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Nissan has taken the covers off its most crucial future model to be sold in the United States, the next-generation Rogue. Since topping over 400,000 sales in the U.S. in 2018, Rogue sales have declined, with under 220,000 models sold here in 2025. The 2027 Rogue—badged as the X-Trail in other markets—gets an edgier design and new e-Power hybrid powertrain. It aims to recapture the model’s popularity and move it closer to the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V; these rivals have had hybrid powertrain options for years now, leaving Nissan behind. Here’s everything we know about the new Rogue so far. Related: Nissan Rogue Generations Overview: How It Became The Top-Selling Nissan Redesigned Rogue Looks Premium Nissan The 2027 Nissan Rogue is easily one of the most stylish prospects in the compact crossover segment. Nissan did not say whether the new model has grown in size, but it’s likely similar to the current Rogue. The front fascia features a new grille with integrated daytime running lights, and it does away with the split-headlight arrangement of the outgoing model. There are sharper, more aggressive creases around the fenders, a sporty black roof, and new taillights. The new Rogue clearly leans more towards other road-biased crossovers like the Mazda CX-5 and Volkswagen Tiguan. It doesn’t have the rugged look of a Subaru Forester. Nissan didn’t show any images of the interior, but it should introduce larger digital displays. The current model has one of the most comfortable cabins in the segment, so the new one should be even better. What About The e-Power System? Nissan The biggest news is the long-awaited arrival of the e-Power hybrid powertrain. Nissan does have a Rogue plug-in hybrid now, but that’s little more than a rebadged Mitsubishi Outlander. The e-Power technology has been available in overseas markets for some time, but it’s finally coming to America. Outputs remain unknown, but the way the e-Power system operates is distinct from most other hybrids. Two electric motors power the wheels, with the internal combustion engine acting as a generator, so there’s no need to plug in the Nissan. We had the opportunity to sample a Nissan Qashqai with e-Power last year and found it quiet and responsive. That model produced 188 horsepower from a single electric motor, but the Rogue e-Power is expected to be more powerful. “We’re late to the hybrid party, but we’re bringing a best-in-class product,” said Christian Meunier, chairman of Nissan Americas, when talking to Automotive News. The new Rogue will launch later this year only as a hybrid before a gas-only variant arrives in 2027. However, Meunier expects over half of all Rogue sales to be made up of e-Power derivatives. Nissan is targeting 40 mpg combined, which puts it within the same efficiency range as the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. To provide customers with more choice, the current gas-only Rogue will continue to be sold at a lower price for about a year, so not everyone will have to switch to the new e-Power model immediately. What It Means Nissan/YouTube Hybrid adoption has increased dramatically in recent years, so the arrival of Nissan’s first competitive hybrid in the compact crossover segment can’t come soon enough. The current Rogue is outselling Nissan’s entire passenger car lineup to start 2026, highlighting how important this model is for the brand. Furthermore, the e-Power technology is expected to find its way into other Nissans in the future. The chances of this will increase if Nissan decided to produce e-Power systems at its local factory in Tennessee—a hybrid Kicks, Pathfinder, and Sentra could significantly boost the company’s sales, since Toyota offers hybrids in all those segments. View the full article

Keeping the Skyline AliveNissan CEO Ivan Espinosa is keeping true to his promise of keeping the Skyline alive. After all, it's one of the longest-running nameplates in the brand's history, spanning nearly 70 years. Ending its legacy now sounds like a waste, given that the name is revered in its home market of Japan. During the presentation of its long-term plans, as well as the reveal of the all-new Nissan Rogue and first look at the returning Xterra, the Japanese marque gave a sneak peek of the rebooted sport sedan. Espinosa didn't say much about it, but the few snippets shown spoke volumes. Nissan/Youtube This is NOT the GT-RBefore you get too excited and think the car shown will be the next GT-R, hold your horses. Since 2002, the Skyline has been a totally separate model from the GT-R. Before those two lines separated, one had to be aware that the Skyline was more of a sedan with a sporting twist, and that it happened to have a hot version. The Infiniti G was the actual Skyline, and so was the Q50. With that in mind, the car that was teased could end up as Infiniti's future sport sedan, plans permitting, although it will remain as the Nissan Skyline in its home market. The GT-R is still a couple of years away. Nissan Dripping With NostalgiaFor those more familiar with the Skyline's history, the teaser photos show design elements from past models. By the looks of things, this isn't going to be an evolution of the current model and the discontinued Q50. At the back, there are the signature round elements that have been a trademark of the car since the '70s. It's then encased in a black panel that runs across the width of the rear, likely inspired by the fourth-generation model that was affectionately called the kenmeri (two-door) or yonmeri (four-door) Skyline. The cursive Skyline badge on the quarter panel is another nod to the past. For the front end, we see some inspiration from the R34 Skyline, with its sharp, aggressive nose. The classic 'S' badge has also returned, something that has been absent on the car since 2001. The last model that wore it was, you guessed it, the R34 - the non-GT-R versions, to be exact. Nissan/Youtube Any Juicy Details?Well, none so far. Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa described the car as a "reimagined icon of Japanese engineering and driving passion, with performance and precision." Now, fingers crossed that the 'reimagined' part doesn't mean it'll be EV only. That said, it was previously reported that it could get the same twin-turbo V6 engine from the current Z, as well as an option for a six-speed manual. Nissan dubbed the Skyline as a 'Heartbeat model model for Japan,' although it doesn't necessarily mean that it'll be exclusive to that market. The company needs every sale it can make to bounce back, and making a sedan for just one market doesn't make much financial sense. Again, there's a chance that this car will reach U.S showrooms wearing Infiniti badges, as Nissan said it will be bringing in a 'performance-oriented V6 sedan' in the future. There's no exact launch date just yet, although some photos from the teaser suggest what we saw was something close to production. But with the Skyline name celebrating its 70th anniversary next year, the reveal of the new car might just coincide with its significant birthday. Nissan/Youtube View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

