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Here’s gallery #2 from Mike Brooks coverage of the Run to the Sun car show in Myrtle Beach South Carolina. If you missed gallery #1, use the link below to check them out too. (Photos by Mike Brooks) The Run to the Sun car show in Myrtle Beach South Carolina celebrated it’s 37th anniversary this year and as usual had a sellout crowd. This show sells out every year, and features some awesome Pre-1990 muscle cars, hot rods, street machines, and trucks. It’s a special event, that’s for sure, and when the weather is great like this year it is hard to beat. Longtime contributor Mike Brooks was on hand and snapping photos to share with all you BANGshifters, and you can check them all out below. One of the things we like about this show is the variety of cars and trucks. Lifted, lowered, customs, classics, it’s all here. Check them out. CLICK HERE TO SEE THE PHOTOS WE ALREADY POSTED FROM THE RUN TO THE SUN The post More Run to the Sun 2026 Car Show Photos: The 37th Annual Event Did Not Disappoint! Check Out All The Cool Photos That Mike Brooks Got Us! appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

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

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

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

Roughly a year ago right now, Stewart Friesen was fed-up with racing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and threatened to leave it in a knee-jerk reactive fit. It was a really bad day. Now, the organization he co-owns with Chris Larsen won a race at Bristol Motor Speedway with his personal favorite race car driver behind the wheel and the excitement was palpable. This is ...Keep readingView the full article

Immediately after the race, Christian Eckes could not have been any more contrite about the incident that ended the race at Bristol for Corey Heim and his chance at a $500,000 Triple Truck Challenge sweep. “That sucked for sure,” Eckes said. “They deserved a half million bucks and I took that away from them. Obviously, it wasn’t intentional to spin (him out) or even hit him. I was just ...Keep readingView the full article

Seven NASCAR Cup drivers entered Friday's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway, so it's no surprise one of the sport's top drivers captured the win. Driving for Halmar-Friesen Racing, Christopher Bell won after taking and extending his lead on a late-race restart. "Oh man, that was just so awesome to be able to win a truck race," said Bell. "It’s been since 2017 I ...Keep readingView the full article

