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If you need to cross the Sierra this weekend, today is your last realistic window. The National Weather Service has a Winter Storm Warning active for Mono County and the Donner Pass area, with watches across the Northern Sierra, and what is heading for the mountains starting Friday evening is not a routine spring snow event. Two Pacific systems are stacking back-to-back. The second is stronger. Snow totals above 7,000 feet could reach 28 inches near Lake Tahoe and up to four feet on the highest peaks. Wind gusts along the Sierra crest are forecast at 70 to 80 mph. The NWS says travel "could be very difficult to impossible." I-80 over Donner Pass, Highway 50 to Lake Tahoe and Highway 395 along the eastern Sierra are all in the direct path. Chain controls are virtually guaranteed. Full closures are on the table, and I-80 already shut down for 60 miles during a similar system in February. If you do not need to be on the other side of the mountains before Monday, do not go. The StormA lead upper low moves ashore Friday night. A stronger, more compact closed low follows Saturday night into Sunday. Together they will push moisture anomalies in the 90th to 95th percentile into the Sierra, and the slow movement of the upper low means the snow keeps falling for roughly 48 hours. The critical detail for drivers is the snow level. It starts above 9,000 feet on Friday, which means the passes initially get rain. Then it drops. By Saturday evening snow levels fall to 6,000 to 7,000 feet. By late Saturday into Sunday morning they crash to 4,000 to 4,500 feet. That means snow at the level of foothill communities and heavy accumulation at every pass in the Sierra. People who drove over Donner in sunshine on Thursday will not recognise the road by Saturday night. The heaviest period is forecast from late Saturday morning through midday Sunday. Zone ForecastsMono County (NWS Reno, Winter Storm Warning): 2 to 6 inches west of Highway 395. 6 to 12 inches above 8,000 feet. Up to 24 inches along the Sierra crest. Winds gusting 70 to 80 mph on the crest, up to 40 mph along 395. Friday evening through Sunday evening. Lake Tahoe area (NWS Reno): 6 to 10 inches around the lake and up to 7,000 feet. 12 to 28 inches above 7,000 feet and along Sierra passes. Northern Sierra / Western Plumas County (NWS Sacramento, Winter Storm Watch): 1 to 2 feet above 4,500 feet. 3 to 4 feet on the highest peaks. Light accumulations of 2 to 4 inches possible as low as 4,000 feet. Winds up to 45 mph. Heaviest snow late Saturday morning through midday Sunday. NWS The HighwaysI-80 overDonner Pass (roughly 7,000 feet). The primary east-west corridor across the Northern Sierra. With 12 to 28 inches forecast at pass elevation and winds gusting above 45 mph, chain controls will be in effect at minimum. In February a similar system shut down a 60-mile stretch of I-80 and stranded hundreds of drivers for hours. Expect chain controls beginning Saturday with possible closure Saturday night through Sunday. Highway 50 to South Lake Tahoe. Echo Summit sits at 7,382 feet, squarely in the heavy snow zone. Highway 50 has the same closure risk as I-80 and fewer plowing resources. When both routes close simultaneously there is no realistic alternative across the central Sierra. That happened in February too. Highway 395 (Eastern Sierra). The Warning specifically names 395 with gusts to 40 mph and 2 to 6 inches of snow. Higher terrain west of 395 faces 6 to 12 inches, which makes side roads to Mammoth Mountain and June Mountain treacherous.Highway 88 through Carson Pass (8,574 feet) and Highway 89. Both exposed to heavy snow and high winds with limited plowing resources. These are typically among the first routes to close and the last to reopen, and nobody should be counting on them this weekend. US NWS When To DriveFriday daytime (today). Your last safe window. Snow levels remain above pass level through Friday afternoon. If you need to be on the other side this weekend, go now. Friday evening. Storm arrives. Rain transitions to snow at higher elevations. Chain controls begin. Saturday. Conditions deteriorate through the day. Snow levels drop, winds increase, and by evening you are looking at heavy snow above 6,000 to 7,000 feet. Not a good day to be on a mountain highway if you have a choice. Saturday night through Sunday morning. The worst window. Snow levels crash to 4,000 to 4,500 feet. The stronger second system arrives. Crest winds hit 70 to 80 mph. Pass-level gusts reach 40 to 45 mph. Visibility could go to near zero. This is when closures are most likely. Sunday afternoon onward. Storm weakens. But do not assume roads reopen quickly. Clearing 1 to 2 feet of snow off a mountain highway takes hours even after the snow stops. Why This Storm Is DifferentThe Sierra gets spring snow. That is not news. What makes this one worth paying attention to is the wind. 70 to 80 mph on the crest is not a spring number. Those speeds create whiteout conditions, knock down trees and power lines, and make high-profile vehicles undrivable on exposed passes. On top of that, the snow level drop is unusually large. Starting above 9,000 feet and falling to 4,000 means communities that normally get rain from this kind of system will get snow instead, and the passes go from wet to buried in a matter of hours. And because two systems are stacking back-to-back, road crews will be working for roughly 48 hours straight with no real break between rounds. That is a lot to ask of plows that are already running on a lean-snowpack winter budget. This comes after a winter with well-below-average snowpack across the Sierra. March 2026 was California's warmest and driest on record, which forced early closures at several ski resorts. The storm will help the snowpack numbers, but nobody who has to drive over the mountains this weekend is going to be thinking about water supply. What To CarryCaltrans will require chains on most vehicles above 4,000 to 5,000 feet. AWD and 4WD with snow tyres may still need chains. Bring tyre chains and practice putting them on before you need to, a blanket or sleeping bag, flashlight, portable phone charger, water, food, a folding shovel, cat litter or sand for traction, and a full tank of fuel before entering the mountains. If you get stranded, stay with your vehicle. Run the engine for heat in 15-minute intervals, crack a window for ventilation and wait for road crews. Photo by John Normile on Getty Images Road ConditionsCheck Caltrans for current highway conditions, live traffic cameras and chain controls. NWS Sacramento and NWS Reno forecast pages are linked in the zone forecasts above. View the full article

Jerry Bickel Race Cars is doing something that should surprise absolutely no one who’s been paying attention to how Rick Hord runs this operation: they’re making life easier for racers. Ahead of the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte April 24-26, JBRC is offering free shipping and direct pit delivery for any parts ordered by Thursday, April 16. That means you call Jerry Bickel Race Cars, place your order, and your parts show up at zMAX – no additional shipping costs, no hassle. That’s the kind of service that separates a parts supplier from a partner. “We’re not just selling parts, we’re supporting racers,” said Hord, owner of Jerry Bickel Race Cars. “If you’re heading to Charlotte, we want to make it as easy as possible to have what you need when you get there. Order it, and we’ll bring it to you.” The offer applies to the full JBRC catalog: chassis components, suspension parts, a wide range of products from the top brands in drag racing, and anything else in the Jerry Bickel Race Cars lineup. Whether you’re prepping for NHRA Pro Mod competition, making last-minute changes, or stocking up on spares for the season ahead, this is the window. “As a racer and a race team owner, I understand what it takes to show up at the track ready to compete,” Hord added. “My family has been doing this for three generations. We know the hustle. We know what it costs – not just money, but time and energy. If we can take one thing off a racer’s plate and save them a few bucks in the process, that’s what we’re going to do. That’s how we’d want to be treated, and that’s how we run Jerry Bickel Race Cars.” The NHRA 4-Wide Nationals marks a major early-season stop on the 2026 NHRA schedule, featuring the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports as it celebrates its 25th anniversary season. Expect a loaded field – and expect JBRC-chassied cars to be well-represented in the staging lanes. To place your order, contact Jerry Bickel Race Cars at 636-356-4727 or visit www.jerrybickel.com. Deadline for free pit delivery at zMAX is Thursday, April 16. This story was originally published on April 10, 2026. The post Jerry Bickel Race Cars Offering Free Delivery to zMAX Dragway for NHRA 4-Wide Nationals first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Welcome to this week’s Flashback Friday, where we take a look into the rearview mirror to revisit the machines that you, the reader, loved two years ago. April 2024 brought a diversity that stretched from the neon-soaked streets of Taipei to the rolling hills of France. We saw everything from Dax Ca... View the full article

