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Tyler Bohannon had quietly stopped chasing it. Not the wins – Bohannon never stops chasing wins. But the bigger thing. The version of himself he had built his whole life around. The kid who was going to make a living drag racing, chase NHRA Lucas Oil world championships, put his name in the same sentence as Peter Biondo and Dan Fletcher. For the last two years, he had been running a racetrack and pouring every ounce of himself into TB Promotions, the big-money bracket racing operation he and Brian Whitworth have built into one of the most respected brands in the sportsman world. He was good at it. He liked it. And somewhere along the way, the dream of being the guy in the seat had quietly settled into something smaller. “I had lost that the last two years. I’d settled on the fact that this is what life’s going to be,” Bohannon says. “And I was happy with it. It didn’t bother me.” Then Will Holloman called. There was an extra car available. Two weeks on the road, with Vegas at the end of it for the 2026 Moser Spring Fling Million presented by RAD. Bohannon, who had been head-down on TB Promotions media work for months, said yes – the way he has said yes to every opportunity in drag racing he has ever been offered. “If somebody calls me, I’m in,” Bohannon says. “I’ve always been that way. I’ll be that way until the day I die.” What followed was either the worst trip of his career or the best – and depending on which round you ask him about, he might give you a different answer. The truck ran out of diesel pulling into a Texas truck stop. An air compressor line let go in Tucson. He talked enough trash about the East versus West Shootout at Tucson Dragway to write a book, then lost it. By the time the rig rolled into Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the universe was already winding up. Then the racing started, and things got even worse. Three fuel pumps went bad. A starter died. A wheel broke off the front of his car at 140 mph and he somehow kept it between the walls. The car caught on fire on a bye run on Thursday and he bailed out with his helmet still on, waving down the safety crew while his ride coasted backward down the Vegas hill. He never missed a round. Not once. Ten rounds, six days, every nightmare a big-money bracket racer keeps shoved to the back of his trailer, all in one weekend. “That’s the part of big-money bracket racing that I think people don’t understand,” Bohannon says. “We can all go out there and lay down a 10-total package. But can you keep up with this thing three to four, six, seven weeks on the road and keep it running? That’s the hardest part. There’s 50, 60, 70 thousand dollars’ worth of spare parts before you count a motor or a transmission in the trailer. The type of stuff like a three-eighths left-hand-thread heim joint? Ain’t nobody got that. Why did we have it? I don’t know. But we did.” Every time something went sideways, Bohannon stared at the wreckage and told himself the same thing: this is it, there’s no way we’re fixing this. Every time, somebody handed him a wrench, told him to go again, and he went. The fire story he tells with the dry impatience of a man who is genuinely annoyed by the inconvenience. He had crossed the finish line on a bye, shut the car off early, and was coasting through the shutdown when the dash went black. Smoke started coming up through his feet. A battery charging stud had broken loose, the cable had laid against the body, and the whole electrical system was shorting itself into oblivion. He pulled over, took his gloves off so he could shove them into the glovebox, then grabbed them back out – “If it burns to the ground, I’m going to need gloves to get in this other car to make the next round” – then bailed. Still wearing his helmet, he turned around to find his car rolling backward down the racetrack. He ran it down, threw it in park, and started waving the safety guys off the fire extinguishers before they could even get there to douse his hot rod. “Stop, don’t do that. We might be able to put this thing back together. Just don’t do that yet,” he recalled, laughing. Fifteen minutes later, he was in the staging lanes in a borrowed Will Holloman dragster, working out a new dial-in on the fly, racing for the next round. Cory Gulitti had a battery. Johnny Ezell and Holloman were already cutting cables off the original car. Bohannon was in the second car getting fitted, the seat pads moving, his helmet hanging on the cage. “Then Will comes over and goes, ‘I fixed it. You’re good.’ I’m like, dude, I was on fire five minutes ago. There’s no way.” He laughs. “Sure enough, it fired up and I drove off to the lanes in it.” That is the kind of weekend that wins you a million dollars or sends you home in pieces. Bohannon does not really believe in luck the way other people do, but he will tell you that his luck on this trip was almost suspiciously well-timed. The fire happened at the finish line. The wheel broke off at the finish line. The fuel pump went out unloading the car at 7:15 in the morning. Every disaster waited politely until it could not actually cost him a round. The disasters brought him through a field that would intimidate anyone with a steering wheel and a brain. By the time he got to the back half of the ladder, he was staring across the lanes at murderer’s row. “I’ve always drove that way,” he says. “They always say you drive to win, not scared to lose. But I’ve always worked the opposite. Like, if I’m going to prove something, I can’t lose. If I’m going to prove this, you do have to go win. But I’m not always necessarily been scared to lose in a sense of like, losing is fine for me at this point. But if you lose, you’re