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There’s a lot to love about the latest mid-sized naked bike from KTM.View the full article

The ride spans a journey from Portland, Maine to Portland, Oregon, across 1 continent (and 4,000-ish miles) in just 9 days. Are you up for it?View the full article

SCAG Racing heads to Summit Motorsports Park for this weekend’s Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals carrying momentum, special patriotic paint schemes, and a strong history of success at one of the most anticipated events on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series schedule. All four SCAG Racing nitro entries will debut the team’s new “Simply the Brave” military themed wraps this weekend in Norwalk, the first of three consecutive events where the special patriotic designs will be featured, including Sonoma and Seattle. The special design celebrates America’s upcoming 250th birthday while highlighting SCAG Power Equipment’s limited edition “Simply the Brave” series of lawn mower models. For every Patriot 250 model military edition mower sold, SCAG will donate $250 to support the Gary Sinise Foundation’s First Responders Outreach program and A Soldier’s Child Foundation. SCAG also proudly offers its ongoing “Simply the Brave” discount program, providing eligible military personnel, veterans, and first responders discounts of up to 15% on most mower models. Justin Ashley and the SCAG Power Equipment Top Fuel team return to Norwalk as the defending event champion after earning the victory at Summit Motorsports Park in 2025. “Norwalk is a special race,” said Ashley. “It’s one of those you circle on the calendar at the beginning of the year in hopes of bringing home that iconic ice cream scooper. I’ve always had great respect for the Bader family both on and off the racetrack. Their high character and commitment to the fans is contagious. “Our approach for this weekend is simple.,” Ashley continued. “Beginning with the end in mind, the ultimate goal is to put this SCAG Power Equipment Top Fuel Dragster into the winner’s circle. The best way to get there is by racing the racetrack one day and one round at a time. The past is irrelevant. The future is out of our control. All of our attention is on the present. We have the best people, the best partners, and the best organization. Now we have to be ‘Simply the Best.’” Daniel Wilkerson enters the weekend with his SCAG Power Equipment Funny Car team with extra motivation at one of his sponsor’s marquee events. The Summit Racing Equipment-supported Funny Car driver spent Wednesday at Summit Racing Equipment’s headquarters meeting fans and participating in a car show before heading to the racetrack. Wilkerson also qualified for the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge after his runner-up finish at the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, which will be contested during Saturday’s qualifying sessions. “There is nothing like getting back to the racetrack after a good weekend off, and there’s no track I’m more excited to go to than Summit Motorsports Park for multiple reasons,” said Wilkerson. “Tim has a really good tune-up for that place. We always seem to run well in Norwalk, and I’ve made more runs there in a fuel car than probably anywhere else. “Summit has been a supporter of our family for a very long time, so it’s always fun to race at their house,” Wilkerson continued. “We also get to go to the mothership in Ohio for Summit and spend time with their employees. We get to be a part of a really cool car show, with our SCAG Mustang included. It should be a great weekend.” Dave Richards and the BlueBird Turf Funny Car team will look to continue making progress during the busy summer stretch while unveiling their own “Simply the Brave” design. “We’re proud to be part of the ‘Simply the Brave’ program and represent it on our Funny Car,” Richards said. “It’s a great way to recognize the military community while also bringing attention to a program that gives back. “Norwalk is always one of the best stops on tour because of the fans and the atmosphere, and we’re looking forward to putting together a strong weekend for everyone who supports SCAG Racing, especially our SCAG dealers.” Will Smith and the BlueBird Turf Top Fuel team head to Norwalk after continuing to gain valuable experience during their rookie campaign and are eager to capitalize on the momentum built throughout the season. “We’re excited to head to Norwalk and unveil our new ‘Simply the Brave’ livery on the Bluebird Turf Top Fuel Dragster,” said Smith. “It’s a special scheme that honors and supports our nation’s heroes, and we’re proud to represent that message on one of NHRA’s biggest stages. SCAG gives back to heroes by donating a portion of every sale of a military edition Patriot mower to the Gary Sinise First Responders Outreach Foundation and A Soldier’s Child Foundation. It’s an honor to represent a brand that recognizes the sacrifices made by our nation’s heroes. “Norwalk is always a great event,” Smith continued. “We’ll have a lot of our dealers, customers, and guests with us throughout the weekend, along with our distributor of the race, Pace, which makes it even more meaningful. “As a team, we’ve been working extremely hard to improve our performance on track. We’ve seen progress in recent races, but we’re not satisfied and know there’s more out there for us. Everyone at SCAG Racing continues to put in the effort to make this program better each week, and we’re looking forward to putting together a strong weekend and giving our guests something to cheer about.” Nitro qualifying at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals begins Friday with qualifying sessions at 6:00 and 8:30 p.m. ET, followed by two more qualifying sessions Saturday at noon and 2:30 p.m. ET. Eliminations begin Sunday at 11:00 a.m. ET. Television coverage of the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals will air Sunday with qualifying coverage from 12-2 p.m. ET on FS1 and elimination coverage from 5:30-9 p.m. ET on FOX. The post SCAG Racing Brings Special Military Tribute to Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Riders have been saying this for a long time.View the full article