Corey Heim finds himself the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship leader through five races but that isn’t exactly the newsworthy part. It’s the fact that Heim has only participated in three of those races. Of course, he’s won twice and added a fifth-place finish to boot and inherited the championship lead last weekend only after Chandler Smith was disqualified for rear ride height ...Keep readingView the full article

After a sellout crowd in 2025, promoter Corey Stamper and track co-owners Seth and Zach Buff are bringing the 9th annual Strange Engineering Ronnie Buff Memorial featuring King of the South 3 into Shadyside Dragway May 21-24. The event guarantees to be better than ever, with more classes, bigger payouts, and a brand-new livestreaming partner in FloRacing. Once again, the King of the South small-tire invitational – 64 of the baddest 28×10.5 cars in the country – will headline the show, with the winner taking home $75,000. Last year, Larry Larson defeated Lyle Barnett by a miniscule .004 margin of victory to walk away with $75k. The two veterans will once again lead a stacked field with names like Ryan Martin, Bill Lutz, Kye Kelley, Ryan Mitchell and Brandon Sandlian returning once again. They’ll be joined by a host of huge names making their King of the South debut, including Shawn “Murder Nova” Ellington, Cory Reed, Scott Taylor, Cole Pesz, and Russell Stone. New this year will be payouts beyond the winner, with $2,000 going to the runner-up, $1,000 to semifinalists, $500 to the quarters, and $200 to the round-of-16. There is also a free entry, $1,000-to-win second chance race for first-round losers. “These are the baddest of the bad on a 28×10.5 tire,” said Stamper. “You can’t take anybody lightly in this field. I want the fastest of the fast, with side-by-side action, and when we put these 64 cars together, that’s what we looked for. We’re just trying to push it to make it better. We were talking about whether we should add money [to the winner] or pay back more, and I said, ‘Let’s pay back more.’ $75,000 is pretty big to win anyways, and if you make it down to16 cars in this field, you’re doing work, because it’s gangsters every round.” Making its debut in 2026 is the Knight of the South, a 16-car invitational on even smaller 26×8.5 tires. The class will pay $8,000 to win, with $1,000 for the runner-up and $500 for semifinalists. Returning to the Ronnie Buff Memorial is the hugely popular Lil Gangstas class led by Tom Gunner (better known as Jimmy Dale) and Michael Poland. The 64-car invitational will feature two races in one weekend, with $15,000 being paid to the winner on both Saturday and Sunday. In addition, the event will feature SC Raceworks Street Racer 6.30 Index, the Bracket Misfits 16-car invitational, IHRA Teen Championship Race, and the $7,500-to-win Kettle Kings Concessions Practice Tree Shootout on Friday night. “Our 6.30 Index class is probably one of the biggest growing classes we have at Shadyside,” Stamper said. “It’s averaging 20 to 35 cars, with a lot of people showing out in street-style cars. And the cool thing is it has the same rule set as Lil Gangstas, so if they decide next year they want to step up, all they got to do is get a little faster.” With King of the South exploding in popularity – last year, the fire marshal had to come and close the gates on Saturday due to the immense crowd – Stamper knew he needed to step up the production level in all facets of the event; not just with the race itself, but with the livestreaming broadcast as well. FloRacing stepped up, partnering with Stamper and Shadyside to bring complete eliminations coverage on Saturday and Sunday. “The past couple years my company, Spoold Media, has handled the feed,” said Stamper. “Flo came in with an opportunity to really put this out to the world, and they bring in such a professional operation, from interviews to multiple camera angles. After watching their coverage of the Winter Series and seeing the production and professionalism with it, I knew we needed the Strange Engineering Ronnie Buff Memorial to take that next step up in coverage. It’s awesome to see these racers, from the bigger names to even our local guys, be put on a national stage like never before.” Heading up FloRacing’s stream will be longtime drag racer Kayla Morton, who burst onto the reporting scene at the Drag Illustrated Winter Series, joining Courtney Enders, Brian Lohnes, and Mike Carpenter during Flo’s broadcasts of all three events. With close ties to many of the racers competing at Shadyside, Morton will be able to give an inside look at everything going on behind-the-scenes throughout the weekend. “This is an iconic race, the pinnacle for small-tire racers from across the U.S.,” said Morton. “An invite-only for cars that have proven their worth for a guaranteed purse of nearly $83,000. Shadyside feels gritty, exciting, and raw. It’s a mean dragstrip that is full of diversity. A place where all the people come together to be a part of a legendary event. There are big names here, but a 28-inch tire will humble those names quick. It’s a challenging tire to drive on and a race that requires six winning passes to secure the title. “I’m fired up to bring coverage for this event through Flo and to showcase the little things that make this event so special,” Morton added. “This is a race where you’re gonna find chicken on the bbq you’re welcome to eat, a beer to wash it down with, and then get to throw dice for dessert. Flo hit the jackpot here if you ask me. King of the South is always one for the books and I’m privileged to be the girl who gets to share it with the drag racing fans that can’t attend.” As in previous years, tickets will only be sold at the gate. Fans can watch testing on Thursday and Friday for $20 per day; Eliminations take place on Saturday and Sunday, which are both $35 per day. A “King Pass” is also available for $80, allowing spectators to attend all four days. For those on the fence, Stamper suggests arriving early and securing a weekend pass, as the event is almost guaranteed to sell out, and preparations are well under way to handle the crowds. “Show up early because it’s going to sell out,” said Stamper. “We’re already plowing the field that’s up by Seth and Zach’s grandma’s house, tearing trees down and flattening that out to add even more parking. They went and bulldozed the land on the third level of the pits to have room to bring in more rigs. They acquired new land to park spectators. We’re building up on as much as we can right now.” Fans can subscribe to FloRacing at www.FloRacing.com and watch the livestream via the following link: https://flosports.link/4rO8QAL The post King of the South Small-Tire Invitational Continues to Grow, Partners with FloRacing first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

The Ride, The Risk, and the City There’s a certain rhythm to riding through a city that never really slows down. Engines hum between traffic lights, tires trace imperfect asphalt, and every intersection carries a quiet sense of unpredictability. In places like Chicago, where congestion, tight lanes, and constant motion define the streets, riding demands more than a love of the road. It demands awareness and instinct. For many riders, especially those drawn to stripped-down machines and raw builds, the […] The post The Crash Isn’t the End—It’s Where the Real Fight Begins appeared first on Return of the Cafe Racers. View the full article

