StreetNewsReporter

The Piaggio Beverly 25th Anniversary isn't just a special edition. It's a reminder of who got the crossover formula right first.View the full article

Nicolò Bulega matched Jonathan Rea’s WorldSBK pole streak before taking his 19th win from 19 races this season, while Valentin Debise, Bruno Ieraci and Maria Herrera also starred on Saturday at Misano. The post Bulega makes it 19 from 19 as Debise, Ieraci and Herrera win at Misano appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

There continues to be no stopping Doug Kalitta in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, as the reigning world champion defeated Leah Pruett in the final round of the bonus race on Saturday at Bristol Dragway as part of this weekend’s 25th annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. Jack Beckman (Funny Car), Matt Hartford (Pro Stock) and Richard Gadson (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, while Leah Pruett (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) qualified No. 1 at the ninth of 20 races during the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season. Kalitta won for the fourth time this season in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge and the ninth time since last year, going 3.922-seconds at 314.90 mph in his 12,000-horsepower Mac Tools dragster, beating Pruett on a holeshot in a thrilling side-by-side duel in front of a huge Thunder Valley crowd. Pruett went 3.918 at 325.45, but Kalitta was a quicker .065 on the starting line, as he held off Pruett at the finish line. It was a standout race to close out final qualifying, adding more bonus points for Kalitta and more Saturday success. “Whatever we’ve got going on for Saturdays, we’ve just got to keep it going,” Kalitta said. “The Mission Challenge points are important and we’re going to keep collecting as many of them as we can. The track is smooth and it seems really good. It’s just warm and a little bit challenging. “It’s just so competitive out here. Some days you need a little luck, but mostly it’s about assembling a great team and continuing to do what we’re doing. This place has been good to me, and I’m definitely looking forward to tomorrow. With the earlier start and cooler conditions, it’s going to be a different element than what we’ve seen so far.” Pruett held on to the No. 1 spot thanks to Friday’s 3.794 at 332.43 in her 12,000-horsepower Rush Truck Centers dragster. It’s the second top spot of the season for Pruett, who won the delayed Epping race on Friday in Bristol. She still has an opportunity for a big weekend by adding a second victory in three days with a Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals win. Antron Brown qualified second with a 3.801 at 329.50 and Tony Schumacher’s 3.803 at 326.16 puts him third. “This is probably the No. 1 qualifier we’re most proud of all season,” Pruett said. “We raced for a final-round win Friday night, took everything the track had to give us, and still put up the number. The momentum is tangible right now. Winning races and proving you can beat the points leader reinforces what we already believed about this team. We’ve got a hot rod, a first-round bye, and in my opinion, one of the most consistent race cars out here. That’s a great place to be heading into race day.” Funny Car’s Jack Beckman stayed perfect this weekend in Bristol, following up Friday’s victory with a win in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge over John Force Racing teammate Jordan Vandergriff when Vandergriff crossed the centerline and hit a timing block. Beckman defeated Vandergriff on Friday in the final round of the delayed NHRA New England Nationals and continued to have his number a day later, giving him the opportunity to pick up three wins in three days at Thunder Valley. “Sometimes these cars are amazing to drive, and sometimes they’ll do anything except what you ask them to do. I think both of us experienced that in the final,” Beckman said. “To close out the Epping race, win the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge and still have a shot at the Bristol trophy tomorrow — it’s an unbelievable opportunity. I’ve never been in a position where I could win three trophies in one weekend. I vote yes on trying it. It’s just an absolute blessing to be surrounded by people who are great at what they do and have a chance to win three trophies in one weekend.” Four-time world champ Matt Hagan hung on to the No. 1 position for the first time this season and 55th time in his career thanks to Friday’s 4.009 at 319.60 in his 12,000-horsepower Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage Dodge Funny Car. It also gave Tony Stewart Racing a qualifying double-up in the nitro ranks, as Hagan looks to win again at his home track on Sunday. Alexis DeJoria qualified second with a 4.010 at 326.00 and Beckman is third with a 4.017 at 318.54. “These No. 1 qualifiers mean a lot because they’re really for the crew guys. They’re the ones working over a 3,000-degree race car in brutal heat and putting a great machine underneath us,” Hagan said. “When you can hand those guys a yellow hat and a little bonus money, it goes a long way because they’re the true workhorses of this sport.” Matt Hartford closed out a productive day in Pro Stock with his first Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge win of the year, exacting some revenge on Dallas Glenn, who went red in the final round on Saturday. A week ago, Glenn beat Hartford in the final round in Epping thanks to a reaction time of .002. This time, Glenn went red and Hartford went a strong 6.671 at 206.95 in his Total Seal Chevrolet Camaro. Hartford was a stellar .012 on the starting line, too, giving the veteran a chance to double-up this weekend in Thunder Valley. “The Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge is one of the best things NHRA has done,” Hartford said. “The drivers love it, the fans love it and it adds a whole new level of adrenaline on Saturday. “There’s money on the line, championship points on the line and we definitely love being part of the Mission deal. We especially love winning them. It’s really hard to win a round in Pro Stock. To win this race and beat the world champion in the final round makes me incredibly proud of our team. We take every single thing on that race car and use it as a tool. We stretch every part to its limit, trying to get every ounce of performance we can.” Anderson slipped past Hartford in qualifying, securing his sixth No. 1 spot of 2026 after a run of 6.651 at 206.86 in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro during the final qualifying session. Hartford is second with a 6.658 at 206.95 and points leader Glenn is third with a run of 6.661 at 206.07. “I’ve had a good run here. I messed up this morning, made a bad run, but we dug deep and got her back on the last run,” Anderson said. “These weren’t quite as good of conditions and we got her back so I know the car is fast. HendrickCars.com is looking good and I’ve got a great shot tomorrow.” In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Richard Gadson returned to the site of his first professional victory and added another special Bristol moment, winning the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge over Jianna Evaristo with a run of 6.855 at 197.65 on his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki. It’s the first bonus race win of the season for the reigning world champion, who continues to have plenty of good vibes racing in Thunder Valley. That started his championship journey a year ago and the points leader is in a great position to repeat last season’s win on Sunday. “This Challenge is a favorite among the racers because you go to sleep Saturday night feeling really good, and you wake up Sunday feeling really good,” Gadson said. “When your bike is running this well and you’re solid on the tree, this Challenge gives you a real boost of confidence heading into race day. “This place is special to me because everything changed here.” Herrera improved on Friday’s run to close out racing on Saturday, going 6.831 at 197.88 on his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki to pick up his first No. 1 spot of the 2026 campaign. Gadson took second with a 6.839 at 197.74 and Angie Smith is third with a run of 6.858 at 198.17. Eliminations for the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals begin at 10 a.m. ET on Sunday at Bristol Dragway. This story was originally published on June 13, 2026. The post Kalitta, Beckman, Hartford, and Gadson Win Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge at Bristol first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