If you are driving anywhere between Dallas and Wichita this weekend or early next week, you need a plan that accounts for severe weather every single day. The Storm Prediction Center has issued severe thunderstorm outlooks for four straight days, Saturday, April 11, through Tuesday, April 14, across the Southern Plains. A deep upper-level trough digging into the West is combining with a surge of Gulf moisture so extreme that the Weather Prediction Center says precipitable water anomalies are running three standard deviations above normal across the Plains. Each day brings a new round. The corridor shifts. But the cities in the crosshairs stay largely the same, and the highways connecting them will be under threat for the better part of four days. The StormThe ingredients are textbook severe spring weather, and all of them are dialed to high. A longwave trough enters the West Coast this weekend and ejects east across the Plains through early next week. Ahead of it, a southerly low-level jet is pumping Gulf moisture deep into Texas and Oklahoma, with surface dewpoints climbing into the upper 50s and 60s. A dryline across west Texas will trigger Saturday's initial storms. As the trough sharpens and moves east, the environment becomes increasingly favorable for supercells capable of producing tornadoes, very large hail, and destructive straight-line winds. Instability builds each day. Deep-layer wind shear strengthens each day. The threat escalates from scattered Saturday to potentially widespread by Monday and Tuesday. Photo by Anadolu on Getty Images Day by DaySaturday, April 11. Storms fire along the dryline across west Texas and eastern New Mexico during the late afternoon. Moderate instability and 30 to 40 knots of deep-layer shear support supercells with large hail and severe wind gusts. Coverage is scattered and the footprint is the narrowest of the four days, concentrated from the Permian Basin into the Texas Panhandle and approaching the Oklahoma border. Sunday, April 12. The threat sharpens. Southwesterly mid-level flow strengthens, and a moist, moderately unstable airmass stretches from the Southern Plains into the Upper Midwest. The greatest potential for severe storms is across the southern and central Plains, where steep lapse rates and moderate deep-layer shear will support supercells with large hail and severe wind gusts. Some model solutions drive a 50 to 60 knot mid-level jet through central and northeast Texas during the afternoon and evening. If that verifies, it opens the door to a substantial severe threat from central Texas through Oklahoma, including supercells with a tornado threat. Monday, April 13. The biggest day. The geographic footprint expands dramatically. Moderate instability is forecast from north Texas northward into the upper Mississippi Valley. Mid-level flow strengthens further and deep-layer shear increases. Severe storms capable of large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes are expected across a broad corridor from the Southern Plains into the lower Missouri Valley and upper Mississippi Valley. This is the day when Dallas, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Wichita, Kansas City, and potentially Des Moines are all inside the threat zone simultaneously. Tuesday, April 14. An upper-level trough ejects into the southern Rockies and a mid-level jet streak pushes northeastward across the Southern Plains. Strong deep-layer shear and moderate instability from the Southern Plains into the southern Great Lakes create the environment for supercells with large hail, wind damage, and tornadoes. The SPC says an upgrade to their outlooks is possible once confidence increases on the timing of the ejecting trough. The corridor shifts south and east, covering Oklahoma, north Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, and Mississippi. The HighwaysI-35 (Dallas to Oklahoma City to Wichita). The spine of the threat zone. Every day from Sunday through Tuesday puts some portion of I-35 under active severe weather risk. This is the most heavily traveled north-south corridor in the Southern Plains and the single route drivers are most likely to encounter storms on. Sunday afternoon through Monday evening is the peak risk window along this corridor. I-44 (Oklahoma City to Tulsa to Joplin, Missouri). Runs northeast through the heart of the threat zone on Sunday and Monday. Tulsa and Joplin both sit in the bullseye for consecutive days. Supercell storms moving northeast along this corridor can cross the highway repeatedly as they track with the mid-level flow. I-40 (Amarillo through Oklahoma City). Saturday and Sunday's storms will cross I-40 in west Texas and central Oklahoma. This is one of the earliest corridors to see activity each day, as storms fire along the dryline during the late afternoon and track east. I-20 (west Texas). Saturday's dryline-initiated storms will affect I-20 from Midland to Abilene during the late afternoon and evening. Large hail is the primary threat along this corridor on Day 1. I-70 (Kansas). Monday's expanded threat zone pushes into Kansas, putting I-70 from Salina through Topeka in the risk area. Storms arriving from the southwest during the evening hours could track across this corridor. When To DriveSaturday. Morning travel is fine across all corridors. Storms develop late afternoon in west Texas. If you are on I-20 or I-40 west of Abilene, finish your drive before 4 PM CDT. Sunday. Morning is again your safest window. Storms develop by mid-afternoon across central and north Texas into Oklahoma. If you are on I-35 between Dallas and OKC, plan to be where you are going by early afternoon or wait until well after midnight. Monday. The most dangerous day for travel. The threat zone is enormous and storms may be ongoing from early afternoon through late evening across virtually every major corridor from Dallas to Kansas City. If your schedule allows, do not drive. This is the day to stay put. Tuesday. The corridor shifts east and south. Morning travel across the western portions of the threat zone should improve, but afternoon storms from Oklahoma through Arkansas and Missouri will create hazards through the evening. Check conditions before committing. Why This Outbreak Is DifferentThe Southern Plains gets severe thunderstorms in April. That is what spring does. What makes this setup demand attention is the duration. Four consecutive days of organized severe weather across the same general corridor means drivers face compounding risk. A hailstorm that cracks your windshield on Sunday becomes a safety hazard when you are driving through heavy rain on Monday. Debris from Sunday's storms sits on roadways Monday morning. Power outages from downed lines affect traffic signals and fueling stations. And the same cities, Dallas, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Wichita, sit in the primary risk zone on two or three of those days. That kind of repeated exposure to major metro areas is uncommon and creates cascading impacts that go beyond what any single severe weather day would produce. This is also unfolding during what is shaping up to be the most active tornado season since 2011. The SPC has already tracked 43 severe thunderstorm watches nationally in 2026, with northern Indiana alone leading the country in watch frequency. The pattern is aggressive, and this weekend's setup is the most significant episode of it so far. What To Do If You Are On the RoadSevere thunderstorms move fast. A supercell can cross a highway in minutes, and the difference between baseball-size hail and missing the storm entirely can be a matter of a few miles. If you see a dark, rotating wall of cloud ahead of you, do not drive into it. Exit the highway and seek shelter in a sturdy building. If you cannot get to a building, pull over, put your seatbelt on, and get below the windows. An overpass is not a safe shelter; wind speeds are actually higher underneath the span. If hail begins, pull over under any available cover. A gas station canopy or parking garage can prevent thousands of dollars in body and glass damage. Keep your emergency kit stocked with a flashlight, phone charger, water, and a first aid kit. For a full breakdown on driving in severe conditions, Autoblog's guide to best practices for driving in dangerous weather covers the fundamentals. Monitor local NWS alerts on your phone, and if a Tornado Warning is issued for your location, act immediately. The safest decision for anyone whose travel across the Southern Plains can wait until Wednesday is to wait until Wednesday. View the full article

Kaulig Racing has announced Parker Kligerman as the next driver for its No. 25 'free agent' truck, with the veteran driver joining the five-truck Ram lineup at Texas Motor Speedway. Kligerman has 125 previous starts in the Truck Series, including three wins. He was victorious at Talladega in 2012 and 2017, and also Mid-Ohio in 2022. Kligerman also has two runner-up finishes at ...Keep readingView the full article