REO wants to offer working-class folks access to a base model truck. But they're describing a UTV.View the full article

NHRA Nitro Driver Joe Morrison’s Right2Breathe® Project has once again teamed up with the highly acclaimed Cleveland Clinic as well as the NDD Medical, BluZone Health and will be located adjacent to the Kroger Health display, to present the “Put Your Lungs on the Dyno” Lung Health Screening Project at the 2026 Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals. The Funny Car driver from Flemington, New Jersey and Right2Breathe, a New Jersey based 501(c)(3) non-profit, in collaboration with a team of healthcare professionals and support from Sanofi Pharmaceutical, will offer onsite lung health screenings and education to the estimated 70,000+ fans and racers expected to enjoy the NHRA national event. In 2025 Morrison took to the track and midway to deliver the important message that early detection for lung health is more important than ever now. This will be Morrison’s second race of the season driving the ever-competitive Herzhauser owned Funny Car.“Now more than ever lung health has been in the news and the Right2Breathe® mission has never been more important,” said Morrison. “We recently lost NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Kyle Busch to a lung related illness that could have been treated. My dad was able to live well and enjoy his life despite having very severe COPD and his experience was critical to the founding of Right2Breathe. Our mission with Right2Breathe is to help others live better and live longer by getting diagnosed earlier than my dad.” The Right2Breathe® Project is a dynamic, grassroots initiative focused on Lung Health Education, Awareness, and Screening. This campaign is hosted at various public venues, including automotive and sporting events across the United States. The Norwalk screening event marks Right2Breathe’s return to the NHRA circuit after an appearance earlier this season in Charlotte. The Right2Breathe program will also be present at the historic U.S. Nationals Labor Day weekend in Indianapolis as well as multiple events in the NHRA Countdown later this season. Since 2016, the Right2Breathe Project has provided free lung screenings to thousands of dedicated NHRA Drag Racing fans at motorsports venues nationwide. Their team of medical professionals—including Respiratory Therapists, Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, and Pulmonologists—offer screenings, answer questions, and provide valuable resources for racers, fans, and event partners. Morrison is thrilled that Cleveland Clinic will support the event once again by providing a team of experts in Norwalk. This marks the fourth consecutive year of their involvement, following the successful and impactful Right2Breathe event showcased at the 2023 Norwalk NHRA National Event. New this year will be the location adjacent to the Kroger Health footprint and the Allergy & Asthma Network joining the Cleveland Clinic. Kroger Health will have the Right2Breathe® Project next to their midway space to help bring more healthcare services and continue to educate the public about various ways to remain healthy in their lives. BluZone Health will have an exercise physiologist onsite. The quartet of health organizations and programs will provide a diverse and comprehensive educational experience for fans interested in learning more about lung health and treatment. A team of medical professionals from Cleveland Clinic are generously donating their time to demonstrate their dedication to the community they serve. They are offering free lung screenings and answering questions about common lung diseases, including COPD, Pulmonary Fibrosis, Lung Cancer, Asthma, and Long Haul COVID. Additionally, they are providing free resources for race fans, vendors, and competitors attending the event. On the track Morrison will be driving the Herzhauser owned Funny Car with marketing support from long-time sponsors PennGrade1 and Before & After Painting, who will be wrapping up the “Livin’ the Dream” two-race series in Norwalk as well as new sponsor CarTimeDover.com. Last year Morrison missed qualifying in a tough 21-car field. This will be Morrison’s second event of the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. During the inaugural Potomac Nationals Morrison qualified No. 16 before dropping a close first round race with No. 1 qualifier Jack Beckman. The post Right2Breathe® and Joe Morrison Return to Norwalk With Continued Message of Health and Awareness first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