not proving your point. I want to prove my point. Prove that I belong in this conversation.” He kept proving his point. Past the locals. Past the Gary and Troy Williamses and the Pete Biondos. Past the names that have spent twenty-five years making other people’s lives miserable on the bottom bulb. He went to the final against Greg Brotherton with a borrowed car, a body full of adrenaline, and a banker back home in Tennessee waiting on a phone call. The stripe was .0002. Two ten-thousandths of a second. The kind of margin where the loser is still struggling to believe the win light didn’t come on his in his lane some three days later. “It’s hard to win a single round at these races, let alone 10 rounds of drag racing,” Bohannon says. “And you’re not racing just some local bracket racers, you’re pulling up beside some absolutely iconic drag racers.” This is Bohannon’s second million-dollar drag racing victory. The first came in November 2021 at Capital City Motorsports Park, where he became the second winner of the Great American Guaranteed Million and arrived at his hometown bank the next morning with a check his teller had to physically guarantee for him because he had bills due in 48 hours and three dollars and seventy-seven cents in his account. It was a victory that put him on the map in a way nothing in his career ever had. This second one means something different to him. He is a man who has spent a lifetime checking boxes: NHRA Stock Eliminator racer, son of an NHRA racer, grandson of an NHRA racer, third generation, redheaded, and Tennessee-stubborn. Now he’s joined a list of seven men who have won the million more than once. “Kenny Underwood, Luke Bogacki, Kevin Brannon, Gary Williams, Jeff Verde,” Bohannon recites. “And I think there’s one more. But that’s something that says I’m good at this. That’s what I’ve chased my entire life – to say that I’m a good drag racer.” Here is the part nobody saw coming. Tyler Bohannon won the second million, walked out of Las Vegas Motor Speedway with a check he is still trying to comprehend, and instead of getting comfortable, he found something he thought he had buried. He wants more. “This is like a new beginning, and I’m pumped,” he says. “I want to go chase a world championship. I want to chase every opportunity that comes to me in drag racing and kind of get back to just riding the wave and seeing where it goes.” He is one of a few guys on planet earth, by his own count, who would still trade either of those million-dollar wins for an NHRA Lucas Oil world championship. The kid who grew up worshipping Biondo and Dan Fletcher is not done worshipping them. He just had to remember why. “NHRA racing will always be home for me,” he says. “It’s hard to sit here and say that, because bracket racing has truly changed my life. Not only on the racetrack, but off the racetrack. I’ve only ever wanted to make a living drag racing. There’s what, a hundred people out there that actually get in a race car and make a living? So, for me, it’s always been about figuring that out – how am I going to be able to do that? Drag race for a living? And bracket racing gave me TB Promotions. Bracket racing gave me some of my biggest career achievements. It gave me a place to spotlight me, to give them that personality.” Bracket racing gave Tyler Bohannon back to himself. Now the third-generation kid with the southern drawl, the broken wheel, the borrowed car, and the fire in the dash is loose again. He is going to St. Louis next for a Lucas Oil divisional. He has the next round of TB Promotions media projects rolling. There is talk – and Drag Illustrated is happy to push that talk forward – of a Lil Gangstas ride at the next DI Winter Series, because it is now genuinely impossible to argue that Tyler Bohannon belongs in any room he has not yet walked into. The bank in Tennessee is going to need to make some space. It is no fluke. It is no flash. It is no accident. It is, finally, exactly who he always thought he was. This story was originally published on April 9, 2026. The post No Fluke: How Tyler Bohannon Spent Two Weeks in Hell and Came Home a Spring Fling Million Winner first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Scouting America and AB Motorsports announced today a season-long partnership for the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, creating new STEM-centered opportunities for Scouts at select national events. Scouting America has joined forces with four-time NHRA Top Fuel world champion and team owner Antron Brown to provide hands-on learning experiences that connect Scouting’s values with the real-world science, technology, engineering, and teamwork behind championship drag racing. Serving nearly one million youth nationwide, Scouting America prepares young people for lives of impact and purpose through leadership development and outdoor education rooted in the Scout Oath and Law. “Our new partnership with AB Motorsports represents an exciting opportunity to connect the spirit of Scouting with the innovation, teamwork, and determination that define motorsports,” said Roger Krone, president & CEO of Scouting America. “Whether it’s learning how to solve problems under pressure, working effectively as a team, or pushing themselves to reach new goals, AB Motorsports embodies the very qualities we strive to cultivate in every young person who wears the Scout uniform. Together, we’ll inspire young people to aim higher, work harder, and discover their potential, on the track, in their communities, and throughout their lives.” With support from World Wide Technology, the initiative will emphasize STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education, helping Scouts see firsthand how STEM