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There has been a lot of weird weather in the last 12 months and it doesn’t seem to be getting any less crazy. With heat waves and storm fronts moving all over the country, you are seeing areas that almost never reach triple digits get well over 110 degrees. And why not? We’ve had tornadoes where they’ve never been before, freezes that make no sense in certain areas of the country, and weather that changes so dramatically in just a couple of days that people really can’t keep up. So how does that affect a drag and drive like Big Sky Race Week? We’ll find out, because our buddy Bill with the BangShift Billy is sharing video from the event for the next several days. The best part? He’s battling it out with Rich Guido, the Canadian Chuck Norris, for the Stick Shift Class win. We can’t wait. Big thank you to Bill for sharing. Video Description: Day 1 at Big Sky Race Week 2026. BangShift Billy and The Canadian Chuck Norris do battle for the Stick Shift Class win, Let the battle begin! The post Big Sky Race Week Video from the BangShift Billy crew. Will Ultra High Temps Cause Trouble For Competitiors? appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

The agreement with a San Francisco-based tech firm backed by Sam Altman is only at the 'memorandum of understanding' phase, but still.View the full article

(Photos by Neal Sabo) We’ve got Buckeye Skip’s drag and drive photos right here! We already shared photos from Day #1’s checkpoints and racing, but now it is time for Day #2 checkpoint and racing photos as well. We dig big burnouts and you will too I’m sure. The variety of cars and trucks at this event is kind of cool. It’s not the biggest drag and drive with just 140 entries, but they sure are a dedicated bunch based on the fact that there were engine swaps, transmission replacements, and a lot more going on all weekend long. One team changed their transmission each day. If you missed the previous photos, CLICK HERE TO SEE THEM TOO! The post Buckeye Skips 2026 Drag and Drive Photos Continue! Here’s Our First Day 2 Racing Gallery from Darana Dragway 42 in Ohio appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

The bikes are built in China, the brand is Spanish, and the real story starts after the marketing department leaves the room.View the full article

Coming to a dealership near you.View the full article

Electric motorcycles continue to divide opinion among traditional enthusiasts, but custom builders are increasingly demonstrating that thoughtful engineering can elevate the riding experience regardless of the powertrain. Roughchild’s latest project is a comprehensive reworking of the Maeving RM1S, transforming the British-built electric motorcycle into a more capable and visually striking machine through extensive mechanical and aesthetic modifications. Rather than focusing on increasing power or battery capacity, the build centers on refining the RM1S’s chassis dynamics, handling precision, and overall rider […] The post appeared first on Return of the Cafe Racers. View the full article

The 2027 Triumph Speed Twin 1200 TFC transforms the Speed Twin RS with Öhlins suspension, carbon fibre, clip-ons and Akrapovič silencers. Just 750 will be produced worldwide, priced from $35,990 ride-away in Australia. The post Öhlins, Akrapovič and carbon for Speed Twin 1200 TFC appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

Building AN hoses can be a challenge when you're putting a project car together. Check out these tips on how to make the process easier.View the full article

Here’s our second gallery of photos from Carlisle, but if you missed the previous photos you can find them all at the link below. (Words and Photos by Joe Grippo) The world’s largest celebration of the Blue Oval went down a few weeks ago in Central Pennsylvania and of course, we were there. The 2026 edition of the Carlisle All Ford Nationals was the second most attended event ever in the history of Carlisle Events, only bested by the 2025 Ford Nats. 3500 plus of Fords Family of Fine Cars packed the 81 acres of the venerable Carlisle Fairgrounds. The Fun Field car show, the massive swap meet, a strong car corral, huge tents and buildings of special displays were bursting at the seams with all matter of FoMoCo greatness. Mustangs, as usual, were the dominant marquee but the Bronco contingent is making a run. 2026 was the 60th anniversary of the Bronco and the owners and fans showed up in droves. Old and new, stock to highly modified, survivors to full race examples, there was something for everyone. The thought to be lost forever, 1 of 1 Boss Bronco was there a few trucks away from a Richard Nixon Secret Service Bronco that lived at Tricky Dicks western White House. 50 years of Roush commemorated The Cat in the Hat and a cross section of Jack’s creations were on display. The Sudden Death Mustang II Street Racer and a killer IMSA GT Prototype were highlights. We spent all of Friday waist deep in the swap meet, hunting for a few specific pieces for the Grippo Racing Mustangs, we snagged some good stuff. Check out the photos for all the potential projects and hardcore stuff that we spotted. One observation was that vintage stuff was plentiful and a god bit of it was reasonably priced. If you needed parts for your FE engine, there were tons of choices for heads, intakes, and internals. The stuff is still out there; you just have to know where to look. The adage remains…”I found it at Carlisle!” The 2027 date is set for June 4-6, so make plans now…..See you there! CLICK HERE IF YOU MISSED THE PREVIOUS PHOTOS FROM CARLISLE https://www.carlisleevents.com/events/schedule The post The World’s Largest All Ford Show And Swap Meet! Swap Meet And Car Show Photos From The Carlisle All Ford Nationals In Central Pennsylvania appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

