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Auctions Can Be a Bargain, Until the System Isn’tAuctions have long been one of the smartest backdoors into cheap motoring. Police impound lots and lien sales can turn up everything from barely used commuter cars to forgotten project vehicles at a fraction of market value. For buyers willing to do the homework, it is a proven way to score a deal. But the latest reporting from CalMattersshows that the system behind those bargains is not always as clean as it looks. The investigation highlights how California’s Department of Motor Vehicles has been quietly collecting surplus proceeds from auctioned vehicles. These are cars that were towed, accrued fees, and were eventually sold off. Once debts were covered, any extra cash did not go back to the owners. Instead, the state kept it without notification. Between 2016 and late 2024, that added up to more than $8 million from roughly 5,300 vehicles. For many owners, there was no indication that money was even available to claim. Eric Thayer/Bloomberg via Getty Images A Familiar Pattern of ControversyThis is not the first time the DMV has faced scrutiny over how it handles revenue streams tied to motorists. The new bill introduced by Senator Kelly Seyarto aims to close what lawmakers describe as a serious consumer protection gap. It would require the DMV to notify owners within 14 days if their vehicle sale generated surplus funds, using certified mail and clear instructions on how to claim the money. SB 1029 would require the DMV to send certified notice within 14 days of receiving lien sale proceeds, informing the registered owner that surplus funds may be available and providing instructions on how to file a claim. pic.twitter.com/E9ZbQRLgN4 — Senator Kelly Seyarto (@SenatorSeyarto) March 5, 2026 Owners had up to three years to claim surplus funds, but without any notification, most never knew the money existed. After that window closed, the funds were forfeited. While the DMV has since launched an online lookup tool following the exposure, the move is reactive. The proposed legislation is designed to formalize transparency rather than rely on voluntary fixes. YouTube @WPLGLocal10 Revenue GenerationFrom an industry perspective, this is another example of how revenue generation can quietly creep into systems intended to serve motorists. The DMV has already faced criticism for monetizing driver data. Now, even the overlooked corner of lien sale auctions is under the microscope. It paints a picture of an agency that has become increasingly comfortable extracting value wherever it can. At a time when used car prices remain stubbornly high, buyers are hunting harder than ever for value. Auctions should be part of that solution. Instead, stories like this undermine trust in one of the few remaining bargain channels. If even government-run processes are opaque, it raises serious questions about accountability. For car buyers and owners alike, transparency is not a luxury. It is the baseline expectation. Kevin Carter/Getty Images View the full article

The 2026 Yamaha Cygnus X scooter gets traction control, a new chassis, and surprisingly premium tech that might just make it work in the US. View the full article

Now listed for sale on Collecting Cars is a striking, heavily customised modern power cruiser based on the Harley-Davidson Night Rod Custom, elevated with bold styling upgrades and a dramatic NLC 360mm rear wheel conversion. At its core is a liquid-cooled 1,246cc Revolution V-twin engine, delivering power to the rear wheel through a five-speed transmission, offering the signature blend of muscle and performance expected from this platform. Originally registered in the UK in October 2014, the bike was later imported […] The post FOR SALE: 2014 Harley-Davidson Night Rod Custom appeared first on Return of the Cafe Racers. View the full article

That Special FeelingCar ownership is a very special milestone for everyone, but more so for true car guys. That moment of choosing and buying your brand-new dream car is unmatched. At higher price points, brands offer a more immersive buying experience, allowing owners to customize certain aspects of the car to make it uniquely theirs. Ford isn't often in the business of offering customization, considering it's primarily a mass-market brand, but for the Mustang GTD, it seems to be giving owners a taste of it. One owner's specific request has just made the rounds online, and it shows just how far Ford will go to please. Mustang GTD in Lamborghini PaintPosted on Instagram by mustanggtd_registry is a very special all-new Mustang GTD. What sets it apart from the others is the obviously very purple paint job. Reports said the owner's request for his GTD was to match a Lamborghini color palette exactly. The specific color in question is called Viola Pasifae, and was offered on cars like the Aventador, Urus, and Huracan. We have to admit that, as outlandish as a purple Mustang sounds, in GTD trim it actually looks pretty good. Hopefully, the owner of this car is aware that Ford advises these new paint jobs take time to properly set in and cure. In fact, Ford tells new GTD owners to refrain from driving their new toys for at least 30 days to allow the paint to "gas out" properly before applying Paint Protection Film (PPF). If you're an eager beaver and can't wait to rip your GTD out of cars and coffee meets, then that might be too long a wait. Take note, though, that the wide, very wide tires and rims of the GTD are prone to kicking up stones and other paint-damaging particles that could harm the paint and the carbon fiber body panels. Which is why Ford recommends owners apply at least two layers of PPF on the rear diffuser, rear quarter, fenders, and rocker panels. mustanggtd_registry /Instagram View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article Looks and PowerThe Mustang GTD is, for all intents and purposes, a monster of a pony car, featuring Ford's supercharged 5.2-liter V8 making 815 hp and 664 lb-ft of torque. It is a very track-focused Mustang, and apparently, you can color this beast any way you want. Which is just right considering the price you pay for one. Ford doesn't openly disclose the starting price, but it's widely reported to begin at $325,000 and can reach up to $400,000 depending on the add-ons you select. We can bet this Lambo-inspired colorway wasn't cheap. mustanggtd_registry /Instagram View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

AI Dealership Clones Are Getting Better We are all too familiar with fake websites and social media pages that pose as celebrities or established businesses. Now scammers are pushing that playbook further with artificial intelligence. As first reported by Automotive News, a recent case out of North Carolina shows how convincing this has become. A buyer wired $77,300 for a Lexus GX 550 that did not exist. The dealership he believed he was dealing with was real, but it had no involvement in the transaction. The fraudster cloned the dealer’s online presence and maintained contact for over a week. What makes this case alarming is the level of detail. The scammer provided photos, documentation, and ongoing communication that mirrored a legitimate sales process. These are no longer crude phishing pages. Fraudsters are now building full replicas of dealership websites, complete with inventory listings, staff profiles, and even AI-generated reviews. The result is a near-seamless illusion that is catching even cautious buyers off guard. James Riswick Even Legit Dealers Feel Sketchy Now, And Scammers Know ItAs if dealing with legitimate dealerships was not already intimidating for some buyers, scammers are exploiting that uncertainty. Using AI tools, they create polished digital storefronts that appear more responsive and professional than the real thing. Experts say these scams are now appearing multiple times a week, costing consumers millions. Victims often only realize the truth after funds are wired and communication stops instantly. Avoiding these traps now requires more than a quick glance at a website. Buyers need to verify independently. Call the dealership using a publicly listed number. Cross-check the website URL against official sources. Be cautious of any seller who pushes urgency or requests wire transfers. In today’s environment, flawless service and fast responses can be a red flag rather than reassurance. Old Scam, New Tech, Bigger FalloutThis is not an entirely new scheme. Criminals have long posed as legitimate businesses to trick buyers. The difference now is scale and precision. AI allows scammers to replicate branding, tone, and even customer interaction patterns with unsettling accuracy. That creates a secondary victim. Real dealerships are left to deal with reputational damage when angry buyers post negative reviews about transactions they never handled. In rare cases, legitimate dealers step in to help victims recover or soften the blow. Those stories make headlines, but they are not the norm. Most businesses simply do not have the resources to compensate for crimes they did not commit. The burden ultimately falls on the consumer, who is left to navigate both financial loss and limited recourse. Google Street View In-Person Car Buying Still PreferredA recent study shows that many buyers still prefer the traditional, in-person car-buying process. Cases like this explain why. Physical presence offers verification that digital channels cannot increasingly guarantee. You can see the vehicle, meet the staff, and confirm the business exists beyond a screen. In an era where AI can fabricate nearly everything online, that matters more than ever. At the same time, rising vehicle prices are pushing buyers to hunt aggressively for deals. That urgency creates the perfect opening for scammers. The promise of a well-priced vehicle like a Lexus GX 550 becomes a powerful hook. The takeaway is simple. If the deal looks exceptional and the process feels frictionless, slow down and verify. In today’s market, skepticism is part of the purchase process. Getty Images View the full article