disciplines power one of the fastest and most technologically advanced sports in the world. David L. Steward, Founder and Chairman of World Wide Technology, said, “We are thrilled to sponsor Antron Brown and Scouting America. As a world-class NHRA competitor, Antron will help us drive excitement for both Top Fuel racing and the science and engineering Scouts will learn.” At select NHRA national events, Scouts will be invited to participate in interactive STEM activations, including engineering-focused demonstrations, team-building challenges, and hands-on learning experiences, before stepping into Brown’s pit area to see how precision, data, and preparation translate directly to performance on race day. Additional youth-focused activities, including entry-level mechanical design and competition-based learning experiences, are being explored throughout the season. For Brown, the partnership aligns directly with his long-standing commitment to mentorship and youth development. “This is bigger than racing,” Brown said. “This sport has given me so much, and I’ve always believed it’s important to give that back to the next generation. When young people walk through our pit and see how much math, engineering, technology, and teamwork goes into what we do, it opens their eyes. If we can help them connect what they’re learning in school to real careers and real opportunities, that’s a win far beyond the race track. It’s about showing them what’s possible and helping them believe they can chase big dreams in any field they choose. “It all starts with relationships,” Brown added. “Curtis (Francois, World Wide Technology Raceway Owner and CEO) and Chris (Blair, World Wide Technology Raceway Executive Vice President and General Manager) introduced me to David (Steward) years ago, and we built a connection based on trust and a shared commitment to making an impact. That’s what makes partnerships like this possible.” NHRA’s longstanding commitment to youth engagement and education makes the partnership a natural fit. Through its NHRA Youth & Education Services (YES) Program, the organization has connected students nationwide to STEM-based learning experiences at the race track for more than three decades. NHRA President Glen Cromwell praised the collaboration. “NHRA is proud to support the collaboration between Scouting America and four-time Top Fuel champion Antron Brown,” NHRA President Glen Cromwell said. “NHRA has always been committed to engaging young people by utilizing real-world applications of science, technology, engineering and math. Partnerships like this, connecting Antron and Scouting America, only help inspire the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers, and we’re thrilled to see this partnership take place at NHRA events across the country.” The Scouting America and AB Motorsports partnership will officially kick off at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona, California, April 9-12, 2026. Brown will begin to welcome Scouts through the YES Program at the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway in Charlotte, North Carolina, April 23-26. For more information, visit Scouting.org/ABMotorsports. This story was originally published on April 9, 2026. The post Scouting America Teams Up with AB Motorsports to Deliver STEM-Focused Experiences for Youth Through NHRA Partnership first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

EV discounts have been particularly aggressive in the U.S. in recent months, given cooling demand for fully electric models and the loss of the federal tax credit last year. For a relatively young brand like Polestar, the deals are even more attractive as the EV maker looks to grow its footprint in this market. This month, Polestar is offering mega incentives for its midsize SUV, the Polestar 3. If you’re a Tesla owner looking to switch to Polestar, you can put yourself in a position to save over $20,000 on a new Polestar 3 lease or purchase this April. Polestar Chases Tesla Owners Polestar The Tesla Conquest Bonus for the Polestar 3 is valued at $3,000. When combined with all other lease and purchase offers, along with additional incentives, it’s possible to save $21,000 on the 2025 Polestar 3 SUV in April. Eligible customers will need to provide proof of ownership or a current lease on any Tesla model. This should include U.S. registration or U.S. insurance documents with the VIN, name, address, and expiration date. Members of the same household can also qualify for the Tesla Conquest Bonus as long as the relevant documentation is presented. When combined with the $18,000 Polestar Clean Vehicle Noncash Purchase Incentive, the saving amounts to $21,000. The Polestar 3 starts at $67,500 for the base Long Range Single Motor variant, so will cost only $46,500 with the full incentive. That puts the midsize SUV into the same price bracket as the Tesla Model Y or Ford Mustang Mach-E, which is impressive when you consider the Polestar is more of a Porsche Macan EV or Audi Q6 e-tron competitor. The top Polestar 3 Dual Motor with the Performance Pack costs $79,400, but will only be $58,400 with the discount. This model makes 517 horsepower and sprints to 60 in just 4.5 seconds. What’s It Like To Drive? Polestar In our first drive of the Polestar 3 Single Motor a year ago, we found the EV to be very enjoyable to drive and appreciated its comfortable ride. The charging speeds (up to 250 kW) and range (350 miles) are further advantages for this derivative. Moving inside, the interior is gorgeous to look at and to touch, but too many functions are baked into the touchscreen, and the menus are not as easy to sift through as they should be. Polestar’s campaign for the Tesla Conquest Bonus is quite