The Lake Effect Showdown brings the excitement of small tire racing to Lil Gangstas’ racing to Kuhnle Motorsports Park on Saturday June 13th, 2026! This unique event will be a first for the area on a “bracket day” prepped track! All classes are 1/8 mile. Spectators $20 $35 tech card for all racers Kids 10 and under free Free camping for all racers and spectators Gates open at 10:00AM Drivers meeting at 1:00PM First qualifier of The Small Tire Championship Racing will go down the track at 2:00PM _____________________________________________ Small Tire Tournament: Small Tire Tournament Buy-in: $200 buy in + tech card Small Tire Tournament Payout: Heavy Weight Class winner gets 70% of the total pot Middle Weight Class winner gets 20% of the total pot Light Weight Class winner gets 10% of the total pot How this works is you get 2 qualifying passes that will dictate which class (Heavy,Middle,Light) you fall into. Chip draw for each qualifier. Once both qualifiers are made, we chip draw for which class you qualified into! Please see below! Heavy Weight (win both qualifiers) Middle Weight (win one/lose one of the qualifiers) Light Weight (lose both qualifiers) Small Tire Tournament Rules: •28×10.5 NON-W or smaller tire •Factory Roof/Quarters •No Wheelie Bars •AWD Allowed • NT Shown, No Time Slips •Water Burnout Only •.400 Pro Tree Start •First is Worst •Red Light Loss •Cross Center (Tire Over Line) DQ •Chip Drawn Race (Every Round including the qualifiers). Pairs Will Be Ran in the Order They’re Drawn. •Bye run: If You’re Drawn as the Bye, You Will Be the First Pass of the Round Unless Semis Then You Will Be Second. Chip Drawn Bye Run Does Not Have to Make the Pass, Break Beams Under Power, ETC. If Chip Drawn Bye Makes the Pass, there is NO WAY THEY CAN LOSE. Competition (Broke) Bye Run Must Break the Beams in the Lane They Were Drawn. Competition (Broke) Bye Run Can Not Lose by Given Above Rules In Case of Issues, You Have 2 Minutes Before the Water Box and 2 Minutes After the Burnout (Must Cross into Water Box Under Power). Opponent has the Option to Give You His 2 Minutes. Courtesy Staging in Effect, you’ll be Backed Out Once, Second Time is DQ By Putting Your Chip in the Bag, you agree to these rules set by us and are responsible for your car meeting the rules! _____________________________________________ Lil Gangstas’ Class Presented by Vickers Performance Transmissions Lil Gangstas’ Buy-In: FREE ENTRY Lil Gangstas’ Payout: $3,500 GUARANTEED + Winner Receives a Wally Trophy Lil Gangstas’ Rules: •5.30 Index •Door Car/Trucks Only •28×10.5 Non-W Slick or Radial •No Wheelie Bars -AWD Allowed •No Delay Boxes or Throttle Stops • NT Shown, No Time Slips •Water Burnout Only •.400 Pro Tree Start •First is Worst •Red Light Loss •Cross Center (Tire Over Line) DQ •Chip Drawn Race (Every Round). Pairs Will Be Ran in the Order They’re Drawn. •Bye run: If You’re Drawn as the Bye, You Will Be the First Pass of the Round Unless Semis Then You Will Be Second. Chip Drawn Bye Run Does Not Have to Make the Pass, Break Beams Under Power, ETC. If Chip Drawn Bye Makes the Pass, there is NO WAY THEY CAN LOSE. Competition (Broke) Bye Run Must Break the Beams in the Lane They Were Drawn. Competition (Broke) Bye Run Can Not Lose by Given Above Rules In Case of Issues, You Have 2 Minutes Before the Water Box and 2 Minutes After the Burnout (Must Cross into Water Box Under Power). Opponent has the Option to Give You His 2 Minutes. Courtesy Staging in Effect, you’ll be Backed Out Once, Second Time is DQ By Putting Your Chip in the Bag, You Agree to these Rules set by us and are responsible for your car meeting the rules! _____________________________________________ True Street Class Presented by Full Throttle Detailing True Street Buy-in: $150 + tech card True Street Payout: $500 on top of the pot. True Street Rules: •15/16″ wheel-MAX 28×11.50 / 275-60 DOT approved Tire •17″ and up wheel may run any size DOT bias ply or radial. •Stick shift vehicles may run 28×10.50 NON-W slicks. •AWD Allowed •Any power adders allowed •Any Transmission allowed •FUEL- Must be Pump Gas/E85/Race Fuel as the primary fuel. No m1/m5/Methanol/ BUT can run Methanol injection (we can and will test fuels at our discretion) •MUST have a working cooling system AND charging system. •MUST have current/up to date registration/tags/insurance (no dealer tag/transporter tags/special plates) •MUST have working headlights/taillights/brake lights/turn signals. Lights must be on once it’s dark. •TUBE front ends are allowed, ONLY in front of the front suspension. •Front windows MUST function properly. They must roll up/down on their own power. •INTERIOR- 2 