Yoshimura's innovative RS-12 Hybrid System for the 2026 Yamaha YZ450F combines easier installation with measurable gains in horsepower, torque and overall rideability. The post More Than Just More Power: Yoshimura’s Clever New YZ450F Hybrid Exhaust appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

2026 AMA Pro Motocross Championship Round Six – Southwick Gallery B Image by Jeff Miller The post More images from Southwick AMA Pro MX – Gallery B appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

When you start making real headway on a project the jobs get smaller and smaller, but no less significant. Shannon and Jess are back at it on the cool FJ40 project and that means many small things that are incredibly important. Check out the video below to see what’s up and don’t forget there is a link below for anything else you might have missed on this project. Shannon is back at the fab work on the FJ40, and man this thing is really coming along. In this installment we are sharing two videos that cover the ECM install, Branik links, custom coolers and some stereo. There is a lot of fabrication going on in this project, so we hope it inspires you to get out there and start cutting and welding something on your ride this week. 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. 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. 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 The post More FJ40 Custom Fabrication! This Beast Gets An ECM Install, Branik Links, Custom Cooler Mounts, and A Stereo Install. appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

Moto News Weekly Wrap July 14, 2026 What’s New: Lawrence brothers continue their 450 stranglehold at Southwick Light Trail and Kids bikes lead Aussie sales bump KTM’s 2027 EXC 6Days line-up confirmed for Australia Long Track World Championship opener postponed Jake Cannon and Bud Kawasaki partnership continues into 2027 Austin Forkner announces retirement Tai Woffinden […] The post Moto News | MX | Track | Enduro | SGP | AFT appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

Insurance adjusters scrutinize a motorcycle license endorsement date long before reviewing the actual collision report. A newly minted license creates an immediate opening for defense attorneys to shift liability onto the victim. The legal system inherently penalizes inexperience on two wheels. When a collision involves a rider with less than a year of saddle time, settlement negotiations rarely focus on the negligent driver. Instead, the entire dispute revolves around the rider’s specific evasive maneuvers or improper steering inputs just seconds […] The post Can Beginner Riding Mistakes Affect A Motorcycle Accident Claim? appeared first on Return of the Cafe Racers. View the full article

A meticulously rebuilt 1972 Honda CB350 is now offered for sale on Bring a Trailer with no reserve, showcasing an extensive cafe racer transformation that blends vintage Honda character with upgraded sportbike engineering. Purchased by the current owner in 2005—reportedly from its original owner—the motorcycle underwent a comprehensive custom rebuild in 2009 before spending the next 15 years as a display centerpiece in the seller’s office. The restoration centered on combining the CB350’s lightweight platform with components sourced from a […] The post FOR SALE: 1972 Honda CB350 Cafe Racer appeared first on Return of the Cafe Racers. View the full article