Electrified Except for OneLexus has had electrified vehicles in its lineup for a little over 20 years. Today, just about every model in its lineup gets some form of hybrid assistance. From the subcompact and not-available-in-the-U.S LBX, all the way to the full-sized LX, hybrid power is, at the very least, an option on all Lexus vehicles save for one. In case you missed the headline, that model is the GX. For over 20 years, the midsize luxury SUV never once received an electric assist. For most of its life, it had V8 power under the hood, and it's only now taken the downsized turbo route with its boosted 3.4-liter V6. Given Lexus' strong hybrid lineup, it's rather odd that it's still leaving out the GX, but that might change soon. Lexus A Trademark Filing Gives a HintThe subject of the hybrid GX had been brought up several times already, but this might finally be the moment that it comes to fruition. A more recent trademark filing looks promising. The application was filed fairly recently in the United States Patent and Trademark Office. It was dated March 16, 2026, and its status is currently under examination. The name is GX550h, which probably isn't too surprising at this point. But it appears the Lexus is dead serious about securing its name. A look at the global trademark database reveals trademark applications in Cambodia, Canada, Peru, and the Philippines, among others. The question now is, what kind of powertrain could it get? Lexus Under the HoodThere are two possibilities as to what could be under the hood of the GX550h. Wishful thinking says the hybridized 3.4-liter V6 straight from the LX700h with 457 hp and 583 lb-ft of torque. That's a huge jump from the GX550's 349 hp and 479 lb-ft figure, and it should make it a proper hot rod. Realistically, though, it could end up with the now-familiar 2.4-liter turbo hybrid arrangement used in several Toyota and Lexus vehicles today. After all, that's already fitted to the Land Cruiser (Prado) hybrid, and it's good for 326 hp and 426 lb-ft, which is less than the 3.4-liter V6 that's already in the GX550. While it'll surely be a lot less thirsty than the six-cylinder, we're not too sure whether GX customers will accept the idea of a four-cylinder model. In the meantime, we wait, and we'll hopefully get answers soon. Lexus View the full article

UPDATE (April 10, 2026): The National Weather Service in Sacramento has upgraded the Winter Storm Watch to a Winter Storm Warning for the West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada and Western Plumas County, now in effect from Friday evening through Monday afternoon. Snowfall totals have been revised sharply upward, with 1 to 2 feet now expected between 5,000 and 6,000 feet and 2 to 5 feet above 6,000 feet, with locally higher amounts at the peaks. Wind gusts have also increased to 55 MPH in the mountains, and NWS Sacramento is now explicitly forecasting whiteout conditions at times. Snow levels will drop to 5,000 to 6,000 feet Saturday afternoon, roughly 1,000 feet lower than the original Watch forecast, meaning accumulation will begin earlier on lower-elevation approaches to I-80 and US-50. The Warning now extends through Monday, a full day beyond the original Sunday evening window. A Flood Watch has also been issued for the Sacramento Valley and Sierra foothills below 4,000 feet due to heavy rain. Drivers should check Caltrans QuickMap or call 511 before attempting any Sierra crossing this weekend. A powerful late-season winter storm is bearing down on the Sierra Nevada this weekend, prompting the National Weather Service to issue Winter Storm Warnings spanning every major mountain corridor from Lassen County to Sequoia National Park. Multiple NWS offices, including NWS Sacramento, NWS Reno, and NWS Hanford, are coordinating warnings as back-to-back upper-level lows push ashore from the Pacific, delivering moisture surges with precipitable water anomalies running 150 to 200 percent of normal according to the Weather Prediction Center. The system arrives Friday evening, and conditions will deteriorate rapidly through Saturday morning. Feet of Snow From Donner Pass to YosemiteThe heaviest accumulations are forecast for the Northern Sierra, where NWS Sacramento is calling for 1 to 2 feet of snow above 4,500 feet and up to 3 to 4 feet at the highest peaks, including ski resort elevations near Donner Summit and Blue Canyon. Snow levels will start above pass level Friday afternoon before dropping to 6,000 to 7,000 feet late Friday, then plunging to 4,000 to 4,500 feet by late Saturday into Sunday, bringing 2 to 4 inches of accumulation to elevations as low as 4,000 feet. The Lake Tahoe Basin is expecting 6 to 10 inches at lake level and 12 to 28 inches above 7,000 feet and at Sierra passes. Further south, NWS Hanford warns the Yosemite region could see 1 to 4 feet above 7,000 feet, with visibility dropping below a quarter mile and conditions described as potentially life-threatening. 90 MPH Ridgetop Gusts and Whiteout ConditionsWind is the force multiplier in this storm. NWS Reno forecasts Sierra crest gusts reaching 90 MPH Saturday afternoon, with sustained gusts of 70 to 80 MPH along the crest in Mono County and 40 to 45 MPH at lower elevations and along US-395. These winds will combine with heavy snowfall to produce extended whiteout conditions across exposed passes, making I-80 over Donner Pass, US-50 over Echo Summit, CA-88 at Carson Pass, and CA-120 near Yosemite extremely dangerous. Chain controls are virtually certain once snow levels drop below 6,000 feet Saturday evening, and Caltrans may implement full closures over Donner Summit and other passes if snowfall rates and visibility deteriorate beyond manageable thresholds. Drivers can check conditions at QuickMap or by calling 511. Getty Images Record-Low Snowpack Adds to the RiskThis storm lands on a Sierra Nevada that has almost no snowpack left. California's April 1 measurement came in at just 18 percent of average, the second-lowest on record, with the Northern Sierra at a staggering 6 percent of normal after March finished as the state's warmest and driest month on record. The result is warm, bare pavement that will create a rapid melt-and-refreeze cycle as heavy, wet spring snow falls on surfaces that have been baking under above-normal temperatures for weeks. That cycle makes road surfaces especially unpredictable, particularly overnight and in early morning hours when treated roads refreeze. Staying Safe Behind the WheelLate-season Sierra storms are deceptive because many drivers have already stowed their winter gear. If you must cross the mountains this weekend, carry chains even if you drive an AWD vehicle; Caltrans R-3 chain controls require chains on all vehicles, no exceptions. Wet spring snow is heavier than midwinter powder and packs onto windshields and roofs quickly, so clear your entire vehicle before driving. Disable cruise control on any snow-covered surface and reduce speed before entering curves or highway ramps, not during. Keep an emergency kit in your trunk with a phone charger, blanket, water, and a small shovel. For a full breakdown on handling snow and ice at speed, review Autoblog's guide to best practices for winter driving. The safest move is to avoid any Sierra crossing between Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon entirely, then check Caltrans conditions before committing to a drive once crews have had time to clear and treat the passes. When It EndsSnow begins Friday evening and ramps up sharply by Saturday morning. The worst travel window runs from Saturday predawn through Sunday afternoon, with the most intense accumulations falling late Saturday morning into midday Sunday. Conditions should begin improving Sunday evening as the system exits east, but overnight refreezing will keep mountain roads hazardous into Monday morning. If your schedule allows, Monday midday offers the safest window for a Sierra crossing. View the full article