The Honda XL750 Transalp is attracting more aftermarket support as riders continue embracing its versatility.View the full article

Rieju is becoming impossible to ignore.View the full article

I tested Ducati's Hypermotard V2 SP on track in Italy, and it was nothing like I expected. This bike is a hooligan enabler but far more than a one-trick pony.View the full article

The Yamaha XV Virago has long been one of the most popular platforms in the custom motorcycle world, inspiring countless café racers, bobbers, and one-off creations. Yet even among the many radical Virago builds, this latest project from Japanese builder Yuichi Yoshizawa of Custom Works Zon manages to stand in a class of its own. Known for pushing beyond traditional design boundaries, Yoshizawa transformed the Yamaha V-twin into a striking café racer that blends components from Ducati, BMW, and Harley-Davidson […] The post Custom Works Zon’s Yamaha Virago Café Racer Defies Every Design Rule appeared first on Return of the Cafe Racers. View the full article

If you are like me you are going to watch this video and think how much fun it seems it would be to be driving, and also that this dude could have been going even faster. Yeah, that’s not a criticism. Watch until the end and you’ll see what I’m talking about as Robin Shutes takes his Pikes Peak machine up the mountain quicker than anyone has ever done with a rear wheel drive car, and next year he’ll be back going even quicker I’m sure. The weather looked amazing, the car sounds good, and it sure looks like a fun day for everyone but the squirrel. Check it out below. The post Robin Shutes Onboard Video Pikes Peak 2026. 2nd Overall, 1st in Super Unlimited, and Sets the All Time Rear Wheel Drive Record! appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

I know I’m not alone in saying that the Tyrrell P34 is one of the coolest looking F1 cars ever produced, not only because the lines are good on it, but also because it’s a freak show with 4 front wheels. And the idea behind it was genius. Little wheels and tires have less drag and that means the front could be lower and let all that good air go over the car, through the rear wing where it provided great downforce. And while they were a freak show looking car, they did well. It actually worked. Until F1 said no more. I’ve seen plenty of video of these cars, as have so many of you, but never have I thought about building a go kart version which makes me kind of disappointed in myself to be honest. Now that I see this cool go kart that the guys at Eastwood put together, I am jealous and want one for myself. Can you imagine the fun you could have if a group of you and your buddies were racing a fleet of them around your own track? The thought puts a smile on my face. Watch the video. Video Description: The Tyrrell P34 is one of the strangest race cars ever to compete in Formula One. Built in 1976, the six-wheeled machine wasn’t just a gimmick—it actually won races and proved that sometimes the craziest ideas are worth pursuing. So naturally, we decided to build one. In this first episode, we dive into the history of the legendary P34 before attempting to recreate the concept at go-kart scale. Starting with a pile of tubing and a questionable amount of confidence, we build the chassis from scratch, mount all six wheels, and begin tackling the biggest challenge of the project: figuring out how to make four front wheels steer without turning the whole thing into a shopping cart. Will Formula One’s weirdest idea work as a go-kart? We’re about to find out. The post They Built a BANNED F1 Car From the 70’s! Well Kinda, And It’s Awesome! Who Wants To Build One Of These? appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

Super Stockers are some of the most unique sportsman cars in drag racing. Check out Larry Eagle's super cool Oldsmobile Calais. View the full article