Ram owners expect durability and confidence, especially when spending big on a new pickup. For Ontario resident Victor Sanchez, that expectation was not met when his 2025 Ram 1500’s airbags deployed without warning while he was driving on the highway. What should have been a straightforward warranty claim has instead turned into a costly dispute, with Stellantis refusing to cover the damage. The incident also comes amid broader concerns around Ram’s quality control, including a recent recall of 6,605 units of the 2026 Ram 2500 due to a faulty steering module that can disable electronic stability control. Airbags Deploy Without Warning Joe Raedle/Getty Images According to CTV News, Sanchez was driving his $90k pickup early one morning in February when multiple airbags suddenly deployed despite no collision. Curtain airbags and seat-mounted units went off at the same time, accompanied by a loud bang that left him briefly disoriented. He managed to maintain control of the truck, but the situation could have easily escalated into a serious accident. While incidents like this are rare and recalls usually involve airbags that don't deploy, they raise valid concerns when they occur in a nearly new vehicle. Stellantis Denies Warranty Claim Ram After taking the truck to a dealer, Sanchez expected the repairs to be covered under warranty. Instead, Stellantis concluded that the system operated as designed. Data from the vehicle suggested it detected conditions consistent with a potential rollover, which triggered the airbag deployment. That decision leaves Sanchez facing a repair bill estimated between $15,000 and $20,000. The work includes replacing airbags, repairing seats, and addressing several interior components. With warranty coverage denied, those costs fall squarely on the owner. Growing Questions Around Quality Stellantis Although a single case does not define a brand, it adds to a wider pattern. Ram has slipped below the industry average in new vehicle quality studies, recording 218 problems per 100 vehicles. In response, the automaker has moved to address these concerns by deploying 2,000 new engineers across Jeep, Dodge, and Ram, while prioritizing investment in core brands such as Ram. Still, those long-term fixes offer little immediate relief for customers Sanchez, who is left with an unusable truck and a repair bill he did not expect. View the full article

The new GT1 Expedition is the carbon fiber modular helmet that took five years to develop.View the full article

Pickup Beds Should Work SmarterA pickup is only as good as its bed. You’re trading away the security and convenience of a closed trunk for hauling power, so the bed has to earn its keep. That’s exactly what Nissan seems to be targeting with a new tailgate patent aimed at making the bed of the Frontier (or a future truck?) more versatile. Filed at the US Patent and Trademark Office in October 2024 and published in April 2026 (patent no. 20260109410), the application details a tailgate with a second, movable panel built right into it. Instead of just one way to open it, you get multiple options for how the tailgate works. USPTO A Tailgate Within a TailgateAt first glance, the patent sketches look like any other pickup tailgate. But look closer, and you’ll spot the real trick: a smaller panel in the center that moves on its own, turning the whole thing into a split tailgate, albeit different from Ford’s idea. This inner panel can slide or shift using tracks, rollers, springs, or even an electric motor in some versions. So you can open the whole tailgate like usual, or just pop open part of it if your cargo calls for it. Say you’re hauling pipes, lumber, or anything that sticks out. Dropping the whole tailgate isn’t always ideal. With this setup, you could just open what you need, letting long items poke out while keeping the rest of your gear secure. The patent mentions different modes – unrestricted and restricted – so you get more than one way to use the tailgate. It’s not about flashy gimmicks, just making the bed more useful for people who actually use their trucks. USPTO View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article Not Quite a MultiPro RivalIt’s easy to compare this to GM’s MultiPro Tailgate, but they’re really tackling different problems. GM’s MultiPro Tailgate is built around folding sections and multiple hinge positions. It can serve as a step, a workbench, a load stop, and an easier access point into the bed. It’s essentially a multi-tool for the rear of the truck. Nissan’s idea goes a different way. No folding panels here – just a center section that moves. The focus is on smarter cargo access and easier load management, not turning the tailgate into a workbench. Think of GM’s system as a Swiss Army knife, while Nissan’s feels more like an adjustable cargo gate. Like any patent, there’s no promise this will hit showrooms. Automakers file plenty of ideas that never leave the drawing board. But this one feels practical enough that it wouldn’t be a shock to see it on a future Frontier or another Nissan truck. USPTO View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

In 2026, we're so surrounded by advertising that it can be hard to remember when ads could be fun, cute, and charming. But Vespa's totally were!View the full article

This Yamaha XV 750 is a charismatic mid-weight V-twin custom build that blends classic 1980s Yamaha engineering with tasteful café racer-inspired modifications, giving it a distinct retro-modern attitude. At its heart is a 749cc air-cooled V-twin engine, delivering its power to the rear wheel through a manual transmission. Known for its reliability and smooth character, the platform provides a solid foundation for custom work while retaining its original mechanical charm. Finished in a deep, timeless black, the bike is accented […] The post Bike of the Day: 1983 Yamaha XV 750 Custom appeared first on Return of the Cafe Racers. View the full article

The new CFMoto 500SR revives the inline-four middleweight formula with modern features and serious value. View the full article