The Xterra Is Back, and This Time, It’s OfficialThe Nissan Xterra has been gone long enough to feel like it belongs to a different era of SUVs. It was boxy, rugged, and didn’t pretend to be anything but utilitarian. When crossovers started taking over, the Xterra quietly slipped out of the US market. Since then, rumors of a comeback have popped up more than once. This time, it’s not just talk. Nissan has officially confirmed the Xterra’s return, ending years of rumors and leaks. The announcement came as part of a bigger product strategy reveal, which also included the next-generation Rogue e-Power and an all-new Juke EV. Nissan also dropped a teaser image. Most of the front end is hidden in shadow, but a few details are clear. There’s a wide, horizontal amber light bar across the nose, similar to what we’ve seen on China’s Frontier Pro plug-in hybrid. The hood is upright and sculpted, hinting at a return to that classic, boxy SUV look. More importantly, there’s a Nissan wordmark stamped right on the nose, which is simply a nice touch if you ask us. Nissan didn’t just stop at a teaser. The Japanese marque shared some early details about the new Xterra, including when it’s set to arrive. A New Ladder-Frame Family is Taking ShapeThe new Xterra isn’t a one-off. Nissan is using it to kick off a bigger push into body-on-frame vehicles, an area it hasn’t talked much about lately. Nissan says the Xterra will be one of five models built on a new ladder-frame platform, all of which will be made in the US. That’s a big shift for the brand, both in how it builds and how it plans its lineup. This new platform will support a small family of rugged vehicles, possibly including pickups and multi-row SUVs for both Nissan and Infiniti. The goal is to rebuild a lineup of tough, truck-based models that can actually compete where durability and off-road ability still count. For the Xterra, that means a real return to its roots. Expect proper off-road gear and the kind of mechanical toughness that made the original stand out. It’s arriving right as more buyers are looking for adventure-ready SUVs, though it could arrive a tad too late, but we’ll see. Nissan Hybrid Power Joins the MixThe platform might be old-school, but the powertrain isn’t stuck in the past. Nissan confirmed the new Xterra will come with a V6 and a hybrid version based on that same setup. This fits with Nissan’s bigger move toward electrification, but without ditching what makes a body-on-frame SUV work. Instead of going all-in on electric, Nissan is mixing familiar performance with better efficiency. The hybrid system should deliver more usable torque and better fuel economy without sacrificing capability. That balance is important for the Xterra’s crowd. People still want to tow, go off-road, and cover long distances – things that can be tough for full EVs. It’s not yet clear whether Nissan is working with Honda on this hybrid setup. Nissan is aiming for a late 2028 launch. That gives them time to round out the rest of the ladder-frame lineup and fine-tune the hybrid system for real-world driving. For now, the teaser and official confirmation are just the beginning. The Xterra is back, and this time Nissan seems to have a much clearer plan for where it fits. Nissan View the 4 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

Sherco Australia has secured an ultra-limited allocation of MY26 EnduroGP Replica models, with only 10 examples of the 300 SE two-stroke and five of the 300 SEF four-stroke due here in August 2026. The post 2026 Sherco EnduroGP Replica models confirmed for Australia appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

Royal Enfield has recorded 1,238,659 motorcycle sales in FY2025-26, marking a second straight million-plus year as the brand continues to expand globally and strengthen its presence in Australia through Urban Moto Imports. The post Royal Enfield global growth continues with 1.24 million annual sales appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

Chris Gabehart attended the NASCAR event over the weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway and Joe Gibbs Racing is adamant that he violated a temporary restraining order in the process. Gabehart is currently embroiled in a lawsuit with Joe Gibbs Racing in which the latter has alleged the former violated the non-compete provisions of their previous work agreement. JGR also says Gabehart participated in ...Keep readingView the full article

After years of injuries, interruptions and inevitable comparisons with younger brother Jett, Hunter Lawrence is delivering the most complete Supercross campaign of his career in 2026. Four wins in 13 rounds and the series lead underline a season built on maturity, patience and composure. The post Hunter Lawrence comes of age in 2026 appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

The 2026 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship gets underway this weekend at 24MX Alestrem, with Manuel Lettenbichler leading a stacked field as he chases a fifth straight world crown. Billy Bolt, Mitch Brightmore, Mario Roman, Wade Young, Matthew Green and Teodor Kabakchiev headline the list of challengers, while Graham Jarvis adds an intriguing electric subplot alongside Toby Martyn and Eddie Karlsson. The post Lettenbichler leads stacked field into 2026 Hard Enduro opener appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

On the latest episode of his Actions Detrimental podcast, Denny Hamlin ponders if the Kyle Busch era of NASCAR is over and actually has been longer than most within the community realize. It’s been three years and 100 races since the two-time Cup Series champion last won at Gateway on June 4, 2023 and it has been a struggle ever since his first half season at Richard Childress Racing. Since ...Keep readingView the full article

Moto News Weekly April 14, 2026 What’s New: HEWC kicks off this weekend American Enduro Kapunda 24 Hour Trial Team Australia entries open for WJMX 2026 Kosciuszko Killer AHEC NZ Junior MX Snowcross World Champs Ice Speedway World Champs Dungog AusEnduro EnduroGP season opener MXGP of Sardegna Nashville AMA Supercross 2026 Racing Calendars Hard Enduro […] The post Moto News Weekly Wrap | MX | Enduro | Juniors | SX | Hard Enduro appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