There are going to be some of the most epic Ferrari’s in Formula 1 history at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, and this right here is one of them. The crew caught up with this car at the Monaco Historics race and man we couldn’t be happier that they did. Ferrari has been racing in F1 for 75 years now, and that mean’s they have seen some things and done some things. But while all these Ferraris are epic and cool, some definitely stand out from the rest. These cars were from a different era of racing and race car drivers. If you put a driver from 1964 in a 2024 F1 car they would probably express two things. Number one that nothing he ever imagined could compare to the performance just experienced, and two that he’d never driven a race car that was so “easy” to drive. Don’t take my words to mean that I think old drivers had more skill than new drivers, that’s not the point at all. I mean it physically, not as a matter of skill. You see, race cars of all kinds were horrible ill handling and limited cars back in the day. So drivers had to literally manhandled these cars to make them perform. That level of physical interaction isn’t the same 60 years later. So these cars will always hit a little different when you think about what it was like when they were the fastest things on four wheels. Video Description: At this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard we’re celebrating Ferrari’s 75 years of F1 success in a big way. We’ll have our greatest selection of Ferrari F1 cars, including this absolute masterpiece. The Ferrari 1512 has one of the best sounding engines of all time. The 1964 world champion John Surtees called it his favourite car he’d ever raced. Ahead of its appearance at FOS 2026, we caught up with the car at the Monaco Historic. Where doesn this rank on your favourite Ferrari F1 cars? The post Flat-12 Ferrari Magic in Monaco | John Surtees’ Favourite F1 Car Makes ALL the Right Noises. Pure Bliss. appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

Randy Pobst can wheel a race car, and on too many occasions to count we’ve seen him do it. But he also enjoys a quick and fast street car which means that upgrades are often in order. In this video series we’ll see his 1977 Pontiac Trans Am get some suspension love. But don’t think that this is some old original worn out machine that is getting the upgrades so they can show a huge improvement. No, this car has had a bunch of work done to it to get it into ship shape, and now it’s time for more. More grip, more control, more adjustability, and above all else, more fun. CLICK HERE IF YOU MISSED AN EPISODE Video Description: It’s time to put up or shut up! Randy’s Randit Trans Am is now #ridetechequipped, but can it best the performance the car was already capable of in it’s mildly modified state? Check out the episode to see how things unfold as we take the Randit back to the autocross and set up the exact same course to see how the full Ridetech coil-over suspension, rear 4-link, and triple adjustable shocks improve the drivability and overall feel of the car with Randy behind the wheel. The post Randy Pobst’s Randit Suspension Overhaul: Episode 4 of 5 – Putting All This Freshly Installed Suspension To The Test On The Track! appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

Honda Racing Corporation has announced ‘The Dream. The Challenge.’, a new campaign celebrating Honda’s Grand Prix motorcycle racing history while looking ahead to the next era of MotoGP and wider racing competition. The post Honda celebrates six decades of Grand Prix racing history appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

Francesco Bagnaia’s move to Aprilia Racing has now been officially confirmed, with the three-time World Champion signing a four-year deal to join Marco Bezzecchi on the RS-GP from 2027. The post Officially official: Bagnaia joins Aprilia from 2027 appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

Wayne loved the KTM 990 Duke enough to buy one, but the arrival of the sharper 990 Duke R created a problem. Was the R good enough to justify an upgrade? A back-to-back Great Ocean Road test would decide it. The post KTM 990 Duke v 990 Duke R Review | Should I Upgrade? appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

The 2027 KTM 790 Duke has been refined across the chassis, suspension, brakes, electronics and ergonomics, while retaining the 799 cc LC8c parallel-twin that gave the original Scalpel its punchy, playful character. The post 2027 KTM 790 Duke Review | Austria’s middleweight mischief-maker matures appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

Ducati has confirmed Francesco Bagnaia will leave the factory team at the end of 2026, while Pedro Acosta will join Marc Márquez from 2027. The official statements confirm two major MotoGP dominoes, though Bagnaia’s expected Aprilia switch is still awaiting formal announcement. The post Ducati’s next chapter: Bagnaia out, Acosta in, and Aprilia waiting in the wings appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