upholstered/covered front seats (Kirkey’s with covers are allowed) Stock style dash, door panels, carpet etc. Scott rod door panels and rear side panels allowed. Rear seat delete is allowed. (Trimming/cutting to allow for cage bars is ok.) •SUSPENSION- Any stock style suspension allowed in any vehicle. Must be stock style, triangulated 4-link, torque arm or any other stock style suspension. •BACK-HALF VEHICLES ALLOWED WITH LADDER BARS OR TRIANGULATED REAR SUSPENSION. NO PARALLEL 4-LINK. BACK HALF IS CONSIDERED FROM THE MAIN HOOP BACK. •MUST have ALL body panels. Aftermarket hoods/front bumpers are okay •NO WINGS, DIFFUSER, SPOILER OF ANY TYPE UNLESS IT CAME FACTORY ON THAT VEHICLE. NO ACTUATOR TO RELEASE THE TRUNK OR HATCH TO ACT AS A WING. • NT Shown, No Time Slips •Water Burnout Only •.400 Pro Tree Start •First is Worst •Red Light Loss •Cross Center (Tire Over Line) DQ •Chip Drawn Race (Every Round). Pairs Will Be Ran in the Order They’re Drawn. •Bye run: If You’re Drawn as the Bye, You Will Be the First Pass of the Round Unless Semis Then You Will Be Second. Chip Drawn Bye Run Does Not Have to Make the Pass, Break Beams Under Power, ETC. If Chip Drawn Bye Makes the Pass, there is NO WAY THEY CAN LOSE. Competition (Broke) Bye Run Must Break the Beams in the Lane They Were Drawn. Competition (Broke) Bye Run Can Not Lose by Given Above Rules In Case of Issues, You Have 2 Minutes Before the Water Box and 2 Minutes After the Burnout (Must Cross into Water Box Under Power). Opponent has the Option to Give You His 2 Minutes. Courtesy Staging in Effect, you’ll be Backed Out Once, Second Time is DQ By Putting Your Chip in the Bag, you agree to these rules set by us and are responsible for your car meeting the rules! _____________________________________________ Baby Gangstas’ Presented by Mike Brown Customs Baby Gangstas’ Buy-in: $100 + tech card Baby Gangstas’ Payout: $500 on top of the pot Baby Gangstas’ Rules: •6.30 Index •Door Cars/Trucks Only •28×10.5 non-W or 275/60/15 or smaller (Unless equipped with the factory on 17″ rim or bigger) •No Wheelie Bars -AWD Allowed •No Delay Boxes or Throttle Stops •NT Shown, No Time Slips •Water Burnout Only •.400 Pro Tree Start •First is Worst •Red Light Loss •Cross Center (Tire Over Line) DQ •Hit the Wall DQ •Chip Drawn Race (Every Round). Pairs Will Be Ran in the Order They’re Drawn. •Bye run: If You’re Drawn as the Bye, You Will Be the First Pass of the Round Unless Semis Then You Will Be Second. Chip Drawn Bye Run Does Not Have to Make the Pass, Break Beams Under Power, ETC. If Chip Drawn Bye Makes the Pass, there is NO WAY THEY CAN LOSE. Competition (Broke) Bye Run Must Break the Beams in the Lane They Were Drawn. Competition (Broke) Bye Run Can Not Lose by Given Above Rules In Case of Issues, You Have 2 Minutes Before the Water Box and 2 Minutes After the Burnout (Must Cross into Water Box Under Power). Opponent has the Option to Give You His 2 Minutes. Courtesy Staging in Effect, you’ll be Backed Out Once, Second Time is DQ By Putting Your Chip in the Bag, You Agree to these Rules set by us and are responsible for your car meeting the rules! _____________________________________________ Quick Street Class: Quick Street Class Buy-in: $60 + tech card Quick Street Class Payout: 100% payback Quick Street Class Rules: •Floating Index Drawn at the Beginning of the Day (7.00-7.30 in increments of 0.05) •Any Door Car/Truck •Any Tire Size -AWD Allowed •No Throttle Stops •No Times Shown, No Time Slips •Water Burnout Only •.400 Pro Tree Start •First is Worst •Red Light Loss •Cross Center (Tire Over Line) DQ •Chip Drawn Race (Every Round). Pairs Will Be Ran in the Order They’re Drawn. •Bye run: If You’re Drawn as the Bye, You Will Be the First Pass of the Round Unless Semis Then You Will Be Second. Chip Drawn Bye Run Does Not Have to Make the Pass, Break Beams Under Power, ETC. If Chip Drawn Bye Makes the Pass, there is NO WAY THEY CAN LOSE. Competition (Broke) Bye Run Must Break the Beams in the Lane They Were Drawn. Competition (Broke) Bye Run Can Not Lose by Given Above Rules In Case of Issues, You Have 2 Minutes Before the Water Box and 2 Minutes After the Burnout (Must Cross into Water Box Under Power). Opponent has the Option to Give You His 2 Minutes. Courtesy Staging in Effect, you’ll be Backed Out Once, Second Time is DQ. By Putting Your Chip in the Bag, You Agree to these Rules set by us and are responsible for your car meeting the rules! Race is official with completion of first round! The post The Lake Effect Showdown at Kuhnle Motorsports Park Is Small Tire Drag Racing Greatness! Lil Gangstas, Small Tire appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