The eighth-generation Dodge Charger, which has the difficult mission of replacing both the previous-generation Charger sedan and the Challenger coupe, is far from a commercial success. Dodge only sold 7,421 units of the new Charger in 2025, its first full year on the market. That’s about ten times less than the almost 76,000 previous-gen Charger units sold in 2023, the LD generation’s last full year on the market—and that’s not including almost 45,000 Challenger sales in 2023. Mind you, the 2025 sales figure is only for the all-electric Charger Daytona, as the six-cylinder gas model only started to ship in late 2025-early 2026 and was not included in the full-year 2025 report. Dealers Simply Don't Have Enough Chargers in Stock Dodge That said, the new gas-powered Charger hasn’t rocked the sales charts either, with Dodge reporting only 1,672 gas-powered Charger sales in Q1 2026—2-Door and 4-Door combined. While the gas Charger outsold the EV model 7 to 1 in the previous quarter, the sales numbers are still too low, so what is going on? Dodge CEO Matt McAlear believes there’s no need to panic as it’s too early to judge the Charger’s sales figures. “I’m still excited. I’m still bullish on this car,” he told The Drive. “I think it offers something that no one sees coming in the industry and it wakes up some mundane car segments that there’s not many of them left." According to him, the main reason for which sales have not picked up yet is the short supply of Chargers. While the 550-hp 2-Door Scat Pack started shipping in January and there’s an adequate supply of those, the executive noted that Dodge does not have an adequate supply of the 420-horsepower RT 2-door and 4-door. That’s because those models only started shipping in the last 15, 20 days and they’re still on their way to dealers. “We don’t even have all of the models across all of our dealers yet,” McAlear said, adding that “as we move through the summer, we’ll see what we’re made of.” The Future Is "Absolutely Bright" for the Charger Dodge Dodge’s CEO also downplayed the view some people have that there’s not enough variety in the Charger lineup to entice buyers—i.e. no Hemi V8 and/or manual transmission. “We got Scat Packs, we’ve got RTs,” McAlear told The Drive. “This is one year in. And if we’d said we would have launched that much stuff in the first generation car within one year, you would have laughed. So the future’s absolutely bright.” He elaborated saying that one year into the launch Dodge already offers 670-hp Daytona, 550-hp Scat Pack, 420-hp R/T, two door, four door, and all-wheel drive variants—which offer a rear-wheel-drive mode as well. While fans have every right to ask for a Charger Hemi V8, the truth is that six-cylinder engines made up the bulk of Charger and Challenger sales in previous generations. The Hemi became the preferred engine choice for Challenger buyers only near the end of its production run, while the majority of Charger customers always went for V6 models. While the current lack of a V8 option is not the biggest problem for the current Charger, Dodge has hinted on several occasions that a Hemi Charger is on the way. For now, fans just have to be patient as Dodge needs to make sure it can source enough V8 engines before putting more Hemi models for sale. Dodge View the full article

Genesis’ upcoming flagship SUV, the all-electric Genesis GV90, is inching closer to production. And now we finally have a proper look inside. Fresh spy images from The Korean Car Blog reveal the GV90's interior. The GV90 will serve as the GV80's electrified big brother, and if these images are anything to go by, they're doubling down on a bold, tech-heavy vision of luxury. Concept Car to Production Ready, Nearly Unchanged A few years ago, Genesis previewed its future with the Neolun Concept. Fast forward to today, and the GV90’s interior looks almost unchanged, and it will feature suicide doors at the rear. Notable differences from the concept car include a more traditional steering wheel and the lack of swiveling seats. The minimalist layout remains intact, dominated by a wide infotainment display and a lounge-like atmosphere. There’s still no traditional instrument cluster in sight. Instead, the setup appears to rely on a head-up display. It also fits into Genesis' plan to launch 22 new vehicles in North America by 2030, many of which will lean heavily on electrification and digital integration, as illustrated above. The GV90 itself is expected to serve as an electrified SUV counterpart to the brand’s flagship sedan, the G90. Bigger Screen, Buttonless Dash Korean Car Blog Seeing as the GV90 won't have a traditional instrument cluster, drivers will have to rely on teamwork between the heads-up display and massive infotainment screen to navigate different features in the car. With little evidence of physical controls, most functions will likely be handled through the screen, which will include climate controls. While the approach looks futuristic, not everyone is convinced it defines true luxury. Some argue that turning the dashboard into a TV isn’t premium at all, especially when it comes at the cost of usability. The same can be said for the lack of physical buttons and knobs. A seamlessly integrated display would feel more refined than what appears to be a dominant slab of glass. At least Audi understands. Genesis Takes Aim at the Establishment Korean Car Blog Despite the controversial TV screen and touch-centric control system, the GV90 plans to give the German giants a run for their money. Genesis already contends with heavyweights like BMW and Mercedes-Benzin more ways than one, and this SUV looks ready to challenge flagship rivals such as the BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS. It may not win everyone over with its screen-heavy interior, but one thing is clear: Genesis is pushing forward with confidence, and although it targets a niche segment, the GV90 proves Genesis is done holding back. View the full article