It was at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip that John Force Racing’s Jordan Vandergriff got his first taste of the sensory overload that is NHRA drag racing and it’s there during the April 8-10 NHRA Winternationals that the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car driver hopes earn his first event win in the sanctioning body’s 1,000th Funny Car race. This weekend will be the first time the California native has competed in the Winternationals but he does have prior experience at the legendary drag strip. In the last event of his 11-race Top Fuel rookie season, at the 2019 NHRA Finals, Vandergriff beat Austin Prock in Round 1 before losing to Leah Pruett in the second. “Pomona is my hometown track,” said Vandergriff. “It’s the track I grew up going to and it holds a special place in my heart because it’s where drag racing was introduced to me. I’ve only run there once before, in my rookie year at the Finals. So, this will be my second time there and I can’t wait to be in the Cornwell Tools Funny Car. “Pomona was where I first got the feel for the speed and what it was about,” Vandergriff added. “It was the heyday of Tony Schumacher, when he was winning everything and John Force was winning everything. It was just a different era of drag racing when I was growing up, and now, to be ushering in this new era of drag racing at Pomona is unreal. I can’t wait to go back.” Vandergriff sits seventh in the Funny Car point standings after the season’s first two races. He earned a semifinals finish at the season-opening Gatornationals in his John Force Racing debut and a second-round showing two weeks later in the Arizona heat. Overall, John Force Racing drivers have won 32 times in three events at In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip (17 times in the Winternationals, 14 times in the Finals plus John Force’s win in the 50th Anniversary NHRA Nationals in 2001). “Getting my first win in the NHRA’s 1000th Funny Car race, at my hometown track, would be amazing. I think you couldn’t write a script any better than that, and Hollywood’s not too far away. It just would be unbelievable for it to happen and we’re going there with the idea that it’s going to happen. We have a good Cornwell Tools Chevy, and the weather should come into the wheelhouse, so we’ll be ready. Chris Cunningham and Jason Bunker (crew chiefs) will tune that thing up and I’m going to hop in it and try to get that win.” The post Jordan Vandergriff Eyes First Funny Car Win in NHRA’s 1,000th first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Drag Illustrated has released its 2026 Interview Issue, the March/April 2026 edition of the magazine, with two-time NHRA Pro Mod world champion Stevie “Fast” Jackson appearing on the cover following his $75,000 victory at the U.S. Street Nationals presented by M&M Transmission at Bradenton Motorsports Park. The Interview Issue is now available to read for free in digital format at digital.dragillustrated.com, with print copies set to arrive in subscriber mailboxes later this month. The U.S. Street Nationals marked the second of three races in the 2025/2026 Drag Illustrated Winter Series presented by J&A Service and delivered one of the most competitive Pro Mod fields in history. Jackson’s breakthrough victory came in commanding fashion, as he navigated a 32-car field where every entry ran in the 3.50s, ultimately defeating Derek Menholt in the final round with a .011 reaction time and a 3.566-second pass at 210.80 mph. The win not only secured the $75,000 payday, but also marked Jackson’s first triumph in DI Pro Mod races after years of near-misses. “I’m super proud to get the cover of Drag Illustrated this month!” Jackson said. “My rockstar team at KTR is the driving force behind our success and they deserve the credit. I get to do what I love every single day and I am bless beyond measure. 2026 is ours!” The cover story, written by Craig Cook, dives deep into Jackson’s long-awaited victory, the culture behind Killin’ Time Racing, and the relentless pursuit of performance that has defined his career. The feature also explores the team’s rise to consistent final-round contention in the Winter Series and Jackson’s broader impact as both a driver and businessman. “Stevie Jackson embodies what this series is all about: elite performance, relentless work ethic, and a willingness to bet on yourself at the highest level,” said Wes Buck, founder and editorial director of Drag Illustrated and promoter of the Drag Illustrated Winter Series. “That U.S. Street Nationals win wasn’t just a big payday – it was validation for a team that’s been knocking on the door in the toughest Pro Mod environment we’ve ever assembled. Putting him on the cover of this issue felt like the only move.” DI #199 leans into its “Interview Issue” theme with a lineup built around in-depth conversations and insider perspectives from across the sport. In addition to Jackson’s cover feature, the issue includes a Q&A with Funny Car rookie Jordan Vandergriff, a behind-the-scenes look at new NHRA national event venues, and a range of features highlighting resilience, growth, and evolution across drag racing’s top levels. “This issue is about letting the people who are shaping the sport speak for themselves,” said Nate Van Wagnen, Drag Illustrated editor-in-chief. “From Stevie’s perspective on winning at the highest level to the voices driving change across the NHRA and beyond, DI #199 is built on real conversations with real substance. It’s one of the most complete snapshots of where the sport stands right now.” The Interview Issue is available now in digital format at digital.dragillustrated.com. Print editions will be delivered to subscribers in the coming weeks. This story was originally published on April 10, 2026. The post Drag Illustrated Releases 2026 Interview Issue Featuring Stevie ‘Fast’ Jackson first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Mercedes-Benz USA has released its first-quarter sales results, with total sales of 78,500, a 3% decline relative to the same quarter in 2025. Of that total, 8,500 models were vans (-6%) and 70,000 were passenger cars (-3%). Unlike BMW, Mercedes doesn’t report sales data for specific models, making direct comparisons with its rivals difficult. But this also hints at low sales for models not mentioned by the brand. Here’s a look at Merc’s sales highlights for the first quarter and how the company compares to BMW. BMW Still Ahead in the U.S. Mercedes-AMG BMW has outsold Mercedes in the U.S. for a few years now, and the same trend is continuing in 2026. Excluding Mini, BMW sold 84,231 vehicles in the U.S. in the first quarter of 2026, putting it 14,231 units ahead of Mercedes, when Mercedes vans are excluded. Even with its van lineup, Mercedes is still behind its rival by around 5,700 models. Here’s a look at some sales highlights for Mercedes in Q1: GLC, GLE, and GLS sales grew by 22% and made up 61% of all passenger-car salesG-Class, SL, and Mercedes-Maybach saw double-digit growthSL sales alone climbed by 47%Maybach sales climbed by 22%Globally, electric GLC generated more orders in first three months than any previous Mercedes EVMercedes said customer interest continues to build for the new CLA, but did not say how many examples of the new model were sold. It’s also telling that the press release did not mention a single sedan or EV directly, suggesting that sales of these models declined in Q1. Based on the fact that the GLC/GLE/GLS made up 61% of passenger car sales (42,700 units), this means all other Mercedes models combined for 27,300 sales. By comparison, BMW sold 36,058 passenger cars in Q1, including the X1 and X2 but excluding all other SUVs. Mercedes-Benz "Our first-quarter results reflect the resilience of our incredible dealer network and strong demand despite challenging market conditions across the U.S. auto industry,” said Adam Chamberlain, President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA. “Our core SUV lineup continues to resonate with customers, and top-end vehicle sales remain brisk with strong sustained interest in our awe-inspiring AMG models.” Related: BMW M Just Beat Mercedes-AMG Again and Set Another Sales Record Fresh Lineup Should Bolster Customer Interest Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz has revealed a slew of heavily updated core models in recent weeks, and these have yet to impact the sales charts. The 2027 S-Class was revealed late in January with revised looks, a new interior, and a new V8 engine. It was followed by the midsize 2027 GLE-Class and full-size 2027 GLS-Class late in March, both of which received extensive changes. Like the S-Class, these SUVs have a new MBUX Superscreen, updated front fascias, and enhanced engines. Given that these SUVs already sold strongly in Q1, they’re likely to increase in sales when the refreshed versions hit showrooms later this year. What It Means Mercedes-Benz Merc’s increasingly mysterious sales figures make it challenging to paint a clear picture of what the company is doing right, but its core gas-powered SUVs remain major sales drivers. There are question marks over the performance of its sedans and EVs, which were not mentioned in the latest sales release. We do know that Merc is on a mission to realign its EV range to fit in better with its gas models, as the original EQ models were unloved with their sci-fi-like designs. For now, Mercedes has not managed to close the gap between it and arch rival BMW. That could change if the brand’s new EVs and revised core models catch fire later in the year. Related: Mercedes-Benz Targets Higher Volume After Years of Sliding Sales View the full article