Due to potential inclement weather, NHRA announced an earlier start for Sunday eliminations at the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway. The revised schedule moves the first round of NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series eliminations to 10 a.m. ET, starting with Top Fuel and followed by Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle. Parking lots will open at 7:30 a.m. at Bristol Dragway, with gates opening at 8 a.m. The SealMaster Track Walk and driver introductions are slated for 9 a.m. Eliminations will also take place on Sunday in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, JBS Equipment Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports and Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown. Fans are encouraged to arrive early and stay tuned to NHRA and Bristol Dragway social channels for the latest schedule updates throughout the day. Single-day Sunday tickets start as low as $50 for adults. All grandstand tickets for kids 12 and under are $12 with a paid adult. Limited premium seating is also available. To purchase tickets to the 2026 Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, fans can visit NHRA.com/tickets or call Bristol Dragway at (866) 415-4158. For more information about NHRA, visit NHRA.com. REVISED SUNDAY SCHEDULE

 Sunday, June 14 7:30 a.m. – Parking lots open
 8:00 a.m. – Gates open 9:00 a.m. – SealMaster track walk and driver introductions 10:00 a.m. – First round of eliminations begins in NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series (starting with Top Fuel, followed by Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle) This story was originally published on June 13, 2026. The post NHRA Announces Earlier Start for Sunday Eliminations at Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Kil-Kare Raceway is home to some awesome events, including the 21st annual Ultimate 64 Big Money Bracket Races this weekend. This is one of the older events in the mid west and racers flock to this one to try and take home real money each and every year. What makes it special is that there are not only three big days of big money races, but also a bunch of separate shootouts. That’s always fun for racers and at this one there is something for everyone. Check it out live all weekend long thanks to our friends at MotorManiaTV. Video Description: With a not so good weather forecast for Sunday, the team at Empty Pockets has decided to combine the Saturday and Sunday purses for the potential for the winner to take home $40,000. SATURDAY – LIVE FROM DARANA RACEWAY in Xenia, Ohio! Day 2 of the 21st Annual Ultimate Sixty-Four presented by FTI Performance and Moser Engineering brings a PACKED card — bracket racing during the day AND the return of a classic! The FTI/Moser $20,000 Main Event kicks things off, then Saturday evening features the return of the ORIGINAL Fuel Factory Ultimate 64 Shootout — the OG is BACK! 64 of the best bracket racers in the country put it all on the line for $50,000 to win in this pre-entry-only, blind draw Calcutta shootout. Plus, the Sassy Scissors/Pizza Pub Junior Dragsters hit the big stage for their first day of competition! Empty Pockets Motorsports Promotions brings it all to you LIVE on MotorMania TV! FTI / Moser Engineering $20,000 Main Event Fuel Factory Ultimate 64 Shootout – $50,000 to Win! ️ Sassy Scissors / Pizza Pub Junior Dragsters Ultimate 64: WIN $50,000 | R/U $10,000 | Semi $4,000 | 1/4 $3,000 | 1/8 $2,000 Darana Raceway – Xenia, Ohio Saturday, June 13, 2026 The post FREE LIVE DRAG RACING: STREAMING VIDEO From The 21st Annual Ultimate 64 Bracket Race From Darana Kil-Kare Raceway – Saturday appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