Aaron Stanfield has just left Gainesville Raceway, home of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season opener, the AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals. He’s heading home after more than two weeks on the road here in sunny Florida following a second-round exit in his Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage/Janac Brothers Racing Pro Stock Camaro out of the Elite Motorsports camp. Now about a week removed from his $150,000 win at the Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod presented by Red Line Oil, Stanfield is still buzzing over the victory, thanks in part to the reception he received at Gainesville. When Stanfield pulled to the starting line for the first Pro Stock qualifying session on Friday, he was introduced as the World Series of Pro Mod champion. Fans and fellow drivers gave him congratulatory fist bumps and pats on the back in the pits. Here in the world of NHRA professional drag racing – what many consider the pinnacle of the sport – it was apparent people had paid attention when Stanfield turned on the final win light late Saturday night at Bradenton Motorsports Park. “You can tell just how much buzz these events bring,” says Stanfield, a 14-time NHRA Pro Stock winner. “There’s a lot of eyes watching, and rightfully so. Those events are in a league of their own. From winning an NHRA event in Pro Stock to winning the Pro Mod race, I don’t think I’ve ever received that kind of acknowledgement from my peers. Near everybody that talked to me told me congratulations and how they were proud of me.” [Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in DI #200, the World Series of Pro Mod issue, in May / June of 2026.] To find out how Stanfield ended up here, we have to go back to last winter when Stanfield’s Elite Motorsports teammate, six-time NHRA Pro Stock world champion Erica Enders, drove a ProCharged ’69 Camaro in the inaugural Drag Illustrated Winter Series presented by J&A Service through a partnership between Elite and Scott Tidwell Racing. Stanfield watched Enders on the FloRacing live stream throughout the Winter Series. Between seeing how much fun Enders and team owner Richard Freeman were having and noticing the competition level, Stanfield realized he wanted in on the action. “It just sparked it in me,” Stanfield recalls. “I was like, ‘I want to do that. It looks pretty dang fun.’ One thing led to another. With the help of Pat Quinn and Richard and the Tidwell camp, everything came together and it gave me an opportunity to do it.” Freeman worked with Modern Racing to put together a pair of screw-blown, late-model Camaros for Stanfield and Enders to drive in the three-race 2025/2026 DI Winter Series, which began at the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals presented by Motion Raceworks in early December and continued at the U.S. Street Nationals presented by M&M Transmission in late January. Both drivers found themselves outside the 32-car field at the Snowbirds as the team dialed in the new setups. The Elite team stepped up at the U.S. Street Nationals, where Enders qualified No. 31 with a 3.595-second pass and Stanfield qualified No. 37 with a 3.598. Just three thousandths separated them, but it was enough to keep Stanfield out of the first-ever all-3.50-second 32-car field in Pro Mod history. Still, Stanfield saw it as another learning experience and vowed to come back stronger at the Winter Series finale. “I’m probably a lighter driver than what’s been in some of those cars, and they wheelie for a couple hundred feet, so it’s difficult to get them to go straight enough to get it down the racetrack when the front end’s up in the air,” Stanfield says. “I think that was a learning curve. But I felt like we made respectable runs at those first two races with the screw blower car and just barely missed the field. Obviously, there’s a lot of really good race cars out there. It was a good experience to get my feet wet and get used to driving one.” Just when Stanfield was starting to get settled in to the screw-blown Camaro, a series of moves put Stanfield in Tidwell’s silver Harts Charger-boosted ’69 Camaro for the WSOPM. Justin Bond drove the car at the first two Winter Series races, qualifying No. 11 at the Snowbirds and fifth in the record-setting U.S. Street Nationals field. Bond wasn’t able to compete at the Winter Series finale, and Tidwell and Freeman agreed that putting Stanfield in the silver car gave him the best odds at the WSOPM. Qualifying got off to a rocky start. After a best of 4.225 across Thursday’s two sessions, Stanfield went into Friday’s three sessions in the No. 61 spot. It all turned around in Q3, though, when Stanfield ripped off a 3.582 at 210.05 mph to move up to No. 12. Tuner Chris Terry took another big swing in the fifth and final session, sending Stanfield on a 3.568-second pass to end up No. 8 on the final qualifying sheet. Finally, Stanfield was ready for his first race day start in Pro Mod. “We didn’t just get in there right on the bottom. We went a ways up the ladder,” Stanfield says. “I just wanted the opportunity to be able to compete and race, as I’m sure every single other person out there wanted, so it was a great feeling. You could just see how much it meant to everybody just to qualify for that event. I’ve watched a lot, but I’ve never been in the