cheeky, encouraging buyers to “choose better, not the status quo”. Based on our experience with the Polestar 3, it has a more upscale vibe about it than the average Tesla, but the touchscreen-based interface isn’t as easy to operate. Even so, with the Model X soon to be gone, Tesla doesn’t have a true midsize model to compete with the Polestar 3. Related: The U.S. Will Build the Polestar 3 for the World Final Thoughts Polestar Polestar’s massive April savings on its SUV may be an aggressive attempt to clear 2025 stock, but for anyone wanting an electric SUV of this size, it’s one of the best deals right now. If you own a Tesla and want to upgrade to something a bit more luxurious, you can save an additional $3,000, making it an even more enticing deal. The Polestar 3’s incentive is well-timed, too, as gas prices have climbed dramatically in recent weeks, driving renewed interest in EVs. If you can live with the sometimes frustrating infotainment system, this is a superb deal. View the full article

Chris Rice is facing a certain degree of cognitive dissonance over the topic of granting Chase for the Championship waivers to Truck Series drivers that have missed races. The president of Kaulig Racing says he has asked for a waiver to make Corey Lajoie eligible for the 10-driver championship. The inner conflict came when he was asked on SiriusXM's The Morning Drive about the potential of ...Keep readingView the full article

It seemed that tariffs would kill any chance of Kia's Tasman pickup reaching the U.S., and it still may not, but the Korean marque has just announced new plans for a body-on-frame midsize truck that will arrive before the end of the decade. At the automaker's annual investor day, CEO Ho Sung Song said that Kia is aiming for annual U.S. sales of 1.02 million vehicles and a 6.2 percent market share (across all model lines) by introducing a new line of electrified vehicles, which includes extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs). Kia is venturing into a highly competitive space that includes the likes of the Toyota Tacoma, the Ford Ranger, and the Chevrolet Colorado, to name a few, but it most likely won't be doing all the work on its own. New Kia Pickup to Share Hyundai Bones with Hybrid Power Sebastian Cenizo/Ideogram Sister company Hyundai just announced its own plans to introduce a new midsize pickup that will take visual cues from the striking Boulder concept revealed at this year's New York International Auto Show, which seems to indicate that the incoming Kia truck won't necessarily be a restyled Tasman; it makes sense for Hyundai and Kia to work together using learnings from the Tasman and styling from the Boulder. Whatever the basis of this new pickup, both range-extender hybrid and all-electric powertrains will be offered, something Kia's CEO sees as "untapped" territory, reports Automotive News (subscription required). But it won't be untapped for long, and Kia is aware that it must be conservative with targets; Kia wants to sell 90,000 units of its new truck per year, and while that's a lofty target, the Toyota Tacoma, for example, shifted over 274,000 units last year. Related: Hyundai's Toyota Tacoma Rival Will Be More Rugged Than the Santa Cruz Overcoming brand stigmas and proving reliability in the demanding midsize truck space will be immense challenges, but as Ho Sung Song's comments indicate, if Kia can hit the nail on the head the first time it enters America's truck market, there's plenty of potential for growth. Kia Is Entering a Market That Will Get Competitive Fast Sebastian Cenizo/Ideogram Volkswagen-owned Scout Motors is set to introduce range-extender and all-electric versions of its new Traveler pickup and Terra SUV by the end of the decade, and the vast majority of its pre-order interest has been for the EREV powertrain. On a more mainstream front, the Ford F-150 Lightning is becoming an EREV, too, so while this area of the market may have room for exponential growth through today's lens, the landscape will be considerably more saturated by the time Kia's offering arrives. Along with off-road capability, towing capacity, styling, and interior room, Kia will need to be on par with or ahead of rivals in terms of range and interior tech. Can it meet the demands of American buyers? Well, Kia and Hyundai are both far more respected in the U.S. (and rightfully so) than they were just two short decades ago, and they have to start somewhere in the truck game if they want to be as revered as Toyota and its ilk two decades from now. Given how impressive Hyundai Motor Group's brands are and intend to be, we wouldn't bet against it becoming impossible for truck buyers to ignore them soon. Note: The images in this article are AI-generated renders and should not be considered official Kia concepts. View the full article

Before Brice Hennebert started building race-inspired machines as Workhorse Speed Shop, he ran another workshop with a friend, called Kruz Company. The two Belgian builders split amicably a while ago, but there was one notable casualty in the divorce: this Triumph Speed Triple.Brice and his former p... View the full article