Maryland International Raceway is home to the King of the Creek, and this weekend’s spring event is as big and competitive as always. With classes for everyone, and some of the Mid-Atlantic’s hottest bracket racers, the competition is fierce and the payouts are there to motivate. From Jr’s on up, you’ll find all the cars you know and love racing here this weekend. The best part is that our friends at MotorManiaTV are on hand for a great live stream and that means you get to watch all the action LIVE, and FREE, right here. Check it out below. Video Description: SATURDAY – LIVE FROM MARYLAND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY in Mechanicsville, Maryland! Day 2 of the 8th Annual Robert A. Tull Inc. Spring King of the Creek presented by Brown Line Construction brings a full card at the 1/8-mile — three races and Junior Dragsters on the big stage! No Limit Promotions serves up the Star Machine Super Pro $25,000 Main Event, the Ultra Trailer Sales No-Box $5,000 Main Event, and the Hubble Motorsports Junior Dragster $1,500 race. DoorCars, Dragsters, FootBrakers, Motorcycles, and Juniors all in action! Star Machine TOP E.T. Super Pro $25,000 Main Event Ultra Trailer Sales MOD E.T. No-Box $5,000 Main Event ️ Hubble Motorsports Junior Dragster $1,500 Super Pro: WIN $25,000 | R/U $5,000 | Semi $2,000 No-Box: WIN $5,000 | R/U $1,000 | Semi $300 Juniors: WIN $1,500 | R/U $400 | Semi $150 Maryland International Raceway – Mechanicsville, MD Saturday, June 13, 2026 The post FREE Bracket Racing Livestream: 8th Annual Spring King Of The Creek Bracket Racing Is LIVE Right Here – Saturday appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

The idea of a mini bike usually conjures up images of crude, garage-built contra...View the full article

Enjoy all the racing action from Santa Pod’s Sportsman Nationals this weekend, as Nostalgia Drag Racing and National Championship drag racing competitors battle it out head to head to see who’s going to take home the most points. Video Description: Two full days of National Drag Racing Championship competition with headline Nostalgia classes bringing the golden era of the sport back to life. Expect a whole lot of action, and not a lot of quiet. Watch headline Nostalgia classes go head-to-head in the National Championship, stay up late for the evening entertainment, and pitch your tent for two days of mind-blowing fun. Trust us, there is no better place to be than at the trackside. The post FREE LIVE DRAG RACING: Watch The Sportsman Nationals At Santa Pod LIVE HERE! Sportsman, Nostalgia Classes, and More! appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

Friday was full of big moments at Bristol. Leah Pruett and Jack Beckman scored wins from the rain-delayed New England Nationals. View the full article

Some jerks just stole eight motorcycles from a nonprofit riding school that's booked solid.View the full article