Last year, there were almost countless recalls for failing rearview cameras, and while that issue is still causing problems in 2026, another problem is becoming increasingly common: detaching seatbelt anchors. That's the fault with nearly 300,000 Hyundai and Genesis vehicles, according to a new recall published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The recall hits 13 products in total, affecting multiple powertrain types and body styles, and because it's a hardware problem, owners with vehicles named in the recall documents will have to visit a dealership to have it resolved. Let's take a closer look. Hyundai and Genesis Named, But Not Kia Cole Attisha/Autoblog View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article The recall potentially affects 294,128 vehicles, including the all-electric Hyundai Ioniq 6 sedan, the Santa Fe SUV (hybrid included), and the Genesis G90 luxury sedan. No Kia vehicles have yet been found to have the fault, but that may change with a future recall. For now, these are the model years in question: 2023-2026 Genesis G902023-2025 Hyundai Ioniq 62024-2026 Hyundai Santa Fe2024-2026 Hyundai Santa Fe HybridThe NHTSA recall report indicates that vehicles produced both in South Korea and at Hyundai's plant in Alabama have been affected, describing the issue as front seatbelts (driver and passenger) that may not be sufficiently attached to the seat frame "due to a damaged snap-on anchor." Hyundai's North American Safety Office (NASO) first received word of a possible problem in September 2025, and its investigation determined that damage due to "external occupant interaction" was unlikely. In other words, this issue isn't caused by the user. It also apparently was not caused by bad assembly or in-plant repair processes, prompting Hyudai to initiate crash testing to replicate the issue. Related: Hyundai Rethinks Santa Fe Design for 2027 Refresh By March of this year, a new snap-on anchor design was introduced in production, and Hyundai, in collaboration with the NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation, determined that only in some rear-end crashes did the problem appear, and some field claims were associated with prior seat repair and improper removal in service. Ultimately, Hyundai decided that it's better to be safe than sorry, however limited the appearance of the problem, hence this recall. What Hyundai and Genesis Owners Need to Know About the New Recall Hyundai As of now, Hyundai knows of six reports related to these insufficiently attached seabelt anchors in the U.S., but in no instance have the bad anchros caused crashes, injuries, or fatalities in America. Unfortunately, while the redesigned snap-on ancho has already been implemented in vehicle production for the affected models, Hyundai's solution of installing a reinforcement insert to the anchor clip will only reach affected owners a couple of months from now, with dealers and owners only expected to be notified on June 5. VINs are already searchable on nhtsa.gov, however, and since no injuries have been reported in relation to this recall issue, there's no cause for alarm just yet. View the full article

If you needed another reason to envy European car buyers for the diversity of their car market, here it is: the Honda Super-N electric city car is coming to the UK market this July. Based on Honda’s iconic N Series kei car platform sold in Japan, the Super-N is inspired by the legendary 1980’s City Turbo II. The Super-N boasts a striking exterior design featuring bulged wheel arches and sporty side sills for a distinctive wide stance, as well as more aggressive bumpers with incorporated aero ducts. A Kei Car With a Widebody Kit and Boost Mode Honda UK Customers will be able to choose from a wide range of colors and customization options, including body graphics and a two-tone specification that features a contrasting gloss black finish for the roof panel and rear spoiler. Inside, the electric kei car gets enhanced seats that offer greater support and comfort, blue highlights that pay homage to the original City Turbo II, and ambient lighting, which switches from a cool blue at night to a rich purple when Boost mode is selected. While the City Turbo II was gas-powered, the Super-N features an all-electric powertrain consisting of a compact front motor rated at a puny 63 hp (47 kW) in normal operation. However, there’s a Boost mode that turns it up to 94 hp (70 kW) when the driver feels like having some fun. And you can indeed have fun with the Honda Super-N because it’s one of the lightest EVs available in Europe, with a curb weight of just over 2,400 pounds (approximately 1,092 kg). Contributing to the low weight is the relatively small battery pack of 29.6 kWh. The fact that the battery is mounted under the floor also keeps the center of gravity low, which, along with the wide 185/55 R15 Yokohama Advan Fleva tires, enhances stability. It Simulates Combustion Engine Sounds and a 7-Speed DCT Honda UK Speaking of driving fun, the Honda Super-N, sold as the Super-One in Japan, simulates a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and an engaging gas engine sound via an Active Sound Control system. The automaker says this combines the instant response of an EV with “the strong emotional connection of driving a combustion engine vehicle.” The Super-N also features an uprated suspension and chassis tuned by Honda engineers for enhanced dynamic performance, having undertaken extensive testing on various road surface conditions in Japan and the UK. “The Super-N promises to bring Honda’s ‘Joy of Driving’ and the thrill of EV performance to a whole new audience. With its iconic looks, driving dynamics tailored to UK roads, and unique features such as BOOST Mode, every aspect of this model has been engineered to bring exhilaration and fun to every journey, no matter how short,” said Michael Doyle, Head of Automobile, Honda UK. Since we’re talking about an EV, it’s worth pointing out that the Super-N has a combined range of 128 miles, which is nothing to write home about. However, if you drive it only in the city, the range increases to 199 miles, which is a decent amount for normal users. UK buyers will be able to buy the Super-N starting in July for a base price of under £20,000—the equivalent of $26,900 at the current exchange rate. That will make it one of the most affordable EVs on sale in Europe, competing with the likes of the Renault 5 E-Tech, BYD Dolphin Surf, Hyundai Inster, Citroën ë-C3, and other similar small EVs. Honda UK View the full article