The Hyundai Tucson is getting ready for a major redesign for the 2027 model year, and recent spy shots and leaked images are offering clues as to what we should expect from the next-generation compact SUV. The transition from the fourth-generation model to the fifth-gen Tucson (codenamed NX5) will likely be as dramatic as the switch from the third-generation Tucson to the current version in 2020. At least that’s the vibe that next-generation Tucson pre-production prototypes recently spotted in South Korea are giving off. A Boxier, Santa Fe-Inspired Tucson Is Coming While Hyundai is keeping the essential parts of the design under wraps, there are elements that indicate the 2027 Tucson will be radically different from its predecessor. Those include the more rugged proportions, boxier chiseled body and rugged details inspired by the larger Santa Fe, such as the vertical front fascia, flatter clamshell hood, and the muscular, squared-off wheel arches. Based on the spy shots and leaked photos of the front and rear ends, The Korean Car Blog and Cochespias created a rendering that accurately depicts the 2027 Hyundai Tucson front end. As you can see, it has very little in common with the current model, ditching the “Sensous Sportiness” language in favor of the new “Art of Steel” visual identity, which also brings flush door handles. Cochespias.net The rendered 2027 Tucson gets vertical LED turn signals and low-mounted headlights, similar to the 2027 Palisade. There’s also a horizontal LED light bar spanning the entire width of the vehicle. The new “H-effect” front lightning signature replaces the “angel wing” DRLs of the outgoing Tucson. The rear end is expected to feature a full-width LED light bar uniting the slim, vertical taillights. However, the spy shots and leaked images do not offer a clear picture of the design, so you should take the rendering above with a grain of salt. A Hi-Tech Interior With Tesla-Style Interface Hyundai As far as the interior is concerned, the 2027 Hyundai Tucson is expected to be more hi-tech than ever before, reportedly adopting a twin-screen setup consisting of a massive 17-inch central touchscreen and a 9.9-inch digital cluster. The infotainment system is expected to run Hyundai Motor Group’s Android-based Pleos Connect operating system, which will feature a smartphone-like interface, an integrated app store and the “Gleo” AI assistant. The cockpit won’t be all screens, though, as Hyundai will still provide physical knobs for the multimedia system and essential climate functions. Hyundai hasn’t confirmed anything about the upcoming Tucson’s powertrain lineup, but the compact SUV is likely to continue with the assortment of turbocharged gas, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid powertrains. Expect the Tucson to get more EV range (a target of 62 miles) in PHEV guise and possibly an N performance variant with over 300 hp from an AWD turbo-hybrid setup. We’ll learn more about the 2027 Tucson as we get closer to its global debut in late 2026. View the full article

Honda’s American Lineup Will Start to Feel a PinchHonda was once promising a bold electric push, but the company has now slowed sharply in North America. With the move away from battery EVs, there’s a clear gap in the lineup. If you were hoping for a new Honda EV, you’ll be waiting much longer. Honda has canceled several planned EVs, and even the Prologue’s future is unclear. The real question is what’s coming next – or what isn’t. Reports say Honda won’t launch any significant new models in the US this year, and maybe not next year either. The next new model for the US is a refreshed CR-V, expected in 2027, but it looks like a minor update rather than a full redesign. That means Honda will rely on its current lineup – Civic, CR-V, Accord – with little new to offer in a crowded market. Honda Billions in Losses and a Development BottleneckIt’s not just about new models. Honda’s move away from EVs is costing the company a lot. According to Nikkei Asia, Honda may owe suppliers up to $10 billion due to canceled EV projects, plus additional losses from halted development and wasted investments. In fact, the company is bracing for a significant net loss – its first since going public – with total EV-related losses potentially reaching 2.5 trillion yen by 2027. That kind of hit naturally raises concerns about dividends, cash reserves, and long-term stability. Honda faces bigger structural problems. Its development process is slower than rivals like Toyota, partly because it doesn’t share parts as efficiently. The focus on EVs also pulled resources away from gasoline and hybrid models, even though those still account for most of Honda’s sales. Now, Honda is trying to regroup by reorganizing its R&D structure, spinning off its development arm to improve speed and creativity. There’s also talk of potential collaboration with Nissan in North America, though nothing concrete has materialized yet. Kristen Brown Standing Still in a Fast-Moving MarketThe main worry isn’t just the financial losses – it’s the lack of new products. In today’s market, going a year without updates can set a brand back. If that stretches to two or three years, the problem gets much bigger. With no new models, Honda is relying more on incentives to sell cars. In the US, the average incentive per vehicle is much higher than Toyota’s, suggesting that some models are aging. If this keeps up, profit margins will shrink for both dealers and Honda. There’s also a knock-on effect. Aging models are harder to sell without discounts, reducing profitability and, in turn, limiting investment in future development. It’s a cycle that’s difficult to break once it starts. Switching to hybrids might help Honda in the long run, but for now, the company risks losing ground. Competitors keep launching new models, and staying put isn’t an option. Honda’s larger vehicles may help for a while, but it’s not a long-term fix. 2026 looks like it will be a quiet year for Honda in America. Whether this pause becomes a reset or a setback depends on how fast Honda can bring new models to market. H View the 4 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