If you don’t follow Jasmine Green, aka Stout Metalcraft on YouTube and @six_four_stout on Instagram, then you are missing out on some ultra cool metal shaping videos. This 1964 Toyota Stout is turning into something truly special. Nothing I say will convey the level of customization that is going on with regards to the sheet metal on this little mini truck. We’re talking shaping, bead rolling, frenching, and so much more. She’s making panels from scratch to look like Toyota made them, even though we all know they are 1 off custom pieces. This has been a long term project, but man we love following it. Lucky for us, the Oil and Whiskey podcast just had her on as a guest and that means we all get to find out more cool stuff about Jasmine, her new baby, and metal shaping while pregnant, among a ton of other cool things. Jasmine is arguably one of the best sheet metal fabricators and shapers out there on the internet right now and her growth has been substantial over the past few years. Check out the podcast below and let us know what you think of Jasmine and her cool little truck. Video Description: This week on Oil & Whiskey, we sit down with Jasmine Green, better known as @six_four_stout. If you’ve seen her work, you already know. Some of the cleanest metal shaping and fabrication out there right now, all coming out of a shed in Australia. Jasmine walks us through how it all started, from getting into mini trucks with her first Hilux to building her now well-known Toyota Stout. What began as a simple project quickly turned into something much bigger, pushing her skills in metal shaping, design, and fabrication further than expected. We get into her process, learning as she goes, figuring things out without everything planned, and the mindset it takes to tackle builds at this level. A lot of the work you see is not mapped out ahead of time. It’s built piece by piece through creativity and problem solving. The post This Chick Is One Hell Of A Metal Shaper! Jasmine Green Is Building A Custom Toyota Stout Pickup The Hard Way! appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