Leah Pruett picked up her first victory since 2023, defeating points leader Shawn Langdon in the final round of the NHRA New England Nationals presented by bproauto, which were completed Friday at Bristol Dragway. Jack Beckman also won on Friday in the Epping Funny Car final round, while Pruett, Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are the provisional No. 1 qualifiers in Bristol for the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at the ninth of 20 races during the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season. Pruett went 3.794-seconds at 332.43 mph in her 12,000-horsepower Dodge//SRT dragster, slipping past Langdon’s 3.852 at 328.54. It is Pruett’s 13th career victory and first since returning to the sport this season. Pruett stepped out of the seat after the 2023 season to start a family with her husband, Tony Stewart, coming back to the Top Fuel ranks in 2026. She had performed well through the first seven races, advancing to the final round in Phoenix, but the only thing missing was a victory. That changed on Friday, as Pruett delivered a thrilling run in what could be a massive weekend for the star driver. The run also puts Pruett as the provisional No. 1 qualifier for this weekend’s Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol. “I’m happier than I thought I would be,” Pruett said. “Now I finally get to take a breath and enjoy it. This race didn’t come by accident. It didn’t come by somebody falling short or smoking the tires. We earned this. “To see the smiles on my crew and my crew chiefs’ faces — that’s all-time. The Diamond Wally is super cool, but seeing what this means to my team means even more. We’re chipping away at it and that’s what gave us confidence coming into this final round. I think I’m in a better spot than I’ve ever been as a driver.” Funny Car’s Jack Beckman had to wait an extra week, too, but it was worth it as he cashed in with his first victory of the 2026 season, beating John Force Racing teammate Jordan Vandergriff in the final round of the NHRA New England Nationals presented by brpoauto with a run of 4.017 at 318.55 in his 12,000-horsepower PEAK Chevrolet SS. Beckman had been working up to this moment over the past handful of races, advancing to his second straight final round. He fell in the Maryland finals to Austin Prock, but has continued to run well, making a clean run on Friday in the Bristol heat. It gives the past world champion his 38th career victory and he becomes the sixth different winner this year in the loaded Funny Car category. “Before you can be quick, you have to be consistent and to be consistent, you have to be predictable. I think we’re back in that window right now,” Beckman said. “To get a win like this, it was very gratifying. “I wouldn’t have cared if we ran this final round Friday night or next Tuesday. Our PEAK team left with the trophy and that’s all that matters. We hadn’t won in over a year. We had some struggles, but now we’ve made it down the track on 14 of our last 17 runs. That’s the kind of consistency that wins races. I’ve never raced a final round at a completely different venue a week later. I’ve raced late Sundays and Mondays, but never this. It was definitely unique.” Hagan took the top spot on Friday with a run of 4.009 at 319.60 in his 12,000-horsepower Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage Dodge Funny Car. The four-time champion is after his first top qualifier of the season and the 55th in his career. Beckman is currently second, while Spencer Hyde is third after going 4.030 at 319.07. “The racing surface itself is a massive improvement from what we’ve had in the past. I couldn’t even feel the bumps for the tunnel or anything like that,” Hagan said. “Hats off to the whole group that put a really good racetrack under us. I think it will only get better as we go. As the rubber comes around and we’re able to apply more power to it, you can really see those lanes starting to fill in. This track is a really good track now and as these crew chiefs get more runs under their belt with it, you’ll see faster numbers.” Even with the new track surface, it was the same result in Pro Stock for Greg Anderson, as the six-time champ rolled to the provisional No. 1 spot with a run of 6.673 at 204.11 in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro. It puts Anderson in line for his sixth No. 1 qualifier in nine races this season, as he continues to perform at a high level in Bristol. Anderson is the defending event winner and the track has been home to a number of special memories, including his first career win in 2001 and his 1,000th round win, which came last year during his victory. “I don’t care how much we did it by, we squeaked by, but we did it,” Anderson said. “It was a perfect day and you can chalk it up to Bristol. You really don’t feel anything going down the racetrack anymore. We asked for a smooth racetrack, we begged for a smooth racetrack, and now we’ve got it. We’re going to run well all weekend here.” Matt Latino is second with a 6.676 at 205.04 and points leader Dallas Glenn is third after going 6.687 at 203.83. Following a rare first-round loss at the most recent Pro Stock Motorcycle, Gaige Herrera bounced back quickly on Friday, making the quickest run of both sessions at Bristol Dragway, including a 6.667 at 196.59 on his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki. Remarkably, it would be just the first No. 1 qualifier of the season for the two-time world champion and the 32nd in his career. Herrera won in Charlotte but dropped to fourth in points following a first-round loss last month in Maryland. That was only the second time that’s happened since the start of 2023 and Herrera was eager to rectify that upon arriving in Bristol. “This whole season, I would say luck has not been on my side for a lot of things,” Herrera said. “It’s been a rough go this season for us, as far as me, with parts-wise and just failures, little mishaps. I’m glad to be on the pole at the moment, but it could change at any minute. “The first run for me was picture perfect, really. I had to make very little corrections. I kind of adjusted the bike too much in Q2 and had to ride it quite a bit. I didn’t think it was going to run an .88 or .80 anything, so I was happy with that.” Ryan Oehler is currently second after going 6.898 at 198.52 and Angie Smith, who won in Maryland, is third with a 6.899 at 197.54. Qualifying continues at 12:30 p.m. ET on Saturday at the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway. This story was originally published on June 13, 2026. The post Pruett and Beckman Win NHRA New England Nationals on Friday in Bristol; Pruett, Hagan, Anderson, and Herrera Take Provisional No. 1 Spots at Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Ducati has revealed the World Ducati Week 2026 programme, with the centenary edition at Misano set to bring together Ducati MotoGP and WorldSBK stars, racing legends, Ducatisti from around the world and a major celebration of 100 years of Borgo Panigale history. The post World Ducati Week 2026 programme revealed for centenary celebration appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

Bulega led Ducati’s Misano WorldSBK charge on Friday, while Öncü, Salvador and Ramos took pole honours across the support classes. The post Misano WorldSBK Friday: Bulega heads Ducati 1-2-3-4 appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