Audi sales are still declining in the United States after a few disappointing years. The company sold 14% fewer vehicles in 2024 and saw another 16% drop in 2025. Things aren’t looking any better to start 2026, as Audi’s first-quarter sales have finally come in. It moved 29,886 vehicles between January and March this year, a 30% year-over-year decline. According to the Automotive News Research & Data Center, this is the first time in 14 years that Audi failed to sell at least 30,000 cars in one quarter throughout the USA. While the drop in EV sales aligns with industry trends, the poor performance of core SUV models like the Q3, Q5, and Q7 has hit Audi hard this quarter. The brand now finds itself far adrift of rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Audi’s Q1 Sales in Detail Audi Only three Audis sold more last quarter than they did at the same point last year and all are sedans. The brand’s top-selling model was the Q5, with 10,100 units sold, down by 26%. That’s disappointing for an SUV that entered a new generation quite recently, but the Q5 faces stiff competition from the BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC. Here’s a look at Audi’s top 5 best-selling models last quarter. Audi Q5: 10,100 (-26%)Audi A5: 4,372 (+6%)Audi Q3: 4,256 (-20%)Audi Q7: 3,554 (-30%)Audi Q8: 2,285 (-25%)The A5 effectively replaced the A4, so its sales bump is expected. A new Q7 and a ramp up in production for the latest Q3 should also boost those models’ numbers in the months ahead. The Audi A3 (2,273) and A6 (2,026) saw increases of 1% and 9%, respectively, two of only three Audis that managed to increase sales versus Q1 2025. EV sales fell off a cliff, with a more than 90% drop in sales for the Q4 e-tron, Q4 e-tron Sportback, Q6 e-tron, Q8 e-tron, and Q8 Sportback e-tron. Not a single Q8 e-tron was sold over this period, but the Q6 e-tron took the biggest hit on a volume basis, with 309 sold in Q1 2026 to 3,246 a year ago. Related: 2025 Vs. 2026 Audi Q3: Is The New One Worth The Extra Money? Audi Sales Vs. BMW BMW Audi is now well off BMW’s sales figures. Excluding Mini, BMW sold 84,231 vehicles last quarter, nearly three times as many as Audi. Its sales were down by 3.9%, so its performance was a lot steadier than Audi’s drop-off compared to 2025 Q1. There isn’t a single Audi model that outsold its direct BMW rival—here’s a look at sales of the top 5 Audi models relative to the closest BMW. In every segment, BMW significantly outsells Audi, and that includes EVs. BMW only has one electric SUV on sale currently, the iX. It sold 1,788 of those, outselling all six of Audi’s electric SUVs combined (415 units). Those models are the Q4 e-tron, Q4 Sportback e-tron, Q6 e-tron, Q6 Sportback e-tron, Q8 e-tron, and Q8 Sportback e-tron; the Q8s were discontinued last year, so their low sales numbers can be forgiven. Mercedes-Benz didn’t sell as many cars as BMW last quarter, but its total of 78,500 vehicles is far ahead of Audi, too. What It Means Audi Audi didn’t say much about Q1 sales, other than to state that the “results reflect dynamic conditions and headwinds including overall automotive market decline in Q1 and tariffs.” While it's true that the industry has seen an overall sales decline this year, Audi’s 30% drop is still worse than many other brands. The effect of tariffs continues to make life difficult for the automaker, which implemented steep price hikes across its portfolio last year. The company has also had to contend with tough competition from rivals who have factories in the USA, allowing them to better control costs. Audi’s projections for the rest of the year suggest that sales won’t significantly improve, but the brand says it’s optimistic about the arrival of the new Q7 and Q9. Whether these large SUVs can turn the tide for the brand remains to be seen. Related: Audi Warns U.S. Sales Decline Could Get Even Worse in 2026 View the full article

While ARP’s engineering team is constantly developing fastener kits for late model engines like the Chevy LS/LT, Ford Coyote and Chrysler Gen III Hemi plus related aftermarket block/cylinder head combinations, they also step back in time to meet the needs of enthusiasts. Such is the case of ARP’s new head stud kit #151-4002 for 1927-31 Ford 201 c.i.d. Model A 4-cylinder engines. The kit includes 8740 chrome moly studs, parallel ground washers, and forged, hardened, CNC machined and polished stainless steel acorn nuts. ARP also offers five kits for Ford flathead V-8 applications that cover various blocks from 1936-53 with factory or aftermarket cylinder heads. For inline 6-cylinder Ford applications (1965-96) ARP offers head stud kits for both 240 and 300 c.i.d. engines. All studs for vintage applications are manufactured in-house at ARP’s California facilities from premium grade 8740 chrome moly steel that’s nominally rated at 190,000 psi tensile strength and significantly stronger than the OEM hardware. Threads are rolled after heat-treating, which gives them a fatigue strength up to 20-times better. For additional information check out ARP’s new 2026 catalog at www.ARPcatalog.com or call 800-826-3045 for personalized technical assistance. A printed copy of the 180-page catalog is available free upon request. The post Got A Flathead? ARP Expands Coverage Of Vintage Engines! appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

Small tire drag racing has been the hot thing for the past few years, and with all kinds of small tire classes taking over events all over the country for the last few years, it is no wonder the IHRA decided they wanted to jump on the bandwagon as well. Small Tire No Time drag racing has not typically been something you’d see at national event level races, so when IHRA made the announcement it hit really hard with the No Time racing community. Add to that big payouts and it’s no wonder they have been getting some big No Time names to come out for the first events of the year. In the video below we’ve got full Small Tire Bratz coverage from Virginia Motorsports Park, so check it out and let us know what you think in the comments below. Video Description: Full coverage of the small tire Bratz series, IHRA Outlaw Nitro Series from Virginia Motorsports Park the second race of the 2026 IHRA season. Enjoy these small tire cars as they battle tricky conditions to head to the winter circle later in the day. Please make sure you like, share and subscribe. Thanks again for watching. The post Small Tire Bratz Class Outlaw Nitro Series Full Eliminations Video From Virginia Motorsports Park appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

For much of the past decade, Mazda has been the Japanese brand that punched above its weight, offering premium-feeling interiors, driver-focused dynamics, and dependability that kept loyal buyers coming back. Consumer Reports' brand reliability rankings consistently place Lexus, Subaru, and Toyota at the top, and seven years back, Mazda was right up there with them, clinching second spot on the list. Fast forward to 2026, and Mazda has seen the biggest drop in the reliability rankings of all carmakers, falling eight spots from the previous years to land at 14, just ahead of Volvo. The worst part is that the reasons are ones Mazda chose for itself. Mazda View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article New Platforms, New ProblemsMazda’s downward slide traces directly to its ambitious hardware pivot. The CX-70 and CX-90 introduced a new engine, transmission, and platform, along with the brand's first plug-in hybrid models. That is a lot of new engineering and technology hitting the market all at once. Both the conventional and PHEV versions of the CX-70 and CX-90 scored below or well below average for reliability, with the PHEVs continuing to show issues with EV batteries and electric motors. Contrast this with the Mazdas of old, models built on familiar, proven underpinnings with dependable naturally-aspirated engines and torque converter automatics. Cars like the Mazda3 rated above average, and the CX-30 and CX-50 scored average. What Mazda did well, it did by being careful and incremental. When it threw that playbook out, quality suffered. Kyle Edward View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article Doubling Down on Screens While Reliability BurnsJust as owners were reporting problems with Mazda's most complex new vehicles, the company's executives were busy defending that very direction. Mazda has argued in favour of the brand's 26-inch touchscreen in the CX-6e, saying large screens offer more possibilities for displaying information clearly. Meanwhile, Mazda's new interface strategy has been described as a ground-up redesign, citing customer feedback as justification for sweeping physical controls off the dashboard. The irony is sharp. The 2026 CX-5's transition to an all-screen interior is arriving precisely as other automakers are heading in the opposite direction, returning to physical controls. Mazda built its reputation on safety, restraint, and driver focus. The reliability data suggests its customers noticed when that changed, and they are not thrilled about it. View the full article