– Kalitta breaks TF track speed record in win – Capps powers to another FC victory – Hartford rolls to second PS win in four races – Herrera sweeps weekend in PSM CONCORD, N.C. (April 26, 2026) – Reigning Top Fuel world champion Doug Kalitta shattered the track speed record in the final round en route to the win on Sunday at zMAX Dragway, beating a loaded final quad of Shawn Langdon, Tony Stewart and Leah Pruett at the 16th annual NHRA 4-Wide Nationals. Ron Capps (Funny Car), Matt Hartford (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won the fourth of 20 races during the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season. Kalitta went 3.692-seconds at 342.98 mph in his 12,000-horsepower Mac Tools dragster, setting the track record and making the third-fastest run in NHRA history, as the Top Fuel points leader collected his second win this season and the 60th in his career. Kalitta won each of his first two quads to reach the final round, where teammate Langdon moved first on the starting line. But Kalitta enjoyed a monster run to power past everyone and get his third career win at zMAX Dragway. After winning two world titles in the past three years, there has been no let-up from Kalitta, who became the first Top Fuel driver to get two wins in 2026. “Alan [Johnson, crew chief] thought it was going to run over 340 mph, so that was good. I don’t know how he predicts these things, but the guy’s a wizard tuning these cars and I’m just very, very fortunate,” Kalitta said. “It’s a hell of an opportunity to work with him and Connie’s [Kalitta, team owner] given us everything we need with all three of our cars. I’m sure he is pretty proud of what we accomplished. “The guys pulled through for me. I was really happy to see that light when it came on. We had a lot of support here and this is the kind of race you want to win.” Langdon finished as the runner-up in his second visit to the finals this season, while Pruett took third. Funny Car’s Ron Capps stayed red-hot in the loaded category, winning for the second time in three races thanks to a run of 3.905 at 334.90 in his 12,000-horsepower NAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra in the championship round to hold off past world champions Jack Beckman, Matt Hagan and J.R. Todd in a thrilling finale. Capps had the dominant car all weekend, qualifying No. 1 and making the quickest pass of the weekend in the first round of eliminations when he went 3.865 at 333.00. He followed that with a runner-up to Todd in the second round quad, sending him to the stacked final quad. Capps left first and never trailed in an impressive wire-to-wire victory in the finals, enjoying his 79th career victory and his fifth in Charlotte, the most among active Funny Car drivers. It continued his impressive start to the year, as it gave Capps his third straight final round. The three-time world champion also has a pair of No. 1 qualifiers in 2026, as everything appears to be lining up for a strong championship push for the veteran and points leader. “I still can’t believe it,” Capps said. “You have cars like this at times in your career and you just don’t want to mess up as a driver. It sounds funny, it sounds strange, but you’re given something that leaves the trailer and all the knobs turn in the right direction to go win a race. Any driver will tell you this and if they don’t, they’re lying, but it’s like you’re given this to not screw up and to cut a light and, most importantly, drive it, keep it as straight as possible in a Funny Car. “The four-wide brings such a unique mentality to everything. I’m getting older, but it’s just so much fun to get up there and have the confidence from everybody on the team that I could still do it in the seat. This is especially cool because this is the only four-wide race this year. Sunday night’s over with, and you look back and say, man, everybody came together really made this a great event.” Beckman took the runner-up spot, while Hagan was third and is now second in points. In Pro Stock, Matt Hartford won for the first time at zMAX Dragway, rolling to his second win in four races to open 2026 with a run of 6.526 at 210.05 in his Total Seal Chevrolet Camaro to defeat Cody Coughlin, Greg Anderson and Matt Latino in the finals. Hartford won the opener in Gainesville, but then struggled in Phoenix and Pomona, losing in the first round at both events. The veteran, though, bounced back in impressive fashion this weekend, getting his second win of the year and 10th in his career. He won his opening-round quad and was second to Anderson a round later to advance to the championship round. There, he was quicker than Anderson and Coughlin off the starting line, posting a strong .024 reaction time and then the quickest run of the quad to pick up his first career four-wide victory. This one sent him to third in points, as Hartford made the most of his opportunities on Sunday in Charlotte. “If you’re going to win in this class, you pretty much have to leave ahead of everybody and that’s really hard to do,” Hartford said. “I struggle with it. I was .024 in the final and I thought that was great for me, especially on the four-wide, which is hard. You’ve heard from everybody; there’s a lot going on. It’s very confusing, and I just took my time, made sure I was ready and rolled in. “An easy way to see our team versus the other teams is who’s standing up on the line during a final. Just look and see how many people are behind our car and how many people are behind the other car. Some of these teams, it looks like there are 60 people behind their car. With our team, there’s Amber, Eddie and Adam, that’s it. So to come out here and run and be competitive with these super teams, it’s just incredible, and it’s an honor to have my wife do it alongside me, my brother do it alongside Eddie and me.” Coughlin continued the solid start to his season, taking the runner-up for the second time this season and third time in his career, while Anderson was third. Dallas Glenn stays in the points lead. Pro Stock Motorcycle’s Gaige Herrera was back to his winning ways this weekend at zMAX Dragway, capped off by a victory on Sunday with a run of 6.758 at 199.88 on his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki to outlast a quad that included teammate and reigning world champion Richard Gadson, Clayton Howey and Chase Van Sant. It’s the first win of the year for Herrera and, remarkably, the 29th in his young career, a day after winning the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge. After back-to-back world championships in dominant fashion, Herrera finished second to Gadson a year ago. He still enjoyed a strong season and Herrera was back in top form in Charlotte, showcasing a stellar .019 reaction time in the final quad. Both Gadson and Howey left before Herrera, but he tracked them both down quickly, rolling to his third NHRA 4-Wide Nationals victory in Charlotte and fourth overall at the stellar facility. “I knew we all were going to push the tree in the final and I think that’s the tightest I’ve seen a four-wide final in the bike category,” Herrera said. “It’s pretty cool to have all Suzukis in the final, too. I had a bracket bike all day long, same with Richard and Clayton, and it’s awesome to get the four-wide win here at zMAX and to get my first diamond in Wally. It’s pretty cool to win in NHRA’s 75th anniversary. “Losing the second round in Gainesville lit a fire under me and I didn’t want that to happen to me again this weekend. I knew I had to be better as a rider at everything and feel like this weekend I proved it to myself.” Gadson, who won the season-opening Gatornationals and remains the points leader, finished as the runner-up, while Howey took third. The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series returns to action May 1-3 with the NHRA Southern Nationals at South Georgia Motorsports Park in Adel, Ga. *** CONCORD, N.C. — Final finish order (1-16) at the 16th annual NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway. The race is the fourth of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. TOP FUEL: 1. Doug Kalitta; 2. Shawn Langdon; 3. Leah Pruett; 4. Tony Stewart; 5. Justin Ashley; 6. Spencer Massey; 7. Maddi Gordon; 8. Billy Torrence; 9. Will Smith; 10. Josh Hart; 11. Dan Mercier; 12. Clay Millican; 13. Ida Zetterstrom; 14. Antron Brown; 15. Jasmine Salinas; 16. Tony Schumacher. FUNNY CAR: 1. Ron Capps; 2. Jack Beckman; 3. Matt Hagan; 4. J.R. Todd; 5. Alexis DeJoria; 6. Jordan Vandergriff; 7. Chad Green; 8. Dave Richards; 9. Hunter Green; 10. John Smith; 11. Austin Prock; 12. Daniel Wilkerson; 13. Jeff Arend; 14. Cruz Pedregon; 15. Jeff Diehl; 16. Spencer Hyde. PRO STOCK: 1. Matt Hartford; 2. Cody Coughlin; 3. Greg Anderson; 4. Matt Latino; 5. Dallas Glenn; 6. Aaron Stanfield; 7. Eric Latino; 8. Greg Stanfield; 9. Erica Enders; 10. Stephen Bell; 11. Jeg Coughlin; 12. Rodger Brogdon; 13. Cody Anderson; 14. Deric Kramer; 15. Troy Coughlin Jr.; 16. Kenny Delco. PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE: 1. Gaige Herrera; 2. Richard Gadson; 3. Clayton Howey; 4. Chase Van Sant; 5. John Hall; 6. Jianna Evaristo; 7. Angie Smith; 8. Ryan Oehler; 9. Matt Smith; 10. Kelly Clontz; 11. Geno Scali; 12. Steve Johnson; 13. Brayden Davis; 14. Marc Ingwersen; 15. Wesley Wells; 16. Michael Ray. CONCORD, N.C. — Sunday’s final results from the 16th annual NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway. The race is the fourth of 20 in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series: Top Fuel — Doug Kalitta, 3.692 seconds, 342.98 mph def. Shawn Langdon, 3.727 seconds, 338.51 mph and Leah Pruett, 3.724 seconds, 329.42 mph and Tony Stewart, 10.663 seconds, 66.89 mph; Funny Car — Ron Capps, Toyota GR Supra, 3.905, 334.90 def. Jack Beckman, Chevy Camaro, 3.917, 329.50 and Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.947, 330.55 and J.R. Todd, GR Supra, 4.050, 323.81; Pro Stock — Matt Hartford, Chevy Camaro, 6.526, 210.05 def. Cody Coughlin, Camaro, 6.529, 210.14 and Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.529, 210.31 and Matt Latino, Camaro, 11.390, 78.39; Pro Stock Motorcycle — Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.758, 199.88 def. Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.809, 198.17 and Clayton Howey, Suzuki, 6.854, 196.87 and Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, foul; Top Alcohol Dragster — Joey Severance, 5.203, 274.50 def. McKenna Bold, 5.264, 276.52 and Jamie Noonan, 5.226, 273.22 and Jackie Fricke, 5.261, 275.79; Top Alcohol Funny Car — Sean Bellemeur, Chevy Camaro, 5.388, 269.73 def. Phil Esz, Camaro, 5.464, 261.42 and Bob McCosh, Camaro, 8.907, 112.28 and Chris Foster, Camaro, 10.331, 107.76; Competition Eliminator — Monty Bogan, Pontiac G5, 8.410, 150.21 def. Joe Carnasciale, Chevy Cavalier, 8.895, 143.02. Super Stock — Kent Hanley, Chevy Cavalier, 9.296, 136.87 def. Patrick Glade, Pontiac Firebird, 10.049, 130.62. Stock Eliminator — David Barton, Chevy Camaro, 10.386, 112.06 def. Jeff Strickland, Camaro, 9.478, 134.08. Super Comp — Lauren Freer, Dragster, 8.920, 180.57 def. Vance Houston, Dragster, 8.884, 178.40. Super Gas — Tim Powell, Chevy Corvette, 9.901, 165.84 def. Keith Mayers, Spider, 9.845, 148.31. Super Street — Keith Mayers, 968, 10.874, 147.49 def. Ray Dew, Nova, 10.845, 140.93. Top Dragster — Robert Houston, Dragster, 7.085, 183.82 def. Walter Zalak, Dragster, 6.627, 204.79. Top Sportsman — Frank Altilio, Chevy S-10, 7.320, 166.31 def. Carl Freeman, Chevy Cavalier, 7.752, 174.12. Pro Modified — Mike Stavrinos, Chevy Camaro, 5.669, 253.56 def. Justin Bond, Camaro, 5.658, 253.66 and Jason Collins, Camaro, 5.695, 250.60 and Stan Shelton, Ford Mustang, 5.766, 251.81; Factory Stock Showdown — Jonathan Allegrucci, Ford Mustang, 7.716, 178.42 def. Jason Dietsch, Mustang, 7.722, 166.93 and Raymond Nash, Dodge Challenger, 7.739, 175.50 and Taylor Dietsch, Mustang, 9.007, 159.08; Outlaw Street — Ryan Martin, Chevy Camaro, Broke def. Scott Taylor, Camaro, Foul – Red Light. CONCORD, N.C. — Final round-by-round results from the 16th annual NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway, the fourth of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series: TOP FUEL: ROUND ONE — Tony Stewart, 3.727, 331.36 and Billy Torrence, 3.731, 335.98 def. Josh Hart, 3.753, 333.16 and Tony Schumacher, broke; Doug Kalitta, 3.686, 337.33 and Maddi Gordon, 3.777, 332.51 def. Clay Millican, 3.911, 266.69 and Antron Brown, 4.267, 193.02; Justin Ashley, 3.699, 336.74 and Leah Pruett, 3.673, 333.16 def. Will Smith, 3.748, 330.47 and Ida Zetterstrom, 3.803, 334.90; Shawn Langdon, 3.673, 330.15 and Spencer Massey, 3.822, 325.30 def. Dan Mercier, 3.800, 326.32 and Jasmine Salinas, 4.561, 142.61; SEMIFINALS — Langdon, 3.748, 329.02 and Stewart, 3.776, 328.22 def. Massey, 3.798, 326.56 and Torrence, 3.785, 324.44; Kalitta, 3.707, 339.02 and Pruett, 3.749, 333.66 def. Ashley, 3.774, 331.61 and Gordon, 3.767, 333.16; FINAL — Kalitta, 3.692, 342.98 def. Langdon, 3.727, 338.51, Pruett, 3.724, 329.42 and Stewart, 10.663, 66.89. FUNNY CAR: ROUND ONE — J.R. Todd, Toyota GR Supra, 3.896, 335.32 and Alexis DeJoria, Chevy Camaro, 3.962, 324.36 def. Hunter Green, Dodge Charger, 4.005, 320.89 and Jeff Arend, Charger, 4.100, 309.06; Jordan Vandergriff, Camaro, 3.874, 326.63 and Dave Richards, Ford Mustang, 4.965, 267.11 def. Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 6.333, 175.37 and Jeff Diehl, Toyota Camry, 8.013, 91.45; Ron Capps, GR Supra, 3.865, 333.00 and Chad Green, Mustang, 3.950, 320.58 def. Austin Prock, Mustang, 4.460, 191.76 and Spencer Hyde, Mustang, 8.207, 69.59; Jack Beckman, Camaro, 3.868, 327.66 and Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.913, 332.92 def. John Smith, Charger, 4.119, 311.49 and Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 4.576, 193.49; SEMIFINALS — Hagan, 3.948, 323.74 and Beckman, 4.367, 304.05 def. Vandergriff, 9.698, 72.35 and Richards, DQ; Todd, 3.885, 336.40 and Capps, 3.923, 327.90 def. DeJoria, 3.980, 296.89 and C. Green, 10.164, 82.41; FINAL — Capps, 3.905, 334.90 def. Beckman, 3.917, 329.50, Hagan, 3.947, 330.55 and Todd, 4.050, 323.81. PRO STOCK: ROUND ONE — Matt Hartford, Chevy Camaro, 6.538, 210.87 and Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.561, 208.84 def. Stephen Bell, Camaro, 6.588, 208.81 and Kenny Delco, Camaro, 13.716, 63.18; Cody Coughlin, Camaro, 6.530, 209.30 and Matt Latino, Camaro, 6.560, 208.84 def. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.592, 207.94 and Cody Anderson, Camaro, 6.521, 209.33; Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.528, 208.94 and Greg Stanfield, Camaro, 6.554, 208.88 def. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.550, 209.88 and Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.539, 209.04; Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.531, 209.46 and Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.538, 208.78 def. Rodger Brogdon, Camaro, 6.613, 207.43 and Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 12.543, 110.76; SEMIFINALS — Hartford, 6.550, 209.95 and G. Anderson, 6.527, 209.39 def. A. Stanfield, 7.403, 152.21 and E. Latino, 15.223, 80.15; M. Latino, 6.559, 209.36 and C. Coughlin, 6.573, 209.56 def. Glenn, 6.538, 209.33 and G. Stanfield, 16.702, 50.71; FINAL — Hartford, 6.526, 210.05 def. C. Coughlin, 6.529, 210.14, G. Anderson, 6.529, 210.31 and M. Latino, 11.390, 78.39. PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE: ROUND ONE — Jianna Evaristo, Buell 1190RX, 6.788, 199.37 and Angie Smith, 1190RX, 6.909, 197.68 def. Steve Johnson, Suzuki Hayabusa, 6.979, 192.58 and Brayden Davis, 7.717, 127.29; Gaige Herrera, Hayabusa, 6.775, 198.17 and John Hall, Beull 1190RX, 6.833, 197.80 def. Geno Scali, Suzuki TL1000, 6.967, 193.93 and Marc Ingwersen, broke; Ryan Oehler, 6.802, 197.86 and Richard Gadson, Hayabusa, 6.858, 197.88 def. Kelly Clontz, TL, 6.850, 197.57 and Wesley Wells, Suzuki GSXR, broke; Chase Van Sant, Suzuki TL 1000, 6.810, 197.59 and Clayton Howey, Hayabusa, 6.828, 197.28 def. Matt Smith, 1190RX, 6.773, 200.53 and Michael Ray, broke; SEMIFINALS — Howey, 6.815, 198.47 and Van Sant, 6.824, 197.88 def. Evaristo, 6.825, 196.13 and A. Smith, 6.906, 194.66; Herrera, 6.756, 200.08 and Gadson, 6.785, 199.55 def. Hall, 6.821, 200.47 and Oehler, 7.575, 132.99; FINAL — Herrera, 6.758, 199.88 def. Gadson, 6.809, 198.17, Howey, 6.854, 196.87 and Van Sant, foul. CONCORD, N.C. — Point standings (top 10) following the 16th annual NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway, the fourth of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series – Top Fuel 1. Doug Kalitta, 373; 2. Shawn Langdon, 350; 3. Leah Pruett, 297; 4. Tony Stewart, 296; 5. Josh Hart, 265; 6. Maddi Gordon, 238; 7. Justin Ashley, 208; 8. Billy Torrence, 187; 9. Antron Brown, 163; 10. Clay Millican, 146. Funny Car 1. Ron Capps, 369; 2. Matt Hagan, 327; 3. J.R. Todd, 299; 4. Chad Green, 276; 5. Jordan Vandergriff, 262; 6. Alexis DeJoria, 235; 7. Spencer Hyde, 221; 8. Jack Beckman, 213; 9. Daniel Wilkerson, 170; 10. Dave Richards, 138. Pro Stock 1. Dallas Glenn, 357; 2. Greg Anderson, 347; 3. Matt Hartford, 305; 4. Cody Coughlin, 252; 5. Greg Stanfield, 249; 6. Matt Latino, 237; 7. Erica Enders, 212; 8. Aaron Stanfield, 194; 9. Jeg Coughlin, 191; 10. Eric Latino, 173. Pro Stock Motorcycle 1. Richard Gadson, 217; 2. Gaige Herrera, 175; 3. John Hall, 148; 4. Clayton Howey, 147; 5. Chase Van Sant, 125; 6. Angie Smith, 117; 7. Steve Johnson, 105; 8. Matt Smith, 102; 9. Ryan Oehler, 89; 10. Jianna Evaristo, 83. -NHRA- Doug Kalitta Top Fuel Winner Mac Tools Top Fuel Dragster 3.692 seconds, 342.98 mph NOTE: Reigning Top Fuel world champion Doug Kalitta claimed his first win of the 2026 season on Sunday when won the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway. Kalitta clocked a 3.692-second pass at 342.98 mph to win over his teammate Shawn Langdon, Pomona winner Tony Stewart and Leah Pruett. Ron Capps Funny Car Winner NAPA Auto Care Funny Car 3.905 seconds, 334.90 mph NOTE: Funny Car veteran Ron Capps finished his weekend at zMAX Dragway with a win at the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals. Capps was best of his quad made up of former champions Jack Beckman, Matt Hagan and J.R. Todd thanks to his 3.905-second pass 334.90 mph, giving him his fifth win from the famed Charlotte facility. Matt Hartford Pro Stock Winner Total Seal Chevrolet Camaro 6.526 seconds, 210.05 mph NOTE: Matt Hartford picked up his second win of the 2026 NHRA season on Sunday when he won the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals over Cody Coughlin, Greg Anderson and Matt Latino. Hartford ran a 6.526-second pass at 210.05 mph and earned the win at zMAX Dragway. Gaige Herrera Pro Stock Motorcycle Winner RevZilla / Vance & Hines Suzuki 6.758 seconds, 199.88 mph NOTE: Two-time Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Gaige Herrera won his first race of the 2026 season on Sunday when he won the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals. Herrera won over his teammate and reigning world champion Richard Gadson, Clayton Howey and Chase Van Sant with his 6.758-second pass at 199.88 mph to win his fourth race at zMAX Dragway. -NHRA- The post KALITTA, CAPPS, HARTFORD & HERRERA RACE TO WINS AT NHRA 4-WIDE NATIONALS IN CHARLOTTE appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