The 2025/2026 offseason brought numerous changes to the sport, but one thing that remained constant is the Franklin family’s ownership of the Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series. Though rumors swirled that the series was up for sale last fall, those rumblings settled in late October when Tommy and Judy Franklin announced, “After 12 seasons of PDRA Drag Racing, we are not ready to stop here. See you in 2026.” Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in DI #199, the Interview Issue, in March/April 2026. The Franklins, who were a part of the founding owners group when the series began in 2014, have been the sole owners for the last several years, guiding the PDRA through growth and evolution. The family purchased Virginia Motorsports Park in late 2017 and similarly not only kept that facility open and operating as a dragstrip, but revitalized it and elevated its status. As if that wasn’t enough, the family also fields cars in multiple classes, with Tommy racing in the co-headlining Pro Nitrous division alongside his daughter, Amber Denton, Amber’s husband, Blake Denton, competing in Pro Street, and Amber’s younger sister, Ashley Franklin, racing in Top Dragster. The offseason did see VMP change hands, though, as the Franklins sold the track to Darryl Cuttell and IHRA Motorsports. The move frees up the Franklins and key team members like PDRA Series Director Tyler Crossnoe, who previously served as vice president of VMP, to focus entirely on series initiatives. VMP is still scheduled to host two Red Line Oil PDRA Series national events as well as all three PDRA Triple Threat Bracket Series events. In the weeks leading up to the season-opening PDRA Carolina Nationals presented by Pee Dee Fleet, March 25-28, at Darlington Dragway, Drag Illustrated spoke with Tommy Franklin to find out what comes next for the PDRA. Why was it important to you and Judy and your family to keep the PDRA going? PDRA is special. I think that one of the things I realized was what we have – the level of racing in the regions that we race and the schedule, just the whole layout – it’s special. We have a lot of racers that have supported us over the years, and I just honestly felt like I couldn’t walk away from that. It was nothing against any of the other organizations. There’s room for all of us out here and everybody will succeed. I never felt like PDRA would look like it looks or look like it did if we were to move on. Got deep into my feelings and just said, hey, as long as people are showing up at the gate to support us, then I’m going to support them as much as I can. What is it about the PDRA and what you’ve built that you’re most proud of? I’ve tried to put my finger on it because it’s hard to try to understand what is so special. It’s a national-event-caliber race. It has all of the workings of that. The competition is crazy good. The car quality is crazy good. It’s a national-event-style event, ran with organization, ran with safety, ran with performances that are unheard of, but then it’s just like you’re hanging out at your local dragstrip on Friday night. Everybody is such a tight-knit group. I think that’s what changes it. It doesn’t have the corporate feel, and I hope it never gets the corporate feel. Series Director Tyler Crossnoe previously also served as the VP at VMP. He’s now full-time focused on PDRA. How important was it to keep Tyler on board as the series director? I’m excited to see what we can do with giving it 100% of our efforts. And I hate to say that because I don’t want to sound like we weren’t giving 100% effort, but it’s hard to put all the effort all the time. When you had a racetrack and had the series and all of that to do, it’s easy to say, hey, sometimes maybe we’re not looking deeper and further into what can be better or bigger and where that goes. I’m really excited to be able to put resources towards working on PDRA every day of the week. That’s the most exciting part to me. Obviously, Tyler is a smart guy who cares about the racers, who wants to make sure that the racers have a great place to race, and has the integrity to know that it’s an event that has to go off in the right manner. Whether we like the decision or not, it has to go off in the right manner. Safety is first and everything has to be legit. We try to do all of that. Everybody will always have their stories, but we know what we do on our side, so that’s all we can do. I think he’s great to lead that. I think it’ll show up even more now that he has more time to focus on just the PDRA. What was critical to continue in 2026 and where did you want to build on and improve? We have a great racer base, as I’ve said, and the competition level is high. I want that to continue. I want that to only get better. Over the past 10-plus years, I feel like we’ve taken Pro Mod racing to a level that is crazy where these guys can compete as close as they do and be as competitive as it is. I want that to only continue. I love the sport. I love the classes that we have. I said Pro Mod, but what about Top Sportsman, Top Dragster, the Jr. Dragsters? Every class that we have, the competition level is so high. I think that’s one of the things that I’m most proud of with PDRA. It’s not, “I’m going to go race over here and collect this check.” You’re going to earn it. We see people that choose not to come race with us because it’s not easy pickings. And I’m OK with that. I want everybody to know that if they’re going to come over here, they’re going to come over here to win and accomplish. I’m OK with that. That’s what I want to continue to build, that reputation where everybody knows, “Hey, this is the hardest grounds to race on and we’re going to come over here and try to conquer it.” What are your goals for the season? My goal is just to continue to grow our racer base and really focus on growing our fan base. I think that we have a great product. Drag racing’s a hard sport to come watch because it’s a 12-hour-long day to watch it from start to finish, and you’re going to do that for two or three days. But when people come out, I want them to know that there’s some of the best competition on the racetrack at all times. We’re going to focus on that. We’re going to focus on letting people know when the classes that they want to watch are out there competing and narrow that down to a window where they can see some good racing. I’ve told everybody, “We do what we do. We just have to focus on what we do and make it the best pass that goes down the racetrack every time.” And I think the rest comes with it. And there’s always a lot of noise and chatter out there. The Internet’s a wild thing, so we just need to continue to be noticed and let our racers elevate themselves and get out there in front of the people that they deserve to be in front of. This story was originally published on April 10, 2026. The post Building Something Special: Tommy Franklin On The Future of The PDRA first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

China's Ruffling FeathersEvery once in a while, a country disrupts the automotive market to a point that it eventually defines it and becomes a major player. There was Japan in the '70s, South Korea towards the late 2000s, and now, it's China's turn to shake up the establishment. Like it or not, the rise of Chinese cars has put the world on notice, and it's now legacy automakers scrambling to keep up with the rapid pace of development China has set. Like any disruptor, it's seen as a threat, but some automakers have applauded and acknowledged the efforts of Chinese brands. One of those is Porsche, and it doesn't see Chinese cars as a threat. It's not in a cocky way, mind you, but rather, it's seeing it as an opportunity. Xiaomi A Different Kind of ChallengeSpeaking to Drive and other members of the Australian motoring press, Porsche Cars Australia CEO and managing director Daniel Schmollinger was quoted as saying, "I wouldn't call it concern; I wouldn't call it worried; I look at it as an opportunity." The executive even went as far as saying he's happy about the influx of Chinese marques, even as some are creeping into the luxury performance space, a space that Porsche also occupies. So, how is competition an opportunity? Schmollinger reckons that those who get a taste of these Chinese EVs will wonder if there's a higher, more elevated experience than what's on offer now. The CEO reckons that Porsche will be the answer to that, adding that the company is "here for them," once current Chinese EV owners are ready to step up. With that, Porsche appears to be hoping that its name is still worth its gold and remains aspirational for many. But as Chinese cars develop at a rapid pace, the German automaker also risks relying solely on its legacy to sway customers to its showrooms. However, this is also where the opportunity opens up. Porsche could take this chance to make its products shine even brighter. Currently, Porsche has the Taycan, Macan EV, and most recently, the Cayenne EV to fend off luxury performance electric vehicles from China. That said, it can explore expanding and enhancing its plug-in hybrid performance-vehicle portfolio, something the Chinese have been doing for quite some time. Porsche A Tall OrderTo do that, the company needs to double down on tech while delivering a high degree of emotional appeal, something most Chinese cars have yet to achieve. Not only do the cars have to impress, but they also have to instill the brand's values that made it aspirational in the first place. It needs to do that while attracting new customers who are 'graduating' from Chinese cars, without alienating current owners. A tall order, yes, but no one said that all opportunities would be easy. Porsche faces a mountainous challenge ahead as it tries to recover from a tough 2025 while deepening its collaboration with Audi. It will be interesting to see how Porsche will actually compete against ever-advancing Chinese cars, but it should make for interesting comparisons down the line. Porsche View the full article