A Segment Hyundai Can’t IgnoreNot much is known yet about Hyundai’s upcoming midsize pickup, but the model is already drawing attention, given the high demand for trucks in the U.S. In Australia, meanwhile, CarExpert reported that expectations are also high, reflecting just how popular pickups, or “utes,” are there as well. Bill Thomas, Hyundai Australia’s General Manager of Public Relations, told the publication the new pickup is primed to help the brand make a splash in the Land Down Under – a stark contrast to the Kia Tasman, which has seen a more muted reception. “We see a long future for utes in the Australian market, and it is our aim to be highly competitive when we launch,” he said. Adam Lynton/Autoblog Previewing What’s to ComeThomas pointed to the Hyundai Boulder, an SUV concept unveiled at the 2026 New York International Auto Show that shares its ladder-frame platform with the company’s future midsize pickup. He said Hyundai plans to study feedback to better understand how the market might respond to the Boulder’s rugged, boxy design, while also looking for ways to give customers “something they’ve never imagined.” “Judging by the reaction to the Boulder concept, we're confident we're on the right track,” he added. A separate report from The Drive stated that the upcoming truck will feature physical buttons, a move several automakers, including Volkswagen, have also embraced. Olabisi Boyle, Hyundai Motor North America’s senior vice president for product planning and mobility strategy, said buttons will remain essential, especially in work-oriented trucks. Modern technology will still be part of the package, but without sacrificing physical controls. “[The] key things that you have to do repeatedly are going to stay manual knobs. They just are,” she said. Hyundai A Work Truck MindsetAs such, the new Toyota Tacoma-rivaling midsize pickup will likely adopt a tougher, more rugged design that gives it a true workhorse character, unlike the Hyundai Santa Cruz, which was geared more toward urban buyers. With the Santa Cruz reportedly set to be discontinued after underwhelming sales in its battle with the Ford Maverick, the Korean marque would have room to reposition itself in the U.S. truck market. The truck is expected to arrive by 2030 as part of Hyundai’s broader plan to launch 36 new or significantly enhanced models in North America. That strategy also calls for a wider mix of powertrains, including more hybrids and range-extended EVs. By then, the company aims for more than 80 percent of the vehicles it sells in the U.S. to be assembled domestically, supported by a $26 billion investment in U.S. manufacturing. Hyundai View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

At the beginning of the year, the 2027 Mercedes-Benz S-Class was revealed, and it's an elegant combustion-powered machine with brilliant tech. While an all-electric S-Class is eventually coming to replace the egg-shaped EV that failed to capture the hearts of buyers, Mercedes is keeping the EQS name alive for the time being, and for 2027, it's even more technologically advanced than ever. Sadly, it's also weirder than ever, gaining a yoke that looks like an afterthought in the midst of the Hyperscreen's cluster and the binnacle it sits behind. The styling of the whole car also remains odd, and perhaps more so than before. Both of these complaints are the result of using existing bodywork and interior bits, but don't let these problems put you off because this is a more impressive EV than before. We'll get to that momentarily, but first, we can't ignore the design. 2027 Mercedes-Benz EQS Looks Odd Mercedes-Benz Sadly, while the stylists have tried to make the EQS seem more like a traditional Merc from a cosmetics standpoint, they haven't tried very hard. Where the first EQS had a fake grille leading from its headlights into the area above the lower intake, the latest one has arguably made the luxury EV look worse and less resolved, with the fake grille appearing as if it were stuck on at the last moment. And the star atop the hood is illuminated. The jury is still out on whether this looks tacky or not, but when BMW uses so-called "Iconic Glow" outlines to define fake grilles, the decision to make the star light up was always going to be made. An AMG Line version is optional, deleting the chrome slats and adding a large center star. Mercedes-Benz The "DIGITAL LIGHT" headlights (with more illumination and efficiency than before and the introduction of the partial high beam function for the first time for U.S.-spec EQS EVs) have gained three-pointed star-shaped daytime running lights to make them look more like other new Mercs, but the taillights have not. The DRLs here are squiggles as before, but now the squiggles extend deeper into the middle taillight bar, making them look more like a handwritten signature. Fake vents lower down and a finned false diffuser further below are more pronounced, but overall, only the most obsessive will be able to tell the difference between this 2027 EQS and its predecessor. However, there are plenty of new elements elsewhere. 2027 Mercedes EQS Goes Much Further Than Before Mercedes-Benz On the WLTP cycle (which is more forgiving than the EPA testing here in America), the old EQS 580 could do up to 770 kilometers on a charge, or a little more than 478 miles, but with a new 800-volt architecture that includes a larger battery with improved cell chemistry (including less cobalt), the EQS 450+ manages a remarkable 925 km, or roughly 575 miles. When it's time to replenish the battery, DC fast charging at up to 350 kW provides 320 km/199 miles of range in as little as 10 minutes by effectively charging two halves of the battery at once. The EQS also has new drive units developed by Mercedes' own engineers, with a two-speed transmission (first gear for accelerating from rest, second gear with a single planetary gear set for efficient driving) on the main drive unit at the rear axle, and when coasting, the EV can manage up to 385 kW of recuperation. Related: Mercedes-AMG and Mercedes-Maybach SL Roadsters Spied with Fresh New Looks The 2027 EQS should be more comfortable than before. A Rolls-Royce scans the road ahead to prepare the suspension for bumps, and the new EQS does something similar, but using patent-pending tech to harness anonymized cloud-based data from other MB vehicles for predictive damper regulation. The fanciest electric Merc still has plenty of sensors to keep occupants safe—10 external cameras, five radar sensors, and 12 ultrasonic sensors for a total of 27 sensors—and with a top speed of 130 mph, it'll cross continents quickly. Innovative Steering for 2027 EQS, Still Plenty of Screens Mercedes-Benz For the first time on a series production German car, the 2027 EQS is available with steer-by-wire, something made famous by the Tesla Cybertruck and the Lexus RZ. This will require less input at low speeds than conventional systems and, in combination with standard rear-axle steering, three-pointed turns will be almost effortless for the three-pointed star, and automatic parking (and leaving of a parking space) is possible. The car can also reverse along a previously traveled route, which the driver can watch through the reverse camera. To ensure this steering system is safe, Mercedes' system has redundant architecture, allowing the car to still be directed even if one system fails. Because of steer-by-wire, the new yoke makes more sense, but given the shape of the dashboard, this input device looks a little out of place. Speaking of the dash, the 55-inch setup (12.3-inch driver display, 17.7-inch center screen, 12.3-inch passenger display) is said to be more intuitive to use and, with the Mercedes-Benz Operating System, AI from multiple agents is at the tip of your finger or a voice command away. Various customizable themes are possible, of course, and the car can stream video from Disney+, YouTube, Sony RIDEVU, and other platforms. Another neat addition is that of heated seatbelts, first seen with the Experimental Safety Vehicle 2019 concept, while the rear belts get soft beltbags to reduce the chance of injury from the restraints during a major front-end collision. The rear occupants also get their own screens, with a pair of 13.1-inch displays and configurable remote controls, and thanks to integrated HD cameras, these can be used for video calls. A 15-speaker Burmester audio setup with 710 watts of power and Dolby Atmos provides a rich listening experience. Mercedes-Benz Pricing is yet to be announced, but when the new EQS reaches dealers in the second half of this year, the MANUFAKTUR Made to Measure program will allow almost endless customization, while those who'd rather choose from a menu can take advantage of the new Black Sparkling paint finish with glass flakes or the new Verde Silver Magno, a matte green. Inside, Natural Grain Poplar Wood in black is a new option, and the door panels get decorative stitching with the Exclusive Nappa Leather Package. So while this may not look like a traditional S-Class, it'll be as close as any EV could hope. Mercedes-Benz View the full article