David Freiburger’s Socials and YouTube channel have grown dramatically since the Motor Trend Studios that he and Finnegan were working for shut down and he went out on his own. It’s been a fun journey both for David and for his viewers and fans. But in typical Freiburger fashion, his videos often create as many questions as they answer. So what better time than now to do a big Q&A video?! Check it out below. Video Description: Get D/F SHIRTS, HATS, and DECALS here: https://shop.davidfreiburger.com/ This time it’s a deep Q&A with tech, trivia, and opinion questions from my social media followers. Click this one on, and listen to it like a podcast in the garage with a few friends!—D/F The post Let’s Talk ENGINES, PROJECT CARS, CHiPS TV, and More With David Freiburger! appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

There are racers, and then there are RACERS. We’ve all known guys who will never give up, regardless of the damage or obstacles that are trying to keep them from racing, but we probably all know someone who gives up at the slightest complication as well. Some races bring out these traits in people more often than others, and this is especially true at Drag and Drive events. We’ve spent a good amount of time with the guys at Brian Tooley Racing, and have been close friends with Peter Harrell and Lee at Harrell Engine and Dyno for years. And while I don’t know the Tin Soldiers Race Cars crew real well, I know them well enough to know that like BTR and Pete, they don’t know what the word quit even means. And here’s an example. Video Description: We went into Street Car Braggin’ Rights at Rockingham Dragway with the Tin Soldier guys looking to run our first race on radials with Man O’ War and our first 1/4-mile race with the car. We had high hopes of running well and possibly even taking a shot at resetting the LS 1/4-mile record. Some broken engine parts tried to stop us early in the event, but our stubbornness and lots of help from Pete Harrell and Lee at Harrell Engine & Dyno got us back on track. In Lil Gangstas, we made a last-minute driver substitution that looked to be going well, until it didn’t. The post A Broken Valve and Beat Up Piston Couldn’t Stop The BTR And Tin Soldiers Race Car Gang! appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

Viva Las Vegas is one of THE premier rockabilly car shows and get togethers in the country. Taking over the Orleans Hotel and Casino every April, this show is in its 30th year! When I still lived in Southern California I would drive up for this show every year to make sure we had awesome photo coverage for all of you to check out, but now that I live in Texas I miss this one every year. Thanks to Ghouls ‘n Gasoline on YouTube we’ve got a great highlight video from the show this year. And it was their first year attending the show! It was cool to see it from a newbies perspective, and it did not disappoint! Video Description: This is Ghouls n’ Gasolines’ first year covering Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly. We captured the energy of the event with on‑the‑ground highlights, owner interviews, pinup features, and live music. Expect authentic, up‑close footage that celebrates car culture, vintage style, and the rockabilly scene in beautiful Las Vegas, Nevada. #VivaLasVegas #VivaLasVegasRockabilly #rockabillyculture The post Viva Las Vegas 2026 Rockabilly Car Show Video – Hot Rods, Pinup Girls & Live Bands Take Over Las Vegas! appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

If you needed yet another example of what “China speed” means in the automotive industry, here it is. The new Freelander brand, which is the fruit of a joint venture between China's Chery Auto and Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), has already unveiled its first production model, less than a month after revealing its first concept vehicle. So say hello to the Freelander 8, a luxury all-terrain SUV that combines British Land Rover design with Chinese tech into a compelling package. Freelander released the first official images of the tech-focused electrified SUV on China’s Weibo social media platform, but we’ve also come across photos of the vehicle on X.com, courtesy of Steve Fowler. The images appear to have been taken at a public event, likely at Auto China 2026. Production Model Debuts Less Than a Month After the ConceptHere’s the new Freelander 8. Designed by JLR, engineered and built by Chery in China. Six models coming in five years. Left- and right-hand drive. First market - Middle East. It’s a 5.1m long plug-in hybrid. pic.twitter.com/igWcO7pwue — Steve Fowler (@SteveFowler) April 25, 2026 Building on the Freelander Concept 97’s styling, the Freelander 8 is a 200-inch long SUV with a boxy silhouette featuring a closed-off front grille, square headlights and taillights, clean surfacing, off-road cladding, and a diagonal D-pillar that is a throwback to the original three-door Land Rover Freelander. The concept's rear-hinged rear doors and the folding fabric replacing the rear screen are gone. As for the interior, one of the photos shared on X reveals a very similar low-set dashboard to the one seen on Concept 97, with a big central display and a screen band in the background that spans the entire width of the dash. We can only assume that the concept's three-row seating layout has been retained, albeit without the lounge-style third-row sofa. A closer look at the vehicle reveals the neatly integrated LiDAR unit above the windshield, which is a clear hint that the Freelander 8 places strong emphasis on assisted driving and terrain perception. The Freelander 8 Is a Tech Fest with Inputs from Huawei, Qualcomm and CATL Freelander / Weibo Freelander’s first production model is equipped with Huawei’s Qiankun ADS 5.0 intelligent driving assistance and a 896-channel LiDAR—the Freelander 8 is one of the first vehicles to get this system. The i-ATS intelligent all-terrain system uses data from the LiDAR and binocular camera for terrain recognition, which the vehicle’s computer then uses to adapt the driving strategy accordingly. Speaking of the computer, the Freelander 8’s computing architecture uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8397 hardware, which is the brain of a centralized vehicle control platform. The new processor is said to have three times more computing power compared to the previous generation. According to several reports from China, including CnEVPost, the Freelander 8 features a dedicated new platform called iMax, which was designed to accommodate battery electric (BEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV), and extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) powertrains. In China, the Freelander 8 will offer a high-voltage 800V electrical architecture, which will also be standard for EREV models. The battery is jointly developed with industry-leader CATL and is said to feature 350kW peak charging capability and and up to 6C charging performance. The new Freelander 8 is expected to make its debut in China in the second half of the year with an extended-range powertrain. The brand also has plans to come to the Middle East, which will reportedly become its first export market, and Europe later on. The model you see here is only the beginning, as Freelander plans to launch six new models—Land Rover currently has nine—over the next five years, for both left- and righ-hand-drive markets. Unfortunately, the US has not been mentioned as a potential market. Freelander View the full article