The 66th edition of the famed NHRA Winternationals will be a celebration of Funny Car history as the sanctioning body presents the 1000th Funny Car race in its 75th anniversary season. Legends will be on site, and a special trophy will be presented to the Funny Car winner. One of the significant figures recognized will be the late Tripp Shumake, winner of the 100th Funny Car race. The well-respected driver will be celebrated on track as well by his son Travis Shumake, who will honor his late father, with a paint scheme honoring the winning livery from the 1981 NHRA Southern Nationals. “This is going to be an emotional weekend for me for sure,” said Shumake. “My dad was so well liked by everyone when he raced, and he is a part of history winning the 100th Funny Car race. To be able to honor him with the Little Hoss Funny Car will be amazing. We learned a lot in Phoenix, and I really want to put on a good show for the fans this weekend in Pomona.” Driving for Funny Car veteran Dave Bejamin, the Funny Car will feature the famed Little Hoss colors of his father’s original car owner, Johnny Loper. The second-generation driver will be making his second career start in the Legacy Funny Car Series with the support of new season–long sponsor Le Tour as well as Total Seal. Shumake is adding Le Tour wines, a non-alcoholic wine that tastes like the real thing. Le Tour starts with real French grapes, sourced from trusted vineyards and made using traditional winemaking methods. Through a gentle dealcoholization process, the alcohol is removed keeping the flavor and structure intact. “Getting together with Le Tour wines for the rest of the season will be very exciting,” said Shumake. “I love wine and I love drag racing. Their dealcoholization process means I can enjoy both at the track. This is a great environment for them to activate and introduce Le Tour to a huge audience. We are planning on all sorts of fun things with other drivers and at races all over the country.” The Legacy Funny Car Series will have two qualifying sessions on Friday, April 10 at 3:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Prior to his qualifying runs Shumake will be a featured guest on the NHRA stage at 12:00 p.m. to talk about his racing career and his father Tripp. On Saturday Shumake will have one final shot to make the eight-car qualified field with a final qualifier at 12:05 p.m. The first round of eliminations will be contested on Saturday afternoon with the semifinals and final round held on Sunday, April 12 between the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series eliminations. For information on tickets or schedules visit www.nhra.com and for more information on Travis Shumake and his racing program head over to www.travisshumake.com. The post Travis Shumake Honors Father Tripp During Winternationals, 1,000th Funny Car Race first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series roared back to In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip this week for the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals, launching another chapter in the sanctioning body’s 75th anniversary season. Thursday belonged to the backbone of the sport — the sportsman racers — and they didn’t waste any time getting after it. With qualifying kicking off the weekend, Super Street, Stock, Super Comp, Super Stock, and Super Gas quickly rolled into first-round eliminations, turning Pomona into a battleground from the first hit down the strip. Early-round pressure, tight competition, and zero room for error set the tone as racers began carving their path through the ladders. While the nitro-powered machines and Pro Stockers waited in the wings, the sportsman ranks carried the weight of opening day — and delivered. That balance shifts Friday. Sportsman eliminations resume at 8:30 a.m., but the intensity only builds as Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock fire off their first qualifying runs of the weekend. The energy established by the sportsman racers carries forward as the first blasts of nitro shake Pomona and signal the arrival of the sport’s headline acts. All of last season’s NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series world champions are on hand this weekend, including Top Fuel champion Doug Kalitta, Funny Car champion Austin Prock, and Pro Stock champion Dallas Glenn, joined by a deep field of contenders and proven winners across all three categories. Rising talent like Maddi Gordon adds another layer of intrigue as the next wave looks to make its mark. By the time the weekend builds to full song, Top Alcohol cars will join the fight, and Legacy Nitro Funny Cars will deliver a thunderous blast from the past, giving fans a full-spectrum look at NHRA’s evolution — from its roots to today’s nitro-burning firepower. From first-round sportsman battles to the looming arrival of nitro-fueled chaos, Pomona is already alive — and the Winternationals is just getting warmed up. This story was originally published on April 10, 2026. The post PHOTO GALLERY: Pomona Fires to Life Thursday at NHRA Winternationals first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

2027 Corvette rollout begins, led by the Grand SportChevrolet is approaching the 2027 Corvette model year with a measured, step-by-step rollout. The Rick Corvette Conti YouTube channel uploaded a great preview of the new 2027 model. The full order guide is set to drop on April 13, 2026, with pre-orders opening just a few days later on April 16. Early allocations will be tight as Chevy carefully balances demand with production capacity. Retail production is expected to kick off in the second quarter, though an exact start date hasn’t been locked in yet. At the heart of this update is the new Grand Sport. It’s expected to become the volume leader in the 2027 Corvette lineup, slotting neatly between the base Stingray and the more extreme performance variants. The idea is to offer a sweet spot, something that’s just as comfortable on the street as it is capable on the track. Orders for the Grand Sport should open toward the end of the second quarter, with production ramping up in the third quarter as supply stabilizes. Production hurdles, fresh updates, and what’s aheadThings aren’t entirely smooth behind the scenes. Bowling Green Assembly is dealing with a few scheduled shutdowns that could slow the early stages of 2027 production. These pauses are believed to be tied to supplier issues, possibly involving carbon fiber components. Because of that, timelines remain flexible, and there’s even a chance that 2026 production could stretch a bit longer than planned. GM has also stopped sharing target production weeks, reflecting the uncertainty. On the update front, the 2027 Corvette brings in new exterior colors like Pitch Gray and Admiral Blue, along with refreshed wheel designs and more interior trim options. These changes are more about refinement than reinvention, but already the comments section on the video is blowing up over it. Pricing details for the 2027 lineup are expected soon, and allocation should gradually improve throughout 2026. Grand Sport production, in particular, is expected to gain momentum in the third quarter as demand builds. YouTube: @RickCorvetteConti View the 4 images of this gallery on the original article The Lowdown. Hype Still Strong for C8 CorvetteEveryone can still recall how GM had to temporarily suspend production of the C8 because of high demand; the hype was real. The Corvette continues to draw attention because it delivers serious performance at a price that still undercuts many European competitors. The mid-engine layout already reset expectations, and the Grand Sport adds another compelling option to the mix. It’s aimed at enthusiasts who want track-ready performance without jumping to the most extreme, expensive models. Overall, this update keeps the momentum going. The new colors bring a fresh look, while the staggered rollout builds anticipation. Rather than chasing trends, Chevrolet seems focused on refining what already works, and that’s a big part of why excitement remains strong. The Corvette is evolving with clear intent, and the 2027 model year looks ready to strengthen its standing as a benchmark in its class. YouTube: @RickCorvetteConti View the 4 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