Have you ever heard that clicking sound after you get out of your car and thought, “Is it going to blow up?”, as your anxiety sets in. What happened while you were driving is that the extreme temperatures in and around your drivetrain caused various metal components to expand, and now that you’ve turned the car off, these parts begin to lose heat and cool down rapidly. As they shrink, these components rub against each other, and against other metal components such as bolts and brackets, and these micro-frictional impacts are what you hear as those clicking sounds - typical culprits being heat shields and exhaust components. It's simply different metals contracting at different rates, and not mechanical failure. When to Worry?It is crucial to note that we are discussing the clicking noise you hear after you turn off the vehicle, and not while it is still running. If you hear a clicking noise while the motor is still running, or if you experience changes in performance along with a noise you don’t recognize, this would be cause for concern. I Do Cars/YouTube In recent reports, General Motors’ 2.0L, 2.5L, and 2.7L engines have experienced “ticking” noises caused by manufacturing debris in the hydraulic valve adjusters. Unlike the clicking we described in the introduction, this could lead to complete engine failure. Another situation that might warrant attention would be if this ticking noise was accompanied by the smell of coolant or oil, or if you saw visual evidence of a fluid leak. In this case, it would be wise to visit a professional for their opinion. Preventive maintenance can save you thousands in the long run, and so it is important to identify new sounds, sights, and smells whenever possible, and to investigate those that you cannot explain. Modern tools leave little to the imagination when it comes to diagnosing potential issues. Ford No Reason to Worry Then?When you hear that ticking sound next, remember this is the sound your car makes after it has been turned off; there is no reason to worry. It is your car’s way of unwinding after a workout. Unless the noise is accompanied by other issues or occurs while your car is still running, this is simply physics at work. View the full article

(Words By Darr Hawthorne) • Drag racing, and motorsports in general, has never been an easy sell. It wasn’t in 1965, it wasn’t in 1985, and it sure isn’t now. Somewhere along the way, we all started pretending it should be. Here’s the reality: nobody wakes up on a Saturday morning automatically deciding to go to the dragstrip anymore. Families have options, endless options. Youth sports, concerts, beach and lake days, streaming services, backyard barbecues. If you’re not already in their head before the weekend hits, you’re not even in the conversation. That’s the part too many “motorsports executives” miss. You don’t just open the gates and hope a crowd shows up. You pre-sell the audience. And no, that doesn’t happen with a slick TV Ad campaign, YouTube livestream or a well-produced TV show. Don’t get it twisted, streaming has its place. It serves the hardcore fans, the racers, the already-converted. But it doesn’t create new spectators. It doesn’t convince a family of four to pile into the SUV and go spend money at the track. That takes something else entirely. It takes boots on the ground. It’s not glamorous. It’s not scalable. It doesn’t come with analytics dashboards or quarterly reports. But it works, and it always has. You want people in the stands? Then you go where people actually are. You hit the local car shows with stacks of flyers and a limited amount of single-day, two-for-one ticket deals. You walk into auto parts stores, fast food joints, liquor stores, even the places some folks don’t like to mention. You make sure your event is seen. You connect with local museums, vocational schools and what’s left of High School and Community College auto shop programs, because those kids aren’t just future fans—they’re future racers. You get the local TV weatherman strapped into a nitro car during the 5 and 6 o’clock news and light the thing off. Is it a little goofy? Sure. Does it work? Absolutely. Because now people are talking. That’s how you build awareness! Not with perfectly curated social media posts, but with repetition, presence, and a little bit of noise. It’s grassroots. It’s messy. It’s effective. And here’s the part that might sting: drag racing isn’t Formula 1. It isn’t NASCAR. It isn’t IndyCar. It never has been, and it never will be. There’s this assumption floating around that drag racing’s biggest problem is awareness. It’s not. People know what drag racing is. The problem is access, and more importantly, friction. Let me give you a real-world example. The second drag strip I ever set foot on was Pomona, now In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip. I absolutely love that place. It’s hallowed ground. But for years, getting there as a casual or rabid fan meant loading up the car, sitting in LA traffic, burning gas, paying exorbitant Fairplex parking fees, and committing to a full-day logistical exercise before you even smelled nitro. That’s a barrier. A big one. But something changed last September that nobody in the sport is talking about: the MetroLink stop at the La Verne/Fairplex Station. There’s a proposed pedestrian bridge from the new station into the dragstrip parking lot. Think about what that actually means. Now a dad and his kid can hop on a train, step off a platform, cross at the stoplight, and walk straight into the drags. No gas. No parking fees. No nonsense. Just buy a ticket and go in. That’s not theoretical, that’s a turnkey, walk-up audience. And here’s where the sport needs to wake up. Why not lean into it? Why not create a simple, no-brainer family pass? Fifty bucks gets a family through the gate for a day at the drags. No overthinking it. No convoluted ticket tiers. Just an easy “yes” come on in. They can walk over to the Westside grandstands, the ones currently hidden behind giant sponsor tarps, and sit down to watch 330-mph cars try to rearrange the laws of physics. Maybe they skip the pits this first time. Maybe they don’t. Give them the option to upgrade if they want the full sensory overload. Either way, they’re in the building. And once they’re there? The rest takes care of itself. They’ll hear it. Feel it. That chest-thumping, ground-shaking violence that no TV broadcast has ever successfully captured. The kid’s eyes go wide. The dad grins like he’s 12 again. Maybe they grab a wildly overpriced event shirt, a toy, an In-N-Out Burger or churro, because of course they do, but that’s not the point. The point is they’ve been exposed. That’s how this works. Not with million-dollar ad campaigns or gimmicks—but by removing friction and letting the product do what it’s always done best. You don’t need to sell drag racing once people are standing at the fence. You just need to make it stupid simple for them to get there. Trying to package it like other series misses the entire point of what makes drag racing special in the first place. This sport was built at the local level, by local people, for local crowds. Take that away, and what are you left with? An expensive TV show… or worse, an amateur video feed with no audience behind it, and neither one fills grandstands. The truth is, you can have the best cars, the biggest names, and the slickest broadcast in the world, but if the seats are empty, the whole thing feels hollow. Because empty seats don’t buy tickets. They don’t buy trackside In-N-Out Burgers. They don’t buy beer. And they definitely don’t come back next time. Building a crowd isn’t about job titles or marketing degrees. It’s not something you can outsource to a “VP of Promotion” and check off a list. It’s more like politics than people want to admit. It’s handshakes. It’s conversations. It’s showing up, over and over again, until people know who you are and what you’re bringing to town. And you pray for great weather! It takes work. The kind of work that doesn’t scale neatly, doesn’t trend online, and doesn’t look impressive in a boardroom. But fills seats. And at the end of the day, that’s the only metric that really matters. Famed drag racing promoter Bill Doner used to say, “The empty seat doesn’t buy a hot dog”. Because an empty seat doesn’t buy a damn thing. The post Boots On The Ground: How To Actually Fill A Dragstrip In 2026 appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