Small Tire Pro Stock racers are ready to line up and let it rip at their second event of the year, which is part of the Nostalgia Drag Racing League Hot Rod Nationals presented by Ray Skillman Auto Group, July 10-11, 2026 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in Indiana. The racers, whose engines produce an abundance of horsepower without power-adders, will focus on setting the pace in qualifying, securing a win and seizing the points lead from Jeff Ikard of Alabama, who went to the Small Tire Pro Stock Winner’s Circle in his Mustang at the first event of the year at World Wide Technology Raceway in Illinois. In addition to Small Tire Pro Stock, the fan-friendly event at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, known as America’s Great Race Place, will feature a colossal display of classic muscle cars flying down the famous track. “We are excited to race with the Nostalgia Drag Racing League at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park,” said David Theisen, Small Tire Pro Stock racer and steering committee member. “Many of our racers know the general manager of the historic motorsports venue, Rollie Miller, from our days racing in NMCA NA 10.5, and he and his team always ensure an exceptional experience for racers and race fans.” Formed after the NMCA ceased operations at the end of 2024, Small Tire Pro Stock is gaining traction with support from standout businesses including BES Racing Engines, CFM Performance Carburetors, G-Force Transmissions, Martino Race Engines, Pen and Paper Strength App, V&J Inc., 10K Technology, Sporthorse Saddlery, Weldon High Performance and Dolce and Clemente’s Italian Gourmet Market. “I know I speak for all of our Small Tire Pro Stock racers when I say that we will give it everything we have to be part of putting on a show for everyone involved at this event,” said Theisen. For more information about Small Tire Pro Stock, follow Facebook.com/SmallTireProStock or email [email protected]. This story was originally published on June 12, 2026. The post Historic Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park is Next Stop for Small Tire Pro Stock first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

"I don't think about you at all," is the basic message from Harley to Indian. View the full article

NHRA officials announced today a series of strategic leadership promotions and changes within its Technical and Racing Administration departments, positioning the organization for continued success in the years ahead. As part of the changes, Ned Walliser will transition from his role as Vice President of Competition to serve as an NHRA consultant and key advisor for NHRA’s racing-related programs. Josh Peterson has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Competition and Tech, and Rob Park has been elevated to Vice President of National and Field Operations. In his new consulting role, Walliser will continue to provide guidance and support on key technical and competition-related matters. Walliser was named NHRA Vice President of Competition in 2018, overseeing competition and operations for all NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing events. He also led the NHRA Technical Department. “Ned’s knowledge, passion and dedication to NHRA Drag Racing has been invaluable and he’s played a vital role in our competition leadership,” NHRA President Glen Cromwell said. “We’re grateful for his years of leadership and guiding our organization’s racing operations and technical programs. His commitment has made a lasting impact in the NHRA community and we’re thrilled to have him continue to support NHRA.” “I’m proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish as a team and the relationships I’ve been fortunate enough to build throughout my career,” Walliser said. “I look forward to being able to continue to assist NHRA in this new role.” Peterson, a veteran of more than 20 years with NHRA, will oversee the vast responsibilities of maintaining the fair and safe competition that has helped build NHRA over the past 75 years in his new role of Senior Vice President of Competition and Tech, leading both departments. Peterson joined NHRA’s Competition Department in 2007 as Director of Racing Administration before being named Vice President of Racing Administration in 2011. In this new role, Peterson will be positioned to strategically align the interjoined responsibilities and goals of NHRA’s Competition and Technical Departments. “By bringing Racing Administration, Competition, Tech, and National and Field Operations under one centralized group, it will not only help communications and efficiency, but allow us to guide the sport and create universal policies that cover rules, safety and parity,” Peterson said. “I have a great team working with me to ensure the high standards of NHRA Drag Racing will continue to be upheld well into the future, while still being able to lean on Ned’s expertise as well.” Park will move into the role of NHRA Vice President of National and Field Operations, reporting to Peterson. He will oversee event scheduling, the Simpson NHRA Safety Safari and also head up NHRA’s Field Operations, managing NHRA’s seven Division Directors. Park, who joined NHRA in 1996, was recently named Senior Director of Field Operations in 2025 and was previously NHRA Division 5 Director for 25 years. “Rob has a wealth of experience and has played an important role in the growth of NHRA on many levels for more than 25 years,” Peterson said. “He has an incredible knowledge of our tracks, teams and partners, which will be pivotal in this role, and he will also continue to be a great resource for our terrific team of NHRA Division Directors.” For more information on NHRA, including the full 2026 75th anniversary schedule, visit www.nhra.com. This story was originally published on June 12, 2026. The post NHRA Announces Leadership Changes in Technical and Racing Administration Departments first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

There’s a moment, somewhere out on a long stretch of open road, when you stop thinking about your gear and just ride. That’s the goal of every piece of kit worth owning: to disappear. The Alpinestars Tech-Air 5 Plasma airbag system gets closer to that ideal than anything I’ve worn before. Airbag vests have been around long enough now that most of us are aware of what they do. And if you’ve been paying attention to the premium end of […] The post Gear Review: Alpinestars Tech-Air 5 Plasma Airbag System. appeared first on Return of the Cafe Racers. View the full article