thick of it, so it was definitely an exciting feeling.” The Winter Series is quite a departure from what Stanfield has grown accustomed to in the NHRA professional and sportsman classes. One obvious example of that is the random chip drawings that are used to determine pairings in eliminations. Despite such an advantageous qualifying position, Stanfield could’ve ended up facing anyone from No. 1 qualifier Eric Gustafson to No. 32 qualifier Robin Roberts. That didn’t faze Stanfield one bit. “I’ve watched all these guys race and they’ve never watched me race a Pro Mod,” Stanfield points out. “They probably didn’t know what to expect or how I would do, but to be honest with you, I wasn’t too worried about who I raced. I don’t mean that in the wrong way, just for the simple fact that I was going to go up there and just do my job and let the cards fall out how they fall out.” Stanfield drew No. 10 qualifier Sidnei Frigo, who went to the final round at the Snowbirds. Stanfield left first before he had to give it a quick pedal to move on with a 3.879 at 200.98. He moved first again in the second round and sailed to a 3.651 to beat 2024 FuelTech Radial Outlaws Series Limited Drag Radial champion Greg Blevins Jr. Stanfield’s first time pedaling a Pro Mod was in the first round, and that experience came into play in the third round when he faced 2018 PDRA Pro Boost world champion Tommy D’Aprile. Both drivers cut solid lights before losing traction. It was Stanfield who recovered quicker, winning with a 4.033 at 193.65 over D’Aprile’s 4.335 at 169.66. “On that run against Tommy, it shook quite a bit harder and went pretty good right,” Stanfield recalls. “Whenever I let off the gas and got back in it, the car was still pretty upset. That was a little bit more of a stunt driving job for sure. But I think having experience first round, even though I only had to pedal it once to get it gathered back up then, definitely helped. I think you only get better the more you do it.” In the semifinals, Stanfield drew Street Outlaws star Shawn “Murder Nova” Ellington, who qualified No. 29 in Keith Haney’s ProCharged “Blue” ’69 Camaro and made it through a murder’s row – fellow No Prep Kings champion Ryan Martin, U.S. Street Nationals winner Stevie “Fast” Jackson, and No. 1 qualifier Eric Gustafson – to reach the semis. Tension built as Ellington’s car lost fire after the burnout. His crew pushed him back to the starting line and he refired the car, but quickly shut it off again because there was no oil pressure. That gave Stanfield a free ride to the $150,000 final round. He stayed in his routine, though, cutting a .022 reaction time and recording a 3.614 at 210.37, missing out on lane choice by just a few thousandths. “My mindset didn’t change at all,” Stanfield says of the unexpected single. “I’m going up there and trying to hit the tree good and make a nice, clean run. I hate it when somebody has a failure up there and doesn’t get an opportunity at it. I would’ve loved to race him, but I feel like we made a respectable run there. I was good on the tree and we made a nice lap and he was going to have to be good to beat us. I think it would’ve been a damn good race had he not had some issues.” Tractor puller turned Pro Mod sensation Peter Norton, who defeated Randy Weatherford in the other semifinal match to secure the 2025/2026 DIWS Pro Mod championship, was waiting for Stanfield in the final round. The two drivers and their teams had to wait in the staging lanes due to a lengthy oildown on the starting line during the True 10.5 final round. When the tree dropped, Norton moved first by six thousandths. Stanfield had enough horsepower to sneak by him, though, as he lit up the win light with a 3.576 at 210.83 to Norton’s 3.585 at 210.57. The margin of victory was just .003 seconds. “I normally don’t get super excited in the car, but I was pretty damn excited,” Stanfield says. “That’s a feeling that’s hard to explain. It was Chris Terry’s first win as a crew chief in the Pro Mod class with him making all the calls on his own. I had some guys that work on my Pro Stock team that were there helping. All in all, just the whole team aspect of how excited everybody was, it was just a great experience. As a driver, you want to always be perfect and do your best job. I think both of us missed the tree a little bit, but we were able to squeak one by. “And he is no rookie either,” Stanfield adds, praising Norton. “He was driving like he’s been driving those cars for a lot of years. And ironically, his crew chiefs [Rickie and Rick Jones] used to be my crew chiefs on the Pro Stock cars, so it was kind of a full-circle moment.” As excited as Stanfield was in the car, his wife, Joleigh, and the entourage that gathered in Stanfield’s lane on the starting line went just as wild. Getting to celebrate with them all at the top end and back in the pits made the win all the more rewarding. “It’s the best feeling,” Stanfield says. “I had my wife and my kids and my father and mother-in-law there and some family. Anytime you can share those memories with the people that you’re really close to and care about, it means a lot. Richard Freeman and Erica Enders and Travis [Dieterle] that works on my Pro Stock car and all the Scott Tidwell guys – the Winter Series was the first time I’ve ever really been around them – we definitely created some