Hendrick Motorsports has confirmed that Alex Bowman will be back behind the wheel of the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet for this weekend's NASCAR Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway. He has been battling symptoms of vertigo for the past month. The 32-year-old had to get out of the car mid-race at COTA, with Myatt Snider bringing the car to the checkered flag. After Anhony Alfredo filled ...Keep readingView the full article

Professional Top Fuel driver Ida Zetterström will launch her 2026 season at the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals, April 24-26 at zMAX Dragway in Concord, North Carolina. The event marks Zetterström’s first race of the year and her debut appearance with Shawn Reed Racing. Zetterström will also debut a new primary partner, GlobalSKU, bringing an innovative, tech-driven brand into NHRA drag racing for the first time. The partnership introduces GlobalSKU to a new motorsports audience, aligning its cutting-edge, tech-driven approach to online selling with the fast paced and high-performance world of Top Fuel competition. GlobalSKU is an AI-powered commerce platform that simplifies how products are sold online. Using image recognition technology, users can scan an item, instantly identify it, check real-time market pricing, and generate ready-to-publish listings in seconds. Those listings can then be deployed across multiple marketplaces, streamlining the entire sellingprocess from one app. The partnership with Zetterström is a natural fit. In a sport where success is measured in thousandths of a second, both drivers and brands are built on speed, precision, and performance. GlobalSKU’s focus on efficiency and innovation mirrors the competitive demands of Top Fuel racing, making it a strong addition to Zetterström’s growing international platform. “I’m incredibly proud to partner with GlobalSKU and Shawn Reed Racing for my first race of the season,” said Zetterström. “GlobalSKU is bringing something completely new into our sport, and I love how their focus on speed, efficiency, and innovation aligns with what we do in Top Fuel. For me, it’s about building partnerships that go beyond the racetrack, and this is a great example of that.” “The entire GlobalSKU team is thrilled to partner with Ida Zetterström and Shawn Reed Racing. They embody the precision, accuracy, and speed the GlobalSKU app gives all its users,” said Gary Stephens, founder of Global SKU. “Entrepreneurs to Enterprises. What a thrill to make our entrance into NHRA with this team. We can’t wait to see where this partnership takes us with Ida at the wheel.” “We’re excited to have Ida in the car for Charlotte,” said Shawn Reed, owner of Shawn Reed Racing. “She’s the real deal, and this is a great opportunity to make a strong statement together as a team. It’s also great to welcome GlobalSKU to the program and to the sport. This is exactly the kind of partnership that helps move our program forward.” The Charlotte event is currently a one-race agreement as Zetterström continues to pursue additional partners to expand her 2026 NHRA schedule. With that in mind, the weekend presents an opportunity to showcase the performance, value, and scalability of her program to prospective partners both on and off the track. Zetterström made her NHRA debut in 2024 following a standout career in Europe, where she captured two Super Street Bike championships and the 2023 FIA European Top Fuel Championship. Since transitioning to the United States, she has quickly established herself as a rising presence in the category, pairing competitive performance with a strong personal brand and growing fan engagement. Supporting the effort in Charlotte will be a mix of returning and new associate partners. Longtime collaborators VP Racing Fuels and Dodge will be joined by new partners including Simpson Racing and Bandero Tequila. Fans can follow Zetterström’s 2026 season debut from zMAX Dragway in person, streaming live on NHRA.tv, or on FS1 broadcast coverage as she begins the next chapter of her NHRA career. The post Ida Zetterström Set to Kick Off 2026 Season at NHRA 4-Wide Nationals with Shawn Reed Racing and GlobalSKU first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Getting a car diagnosed has always been a bit of a lottery. A knock, a whine from somewhere under the hood, or a grinding that only appears when you brake at speed. You take it to the dealership, do your best to describe it, and the quality of what comes back depends almost entirely on who happens to be working that day. AutoSonix is hoping to change that. Their AI-powered device plugs into a car's OBD-II port, listens to the vehicle, and converts sounds into diagnostic data in real time, no guesswork. What's even better is that there's an app that offers similar diagnostics, too. Ford Why This Solves a Very Real ProblemThe inconsistency in dealership diagnostics has always come down to human experience. A seasoned technician with 20 years on the floor will catch something a junior tech simply won't. AutoSonix addresses this directly. The platform cross-references audio capture with live OBD-II data to flag issues across engines, transmissions, and other core systems, and it gets sharper with every assessment it runs. Every technician, regardless of experience level, gets the same objective starting point. The artificial intelligence also layers in predictive warranty analytics, helping dealers identify hidden mechanical risks before they become expensive claims, alongside trade-in valuations and cloud-based inventory management that gives a full picture of vehicle health in seconds rather than hours. View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article The Version That Would Change EverythingThe dealership tool is genuinely useful. But the stripped-back smartphone app built on the same technology is something else entirely. Record a few seconds of audio near the engine bay, get an instant read on what's wrong, and decide whether it's worth a service visit before you've even picked up the phone. If you catch a problem early, you’ll know whether that sound is urgent or nothing to worry about. Or even skip the trip altogether if it turns out to be minor. Available on both Android and Apple platforms, the AutoSonix app could be a game-changer for at-home diagnostics. View the full article