As recently as two years ago, the once-heralded Mountain Motor Pro Stock class looked broken and fragmented, with no clear direction on how to proceed. Many teams seemed unsure on which sanctioning body to compete in – PDRA featured eighth-mile competition as a professional class, while NHRA offered quarter-mile racing, but only at select events. When the newly reformed IHRA threw its hat into the ring last season, it initially looked like the MMPS waters would only be muddied further. Instead, the teams banded together and worked to revitalize the class, coming to an agreement to all race together under the IHRA umbrella moving forward. Just 12 months later they have achieved a remarkable accomplishment – creating what is, in my opinion, the most exciting class the IHRA currently has to offer. “It’s been something that I think we’ve needed to do for a long time, but the whole class hasn’t been on the same page until this year,” said Johnny Pluchino, a two-time PDRA Extreme Pro Stock world champion, 2024 NHRA MMPS world champion, and 2025 Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod MMPS winner. “The class sticking together has really created a scenario where everyone’s working really hard. It’s been extremely competitive and really shows what Mountain Motor Pro Stock racing is about. It’s rejuvenated a lot of the racers and crew and teams to put a lot of work in, and it’s shown with the performance throughout the first four to five races this year.” When Pluchino, the current IHRA points leader, says the class has been “extremely competitive,” it’s not just hyperbole. It has routinely been the toughest class throughout each race weekend. That’s not a knock on any of the other classes; rather, it’s a testament to just how formidable Mountain Motor Pro Stock has become. When trying to determine what is “most exciting,” one has to nitpick a bit. When fans typically think of drag racing, nitro tends to run the show. But as the IHRA continues to grow and develop, the nitro categories – specifically Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Fuel Altered – still have a performance gap between the top teams and the rest of the field (the recent IHRA Triple Crown event being a noticeable exception). Pro Mod, while near and dear to my heart, lacks a bit of intensity in qualifying as even with healthy car counts, it is normally an all-run field. Alcohol Funny Car has seen Phil Esz run away with the class. And while the Pro-Am categories require far more skill than I’ll ever have, from a fan’s view, they simply can’t quite match the thrill of heads-up racing. Mountain Motor Pro Stock, however, has found the sweet spot in terms of participation, parity, and performance. With as close as every team is currently performance-wise, even qualifying has been must-see TV. At the first Triple Crown race of 2026, an impressive 26 cars entered for their shot at the 16-car field. In just two qualifying sessions, the field was separated by a miniscule five-hundredths of a second. Half the field ran a 4.10-second elapsed time. A 4.101 secured the No. 5 spot (Jerry Tucker), while a 4.109 landed Chris Powers No. 12. By the time the finals rolled around, the numbers had tightened to ridiculous levels: John DeFlorian defeated Jeremy Huffman by just under six-thousandths of a second (.0058 MOV). “I don’t remember it ever being this competitive, quite honestly,” says John Montecalvo, who has a laundry list of accomplishments in the class, including 200 round wins in IHRA, championships in IHRA, ADRL, and PDRA, and a MMPS victory at the 2023 WSOPM. “I can remember more cars, but I don’t ever remember the fields being this tight, especially when it’s just two sessions. It raises the bar. You get up there and your knees are knocking like the old days, where you can go up there and be No. 5, and if you didn’t make a good run you’d be going home. That’s where we’re at today, and that’s what we all want. I think it’s exciting for us as drivers, and even more exciting for the fans. That’s what people want to see. They don’t want to see you rolling in the gate already qualified – they want to see you fighting to get in.” Pluchino strongly echoes that sentiment: “It might be the strongest it’s ever been, and certainly the strongest it’s been in the last 20 years,” Pluchino says. “I’ve watched the class or been a part of the class for the last 30 years, and I can remember times with this many cars, but I don’t know if there were ever this many good teams. It’s really rewarding to have success in a time like this.” That level of competition isn’t restricted to just the Triple Crown, either. It’s been