lasting memories. It’s something I’m super grateful for.” One of those lasting memories came in the winner’s circle when reigning WSOPM champion Steve King presented Stanfield with the trophy. It’s become a tradition for the previous champion to present the trophy to the new winner, but King’s team owner, Gene Pilot, took it a step further by commissioning a “traveling trophy,” similar to hockey’s Stanley Cup, that will stay with the winner for the year between races. Stanfield will get his own name plate on it, joining Mike Bowman, Carl Stevens Jr., the late Scott Oksas, Spencer Hyde, Derek Ward, and King. Stanfield will present the traveling trophy to the 2027 WSOPM winner – unless he becomes the race’s first repeat winner. “Steve let me know to soak it in and enjoy the moment because that’s one of the bigger moments you can achieve and they’re hard to get,” Stanfield shares. “Super, super nice guy. That’s the first time I’ve gotten to meet him. It’s a special moment and he’s been there and he knows what it feels like. It’s cool for someone to be able to pass it on.” As the winner’s circle celebrations settled down, the motion picture prop hundred-dollar bills and champagne forming a paper mâché of sorts on the car, Freeman heaped on the praise for Stanfield, who’s won NHRA national events in five different professional and sportsman classes, as well as three NHRA Factory Stock Showdown championships. “He’s a natural-born driver,” Freeman said in a winner’s circle interview with Elon Werner. “He’s good. He’s a champion. This is good for him. He comes from a great lineage of drivers, from his grandfather to his father. He’s a real good, humble guy. He’s got a long tenure with us. He didn’t drive that car until he got here Wednesday. The [poured] seat’s not his. He just drove with what was in there. He’s just that good. Not just in one of these cars. In a Pro Stock car and hopefully in a fuel car. That’s where we’re headed. But we enjoy this. We support Wes [Buck] and we come down here to this deal and we love it.” Freeman knew what he was doing when he chose to put Stanfield in a car for the Winter Series. The son of five-time NHRA Lucas Oil Series world champion Greg Stanfield, he’s competed in Super Stock, Stock Eliminator, Top Dragster, Factory Stock, Pro Stock, and most recently, Factory X. When Freeman announced plans to launch a new Elite Motorsports Top Fuel team last year, he noted that getting Stanfield in the car to get his Top Fuel license was on the to-do list. It’s obvious Freeman believes in Stanfield’s abilities, which only adds to his prowess behind the wheel. “Richard’s level of confidence in me is – I guess the word would be empowering – as a driver,” Stanfield says. “It gives me the confidence to hop in anything, and in a short period of time, be fighting for a chance to win. I hadn’t even sat in a Pro Mod car before the Winter Series and didn’t really know anything about the process of driving one. He had full confidence in me – enough trust to buy a race car and stick me in there. That says he’s got my back and I’m super, super thankful for it. “Everything I’ve done in my career to this point, whether it be sportsman racing or at my early stages of bracket racing, I’ve put a lot of emphasis on being able to drive different cars and multiple cars at the same race,” Stanfield continues. “There’s always learning curves, but I fully expect within a short period of time, anything I get in, to be able to compete to win and not just go make laps. Richard told me whenever we were well qualified, he says, ‘You do your job tomorrow, you can win this race.’ He had full confidence in it. You just can’t make it up.” Beyond Freeman, Stanfield also credits Tidwell and his team for putting him in a capable car. He also mentioned the supporters that’ve contributed directly to Stanfield’s upward career trajectory, as well as everyone that supports the massive Elite Motorsports organization. “Joe Janac is the guy that really accelerated my driving career,” Stanfield begins. “He gave me the opportunity to race Pro Stock and race at a high level. Without him, some of these opportunities like the Pro Mod car might not have happened. I’m super thankful for everything he’s done for me and my career. He’s a big part of every single aspect of my racing. “Pat Quinn, Melling Performance, JHG, CTech Manufacturing, and all of Elite Motorsports’ great partners, they’re all a part of our program and we strive to put their names at the forefront of our sport and I’m thankful for every single one of them,” Stanfield adds. Stanfield has another 19 NHRA national events ahead of him as he contends for a Pro Stock world championship before he can really think about returning to the Winter Series and defending his title. But it’s most definitely on his mind, and the gears are turning behind the scenes to make it happen. “We’ve got some things to figure out, but I know Richard’s already working on it,” Stanfield says. “On my end, I would love to do it again. I had a blast racing those cars, and as long as it’s got four wheels, it doesn’t matter, I’m in. You don’t have to twist my arm.” This story was originally published on July 13, 2026. The post Natural-Born Badass: Aaron Stanfield Joins Pro Mod History Books as 2026 World Series of Pro Mod Champion first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