Minimoto has gone global, but the world will never catch up to Japan. The cultur...View the full article

The regular season finale in the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports takes place this weekend at Bristol Dragway as part of the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals and there is plenty on the line. Drivers are looking to secure their spot in the “Road to the Championship” playoffs, a five-race stretch that begins later this month in Norwalk. But with a points-and-a-half scenario in place for this weekend’s race in Thunder Valley, there could be plenty of shuffling in the loaded class. This weekend’s event is the sixth of 11 races in the category during the 2026 campaign and the race is powered by Cardinal Insurance. Pro Mod’s Stan Shelton is associated with Cardinal Insurance and he’s looking to stay in the championship mix. He’s currently in ninth, but four drivers are within a round of him, which further showcases the depth in the class. “Thunder Valley is a special place for drag racing, and especially for NHRA Pro Mod,” said Mike McKinney, Agency Manager of Cardinal Insurance. “Cardinal Insurance is proud to return as a sponsor for the fourth year in a row and continue supporting a series that reflects our commitment to relationship building, networking, and first-class customer service. As a family-owned agency, we take pride in serving our customers through experienced staff and strong personal connections, and NHRA Pro Mod provides the perfect environment to build on those values.” Derek Menholt took control of the points lead with a victory in Chicago, becoming the first two-race winner in the class this year. His lead stands at 44 points over Justin Bond, with Mike Stavrinos, Billy Banaka and Stevie “Fast” Jackson rounding out the top five. But plenty could change in Bristol, where defending world champion J.R. Gray won a year ago. He’s currently in eighth place, but a repeat victory in Bristol would give him momentum when the points reset in Norwalk. Others to watch this weekend in Thunder Valley includes multi-time champ Rickie Smith, Alex Laughlin, Lyle Barnett, Jason Collins and Aaron Stanfield. The JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports features two qualifying rounds at 12:15 and 5:15 p.m. ET on Friday, and the final two qualifying rounds at 11:30 a.m. and 2:35 p.m. on Saturday. The first round of eliminations is slated for 1:40 p.m. ET on Sunday. One qualifying session from both Friday and Saturday, as well as the first round of eliminations on Sunday, will be broadcast for free on NHRA’s YouTube page. To purchase tickets to the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, fans can visit NHRA.com/tickets. For more information on NHRA, please visit NHRA.com. This story was originally published on June 12, 2026. The post JBS Equipment Pro Mod Series Hits Regular Season Finale in Bristol at Race Powered by Cardinal Insurance first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Yamaha Motor Corporation USA is issuing a Do Not Ride advisory for all 2025 Ténéré 700s thanks to a potential turn signal failure.View the full article

Leah Pruett could leave Thunder Valley with a lot of hardware. Matt Hagan is looking for a win at one of his favorite tracks on the tour.View the full article

Turning a vintage metal-bodied Honda C70 Cub into a sleeper beast might be more in reach than you think, particularly if you do it like this.View the full article

Tommy and the kids are back at it, because this beast is getting closer and closer to being a runner! The big block should be fun with all the new parts that have been going into it, and in this video some of the finishing touches are getting done. I love this project and I think this is going to be fun when it is time for big burnouts and gasser goodness at the track. Check out this newest update on the Henry J Resurrection project and let us know what you think. If you missed the other videos of Tommy Lee Byrd’s new project, you missed a lot. We’ve got a link to those videos down below, including finding it and the first round of work that got done to it after getting it home. If you know anything about Tommy Lee, then you know that he’s a historian at heart and a super sleuth when it comes to finding out the history of a specific old race car. It is his super power really, and in the last video he’s went over the hidden history behind the Henry J after adding it to the Hot Rod Hoarder collection. CLICK HERE IF YOU MISSED THE FIRST VIDEOS IN THIS SERIES! Video Description: WE DID IT! We made it to the finish line with our historic Henry J gasser project car. Although this car will never truly be finished, we’ve made it to the end of the build series. We left off on the last video with our first trip around the block, and had plenty of loose ends to tie up before taking the car to the drag strip. Over the winter, I worked toward a goal of drag racing it by spring time and did exactly that with a shakedown run at Paradise Dragstrip, and then a 3-run match race with my buddy Josh Dillon, who you guys know as Sleeperdude. This old car still has plenty of bugs to work out, but man, what an experience it has been to resurrect this car and put it back on the track. I’m so happy with the results, and I know it’ll only get better from here. I appreciate all of the support on this car. The comments I’ve gotten both on Youtube and in person have meant the world to me and my family. I’m so glad I got to share this with you. I’m sure you’ll see more of this car in the future, but I wanted to cap off this build series with some good old fashioned drag racing action. #dragracing #gasser #history The post The Hot Rod Hoarder Gasser Henry J Project Part 8: Putting a HISTORIC Gasser Back on the Track Feels Oh So Good! appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

Europe just got a new FIM-certified carbon race helmet, and the US is missing out once again. View the full article