a Himalayan 450 across mountains, desert, and coastlines in a 12-day guided motorcycle adventure through Morocco that feels straight out of a bucket list.View the full article

Trimming Down the RangeUntil now, picking a Kia Niro in America was simple. You had three choices: the regular hybrid, the plug-in hybrid, or the full EV. Same body, three powertrains, and an easy path for anyone looking to dip their toes into electrification. That’s about to change, though. Kia just confirmed the Niro PHEV won’t be back in the US for 2026. The official word, sent to Kelley Blue Book, points to “changing market conditions” as the reason. Kia hasn’t spelled out the details, but the timing isn’t random. The Niro PHEV comes from South Korea, and new tariffs have made things tougher for Korean imports. That alone doesn’t kill a model, but it does push prices up in a segment where every dollar counts. Sales Figures Are a Huge ClueSales numbers from last year help explain the decision. Kia merely sold 31,182 Niros in the US, making it one of the brand’s slower sellers, just below the EV6 and EV9. There’s no public breakdown showing how many of those sales were plug-in hybrids, so it’s hard to say exactly how the PHEV performed. But with demand for PHEVs cooling off in general, it’s likely the Niro PHEV wasn’t a strong seller. In comparison, the Niro’s more popular platform twin, the Hyundai Kona, sold 74,814 units last year – more than twice as many. Even with differences between the brands, that’s a big gap. When automakers cut models, the slowest sellers are usually the first to leave. What’s Left in the LineupWith the PHEV out, US buyers are left with the standard hybrid or the full EV. Price is still the main dividing line: the hybrid starts at $27,390, while the EV jumps to $39,600 before destination charges. The Niro PHEV’s last sticker was $34,490. On paper, it slotted right between the hybrid and the EV. In reality, it was probably stuck in no-man’s land: too pricey for hybrid buyers, not electric enough for buyers ready to go all-in. For now, if you’re eyeing the Niro PHEV, there are still inventory units left. Upon checking Cars.com, there are still 130 units remaining in stock yards, with average discounts of around $4,000-$6,000. Zac Palmer View the 5 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

Toprak Razgatlioglu’s 185 cm frame is the tallest on the grid, but making Yamaha's YZF-M1 fit him and keep its rear winglets is proving difficult due to the FIM MotoGP rule book.View the full article

After Cody Roberts' legal team argued that predators don't receive the same legal animal cruelty protections, the judge in his case told them that those laws do, and that he'll be going to trial. View the full article

Federal Filings Cite Trailer ErrorRam and Jeep are recalling 456,287 vehicles after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) determined a defect in the trailer brake and towing control module could increase crash risk. The campaign covers the following 2024–2026 Jeep Wagoneer S, 2025–2026 Ram 1500, 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis, 4500 Cab Chassis, 5500 Cab Chassis, and 2026 Jeep Cherokee. According to the federal filing, the trailer turn signals may fail to flash, the trailer brake lamps may not illuminate when the driver applies the brakes, and in some cases, the trailer’s electric brakes may not function at all. NHTSA estimates 100 percent of the 456,287 vehicles contain the defect. An additional 2,871 Mopar tow-trailer modules are also included. Dealers will replace the module free of charge, with owner notification letters scheduled to be mailed on March 24, 2026. Jeep View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article Another High-Volume Jeep and Ram ActionThis is one of the largest Jeep-related recalls since the 331,000-unit campaign involving rear springs that could detach while driving, a defect that raised concerns about loss of vehicle control. In terms of volume, the latest trailer brake recall surpasses that figure and now ranks among the brand’s most significant safety actions in recent years. It also arrives less than 24 hours after we reported that more than 80,000 Jeep Grand Cherokees required another repair following a botched recall fix. That back-to-back news cycle underscores the scrutiny Stellantis’ U.S. brands are facing as regulators and consumers keep a close eye on repeat service campaigns and quality control execution. Stellantis View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article Stellantis’ Recall Momentum Continues Into 2026FCA US will replace the improperly designed trailer tow module with an updated unit. The company reports no crashes or injuries related to the condition so far, and VIN lookup availability begins February 10, 2026. Stellantis closed 2025 with roughly 2.7 million recalled vehicles across its brands, one of the highest totals in the industry. With more than 450,000 additional vehicles already recalled early in 2026, the automaker is on pace to keep that dubious distinction. While proactive defect identification is preferable to delayed action, the growing volume reinforces a narrative Stellantis would rather shake: when it comes to recalls, its trucks and SUVs continue to dominate the headlines. Jeep View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

Sea-Doo is exploring Apple CarPlay for future PWCs, but whether riders actually want this is still up for debate. View the full article