I’ve built cars in absurdly short periods of time, and then driven them cross country on multiple occasions, but to most people that is insanity. Heck, to most hot rodders the thought of driving their finished hot rod 850 miles scares the heck out of them. But Tony Angelo and Derek Bieri are always up for a challenge and this one is going to be rad. After the two of them finish putting this cool 1955 Chevrolet wagon together, they are off for an adventure! They are jumping in this machine, with a bit of faith, a bit of tools, and a lot of nerve, to see if it will make it all the way home to Derek’s place in Tennessee. That’s 850 miles. Will they make it? Will they kill each other trying? Or will they laugh, cry, and love their way down the road? Video Description: A guy is back for bad decisions and shenanigans! I tried to forget about this absolute rust bucket 55 wagon complete with rusted frame and 6 cylinder for 2 years.. but it’s time to pick it up. This tri 5 chevy was destined for the scrap yard – but were determined to breath new life into it in a few days, with a 450HP 327 SBC, and 5 Speed TKX. Then, I’ll just haphazardly jump in it, and attempt 850+ miles home! The post Will This 450HP, 5-Speed, 1955 Chevrolet Wagon RUN AND DRIVE 850 Miles Home? @Stay Tuned and @Vice Grip Garage Built This Car In Just DAYS! appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

No. 1 qualifier Jonathan Allegrucci took home all the hardware today at zMAX Dragway winning the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals for the second year in a row. The driver from Scott Township, Pa. drove his Ford Mustang Cobra Jet to the winner’s circle in a tough quad that included two-time winners Jason and Taylor Dietsch, and Raymond Nash, driver of one of the most competitive Dodge Challenger Drag Paks. His winning time of 7.716 seconds at 178.42 mph was a strong showing to wrap up race day. “Getting this win means a lot,” said Allegrucci. “Everyone thinks because you won last year, you’re going to come out and do it again. And it just puts the bullseye on your back, and we put more pressure on ourselves. I think it makes it much harder. We came out and qualified on the top spot and it just gave us more pressure. And then the car started fighting us, showing us who’s boss.” Allegrucci was the first off the starting line in the final and held off Jason Dietsch who was the No. 14 qualifier this weekend and scored two wins last year. Dietsch scored the runner-up finish in his first Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series race of the season racing his Mustang Cobra Jet to the finish line with a 7.722 second run at 166.93 mph. Semifinalists Nash and Taylor Dietsch tripped the finish line timers in 7.739 seconds and 9.007 seconds, respectively, today with a solid effort for their teams. “We just said, ‘Hey, let’s go do the best we can and let the cards fall where they fall,’” said Allegrucci. “This was a tough day and that second round was really a turning point. We got by that quad and that really set us up for the day.” With the win Allegrucci moves into the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series points lead and will carry the $1,000 bounty into the next national event. He also took home one of the diamond NHRA Wally trophies celebrating the NHRA’s 75th anniversary.“It’s amazing. Just feeling how heavy it is and looking at it, it’s something special to be able to get out here and do this,” said Allegrucci. “I didn’t think it’s ever possible. I knew we could run with this class and throw some punches here and there. I never thought we could be contending like this at this level. It’s all because of the guys behind us. It’s because of KSR. These guys are just top notch, and they make our job easier.” Earlier in the day, Nash outran Gatornationals winner Ricky Hord in the third quad to take the $1,000 Flexjet Bounty and advance to the final quad along with Allegrucci. In a wild round following Nash’s win over Hord, Doug Duell, David Davies II and Jason Dietsch all left the starting line before the Christmas Tree activated leading to a unique outcome. The fourth participant of the quad, Taylor Dietsch, was declared the winner and Jason Dietsch also advanced because he was the last participant to leave early sliding him into the second winner position of that quad. The Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series will be back in action at Route 66 Raceway outside Chicago from May 15-17, 2026. This story was originally published on April 26, 2026. The post Jonathan Allegrucci Wins 4-Wide Nationals Again first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

They saved fuel for half the raceThey then tried to race and immediately crashed nearly the entire fieldThey were then stuck 2x2 and were unable to pass the front row "You said it perfectly," said Ryan Blaney after the massive 26-car crash at the start of the final stage. “We’re either fuel saving or we’re running all over each other because that’s just what this car is and that’s how ...Keep readingView the full article

The NASCAR community is watching both Carson Hocevar and Spire Motorsports grow up together and that journey reached another benchmark on Sunday at Talladega with their first collective victory. There is a caveat, of course. Spire does have one previous Cup Series win, and that was the rain-shortened 2019 summer race at Daytona, but team co-owner Jeff Dickerson barely counts it. That was ...Keep readingView the full article

Mike Stavrinos picked up his first win of the season in the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports on Sunday at zMAX Dragway, taking the holeshot victory in a thrilling final round as part of this weekend’s 16th annual NHRA 4-Wide Nationals. This weekend’s event was the third of 11 races in the category during the 2026 campaign and was powered by Culp Lumber. Stavrinos went 5.669-seconds at 253.56 mph in the final round in his Al-Anabi Performance Camaro, but needed every bit of his .016 reaction time to hold off No. 1 qualifier Justin Bond at the finish line, as well as Jason Collins and Stan Shelton in what turned out to be an incredible championship round. Bond, who won the most recent event in Phoenix, went 5.658 at 253.66, but Stavrinos used the strong starting-line advantage to win by just .009, getting his fourth career win in the category. “Usually when I win one of things I’m pretty calm, but today I’m amped up,” Stavrinos said. “This team puts so much dedication into this hot rod and I couldn’t do it without them. There are so many people to thank and I’m just so happy to be taking this one home.” Stavrinos, who qualified second, won both of his quads to reach the final round, using a strong .017 reaction time in the opening round and an impressive pass of 5.683 at 251.86 a round later. Bond finished as the runner-up in his second final-round appearance of the season and Collins was third. Bond moved into the points lead with the runner-up advantage, while Stavrinos jumped to fourth in the loaded class after the win. The JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports returns to action May 1-3 with the NHRA Southern Nationals at South Georgia Motorsports Park in Adel, Ga. The post Stavrinos Gets JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Series Victory on Holeshot at zMAX Dragway first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Before dawn the Jerez hillside was glowing. By the end of Sunday, MotoGP’s riders and team managers were left to dissect a Spanish Grand Prix that could prove a genuine turning point in the 2026 campaign. The post Lights on the hill, pressure in the paddock – MotoGP reacts to a pivotal Jerez appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