In the world of high-performance motorcycling, Aprilia has always been the think...View the full article

JD Beach completed a dominant Laguna Seca Superbike double as Josh Herrin cut Darryn Binder’s Supersport lead and Andy DiBrino took control of the Super Hooligan standings. The post Beach doubles in SBK, Herrin rebounds and DiBrino takes Hooligan lead appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

NHRA and ARP have teamed up on a unique “Bad Luck Program,” which was created to offer assistance for racers in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series who run into bad luck during a national event. The program started last month in Maryland and will continue at each NHRA national event during NHRA’s 75th anniversary season in 2026. ARP will award a sportsman racer in each category who endures some bad luck during the race weekend. From losing a close race on an exceptional package to a .001 red light to some misfortune with the car or race trailer, ARP will aim to take care of a driver in each Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series category who didn’t have the greatest fortune during each national event. To be eligible, racers must run an ARP contingency decal. “The ‘Bad Luck Bonus’ is ARP trying to take care of everyone,” ARP’s Rick Feaster said. “Contingency is generally taking care of the winners and runners-up. We would like to take care of racers, win or lose. Many racers display decals without getting anything back. We recognize you’re doing your part by flying our decal. We sincerely thank all of you.” For more information on NHRA, including the full 2026 75th anniversary schedule, visit www.nhra.com. This story was originally published on July 13, 2026. The post NHRA and ARP Team Up on ‘Bad Luck Program’ for Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Drivers first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Nostalgia racing is back at Byron Dragway with Meltdown 10. This event features nothing but the best nostalgia racer has to offer.View the full article

The PDRA has added Mark Beatty to its leadership team. Beatty is ready to help the PDRA grow even more in 2027 and beyond. View the full article

31 horses have left the building. View the full article

A gang in the UK stole and handled up to $1.3 million worth of motorcycles and scooters in 2025, and that's before you get to their other crimes. Thankfully, they weren't very smart criminals.View the full article

Red Bull and KTM will continue their deal. So, from 2027, you'll keep seeing the famous Red Bull logo and livery on KTM MotoGP machines.View the full article

PDRA officials announced Monday, July 13, 2026, that industry veteran Mark Beatty has joined forces with the series’ leadership team. This move comes right beyond the halfway point of the 2026 season for the Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series, where the next event on schedule is to be held at Bristol Dragway in early August. Beatty is most recently known from his tenure as brand manager at Red Line Synthetic Oil, the series’ title marketing partner since the 2024 season. Mark also brings years of experience through V. Gaines’ Western Motorsports, Bandimere Speedway and more that has molded his 30+ year career in motorsports. After a recent move that took his family to Nebraska, a love and a fire for motorsports was still alive inside that made this step a different but exciting one. “I’ve been in this industry for the majority of my adult life,” said Mark Beatty. “Joining the PDRA team confirms the saying: saving the best for last. The PDRA family is made up of people who not only love racing, but they are also dedicated to taking care of partners, racers and fans at every level.” Beatty’s introduction to the series will come at a rapid pace as the series kickstarts the back half of the 2026 season with a stop at Bristol Dragway, followed by a return to Darana Motorsports Park – Benson, NC and Virginia Motorsports Park to finish out the championship tour for the season, all in just over seven weeks on the calendar. “I am excited about this next chapter for the PDRA series,” stated Tyler Crossnoe, series director. “We have made a habit of taking the slow and steady approach to several things over the years and trying to create a sustainable and consistent product that racers and fans can trust and rely on year after year. Adding a motorsports veteran like Mark to the team continues to strengthen the leadership core that will take another step forward to making the PDRA product and experience better for every racer, fan, marketing partner, vendor midway participant, media member, track partner and more.” Series owner Tommy Franklin added, “We are excited to take this next step in expanding the Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series. Mark brings a different perspective that we are looking forward to adding to the mix here and that makes the future even more exciting. Mark is such a genuine person, so it was not a hard decision to bring him on board because he fits right into the family culture that already exists here at the PDRA.” The remainder of the season for the Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series will be one to attend and keep an eye on through Drag Illustrated’s Event Hub and FloRacing’s live streaming platform. The series that began in 2014 as a place for racers to continue racing has consistently grown to a well-respected and trusted series for hundreds of racers across the eastern portion of the United States. Many racers travel thousands of miles to attend each event on the schedule and that type of loyalty and dedication was attractive for not only Beatty’s next move but for the sport in general. “It is an honor to be joining this team and family. Family is a strong word but that is exactly the feeling you get around this series everywhere you turn. I have worked closely with them for the last four seasons and now I get to stand shoulder to shoulder at the forefront of some of the best drag racing events on the planet today. I’m blessed and excited, what more could a guy ask for,” said Beatty. This story was originally published on July 13, 2026. The post Mark Beatty Joins PDRA Leadership Team first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article