The Era Of ExcessMost people will argue that the '80s were the true era of excess, especially in the automotive scene, but the '90s pushed things even further. The true birth of the hypercar class can be traced back to the '90s, with the top-speed science project McLaren F1, the Jaguar XJ220, and the elusive but infamous Bugatti EB110. The latter, for all intents and purposes, reignited the Bugatti brand and set it on the path we know it for today. Back then, though, Bugatti wasn't yet funded by the mighty VW; in fact, it went bust. A rare EB110, thought to have been lost amid the drama surrounding the bankruptcy, has emerged and is up for sale. Mecum View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article Saved By The BellAs mentioned, Bugatti was revived in the '90s in Italy but soon encountered issues, leading to the 1995 filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. In the process, several chassis currently under construction were either lost or quietly finished and sold off. Which is why any 1995 EB110 Super Sport is worth a lot of money; the mystique and rarity build its value among collectors. Listed on Mecum Auctions is a particularly interesting 1995 EB110 Super Sport. Chassis 39021 was thought to have been lost and to have disappeared during the transitional period after the brand closed in the '90s. Officially produced in 1994, this car was used as a demonstration and training model for suppliers, marking it as a special model compared to the standard cars made for customers. What makes this story even more interesting is that when the factory was padlocked, chassis 39021 wasn't in it. The car was with a supplier, undergoing some testing. As the company's assets were being counted after the bankruptcy declaration, this particular car was forgotten and ultimately lost to time until now. Its return from the dead is considered a miracle for enthusiasts, adding it to the very exclusive list of just 30 Super Sports ever built. It has since been restored by B Engineering, headed by former Bugatti engineers. Despite its role for suppliers, this EB110 has only 413 miles of use. Mecum View the 4 images of this gallery on the original article A True Collector's ItemThe 90's EB110 Super Sport is considered one of the best of that era of high-performance cars. It featured one of the first dedicated all-wheel-drive systems for that class, and was powered by a mighty quad-turbo V12 making 603 hp. So good was the EB110 that Michael Schumacher bought one in yellow. In Super Sport guise, the EB110 is even more coveted, as reflected by auction prices of previous sales. On average, an EB110 Super Sport sells for between $2.5 million and $3.5 million. Chassis 39021 might just fetch more money with a story unlike any other and deserves a spot in any collection. Mecum View the full article

A couple of weeks ago we shared the video of Derek picking up this machine and getting it ready to drive 850 miles home. Seemed like a pretty stout trip in an unknown RV, but that was nothing when compared to the 3,000 miles planned for this trip here. I mean this is 7 states of fun, which means this bad boy needs to be ready to drive, camp, cook, and more. Will this vintage big block powered RV make it around the country? I don’t see why not! Many just like it drove millions of combined miles all over North America back in the day, hauling families and friends all over for vacations. Let’s see what Derek and Bentley got up to on this father son adventure. CLICK HERE IF YOU MISSED DEREK’S ADVENTURES GETTING THIS RV HOME Video Description: It’s our annual father & son trip. This year Bentley and I are going to attempt to fish in 7 states, which would get us over 3,000 miles in total. This episode is chock-full of travel, americana, antiques, museums, fishing, cooking, and more! The post Vice Grip Garage Annual Father Son Trip! ATTEMPTING 3,000 Miles In A VINTAGE BIG BLOCK RV! Cooking, Fishing, Museums and more! appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

Tony Stewart and the R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster team rallied to the first nitro victory for Elite Motorsports Sunday at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals at In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip. It was Stewart’s third career Top Fuel victoyr and his first at Pomona Dragstrip. After multiple delays due to weather and on-track incidents, Stewart faced-off with Top Fuel rising star Justin Ashley in the finals under the lights at the historic facility. Ashley, known for his stout reaction times, left the starting line first but the R+L Carriers machine chased him down by the 60-foot marker and never trailed. Stewart reached the finish line in 3.683-seconds at 332.51 mph to defeat Ashley’s 3.714 at 328.54. “I literally told Richard Freeman (Elite Motorsports team owner) and Royce Freeman (Richard’s brother) on Friday, ‘I know I’m relatively new to drag racing, but I’ve been racing for 47 years, I’ve been a part of a lot of different programs and worked with a lot of different people. But I promise you, all the ingredients are here to win. I don’t know when it’s going to click and when it’s all going to come together, but all the stuff that you need to be successful is right here.’ I had no idea just 48 hours later that it was going to come together,” Stewart said. “We had a great day and I felt great on the racetrack. I felt great on the lights. They made big adjustments for the final to run a 3.68. [Crew chief] Mike Green’s track record speaks for itself, and so does Joe Barlam. For me to race with those guys and and to race with a different program, it’s definitely a unique and different dynamic than what I’m used to. But it’s awesome to race with Mike Green and Joe and Dustin Davis.” “This is three Top Fuel wins now for me, and the one person I’ve never mentioned in the media and in the interviews is my wife Leah [Pruett]. And if it wasn’t for her and everything that she and Matt [Hagan] (Funny Car driver) taught me. Leah has probably been 95% of it, people don’t realize how integral of a part she’s been in my career in drag racing. I’ve had a 1000 questions and every time there’s an answer, it leads to three more questions. Everything that I’ve done in the sport has been because of her. And to be a part of NHRA’s 75th Anniversary, to win with Matt Hagan in the 1000th Funny Car race is huge. This is Leah’s home track. All of this just feels extra special to me,” continued Stewart who won alongside his Tony Stewart Racing Funny Car driven by Matt Hagan. “Leah’s story of telling me that when she was a kid, she’d sneak out of school just to come to the drag races on Friday here at Pomona. When she won here, just to be here for an event and a track that’s so special means everything. Now I’m here sitting holding a ‘Wally’ trophy, in NHRA’s 75th Anniversary, just super special. It’s awesome.” En route to the finals, Stewart and the R+L team took down Will Smith, 2026 Gatornationals winner Josh Hart and former world champion Shawn Langdon. Elite Motorsports continues the 2026 Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series season with the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway just outside of Charlotte April 24-26. This story was originally published on April 13, 2026. The post Tony Stewart, R+L Carriers Team Get Elite Motorsports’ First Top Fuel Win at NHRA Winternationals first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