Following two successful seasons as the primary sponsor of the Rick Jackson Motorsports (RJM) Top Alcohol Funny Car, Tim Fry, CEO of Take 2 Services is officially launching Take 2 Motorsports. Take 2 Motorsports will showcase its new, custom built 2026 Murf McKinney funny car, piloted by Shane Westerfield, and continue to build its Top Alcohol Funny Car racing program alongside RJM throughout the 2026 season. “Launching a motorsports company and building a competitive NHRA drag racing team has always been a dream of mine,” said Tim Fry. “I value partnerships that are rooted in a true commitment to racing and delivering real performance and results. Kathy Jackson, Chris Perl, Shane Westerfield, and the entire RJM team embody that mindset. I’m excited to grow Take 2 Motorsports into a state-of-the-art organization built for long-term success.” To begin building the program’s success, a new 2026 Murf McKinney funny car was prepared during the 2025-2026 offseason. The team tested the new chassis at the NHRA division 7 race at Firebird Motorsports Park in Phoenix, AZ. The first full quarter mile pass ran 5.45 ET at 267 MPH. “This new car features the latest advancements in safety, innovation, and performance, and its responsiveness is incredible,” said team driver and crew chief Shane Westerfield. “I’m looking forward to pushing it to its full potential and continuing to grow our racing program. The partnership between Take 2 Motorsports and RJM brings together the experience, resources, and shared drive needed to compete at the highest level and unlock our full potential as a team.” The returning experienced, all-star crew includes Shane Westerfield, Chris Perl, Mike Pavia, and Andre Monarque who combined have over 150 event wins, including winning last year’s U.S. Nationals. “Tim and Take 2 have gone above and beyond to make sure we are set up for success,” said RJM General Manager, Chris Perl. “I think the performance of the new car reflects how well we are all working together. We’re beyond grateful to Kathy Jackson for her unwavering support and willingness to keep the team together after Rick’s passing. Our long-time friends Plumbing Concepts and Diede Construction, and associate sponsors Mike Ursetta at Arvada Excavating, CP-Carrillo, NGK Spark Plugs, Hoosier Tires, and Clark Copper Head Gaskets have also been invaluable in supporting our racing program.” Take 2 Motorsports x RJM has a competitive 2026 schedule including regional and national NHRA events: with the new car’s first national event this weekend in Pomona at the NHRA Winternationals. The post Take 2 Motorsports Making NHRA Drag Racing Debut in Pomona first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Antron Brown wants a Winternationals Wally bad. Brown sees this event as a chance to launch a Top Fuel title run in 2026. View the full article

Smart's Unorthodox PathSmart started out as a joint venture between Daimler-Benz and the makers of Swatch watches, SMH, resulting in the formation of Micro Compact Car AG in 1994. The first product of that partnership eventually resulted in the Smart City-Coupe that made its world premiere in 1998. It would later be called the ForTwo in 2002, and it was eventually joined by the Roadster and ForFour in 2003 and 2004, respectively. Despite initial success, the brand saw its fair share of struggles down the line. It was eventually passed on to Geely via another joint venture with Daimler to keep Smart going. So far, it's been proving fairly successful, although it's a relatively far cry from its microcar and subcompact roots. Smart even has a compact crossover these days, something unimaginable back then. Smart Going BigThe current Smart range consists of two subcompact crossovers and the aforementioned compact crossover. Its names are #1, #3, and #5, signifying the size and positioning of said vehicles. The #5 is the largest Smart vehicle made so far, measuring in at 185.2 inches long, 75.6 inches wide, 67.1 inches tall, and rides on a lengthy 114.2-inch wheelbase, which isn't that far off a FordCrown Victoria (114.7 inches). But coming soon is the #6, and it's something that no one expected Smart to ever build. Previewed late last year, the #6 is the brand's upcoming midsize sedan, and it's aimed at the likes of the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, and a whole slew of midsize sedans from China. Dimensions? Based on available information, it's 193.1 inches long, 75.7 inches wide, 59.4 inches tall, and has a wheelbase of 115.2 inches long. To put that into perspective, a ForTwo will fit well within the #6's wheelbase with over a foot to spare, and the overall length of the sedan is about the same as two of those ForTwos. It's strange times we live in, but Smart isn't totally abandoning its roots. It'll soon introduce a successor to the ForTwo that'll be named the #2. Smart What the #6 OffersThe Smart #6 is based on the same architecture as the #5, which is also used by several Geely models. It boasts a plug-in hybrid powertrain, pairing a 1.5-liter turbo with a rear-mounted motor, claiming 429 horsepower and a range of up to 1,124 miles with a full charge and a full tank. Inside, there are three screens that will likely please the Chinese market. You won't find many buttons inside, a common trait among Chinese cars, and just about everything is controlled via the touchscreen. It also comes with a 20-speaker, 2000W Sennheiser audio system, though it's unclear whether that's standard across all potential trims of the car. A barrage of advanced driver assists is also to be expected. The price? That's yet to be disclosed, although we wouldn't be too surprised if it starts below $35,000. We'll learn more about it once it debuts publicly at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show, which will be held from April 24 to May 3. Smart China's MIIT View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