The 20th season of Red Bull Rookies Cup opened at Jerez with rookie shocks in qualifying, a wet-dry Race 1 won by Beñat Fernandez, a stunning Race 2 victory for Kiandra Ramadhipa and an educational first European weekend for Australia’s Archie Schmidt. The post Red Bull Rookies Cup explodes into life at Jerez with two last-lap thrillers appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

Reigning Top Fuel world champion Doug Kalitta shattered the track speed record in the final round en route to the win on Sunday at zMAX Dragway, beating a loaded final quad of Shawn Langdon, Tony Stewart and Leah Pruett at the 16th annual NHRA 4-Wide Nationals. Ron Capps (Funny Car), Matt Hartford (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won the fourth of 20 races during the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season. Kalitta went 3.692-seconds at 342.98 mph in his 12,000-horsepower Mac Tools dragster, setting the track record and making the third-fastest run in NHRA history, as the Top Fuel points leader collected his second win this season and the 60th in his career. Kalitta won each of his first two quads to reach the final round, where teammate Langdon moved first on the starting line. But Kalitta enjoyed a monster run to power past everyone and get his third career win at zMAX Dragway. After winning two world titles in the past three years, there has been no let-up from Kalitta, who became the first Top Fuel driver to get two wins in 2026. “Alan [Johnson, crew chief] thought it was going to run over 340 mph, so that was good. I don’t know how he predicts these things, but the guy’s a wizard tuning these cars and I’m just very, very fortunate,” Kalitta said. “It’s a hell of an opportunity to work with him and Connie’s [Kalitta, team owner] given us everything we need with all three of our cars. I’m sure he is pretty proud of what we accomplished. “The guys pulled through for me. I was really happy to see that light when it came on. We had a lot of support here and this is the kind of race you want to win.” Langdon finished as the runner-up in his second visit to the finals this season, while Pruett took third. Funny Car’s Ron Capps stayed red-hot in the loaded category, winning for the second time in three races thanks to a run of 3.905 at 334.90 in his 12,000-horsepower NAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra in the championship round to hold off past world champions Jack Beckman, Matt Hagan and J.R. Todd in a thrilling finale. Capps had the dominant car all weekend, qualifying No. 1 and making the quickest pass of the weekend in the first round of eliminations when he went 3.865 at 333.00. He followed that with a runner-up to Todd in the second round quad, sending him to the stacked final quad. Capps left first and never trailed in an impressive wire-to-wire victory in the finals, enjoying his 79th career victory and his fifth in Charlotte, the most among active Funny Car drivers. It continued his impressive start to the year, as it gave Capps his third straight final round. The three-time world champion also has a pair of No. 1 qualifiers in 2026, as everything appears to be lining up for a strong championship push for the veteran and points leader. “I still can’t believe it,” Capps said. “You have cars like this at times in your career and you just don’t want to mess up as a driver. It sounds funny, it sounds strange, but you’re given something that leaves the trailer and all the knobs turn in the right direction to go win a race. Any driver will tell you this and if they don’t, they’re lying, but it’s like you’re given this to not screw up and to cut a light and, most importantly, drive it, keep it as straight as possible in a Funny Car. “The four-wide brings such a unique mentality to everything. I’m getting older, but it’s just so much fun to get up there and have the confidence from everybody on the team that I could still do it in the seat. This is especially cool because this is the only four-wide race this year. Sunday night’s over with, and you look back and say, man, everybody came together really made this a great event.” Beckman took the runner-up spot, while Hagan was third and is now second in points. In Pro Stock, Matt Hartford won for the first time at zMAX Dragway, rolling to his second win in four races to open 2026 with a run of 6.526 at 210.05 in his Total Seal Chevrolet Camaro to defeat Cody Coughlin, Greg Anderson and Matt Latino in the finals. Hartford won the opener in Gainesville, but then struggled in Phoenix and Pomona, losing in the first round at both events. The veteran, though, bounced back in impressive fashion this weekend, getting his second win of the year and 10th in his career. He won his opening-round quad and was second to Anderson a round later to advance to the championship round. There, he was quicker than Anderson and Coughlin off the starting line, posting a strong .024 reaction time and then the quickest run of the quad to pick up his first career four-wide victory. This one sent him to third in points, as Hartford made the most of his opportunities on Sunday in Charlotte. “If you’re going to win in this class, you pretty much have to leave ahead of everybody and that’s really hard to do,” Hartford said. “I struggle with it. I was .024 in the final and I thought that was great for me, especially on the four-wide, which is hard. You’ve heard from everybody; there’s a lot going on. It’s very confusing, and I just took my time, made sure I was ready and rolled in. “An easy way to see our team versus the other teams is who’s standing up on the line during a final. Just look and see how many people are behind our car and how many people are behind the other car. Some of these teams, it looks like there are 60 people behind their car. With our team, there’s Amber, Eddie and Adam, that’s it. So to come out here and run and be competitive with these super teams, it’s just incredible, and it’s an honor to have my wife do it alongside me, my brother do it alongside Eddie and me.” Coughlin continued the solid start to his season, taking the runner-up for the second time this season and third time in his career, while Anderson was third. Dallas Glenn stays in the points lead. Pro Stock Motorcycle’s Gaige Herrera was back to his winning ways this weekend at zMAX Dragway, capped off by a victory on Sunday with a run of 6.758 at 199.88 on his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki to outlast a quad that included teammate and reigning world champion Richard Gadson, Clayton Howey and Chase Van Sant. It’s the first win of the year for Herrera and, remarkably, the 29th in his young career, a day after winning the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge. After back-to-back world championships in dominant fashion, Herrera finished second to Gadson a year ago. He still enjoyed a strong season and Herrera was back in top form in Charlotte, showcasing a stellar .019 reaction time in the final quad. Both Gadson and Howey left before Herrera, but he tracked them both down quickly, rolling to his third NHRA 4-Wide Nationals victory in Charlotte and fourth overall at the stellar facility. “I knew we all were going to push the tree in the final and I think that’s the tightest I’ve seen a four-wide final in the bike category,” Herrera said. “It’s pretty cool to have all Suzukis in the final, too. I had a bracket bike all day long, same with Richard and Clayton, and it’s awesome to get the four-wide win here at zMAX and to get my first diamond in Wally. It’s pretty cool to win in NHRA’s 75th anniversary. “Losing the second round in Gainesville lit a fire under me and I didn’t want that to happen to me again this weekend. I knew I had to be better as a rider at everything and feel like this weekend I proved it to myself.” Gadson, who won the season-opening Gatornationals and remains the points leader, finished as the runner-up, while Howey took third. The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series returns to action May 1-3 with the NHRA Southern Nationals at South Georgia Motorsports Park in Adel, Ga. This story was originally published on April 26, 2026. The post Kalitta, Capps, Hartford, and Herrera Race to Wins at NHRA 4-Wide Nationals first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article