Tesla is cracking down hard on owners who used FSD enabler hacks to illegally unlock Full Self-Driving in countries where the software remains unapproved. The company has begun remotely disabling FSD capabilities on affected vehicles across Europe, China, Japan, South Korea, and the UK, amongst other countries. While every Tesla ships with the FSD hardware baked in, software activation remains tied to regulatory approval. Outside the United States, FSD has not received full approval in most markets due to varying safety standards, data privacy requirements, and local traffic laws. That gap created an opportunity. Hackers in Poland, Ukraine, and elsewhere began distributing modules that plug into the CAN bus to geo-spoof the car, and silently unlock the full FSD suite, including advanced navigation, Autopark, and Summon. In China alone, over 100,000 owners have reportedly installed such modifications to gain access to FSD. The devices, typically priced between $700-$2,000, had spread quickly before Tesla moved to respond. Tesla FSD v14.3 Raises the StakesThe timing of Tesla's crackdown is no coincidence. FSD v14.3 recently began rolling out, representing a foundational rebuild of the system's AI architecture. The update rewrites the AI compiler, delivering a 20% faster reaction time. Not to mention a completely overhauled neural network vision encoder that improves performance in low-visibility conditions, one of FSD’s biggest issues so far. The reinforcement learning stage has also been upgraded, targeting harder training examples sourced from Tesla's global fleet. This is the update Musk called "the last big piece of the puzzle." With v14.3 pushing FSD capability to new heights, and v15 built on a large AI model with roughly 10 times more parameters on the horizon, Tesla has a serious incentive to ensure only verified, approved users are running these systems. Unauthorized activations are more than just a legal liability, with which Tesla has its hands full already; they are a safety risk. Mark Leong/The Washington Post/Getty Images Tesla's Response and What It Means for OwnersTesla launched an enforcement campaign, sending in-car notifications and emails warning that unauthorized modifications violate its terms of service, compromise vehicle safety systems, and expose cars to cybersecurity risks. Vehicles detected using the hacks have had FSD capabilities remotely disabled without refund. In some cases, owners report permanent bans, even where they had legitimately purchased the software package to use in the US before transferring their Tesla out of the country. Getty Images This is not the first time Tesla has used its over-the-air capabilities to lock out owners who strayed outside official channels. The company has a long-standing pattern of remotely restricting features on vehicles that underwent unauthorized repairs or modifications. Owners who had independent repair work done on their cars have faced the prospect of being locked out of the Supercharger network entirely, sometimes weeks after the vehicle was already back on the road. Third-party performance modules, like those that replicate paid software upgrades at lower cost, have also triggered in-car warnings after Tesla software updates detected their presence. Tesla has always framed these controls as a safety measure. The FSD crackdown fits that same argument, just with much higher stakes attached. View the full article