standard operating procedure since last season. To get a better idea of just how intense it’s been, I wanted to look beyond the “eye test” and see if there were numbers to back up my assumption, so I reached out to drag racing historian and statistician David Wesolowski for a closer look at the numbers. Here are just a few of his findings: So far in 2026, the spread from No. 1-16 at the three national events rank in the top 20 closest IHRA fields of all time for the class. The Triple Crown race, while not a national event, was the third-tightest field in IHRA MMPS history for a 16-car field. Twenty different drivers have qualified, while 27 different drivers have earned points. There have been seven different No. 1 qualifiers in the eight national events since the 2025 season began. Four of the eight events have been won by first-time IHRA MMPS winners – Pluchino, Jerry Tucker, Chris Powers, and Matt Giangrande. Montecalvo’s event win last season moved him into the top 10 on the class all-time wins list. He is now tied for 8th with Lee Edwards and Frank Gugliotta. The class is also positioned well for the long-term, with a host of longtime veterans such as Montecalvo, Triple Crown event winner John DeFlorian, Elijah Morton, Kurt Neighbor, and Dwayne Rice mixing it up with current stars like Pluchino, Powers, and Tucker; and a plethora of young guns ready to push the class into the future with Dillon and Cory Voss, Alan Drinkwater, and Jordan Ensslin. “We had 26 cars at the last race, and I think at some point you’re going to see 30 or more cars at some of the races this year” Montecalvo says. “I put a big push behind this because I feel very strongly IHRA is where our home is. It was where the class was invented. The opportunity was there for us, and I think pretty much everybody was on the same wavelength and saw that we really did need to consolidate. We needed to be in one spot, and obviously, it’s paid off.” To reiterate, this is not a knock on any of the other classes. But when it comes to getting the best bang for your buck – whether you’re a driver or a fan – the premier class currently competing in IHRA in terms of competition, car count, performance, and parity is unequivocally Mountain Motor Pro Stock. And considering where the class was just a year or two ago, that’s no small feat. “This is the best opportunity we’ve had to showcase our class; not only with the purse structure, but with the platform we’re being placed on,” says Pluchino. “Everyone’s finally on the same page. It’s just the best thing that could happen for us.” This story was originally published on June 24, 2026. The post Opinion: Mountain Motor Pro Stock Has Become IHRA’s Most Exciting Class first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Latest Update PDRA is back in action. The Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series rolls into Maryland International Raceway for the Hoosier North vs. South Shootout presented by Callies, the fourth of seven races on the 2026 tour. Testing opens Thursday, pro qualifying runs Friday, and eliminations crown 660 Man winners Saturday. Jump to Section Latest Update • Schedule • Storylines • Qualifying • Eliminations • Partner Spotlight • Photo Gallery • By the Numbers • Tickets & Watch • Track Info Schedule All times are local. Schedule is per the PDRA pre-event release and is subject to change on site. Day Date On Track Thursday June 25 Testing begins 9 a.m. Top Sportsman and Top Dragster qualifying begins around 5 p.m. Friday June 26 Pro qualifying at 1 p.m., 6 p.m., and 8 p.m. Saturday June 27 Pro eliminations begin 12:45 p.m. and run into the evening until champions are crowned in the FuelTech Winner’s Circle. Storylines Two months have passed since the last PDRA winners were crowned, and the wait got longer when the series’ most recent stop was rained out before competition began. That sets up a loaded return to Maryland at the halfway point of the 2026 season. Franklin carries the Pro Nitrous lead back to Maryland Three-time world champion Tommy Franklin leads Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous presented by Jerry Bickel Race Cars in his Musi-powered “Jungle Rat 3.0” 1969 Camaro. Franklin qualified No. 1 at the season opener and followed it with a win at the Summit Racing Equipment East Coast Nationals presented by FuelTech at Darana Motorsports Park. “Mountain Man” Mike Achenbach sits second after winning the opener in his Fulton-powered 2020 Camaro, and defending world champion Marcus Butner is third in his Musi-powered “Heartbreaker” 1969 Camaro. Camp brings a record and a points lead in Pro Boost Johnny Camp enters Maryland