A Lineup in FluxTesla has been quietly adjusting its lineup, focusing on core models and axing its more expensive offerings. Supporting that idea is a recent report that Tesla is set to introduce a cheaper SUV in its lineup. This latest move feels familiar. After focusing on premium models, software features, and big promises about autonomy, Tesla seems to be returning to what it announced last year: building a more accessible, lower-priced EV. It’s not a new idea, and it’s not a surprise either. What’s different now is the timing. Demand has slowed, inventory is piling up, and Chinese brands are making a real impact. The real question isn’t just whether Tesla can make a cheaper car, but whether it can do so without losing the strong margins it’s relied on. Tesla What’s Reportedly on the TableAccording to Reuters, Tesla is working on a smaller, more affordable electric SUV, likely to slot below the Model Y. Sources say it could be built in China on a new platform, not just a basic version of an existing model. Suppliers are reportedly already involved, which means the groundwork has started. The aim is clear: make EVs more affordable, increase sales, and compete better in markets where price matters most, like China and Europe. There’s also pressure from recent numbers. Tesla built far more cars than it sold last quarter, showing a clear gap between supply and demand. Losing US EV tax incentives has also made its cars less attractive in important markets. The investors, however, appear divided about the idea. A cheaper model could help move more cars and keep factories busy, but it could also squeeze margins that are already feeling the pressure from discounts and lower-priced trims. In other words, solving one problem could just create a new one. Tesla We’ve Seen This BeforeIf this sounds familiar, it’s because Tesla has tried this before. Last year, the company signaled plans for a more affordable EV, widely associated with the so-called $25,000 project. That effort was eventually scrapped, with CEO Elon Musk suggesting that a conventional low-cost car didn’t align with Tesla’s long-term vision. Instead, Tesla rolled out cheaper versions of the Model 3 and Model Y by cutting features, not by rethinking the cars from the ground up. That helped a bit, but it didn’t really change the demand picture. That history makes it easy to be skeptical about the new reports. Building a smaller, more affordable SUV makes sense, especially for China. But there’s a risk it will just mean lower prices by cutting features, not by offering something truly new. Tesla’s real challenge isn’t making cars people want. It’s figuring out how low it can go on price without hurting its brand or its profits. This latest move shows Tesla might be ready to test that limit again. Tesla View the full article

Los Angeles native Alexis DeJoria is using her hometown roots as the inspiration for her and her John Force Racing Bandero Quality Tequila Chevrolet SS Funny Car team to end up in winner’s circle at the conclusion of the April 8-10 NHRA Winternationals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip and, in doing so, capture victory in the sanctioning body’s 1000th Funny Car race. “Pomona is where I first saw Funny Cars in person. I went there for the Winternationals when I was 16,” said DeJoria. “I’ve also gone there for swap meets and stuff for my personal car collection but that was the first time I had ever seen professional drag racing in person and John Force in particular. Winning the 1000th Funny Car race would be incredible. There’s the special trophy getting a special trophy and the prestige and obviously just the history of that racetrack. The whole year is significant for NHRA with the 75th anniversary, but Pomona, that’s the place I’ve always wanted to win. I’ve been to the finals (2021 In-N-Out Burger Finals), qualified number one (2014 Finals) but never got the trophy so we’ll see.” DeJoria is currently sixth in the Funny Car point standings after two of 20 races on the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Calendar. She finished runner-up in her John Force Racing debut at the Gatornationals and went out in the first round at Phoenix two weeks later to JFR teammate Jordan Vandergriff. “I’m looking forward to racing in Pomona, looking for redemption after that finish in Phoenix,” DeJoria said. “We started off really strong, went to the finals at the first race of the season and then dropped down by losing first round in Phoenix. So, I’m definitely looking for redemption and Pomona’s always kind of been one of my home tracks because I’m a California native born and raised. I’ve never won there before so that’s always been on my bucket list. So, we’ll see what happens this weekend but I’m hoping for the best and continuing our early success with this Bandero team.” Bandero team crew chief Mike Neff has experienced the ultimate success at the Winternationals during his initial stint at John Force Racing. The Hemet, Calif., native was the crew chief for John Force when he won the Funny Car class in 2013 and qualified No. 1 in 2014. Overall, John Force Racing drivers have won 32 times in three events at In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip (17 times in the Winternationals, 14 times in the Finals plus John Force’s win in the 50th Anniversary NHRA Nationals in 2001). “I think the Bandero team is gelling really well and for a brand new team that says a lot,” said DeJoria. “I’m very, very grateful to be on such a successful team. You can just tell early on who’s going get along with who and where troubles happen, but I really haven’t seen any of that go down. We’re really blessed and I can’t wait to see what we’re going to achieve in our future, especially in the immediate future by going out there and having a good showing in Pomona.” The post DeJoria Hopes Hometown Edge will Help Capture NHRA’s 1,000th Funny Car Race first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

bproauto, a leading provider of original equipment (OE)-backed, quality-tested and competitively priced aftermarket parts, announced today the company has formed a partnership with Chad Green Motorsports (CGM) and recent Gatornationals Funny Car champion driver Chad Green for NHRA Mission Drag Racing Series events beginning this weekend (April 10-12) in the famed NHRA Lucas Oil Winternationals at the historic In-n-Out Burger Dragstrip at the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds in Pomona, Calif. Launched in 2023 to the North American market, bproauto offers a growing range of new maintenance and repair products designed for most makes and models to wholesale partners and customers through dealership service departments. The expanding auto parts line makes its introduction to the 300-mile-per-hour world of NHRA drag racing with the successful CGM Funny Car team that has Green of Midland, Tex., leading the Funny Car point standings heading into this weekend’s competition at the famed In-n-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip. Green is no stranger to the Pomona winner’s circle as well after he captured the In-n-Out World Finals in 2023. “We are very excited to have bproauto as a partner with Funny Car star Chad Green and his CGM drag racing organization in the NHRA drag racing series this year,” said Dustin Pedley, global head of bproauto at Stellantis. “NHRA Funny Car racing takes high-quality performance and outstanding teamwork. We believe the bproauto brand is a great match with the high-powered straight-line action and the excitement for the racing fans. We wish Chad and his racing team the best in putting the bproauto Funny Car in the winner’s circle.” The CGM operation, based in Brownsburg, Ind., fields two nitro-burning Funny Cars throughout the 20-race NHRA Mission Drag Racing national tour with the veteran Green piloting one 12,000-horsepower monster and his son, Hunter, a former U.S. Nationals Top Alcohol Dragster champion, splitting the driving of the second car with four-time NHRA National event winner Blake Alexander. bproauto will serve as an associate partner with Green’s Funny Car beginning this weekend in the NHRA Lucas Oil Winternationals and primary sponsor for the CGM machine at the New England Nationals in Epping, N.H., on June 5-7; the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio, on June 25-28; and the Las Vegas Nationals in Las Vegas, Nev., on Oct. 29-Nov. 1. “Bringing bproauto on board as a partner is so exciting for our CGM team,” said Green. “We want to do a great job for the company with our Funny Car starting this weekend at the NHRA Winternationals. The NHRA fan base is a perfect complement for this bproauto association, and we can’t wait to have the NHRA crowd check out the bproauto aftermarket catalog and directory. This partnership is great for CGM and the NHRA Drag Racing Series.” Green and new bproauto association begins this weekend (April 10-12) with action set for Friday, April 10, with qualifying rounds at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. PDT. Saturday’s (April 11) qualifying will take place at 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. PDT, with final eliminations on Sunday, April 12, at 11 a.m. PDT. Fox Sports 1 will telecast Sunday’s eliminations at 3:30 p.m. PDT/6:30 p.m. EDT. The post bproauto Announces Partnership with Chad Green Motorsports for NHRA Drag Racing Series Events first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

The Benchmade Triage pocket knife is headed to the moon on Artemis II, showing just how overbuilt a proper EDC tool can be. View the full article

Royal Enfield's Flying Flea EV is coming. And the Indian launch pricing is kind of astonishing, even moreso if you go with the available battery subscription option. How will riders react?View the full article