If you need to cross the Sierra this weekend, today is your last realistic window. The National Weather Service has a Winter Storm Warning active for Mono County and the Donner Pass area, with watches across the Northern Sierra, and what is heading for the mountains starting Friday evening is not a routine spring snow event. Two Pacific systems are stacking back-to-back. The second is stronger. Snow totals above 7,000 feet could reach 28 inches near Lake Tahoe and up to four feet on the highest peaks. Wind gusts along the Sierra crest are forecast at 70 to 80 mph. The NWS says travel "could be very difficult to impossible." I-80 over Donner Pass, Highway 50 to Lake Tahoe and Highway 395 along the eastern Sierra are all in the direct path. Chain controls are virtually guaranteed. Full closures are on the table, and I-80 already shut down for 60 miles during a similar system in February. If you do not need to be on the other side of the mountains before Monday, do not go. The StormA lead upper low moves ashore Friday night. A stronger, more compact closed low follows Saturday night into Sunday. Together they will push moisture anomalies in the 90th to 95th percentile into the Sierra, and the slow movement of the upper low means the snow keeps falling for roughly 48 hours. The critical detail for drivers is the snow level. It starts above 9,000 feet on Friday, which means the passes initially get rain. Then it drops. By Saturday evening snow levels fall to 6,000 to 7,000 feet. By late Saturday into Sunday morning they crash to 4,000 to 4,500 feet. That means snow at the level of foothill communities and heavy accumulation at every pass in the Sierra. People who drove over Donner in sunshine on Thursday will not recognise the road by Saturday night. The heaviest period is forecast from late Saturday morning through midday Sunday. Zone ForecastsMono County (NWS Reno, Winter Storm Warning): 2 to 6 inches west of Highway 395. 6 to 12 inches above 8,000 feet. Up to 24 inches along the Sierra crest. Winds gusting 70 to 80 mph on the crest, up to 40 mph along 395. Friday evening through Sunday evening. Lake Tahoe area (NWS Reno): 6 to 10 inches around the lake and up to 7,000 feet. 12 to 28 inches above 7,000 feet and along Sierra passes. Northern Sierra / Western Plumas County (NWS Sacramento, Winter Storm Watch): 1 to 2 feet above 4,500 feet. 3 to 4 feet on the highest peaks. Light accumulations of 2 to 4 inches possible as low as 4,000 feet. Winds up to 45 mph. Heaviest snow late Saturday morning through midday Sunday. NWS The HighwaysI-80 overDonner Pass (roughly 7,000 feet). The primary east-west corridor across the Northern Sierra. With 12 to 28 inches forecast at pass elevation and winds gusting above 45 mph, chain controls will be in effect at minimum. In February a similar system shut down a 60-mile stretch of I-80 and stranded hundreds of drivers for hours. Expect chain controls beginning Saturday with possible closure Saturday night through Sunday. Highway 50 to South Lake Tahoe. Echo Summit sits at 7,382 feet, squarely in the heavy snow zone. Highway 50 has the same closure risk as I-80 and fewer plowing resources. When both routes close simultaneously there is no realistic alternative across the central Sierra. That happened in February too. Highway 395 (Eastern Sierra). The Warning specifically names 395 with gusts to 40 mph and 2 to 6 inches of snow. Higher terrain west of 395 faces 6 to 12 inches, which makes side roads to Mammoth Mountain and June Mountain treacherous.Highway 88 through Carson Pass (8,574 feet) and Highway 89. Both exposed to heavy snow and high winds with limited plowing resources. These are typically among the first routes to close and the last to reopen, and nobody should be counting on them this weekend. US NWS When To DriveFriday daytime (today). Your last safe window. Snow levels remain above pass level through Friday afternoon. If you need to be on the other side this weekend, go now. Friday evening. Storm arrives. Rain transitions to snow at higher elevations. Chain controls begin. Saturday. Conditions deteriorate through the day. Snow levels drop, winds increase, and by evening you are looking at heavy snow above 6,000 to 7,000 feet. Not a good day to be on a mountain highway if you have a choice. Saturday night through Sunday morning. The worst window. Snow levels crash to 4,000 to 4,500 feet. The stronger second system arrives. Crest winds hit 70 to 80 mph. Pass-level gusts reach 40 to 45 mph. Visibility could go to near zero. This is when closures are most likely. Sunday afternoon onward. Storm weakens. But do not assume roads reopen quickly. Clearing 1 to 2 feet of snow off a mountain highway takes hours even after the snow stops. Why This Storm Is DifferentThe Sierra gets spring snow. That is not news. What makes this one worth paying attention to is the wind. 70 to 80 mph on the crest is not a spring number. Those speeds create whiteout conditions, knock down trees and power lines, and make high-profile vehicles undrivable on exposed passes. On top of that, the snow level drop is unusually large. Starting above 9,000 feet and falling to 4,000 means communities that normally get rain from this kind of system will get snow instead, and the passes go from wet to buried in a matter of hours. And because two systems are stacking back-to-back, road crews will be working for roughly 48 hours straight with no real break between rounds. That is a lot to ask of plows that are already running on a lean-snowpack winter budget. This comes after a winter with well-below-average snowpack across the Sierra. March 2026 was California's warmest and driest on record, which forced early closures at several ski resorts. The storm will help the snowpack numbers, but nobody who has to drive over the mountains this weekend is going to be thinking about water supply. What To CarryCaltrans will require chains on most vehicles above 4,000 to 5,000 feet. AWD and 4WD with snow tyres may still need chains. Bring tyre chains and practice putting them on before you need to, a blanket or sleeping bag, flashlight, portable phone charger, water, food, a folding shovel, cat litter or sand for traction, and a full tank of fuel before entering the mountains. If you get stranded, stay with your vehicle. Run the engine for heat in 15-minute intervals, crack a window for ventilation and wait for road crews. Photo by John Normile on Getty Images Road ConditionsCheck Caltrans for current highway conditions, live traffic cameras and chain controls. NWS Sacramento and NWS Reno forecast pages are linked in the zone forecasts above. View the full article

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

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

Corey Heim finds himself the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship leader through five races but that isn’t exactly the newsworthy part. It’s the fact that Heim has only participated in three of those races. Of course, he’s won twice and added a fifth-place finish to boot and inherited the championship lead last weekend only after Chandler Smith was disqualified for rear ride height ...Keep readingView the full article