atop the WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive standings. Camp set a new elapsed-time record at the season opener before racing to the win in his ProCharger-boosted “Hells Bells” 1969 Camaro, then backed it up with a semifinal finish at Benson. Two-time Pro Boost world champion Jason Harris is second after winning at Benson in his Harts Charger-boosted “Party Time” 1969 Camaro, and Melanie Salemi is third following a No. 1 qualifier award and runner-up finish in her screw-blown Al-Lee Installations “Purple Reign” 1968 Firebird. Denton defends his Maryland win in Pro Street Defending event winner Blake Denton leads Liberty’s Gears Pro Street presented by KTR Drag Racing as he chases a Pro Street world championship to go with his Super Street title. Denton drives the nitrous-fed “Bonnie” 1969 Camaro previously campaigned by the late Lizzy Musi, and followed a semifinal at the opener with a win at Benson. Jerry Morgano is second after qualifying No. 1 and reaching the final at the opener in his turbocharged small-block “Copperhead” 2002 Mustang, with Ron Green third in the screw-blown “Gamechanger” 2000 Firebird. Maryland’s own Beattie is perfect so far in Pro 632 J.C. Beattie Jr. has built an early advantage in Pro 632 presented by Mark Williams Enterprises. Beattie has won both races contested this season while qualifying No. 1 at Darlington and No. 2 at Benson in his Reher-Morrison-powered ATI Performance Products 2018 Camaro. Jeff Pittman is second after his first career No. 1 qualifier award at Benson and a runner-up at the opener in his Barry Allen-powered Hickory Enclosed Trailer Sales 1968 Chevelle, and rookie David Cook Jr. is third following a runner-up at Benson in his Nelson-powered Copy&PrintWarehouse.com 2010 GTO. McGee leads Super Street again Defending 1320 Fabrication Super Street presented by Brian’s Heating & Cooling world champion Connor McGee leads the standings after two races in the Fulton-powered Brian’s Heating & Cooling 1990 Mustang, with a win at the opener and a runner-up at Benson. Austin Vincent is his closest challenger after winning the most recent event in his nitrous-fed Vincent Performance 1988 Mustang, and 2024 world champion Dan Whetstine is third in his ProCharged “Red Velvet” 1991 Mustang. Qualifying Qualifying results will post here as sessions complete Friday. Check back for live updates. Eliminations Eliminations begin Saturday at 12:45 p.m. Round-by-round results and winners will post here as the action unfolds. Partner Spotlight: Liberty’s High Performance Products Event Hub Founding Sponsor Extreme Transmissions Some companies sell transmissions. Liberty’s builds them the way Detroit built things – by hand, by a guy who knew metal so well he patented his own slick-shift ring. That guy was Joseph C. Liberty. Eighteen years on the bench at Cadillac Motor Car Division as a tool and die journeyman. Detroit-born. Spent his nights and weekends on a ’34 Ford C/altered coupe, slick-shifting his own gears until he had shelves of dead gear sets without synchro rings. So he built a better one. Tested countless designs and metals until he had a ring that didn’t quit. Christened it the Liberty Pro Ring. Earned U.S. Patent No. 3,739,892. That ring is in the company logo to this day. Word got around. Super stock racers. Pro stock racers. Eliminator drivers. They all wanted what Joe was building. Sales quadrupled in the first year. Joe left Cadillac and made it official: Liberty’s High Performance Products, Inc. Joe handed the reins to his son Craig in 1999. Craig still runs every project through the shop personally. Joe’s granddaughter Nicole, University of Michigan mechanical engineering degree, came aboard as a design engineer in 2016. Three generations, one shop, one obsession: building the strongest, smartest transmissions in the sport. Liberty’s is the Founding Sponsor of the 2026 PDRA Hoosier North-South Shootout Event Hub. When the cars stage at Maryland International Raceway this weekend, more than a few will be running Liberty’s gear sets. That’s not coincidence. That’s three generations of doing it right. Visit Liberty’s High Performance Products Photo Gallery From the lens of Tara Bowker. More images will be added through the weekend. By the Numbers 4 of 7 Race four of seven on the 2026 Red Line Oil PDRA schedule, the halfway point of the season 5 Professional classes in action: Pro Boost, Pro Nitrous, Pro Street, Pro 632, and Super Street 660 Distance in feet of PDRA’s eighth-mile competition, the source of the “660 Man” trophy 2 Wins in two starts for Pro 632 points leader J.C. Beattie Jr. this season 3 World championships