A Problem You Won’t Even NoticeA few days back, GM hit pause on Corvette C8 sales because of a rear turn signal issue – one so subtle that most owners would never spot it unless it happened to them. At first, it looked like a small-scale problem, affecting only about 3,300 cars. But that number didn’t stay small. According to the official recall document, the issue now stretches to nearly 33,000 cars – basically every recent mid-engine Corvette, from the 2025 and 2026 coupes and convertibles to the electrified E-Ray and even the rare ZR1X. For a car that stands alone in GM’s lineup, stopping sales on this scale is a big deal. What makes it trickier is that this isn’t a problem you’d spot in everyday driving, which is exactly why regulators take it seriously. Adam Lynton/Autoblog What’s the IssueThe culprit is buried in the rear lighting software. The car’s lighting control module sometimes misses when a rear turn signal goes out, so it doesn’t warn the driver. Of note, the issue wasn’t discovered through owner complaints; engineers actually caught it during internal testing. They noticed that the system remained quiet when a rear turn signal failed, prompting an investigation. According to the recall document, the trail points to a supplier’s software update from October 2024. It was supposed to help with tire pressure monitoring, but it accidentally messed with how the car spots lighting problems. In plain terms: if your rear turn signal quits and the car doesn’t tell you, drivers behind you won’t get the message – raising the risk of an accident. Affected models include: 2025–2026 Corvette Coupe and Convertible2025–2026 Corvette E-Ray (Coupe and Convertible)2026 Corvette ZR1X (Coupe and Convertible)Production spans from late 2024 up to early February 2026, just before the fix was implemented in manufacturing. And no, the newly introduced Corvette Grand Sport isn't part of the problematic batch. Chevrolet The Fix Is Relatively EasyIt’s important to point out what’s not wrong here. The turn signals themselves work just fine under normal conditions. The real issue is with the system that’s supposed to alert you if something goes wrong. So if a bulb or part fails, the car might not give you a heads-up, which is something safety rules require. GM’s fix is a software update for the lighting control module, so it can spot and report a failed rear turn signal as it should. If your Corvette has over-the-air updates, you might not even need to visit the dealer. For others, a quick trip to the service bay will do the trick. Corvettes built in February of this year already have the updated software. So while the recall numbers look dramatic, the fix is a behind-the-scenes update – appropriate for a problem that only pops up when something else fails. Chevrolet View the 4 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

The Autoblog spy photographers have discovered a fascinating feature of the upcoming Rolls-Royce electric SUV: it'll have a two-piece hood opening, evoking the coachbuilt classics that an electric SUV with a Spirit of Ecstasy mascot seems, on paper, so far from. Since Goodwood can't impress buyers with the cylinder count, Rolls-Royce will instead create spectacle with the body, as nothing else on the planet has such a setup. Sure, it'll be less practical than a regular hood opening, but when the bellhops extract your luggage outside the Four Seasons, even Bugatti owners will be forced to take a look. New Rolls-Royce SUV Will Win on Drama SH Proshots View the 4 images of this gallery on the original article With such a unique front end (which still incorporates a retractable and potentially illuminated Spirit of Ecstasy figurine to prevent customers from rioting), the Rolls-Royce electric SUV will surely beat the upcoming Bentley Barnato electric SUV for theater, and if you're going to buy a six-figure EV, it ought to feel special. Of course, while this particular hood opening has already been revealed in a patent, there's no guarantee that it will necessarily conceal the everyday Hermes bags of the owner. BMW/WIPO Like the Boat Tail, it's quite possible that this front storage area could be filled with whatever the customer decides: fitted luggage, glassware and beverages, picnic baskets, or anything else. In fact, that's a distinct possibility because of what Goodwood said two weeks ago, words which automotive historians of the future will take note of. Related: What Is the Most Expensive Rolls-Royce Ever Built? Rolls-Royce recently announced the Coachbuilt Collection, a series of ultra-exclusive creations for the highest echelons of its customer base, allowing the imaginations of the ultra-wealthy to run at their wildest, with effectively no limits on customization prospects. What makes this relevant here is that the automaker also said the first creation from this program will be electric. Of course, something with two doors based on the Spectre seems more predictable, and this prototype's Cullinan-like shape isn't all that amazing, but perhaps plenty of this vehicle's design is being well-hidden by the camouflage. Second RR EV Shares Spectre Underpinnings SH Proshots/Autoblog View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article Reportedly built on the Architecture of Luxury platform that underpins every current Rolls-Royce product, but with new BMW EV technology (which likely means Rimac technology), this SUV is expected to be capable of close to 400 miles of range, if not a little more. That should be plenty for the well-heeled city dwellers this is aimed at, and they'll be able to wow onlookers with the two-piece opening hood hands-free, as this and the tailgate are expected to be voice-activated, among other things. With this hood now evident and most of the other bodywork looking finished, we expect more vinyl camouflage to be peeled off soon, with a reveal before the end of this year. SH Proshots/Autoblog View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

F-Series TroublesFord's F-Series trucks aren't having such a great time at the moment. The first quarter of 2026 saw sales down by a substantial 16% compared to last year's figures, a worrisome figure for the nation's best-selling vehicle. Not helping matters were the successive fires at one of Ford's key suppliers for aluminum, Novelis, late last year. Novelis is instrumental in the F-Series supply chain, as it produces aluminum sheets for its beds. Its facility in New York caught fire three times in the span of two months, crippling supply and causing production disruptions. Getty Domino EffectWhen the fires broke out back in October and November last year, it was said that it would take months before Novelis' New York facility would be fully operational again. At the time of writing, the plant is still not at full capacity. Given the demand for F-Series trucks, Ford has had to source aluminum from abroad to keep up, but therein lies another problem. According to Reuters, imported aluminum is subject to a 50% tariff, and Novelis is tapping aluminum from its South Korean and European operations to fulfill orders. Because of that, every panel that Ford makes for its full-sized pickups is costing the company dearly. The Drive reports that it's costing the company about $900 million in additional obligations. It's why Ford has been requesting tariff relief from the government until Novelis' New York facility is at full capacity. The White House Says...According to The Wall Street Journal, Ford, along with other automakers affected by the Novelis fires, 'have not requested tariff relief on this matter in a particularly pronounced way.' That's either a PR way of saying no to the repeated requests, or the Government saying that the automakers aren't asking hard enough. In addition, Automotive World noted that the government had already done its part last year. Per the publication: "The White House informed companies it had already provided relief from other national security tariffs in 2025." Ford's heavy reliance on aluminum in building its full-size pickups makes it the most affected by the tariffs. The thing is, it's not the only automaker that's been blighted by the tariffs. General Motors and Stellantis are also major clients of Novelis, along with Toyota, Hyundai, and Volkswagen. With so many companies affected by the whole matter, one has to wonder what kind of appeal the companies have to make for the White House to move a finger. Either way, those tariffs will be passed on to the consumer. The war in Iran has also disrupted global aluminum production, so until there's a reprieve, expect supply chain issues and volatile prices. Ford View the full article

There are too many Oil Treatments and Additives to count nowadays, and many of them make claims that are hard to believe. Over the years there have been so many of them and while some have good reputations there are others that people have referred to as snake oil. I know that there are a couple of them that I’ve used over the years and have had good luck with. But with that said, I never had oil analysis done to prove they were working. Well that analysis has been done and the video below will show the results. Video Description: Are oil additives a smart upgrade… or a bad idea? In this video, we put popular motor oil additives to the test—starting with what they actually add to your oil. Using lab analysis, we break down the chemistry inside these products and show how they change the original oil formulation. Then we go a step further. We run industry-standard tests to see if these additives improve performance—or make things worse. From wear protection to oxidation stability, the results might surprise you. These results should be taken within the context of our recent live stream where we showed the results from a detailed data analysis from over 10,000 used oil samples – https://youtube.com/live/EhTRucBH2SQ If you’ve ever wondered whether oil treatments are worth it, this is the data-driven answer. DISCLAIMER: This video is not intended to disparage any products. This video is for informational purposes only and presents independent laboratory test results and industry standards. For more about used oil analysis, check out https://www.speediagnostix.com The post The TRUTH About Oil Additives Revealed, With Real Test Results From The Motor Oil Geek appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article