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

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

Electrified Except for OneLexus has had electrified vehicles in its lineup for a little over 20 years. Today, just about every model in its lineup gets some form of hybrid assistance. From the subcompact and not-available-in-the-U.S LBX, all the way to the full-sized LX, hybrid power is, at the very least, an option on all Lexus vehicles save for one. In case you missed the headline, that model is the GX. For over 20 years, the midsize luxury SUV never once received an electric assist. For most of its life, it had V8 power under the hood, and it's only now taken the downsized turbo route with its boosted 3.4-liter V6. Given Lexus' strong hybrid lineup, it's rather odd that it's still leaving out the GX, but that might change soon. Lexus A Trademark Filing Gives a HintThe subject of the hybrid GX had been brought up several times already, but this might finally be the moment that it comes to fruition. A more recent trademark filing looks promising. The application was filed fairly recently in the United States Patent and Trademark Office. It was dated March 16, 2026, and its status is currently under examination. The name is GX550h, which probably isn't too surprising at this point. But it appears the Lexus is dead serious about securing its name. A look at the global trademark database reveals trademark applications in Cambodia, Canada, Peru, and the Philippines, among others. The question now is, what kind of powertrain could it get? Lexus Under the HoodThere are two possibilities as to what could be under the hood of the GX550h. Wishful thinking says the hybridized 3.4-liter V6 straight from the LX700h with 457 hp and 583 lb-ft of torque. That's a huge jump from the GX550's 349 hp and 479 lb-ft figure, and it should make it a proper hot rod. Realistically, though, it could end up with the now-familiar 2.4-liter turbo hybrid arrangement used in several Toyota and Lexus vehicles today. After all, that's already fitted to the Land Cruiser (Prado) hybrid, and it's good for 326 hp and 426 lb-ft, which is less than the 3.4-liter V6 that's already in the GX550. While it'll surely be a lot less thirsty than the six-cylinder, we're not too sure whether GX customers will accept the idea of a four-cylinder model. In the meantime, we wait, and we'll hopefully get answers soon. Lexus View the full article

UPDATE (April 10, 2026): The National Weather Service in Sacramento has upgraded the Winter Storm Watch to a Winter Storm Warning for the West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada and Western Plumas County, now in effect from Friday evening through Monday afternoon. Snowfall totals have been revised sharply upward, with 1 to 2 feet now expected between 5,000 and 6,000 feet and 2 to 5 feet above 6,000 feet, with locally higher amounts at the peaks. Wind gusts have also increased to 55 MPH in the mountains, and NWS Sacramento is now explicitly forecasting whiteout conditions at times. Snow levels will drop to 5,000 to 6,000 feet Saturday afternoon, roughly 1,000 feet lower than the original Watch forecast, meaning accumulation will begin earlier on lower-elevation approaches to I-80 and US-50. The Warning now extends through Monday, a full day beyond the original Sunday evening window. A Flood Watch has also been issued for the Sacramento Valley and Sierra foothills below 4,000 feet due to heavy rain. Drivers should check Caltrans QuickMap or call 511 before attempting any Sierra crossing this weekend. A powerful late-season winter storm is bearing down on the Sierra Nevada this weekend, prompting the National Weather Service to issue Winter Storm Warnings spanning every major mountain corridor from Lassen County to Sequoia National Park. Multiple NWS offices, including NWS Sacramento, NWS Reno, and NWS Hanford, are coordinating warnings as back-to-back upper-level lows push ashore from the Pacific, delivering moisture surges with precipitable water anomalies running 150 to 200 percent of normal according to the Weather Prediction Center. The system arrives Friday evening, and conditions will deteriorate rapidly through Saturday morning. Feet of Snow From Donner Pass to YosemiteThe heaviest accumulations are forecast for the Northern Sierra, where NWS Sacramento is calling for 1 to 2 feet of snow above 4,500 feet and up to 3 to 4 feet at the highest peaks, including ski resort elevations near Donner Summit and Blue Canyon. Snow levels will start above pass level Friday afternoon before dropping to 6,000 to 7,000 feet late Friday, then plunging to 4,000 to 4,500 feet by late Saturday into Sunday, bringing 2 to 4 inches of accumulation to elevations as low as 4,000 feet. The Lake Tahoe Basin is expecting 6 to 10 inches at lake level and 12 to 28 inches above 7,000 feet and at Sierra passes. Further south, NWS Hanford warns the Yosemite region could see 1 to 4 feet above 7,000 feet, with visibility dropping below a quarter mile and conditions described as potentially life-threatening. 90 MPH Ridgetop Gusts and Whiteout ConditionsWind is the force multiplier in this storm. NWS Reno forecasts Sierra crest gusts reaching 90 MPH Saturday afternoon, with sustained gusts of 70 to 80 MPH along the crest in Mono County and 40 to 45 MPH at lower elevations and along US-395. These winds will combine with heavy snowfall to produce extended whiteout conditions across exposed passes, making I-80 over Donner Pass, US-50 over Echo Summit, CA-88 at Carson Pass, and CA-120 near Yosemite extremely dangerous. Chain controls are virtually certain once snow levels drop below 6,000 feet Saturday evening, and Caltrans may implement full closures over Donner Summit and other passes if snowfall rates and visibility deteriorate beyond manageable thresholds. Drivers can check conditions at QuickMap or by calling 511. Getty Images Record-Low Snowpack Adds to the RiskThis storm lands on a Sierra Nevada that has almost no snowpack left. California's April 1 measurement came in at just 18 percent of average, the second-lowest on record, with the Northern Sierra at a staggering 6 percent of normal after March finished as the state's warmest and driest month on record. The result is warm, bare pavement that will create a rapid melt-and-refreeze cycle as heavy, wet spring snow falls on surfaces that have been baking under above-normal temperatures for weeks. That cycle makes road surfaces especially unpredictable, particularly overnight and in early morning hours when treated roads refreeze. Staying Safe Behind the WheelLate-season Sierra storms are deceptive because many drivers have already stowed their winter gear. If you must cross the mountains this weekend, carry chains even if you drive an AWD vehicle; Caltrans R-3 chain controls require chains on all vehicles, no exceptions. Wet spring snow is heavier than midwinter powder and packs onto windshields and roofs quickly, so clear your entire vehicle before driving. Disable cruise control on any snow-covered surface and reduce speed before entering curves or highway ramps, not during. Keep an emergency kit in your trunk with a phone charger, blanket, water, and a small shovel. For a full breakdown on handling snow and ice at speed, review Autoblog's guide to best practices for winter driving. The safest move is to avoid any Sierra crossing between Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon entirely, then check Caltrans conditions before committing to a drive once crews have had time to clear and treat the passes. When It EndsSnow begins Friday evening and ramps up sharply by Saturday morning. The worst travel window runs from Saturday predawn through Sunday afternoon, with the most intense accumulations falling late Saturday morning into midday Sunday. Conditions should begin improving Sunday evening as the system exits east, but overnight refreezing will keep mountain roads hazardous into Monday morning. If your schedule allows, Monday midday offers the safest window for a Sierra crossing. 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