for Pro Nitrous points leader Tommy Franklin Tickets & Watch Tickets are $20 on Thursday, $25 on Friday, and $30 on Saturday. Discounted Junior and Kids tickets are available, and kids 5 and under get in free. Tickets are available at PDRA660.com or at the gate. Fans worldwide can watch the live stream on FloRacing.com. Track Info Facility Maryland International Raceway Location Budds Creek (Mechanicsville), Maryland Ownership Royce Miller Coverage of the 2026 PDRA Hoosier North vs. South Shootout presented by Callies will update through the weekend. Photos by Tara Bowker. This story was originally published on June 24, 2026. The post 2026 PDRA Hoosier North-South Shootout Presented By Callies: Storylines & Live Coverage first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Dubbin Motorsports enters Norwalk looking to reestablish the performance baseline that delivered a Wally and Ice Cream Scoop at the event three seasons ago. The team has a strong history at Norwalk. In 2023, the DMP Awnings – Kentex Roofing backed team delivered a near-flawless performance at the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals, securing its first NHRA National Event victory in Top Alcohol Dragster. Most recently, the team skipped the Chicago NHRA stop after failing to close the performance gap at the Charlotte 4‑Wide Nationals, where four qualifying sessions and first‑round eliminations showed the car was still a tenth off the leaders. Wholesale tune-up changes and a power-plant swap produced no measurable gains, forcing bold action from team owner Dean Dubbin. The experienced team shifted focus to a full mechanical audit at its Minnesota shop. Engine combinations, cylinder heads, ignition components, fuel‑system components, wiring, and chassis elements were torn down and inspected. “We spent days tearing down all our engines, every one down to bare blocks,” said Dubbin regarding the extensive process. “We disassembled all six sets of cylinder heads and checked everything. We also inspected every component on the car, from the ignition to the fuel system, and all the wiring. We looked at everything on the car to make sure everything was exactly the same and functioning as it should. It was a lot of work, but we have everything inspected and ready to run.” Dubbin added that the inspection did locate issues affecting reliability and consistency. “I’m glad we found the things we did, it may explain some of the inconsistency in the car.” “Fortunately, we didn’t find any major issues, but we did find some things that could have been creating problems from time to time,” added driver Kirk Wolf. “We have all the engines and clutch components fresh and ready to go, and I think we are back on track to competing for race wins.” Wolf said the team intends to return to the tune‑up philosophy used during its previous Norwalk win and noted the track’s positive history for the program. “I love the track in Norwalk,” Wolf said. “The Bader family knows how to make everyone feel welcome at their track. I am excited because we do run well there each year, and I feel like we will be back running at the top of the field starting there.” Wolf also said that the extended break has the crew fired up to get back to Norwalk, where the track’s signature ice‑cream tradition is part of the experience. “MOOSE TRACKS is the only flavor to get!” Wolf added with a grin. Things rarely go as planned in racing, with final preparations for the Norwalk race interrupted when a tornado struck the team’s shop near Little Falls, Minnesota, tearing away a section of the roof and scattering debris for more than 1,000 feet. No one was injured, and repairs began immediately. Dubbin said the tornado couldn’t have come at a worse time, blindsiding him and the team already grinding through the final preparations for a pivotal race weekend in Norwalk. “We had just moved everything and had cleaned the shop from top to bottom, and wouldn’t you know, a day later, part of the roof was gone, and the shop was a mess again,” said Dubbin. “But we are all thankful that no one was hurt. Our roofing guys were here the next day and did a great job getting us fixed up. We got everything cleaned up and the trailer loaded, and we’ll be on the road to Norwalk early in the week. “After all that, it’s time to get us a diamond Wally and the famous Ice Cream Scoop from Norwalk.” This story was originally published on June 24, 2026. The post Dubbin Motorsports Returns to Norwalk Hungry for A Diamond Wally And Another Norwalk Ice Cream Scoop first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

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