There are tons of historic spots around Southern California that impacted hot rodding, racing, and custom car building over the last 80 years or so, but no matter how many you can think of there are hundreds more. I was going to say dozens, but that just won’t cover it. Not by a lot. Having been fortunate enough to see many of them with David over the years, and having heard the history from so many during my time living there, I can tell you that they are nearly everywhere you look. Los Angeles, and the surrounding areas are a hot bed at a level you just can’t understand without spending a lot of time there. I know you’ve heard me say it before, but this time let’s watch Freiburger cruise around SoCal to see some of his favorite historic hot rod spots in and around Los Angeles. Video Description: In this video, find out about pioneering hot rodders and speed shops, the heyday of tire manufacturing in Los Angeles, winning Indy cars built in SoCal, the history of Vic Edelbrock, and much more! I love then-and-now images and I live for hot rod history, plus I’m a Los Angeles native—so this video mixes all those things together with a driving tour of historic automotive locations in and around Los Angeles! The post Freiburger Takes Us On A DRIVING TOUR of HISTORIC HOT ROD SPOTS Around Los Angeles! Too Many To Count! appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

Racers in the Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series professional, sportsman, and Jr. Dragster categories will have the opportunity to compete for two race wins in one event this weekend at the Summit Racing Equipment East Coast Nationals presented by FuelTech. Held at Darana Motorsports Park in Benson, N.C., April 16-18, the second of seven races on the 2026 PDRA schedule will see the series complete eliminations from its season-opening KTR Drag Racing Carolina Nationals presented by Pee Dee Fleet on Thursday before rolling into Friday qualifying and Saturday eliminations. The pro classes completed two rounds of eliminations at the Carolina Nationals at Darlington Dragway before numerous delays and cold track temperatures led series officials to postpone the rest of the event to the East Coast Nationals. The two-in-one aspect creates an action-packed schedule for racers and fans attending the race at Darana Motorsports Park, formerly known as GALOT Motorsports Park. “This is a staple track on the PDRA schedule and it’s not the first time we’ve contested two races in one weekend here,” said Tyler Crossnoe, series director, PDRA. “This track has a rich history in this area and it’s become one of the nicest eighth-mile dragstrips in the world. It’s going to be a busy weekend, no doubt. Whether fans are sitting in the stands or tuned in on FloRacing, they’re going to see nonstop racing action from the time they tune in on Thursday until event champions are crowned on Saturday night.” Fans can watch Thursday’s completion of the Carolina Nationals for free on FloRacing 24/7, which is available on Amazon Prime Video, Fubo TV, and YouTube. The FloRacing 24/7 broadcast will begin Thursday at noon ET and will run live through the end of the day. FloRacing subscribers can continue watching the race on Friday and Saturday. In Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous presented by Jerry Bickel Race Cars, reigning world champion and home track hero Marcus Butner will square off against “Mountain Man” Mike Achenbach on one side of the semifinal ladder. Fredy Scriba, the 2024 world champion, will meet up with three-time world champion and Darlington No. 1 qualifier Tommy Franklin in the other matchup. The reigning world champion in WS Construction Pro Boost presented by P2 Contracting and Ty-Drive, Ty Tutterow, is also still in Carolina Nationals competition. He was set to face Lyle Barnett, who’s announced he won’t make it to the East Coast Nationals due to a schedule conflict. After his semifinal bye run, Tutterow take on the winner of the other semifinal match between Johnny Camp and multi-time East Coast Nationals winner Melanie Salemi. Liberty’s Gears Pro Street presented by KTR Drag Racing No. 1 qualifier Jerry Morgano will take on young gun Blake Denton in a turbo vs. nitrous semifinal match. Retired NFL superstar Fletcher Cox will face another young gun in the class, Joel Wensley Jr., on the other side of the ladder. Another Darlington low qualifier, J.C. Beattie Jr., remains in competition in PDRA Pro 632 presented by Mark Williams Enterprises. He’ll line up against two-time and reigning world champion Jeff Melnick. The winner of that race will advance to the final round to face Melnick’s teammate, Jeff Pittman, who has a bye to the final. The two most recent world champions in 1320 Fabrication Super Street presented by Brian’s Heating & Cooling, Connor McGee and Dan Whetstine, could face off in the Carolina Nationals final round. McGee, the reigning world champ, will need to defeat championship challenger Austin Vincent, while Whetstine, the 2024 champ, must take down Darlington No. 1 qualifier Matt Schalow. There are multiple rounds of racing left to finish in the PDRA’s sportsman ranks: MagnaFuel Elite Top Sportsman presented by PAR Racing Engines, Greenbrier Excavating & Paving Elite Top Dragster presented by American Race Cars, MagnaFuel Top Sportsman, and ATI Performance Products Top Dragster presented by TBM Brakes. The East Coast Nationals will also include Edelbrock Bracket Bash presented by Philadelphia Racing Products, giving the area’s bracket racers a stage to compete. The future stars of the sport will compete in the East Coast Nationals in the PDRA’s Jr. Dragster ranks, Pro Jr. Dragster and Classic Graphix Top Jr. Dragster. Thursday testing will begin at 9 a.m., allowing racers a chance to hit the track before Carolina Nationals eliminations continue. The pro semifinals are scheduled to run at 2 p.m. followed by the finals at 4:45. Top Sportsman and Top Dragster will begin qualifying for the East Coast Nationals at 6 p.m. Pro qualifying sessions are set for Friday at noon, 4 p.m., and 8 p.m. On Saturday, pre-race ceremonies and pro eliminations will kick off at noon. Tickets are available for $20 on Thursday, $25 on Friday, and $30 on Saturday. Discounted Junior and Kids tickets are also available, while kids 5 and under get in free. Purchase tickets at www.PDRA660.com or at the gate. PDRA fans around the world can catch all the action live on the official event live stream through www.FloRacing.com. This story was originally published on April 13, 2026. The post PDRA Rolling Into North Carolina For Two-For-One Weekend at East Coast Nationals first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Matt Hagan and the Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car team capped off the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip with Hagan’s 56th career victory, not only taking home an NHRA 75th Anniversary Wally but the 1,000th