Mercedes-Benz USA has released its first-quarter sales results, with total sales of 78,500, a 3% decline relative to the same quarter in 2025. Of that total, 8,500 models were vans (-6%) and 70,000 were passenger cars (-3%). Unlike BMW, Mercedes doesn’t report sales data for specific models, making direct comparisons with its rivals difficult. But this also hints at low sales for models not mentioned by the brand. Here’s a look at Merc’s sales highlights for the first quarter and how the company compares to BMW. BMW Still Ahead in the U.S. Mercedes-AMG BMW has outsold Mercedes in the U.S. for a few years now, and the same trend is continuing in 2026. Excluding Mini, BMW sold 84,231 vehicles in the U.S. in the first quarter of 2026, putting it 14,231 units ahead of Mercedes, when Mercedes vans are excluded. Even with its van lineup, Mercedes is still behind its rival by around 5,700 models. Here’s a look at some sales highlights for Mercedes in Q1: GLC, GLE, and GLS sales grew by 22% and made up 61% of all passenger-car salesG-Class, SL, and Mercedes-Maybach saw double-digit growthSL sales alone climbed by 47%Maybach sales climbed by 22%Globally, electric GLC generated more orders in first three months than any previous Mercedes EVMercedes said customer interest continues to build for the new CLA, but did not say how many examples of the new model were sold. It’s also telling that the press release did not mention a single sedan or EV directly, suggesting that sales of these models declined in Q1. Based on the fact that the GLC/GLE/GLS made up 61% of passenger car sales (42,700 units), this means all other Mercedes models combined for 27,300 sales. By comparison, BMW sold 36,058 passenger cars in Q1, including the X1 and X2 but excluding all other SUVs. Mercedes-Benz "Our first-quarter results reflect the resilience of our incredible dealer network and strong demand despite challenging market conditions across the U.S. auto industry,” said Adam Chamberlain, President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA. “Our core SUV lineup continues to resonate with customers, and top-end vehicle sales remain brisk with strong sustained interest in our awe-inspiring AMG models.” Related: BMW M Just Beat Mercedes-AMG Again and Set Another Sales Record Fresh Lineup Should Bolster Customer Interest Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz has revealed a slew of heavily updated core models in recent weeks, and these have yet to impact the sales charts. The 2027 S-Class was revealed late in January with revised looks, a new interior, and a new V8 engine. It was followed by the midsize 2027 GLE-Class and full-size 2027 GLS-Class late in March, both of which received extensive changes. Like the S-Class, these SUVs have a new MBUX Superscreen, updated front fascias, and enhanced engines. Given that these SUVs already sold strongly in Q1, they’re likely to increase in sales when the refreshed versions hit showrooms later this year. What It Means Mercedes-Benz Merc’s increasingly mysterious sales figures make it challenging to paint a clear picture of what the company is doing right, but its core gas-powered SUVs remain major sales drivers. There are question marks over the performance of its sedans and EVs, which were not mentioned in the latest sales release. We do know that Merc is on a mission to realign its EV range to fit in better with its gas models, as the original EQ models were unloved with their sci-fi-like designs. For now, Mercedes has not managed to close the gap between it and arch rival BMW. That could change if the brand’s new EVs and revised core models catch fire later in the year. Related: Mercedes-Benz Targets Higher Volume After Years of Sliding Sales View the full article