One of the many complaints that automotive enthusiasts have about electric vehicles is that they can’t work on them themselves because they are dangerous and require special tools. And while this is a worry most shouldn’t have, it’s still something car guys and gals talk about. So what if there was a cheap, run around town, commuter, that was affordable AND repairable at home? That’s the idea behind the Slate, or so say the manufacturers. Now I’ve never seen one in person, but I have to say that I think there is something cool about these minimalist little trucks. If you are too young to have been around when 1980’s mini trucks were new, you might not realize just how simple these little machines were. Nothing on them was fancy. Everything was utilitarian. There was A LOT of exposed sheet metal inside them, and they were easy to modify and fix which is why all of us had one. So does this Slate fit that same mold? If it does, it should find its way behind motorhomes zig zagging the country, in the driveways of average folks with average truck hauling needs, and also in the hands of enthusiasts who want to make them their own. Let’s watch the video below with Jay Leno as he talks Slates and takes one for a ride so we can see what Jay thinks. Video Description: Jay Leno gets an exclusive first look at the Slate, a revolutionary new electric truck prototype built in Warsaw, Indiana. Designed by industry veterans from the early days of Tesla, Slate is on a mission to rebuild American manufacturing by offering a truly affordable, customizable EV for under $30,000. With the average cost of a new car hitting $50,000, the Slate cuts that price in half through “Design for Manufacturing”—using a modular, single-vehicle assembly line where every truck comes off identical before being personalized by the owner. I n this episode, Jay, Tisha Johnson, and Jeremy Snyder discuss modular DIY Engineering, how the truck can transform from a standard pickup into an SUV or an open-air vehicle with flat-pack kits you can install yourself. Right to Repair: Why Slate is “open source,” allowing customers to perform their own warranty repairs and use a network of 4,000 independent shops instead of high-priced dealers. Innovative Manufacturing: The elimination of the paint factory by using tool-impregnated colors and a design intended to be wrapped. Performance & Range: Specs on the 150-mile and 230-mile battery packs, liquid cooling, and access to the North American Supercharger network. Safety First: Despite the minimalist design, the Slate is engineered for a 5-star crash rating with beta prototypes already undergoing rigorous testing. With over 150,000 reservations already on the books, could this be the vehicle that finally brings electric mobility to the American heartland? The post What If You Could Buy A $25K EV Truck or SUV That You Can Repair Yourself? Does That Change The Game? Meet The Slate Truck appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

From RS4 to RS5Audi's whole odd-even naming convention has drawn some ire over the years to a point that the company (finally) admitted it was a bit of a misstep. The A4 is now the A5, and the A5 Coupe and Convertible we all know and love is no more. That also meant the performance derivatives follow the same naming, so S4 is now S5, and soon, RS4 will be RS5. Clear as mud? Good. That aside, an RS Audi model is always something worth looking forward to, and it a new RS5 was always going to be an inevitability. The only question now is when it'll arrive. Blink or You'll Miss ItThe answer to that question is very soon. In fact, Audi 'accidentally' published some details about the car on LinkedIn already. The post has since been taken down, but as they say, the internet never forgets. But more recently, Audi has finally given us a first glimpse of the car, but only to a few who saw a certain Instagram post. That's right, Audi teased the RS5 Avant via Instagram Stories instead of reels. The story has since expired, but not before a few folks were able to get a screencap. It's a blink or you'll miss it moment, and a pretty interesting way of giving a car a sneak peek and rake in more followers to its social network channels. Audi/Instagram What's Been ConfirmedGiven the body style offerings of the current A5, don't bank on a coupe or convertible version. The Avant is pretty much confirmed at this point, and the sedan/Sportback version has been spied a couple of times already. No surprises there. However, the one of the details mentioned in the since-deleted LinkedIn post was regarding its powertrain. The post said "The new Audi RS 5 is also nearing its debut and will be our first performance plug-in hybrid," and it's expected to use an electrified version of the 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 used in the outgoing RS4. We still miss the V8 from the original RS4 and RS5, but there's no chance of that coming back in this day and age. At least it's not likely to use a four-cylinder PHEV setup, right? What we want to know is what kind of Quattro system the future RS5 will use. Fingers crossed it will be the traditional Torsen arrangement instead of the Haldex-like 'Quattro with Ultra Technology' system that standard A5s use these days. A New Dawn of Compact Luxury Performance SedansAbout 20 years ago, the Audi RS4, BMW M3, and Mercedes-Benz C63 packed V8s under the hood. Today, with ever tightening emissions control in big markets, the V8 has been swapped for less cylinders and more electrification. Mercedes-AMG tried it first, and let's just say that the customers responded by going elsewhere. Now, it's Audi and BMW's turn to find out if plug-in hybrid performance compact luxury sedans will (or will not) resonate with buyers. It'll be a tough balancing act, for sure, but at least we can largely confirm that those cars will pack turbo-sixes instead of boosted-fours. In Audi's case, it would be nice to get the RS5 Avant stateside, too. SH Proshots/Autoblog View the full article

I tested Triumph's Trident 800, the successor to the Street Triple 765 R, in Cypress. I did my best to find faults with this bike, but Triumph made it extraordinarily difficult.View the full article