NHRA Funny Car event trophy. Hagan took down three-time Funny Car world champion and most recent NHRA event winner Ron Capps in the final round. Hagan handled the JHG Dodge Hellcat to a 3.876-second pass at 330.39 mph to defeat Capps’ 3.893 at 334.32. It is Hagan’s eighth overall victory at In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip, fourth at the NHRA Winternationals. “I’m trying to catch Capps on overall wins [Ron Capps has 78 career victories]. But he has 20 years of racing on me,” Hagan said. “One thing about Ron is he’s just a great driver. He took me under his wing when I was first out here,and we got into all kinds of trouble together too. So, when we race each other, even back in the DSR days, we really throw it down, especially in the final round. Pomona Dragstrip has shown me so much love over the years. It’s a magical place, because champions are crowned hereat the end of the year. There’s just so many great memories made here. It felt like the championship, because the lights were on just like the World Finals in the fall. When you pull up to the starting your adrenaline’s going, and you’re trying to control your breathing. I was too pumped up in the final, and I almost double stepped the car up there off the line. “It was just our day. I was telling [team owner] Tony [Stewart] that sometimes you wake up and you’re just like, ‘All right, today’s good. Like, I can tie my shoes today. It’s going to be a good day.’ But to win with Bossman (Tony won in Top Fuel) and double up is special and Leah [Pruett] was No. 1 qualifier and we won the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday. Plus having the JHGfolks here, the only thing we didn’t leave with was the change under the bleachers. So, it’s been a great weekend,” Hagan continued. “History was made here with the 1,000thFunny Car race. That is super, super special. And I’m just very, very blessed to be a part of that. It just hasn’t really set in yet. To drive for Tony, be a teammate to Leah, to have this group of people. We’ve surrounded ourselves with great people from the media folks down to the guy that puts the oil in the car. We’ve been blessed to have an elite group of folks here. It’s a family within a family. I’m proud to be a part of it and we’re gonna hopefully do a lot more of this in the future.” Hagan started the day as the No. 4 qualifier defeating 2025 Rookie of the Year Spencer Hyde and en route to the finals also picked off Jason Rupert and JR Todd. In Top Fuel, Leah Pruett and the Rinnai Tankless Water Heater team earned a bye first round with their No. 1 qualifying position and had a solid 3.703-second pass at 334.73 mph with a .064 reaction time that came up short on a holeshot by .0222-seconds to Justin Ashley’s .025 reaction time and 3.720 pass at 336.07. “Overall, a phenomenal weekend. Starting with the very first day. Having a provisional No. 1 spot, and I think the entire paddock was thinking that won’t hold, everybody should go quicker and move around that,” Pruett said. “Everyone had the same challenges throughout the weekend. And for that 3.72 to hold, really maximized the value of what this Pomona race was. Not only did we get the points that go with being No. 1 qualifier, but you get that bye run in the first round and then the opportunity to dial in the car. We took every opportunity there. Pushed hard. And it was a little too much, and that’s okay. We were able to properly prepare for our second round against Justin Ashley who keeps doing what they do. “This entire Top Fuel field is insane. Cars are running within a couple hundredths of each other,” Pruett continued. “In eliminations, drivers are just diving those reaction times down, and it would be incorrect for me to say that it hasn’t taken me a couple races to get to where I’m at. And that’s okay. I knew that I wasn’t gonna give up. We had a lot of momentum in Phoenix. We continued that momentum here and just because we didn’t get past the second round does not mean that momentum has stopped in any way. Actually, I feel like, coming out of E2, on all fronts, pushes us right to where we want to be for Charlotte in a few weeks.” Tony Stewart Racing continues the 2026 Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series season with the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway just outside of Charlotte April 24-26. The post Matt Hagan Wins NHRA’s 1,000th Funny Car Race; Leah Pruett Advances to Quarterfinals first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Bubba Stanton put three runs on the board in eliminations at Virginia Motorsports Park that looked like they came off a bracket car: 3.514, 3.515, 3.501. The last one was not only the quickest Outlaw Pro Mod pass of the weekend, but also in IHRA Outlaw Pro Mod history, and delivered the Potts Camp, Mississippi, veteran his first Ironman trophy of the 2026 season at the second stop on the IHRA Outlaw Nitro Series tour. “I’m very happy with the car,” said Stanton, who defeated Hank Stubbs in the final round. “The car has been flawless all weekend. This is the second race out with it, and it took me a little bit to get it worked out, but now we’ve got the car worked out, it just wants more.” The car is a new Quarter-Max Racing-built fifth-generation Camaro with a screw-blown Hemi, unveiled at PRI late last year and still being dialed in on race weekends. Two races in, it’s already in the winner’s circle. Stanton qualified third in the 14-car field with a 3.531 at 217.98, then survived a wild opening round – he went red but advanced when Chevy Reeves broke – before settling into the kind of consistency that has defined his career. He drove past Frankie Taylor with a 3.514 in the second round, then edged Randy Weatherford with a 3.515 in the semifinals before uncorking the 3.501 at 219.08 in the final. Stubbs, who had been solid all weekend from the No. 5 qualifying spot, went red by nearly a quarter-second in the final, ending his bid to become the first repeat Outlaw Pro Mod winner this season. Stanton instead became the fifth different winner in five races in the category. “We’re just going to keep getting after it,” Stanton said. “You just can’t take chances in the finals. You’ve got to do what you think you can do and get down the racetrack. We’re here to win, not to set records.” But when you’re running 3.514, 3.515, and 3.501 in consecutive rounds, both tend to happen at the same time. For a two-time Pro Extreme world champion – 2006 in the ADRL and 2014 in the PDRA – Stanton’s weekend was a reminder that the Mississippi native hasn’t lost a step, even as the competition around him continues to grow. The IHRA Outlaw Nitro Series heads to Capital City Motorsports Park in Montgomery, Alabama, May 7-9 for the third event of the 2026 season. The post Bubba Stanton Sets IHRA Outlaw Pro Mod ET Record, Rolls to Win at Virginia Motorsports Park first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article