It’s been a wild Sick Week 2026 so far, with lots of carnage, freezing cold, heat and humidity, and everything in between. There is no way there aren’t going to be even more upsets after the dramatic start to this event, and we know everyone out there wants to know the details since the only way to watch what is going on otherwise is to pay for the payperview stream. Lucky for us, our pals at 1320Video are on hand and here is their Day 2 video. Video Description: Day 2 sent the field from Gainesville Raceway to South Georgia Motorsports Park, taking a 130 mile backroad route that kept cars off the interstate and tested everything from cooling systems to patience. We’ve lost a few cars along the way, but the majority of the field is still pushing forward. At SGMP, it was a full day of racing with a couple cars still chasing the overall drag-and-drive record, currently sitting at a 6.17 average over five days. After racing wraps up, everyone stays put for the night before a full drive day to Bradenton, Florida tomorrow. The post Sick Week Day 2 Video: Backroads, Cooling Systems, Suspension, And Soooo Much More. Testing Real Drg and Drive Streetability appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

Just over a year ago, Brandon Wilkinson was still spotting Super Late Models full-time across the Southeast. Now, and while it doesn’t officially count, he is a first-time Cup Series spotter alongside his driver Ryan Preece and crew chief Derrick Finley after dominating the second half of the Cookout Clash on Wednesday night. It doesn’t count because the Cookout Clash is a preseason ...Keep readingView the full article

For the first time ever, the NASCAR Cup Series got to experience a full episode of The Ryan Preece Show because Wednesday night in the Cookout Clash was exactly that. It was also the unedited, unfiltered ‘fuck yeah’ version of the show, too. This was Preece Lightning, the 2013 Whelen Modified Tour champion, and a racer who was the man to beat every time he unloaded across the eastern ...Keep readingView the full article

Ed Iskenderian, at 104 years old, was the oldest living hot rodder on earth! And as my friend David Freiburger wrote on Facebook, “If you define ‘hot rodding pioneer’ as ‘doing it in the ’30s and helped establish the hobby and industry,’ then he’s the last of his kind that I am aware of.” Which is to say, that as far as we know there is nobody else alive that has been a hot rodder longer. And when you look at what he’s done for hot rodding, racing, and the aftermarket industry in general, his life’s work and the impact it has had may be immeasurable. I’ve told this story on several occasions, most recently to Isky Racing’s COO Nolan Jamora last week, of the first time I met Isky. I was announcing Engine Masters, the original engine competition, and while I had been doing the event for a couple of years, it was the first year at its new home at the University of Northwestern Ohio. Their facility was amazing, with multiple dyno cells, and a beautiful well layed out building for the competition. And when Isky showed up, and I was told I got to hang out with him and get his take on the engines, I was thrilled. I mean thrilled thrilled. I had grown up in a racing family, and we ran an Isky camshaft in our Z28 Camaro from before I was even born. He and I had a great time talking engines, he had great color to add to the coverage, and I was having a great time. Until we walked out of one of the dyno cells. You see, Isky’s famed cigar wasn’t always something he just chewed on. Nope, back then he smoked them sometimes and this was one of those times. In the building, 5 feet from a dyno cell, Ed Iskenderian lit up a cigar and I went into crisis control mode. As I hurredly ushered him down the hall and out the door, old man complaints a flying, I could hear someone behind me very “sternly” explaining that smoking was striclty forbidden in the building. For a minute, I wondered if I was going to need bail money for us both. Rest assured, if I had to bail Isky out of jail I was going to tell everyone that would listen. Luckily we were spared, but not without him arguing a few more times about how he should be able to smoke his cigars. There are more stories, but today I think I’ll hold onto them. I am truly blessed to have met some of the most important hot rodders and racers in the world, and Ed Iskenderian was one of them. Thanks for everything you did for all of Isky. I know you were just doing what you do, but your life as the CamFather changed the lives of so many. God Speed Below is a link to some of our photos from Isky’s 102nd birthday. This old dude could hang. CLICK HERE IF YOU MISSED OUR PHOTOS FROM HIS 102nd BIRTHDAY Our hearfelt thanks goes out to all Ed’s family, for sharing him with all of us for all these years. We are so terribly sorry for your loss but hope that the impact his life made on others brings you some pride and joy. Our deepest sympathies to you all. The post Ed Iskenderian, The CamFather And Hot Rodding’s Oldest Living Legend, Has Died At The Age Of 104. Thanks For All The Speed Ed! appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

Shawn Reed and Ida Zetterström share the cockpit for 2026. This partnership keeps the car on track while Reed focuses on business.View the full article

It was just a non-points exhibition race but the Cup Series garage did not feel like the Cookout Clash was the finest hour from race control to those on the ground directly communicating with teams. Walking through the garage, there were several crew chiefs and veteran crew members who felt like the Sanctioning Body needed to do some work over the next week to mend some fences between ...Keep readingView the full article

Shane van Gisbergen spent the first half of the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray in the back half of the field. During that first time, he got into it with Austin Cindric and former Trackhouse teammate Daniel Suarez. At one point, he spun Cindric out in frustration and radioed, "People just kept running into me and I got sick of it." In regards to Suarez, he added: "It's the third time the ...Keep readingView the full article