To say that the Los Angeles Fire Department regularly has its hands full is an understatement. Can a new e-bike initiative help?View the full article

In the world of custom, one-off cars, you’ll typically find moneyed collectors paying exorbitant amounts for Rolls-Royces and Bentleys that will spend most of their lives garaged. So, it’s quite refreshing to find a one-off project for something a lot smaller, simpler, and driver-focused. The car in question is a Mini John Cooper Works Convertible, and a longtime Mini fan in the U.S. decided they wanted something more unique than what’s available from the factory. Mini Plant Oxford was tasked with bringing the customer’s vision to life, and the end result is one of the coolest and most unique drop-tops you’ll see. An NFL-Inspired Look Mini JCW Convertible One-Off Matthew I van Howell/Mini View the 6 images of this gallery on the original article The customer wanted this JCW Convertible to be themed according to their favorite U.S. football team, which is where the custom Midnight Black and Metallic Green two-tone exterior comes in. The colors were hand-sprayed and clear-coated, with a distinctive diagonal color split across the exterior that works well with the retro design cues of the latest Mini. On the soft-top, there’s a tonal Union Jack graphic. Moving inside, the same green colorway of the exterior is mirrored here. Over 50 details have been individually specified, including the green-trimmed speaker surround for the Harmon Kardon sound system, custom door armrest overlays, and personalized floor mats. The customer chose to apply “MINI.01” badging to this one-off creation, which appears on the sill plates and steering wheel. Mini JCW Convertible One-Off Matthew I van Howell/Mini View the 5 images of this gallery on the original article “Our owners see their MINI as more than just a car, and for many, it becomes a canvas for self-expression shaped into a true reflection of their personality,” said Kate Alini, Head of Marketing, Product, and Strategy, MINI USA. “This project gave us the opportunity to explore creating a unique custom-crafted MINI specific to customer preferences. With a vision this distinctive for a one-off car, it was exciting to see our customer’s vision come to life.” Being a JCW, this particular Mini is equipped with a 228-horsepower four-cylinder engine that can get it from 0-60 mph in 6.2 seconds, half a second quicker than the Cooper S Convertible. Related: I Drove The Mini Cooper JCW Here's My Honest Review Autoblog’s Take Matthew I van Howell/Mini This one-of-a-kind Mini showcases the design expertise of Mini’s product and design teams. It also demonstrates that the level of customization typically reserved for high-end luxury cars could be replicated on smaller, more affordable models like the Mini. That being said, we’re sure this customer paid top dollar for this one-off Mini, which already costs $44,600 in standard form. With all the extras, we wouldn’t be surprised if the final cost exceeded $60,000 or more. That could buy you a genuine sports car, but for many, you can't put a price on a bespoke vehicle like this one. View the full article

Elite Motorsports is bringing seven teams to the Winternationals. Learn what each team has planned for this iconic NHRA event. View the full article

In an ironic twist of fate, a Chinese SUV with looks that mimic premium British styling—particularly the Range Rover Evoque—has become the UK’s best-selling vehicle in March. The Jaecoo 7 compact SUV, built by Chinese automaker Chery, saw 10,064 registrations in Britain last month, overtaking the previous top-selling car, the Ford Puma subcompact crossover (9,193 units sold), and the Nissan Qashqai (8,718 units), a longtime favorite of British car buyers. From Zero to Hero in Only 14 Months Jaecoo UK This is a remarkable result for Chery’s brand Jaecoo, which only entered the UK market a little over a year ago in January 2025. According to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), 15,569 Jaecoo 7 SUVs were sold in the UK since the start of this year, putting it just behind the Ford Puma, which saw 16,128 registrations in the first quarter. Jaecoo UK Known as the “Temu Range Rover” because of its resemblance to the Range Rover Evoque and its 50% lower price, the Jaecoo 7 offers three available powertrains—gas, hybrid and plug-in hybrid—and starts at £30,165 in the UK ($37,700 at the current exchange rate). It’s worth noting that 85% of all Jaecoo 7 sales in March were for the range-topping SHS-P plug-in hybrid variant, which offers an EV range of 56 miles. The Jaecoo 7 SHS-P starts at £35,175 ($47,220). Chinese Carmakers Nearing 10% Market Share in Europe Jaecoo UK “This result reflects not only the strength of the product, but also the commitment of our growing UK retail network and the confidence customers are placing in our brand,” said Gary Lan, the CEO of Jaecoo UK. “While we are relatively new to the market, our global Chery Group manufacturing base and extensive experience in vehicle exports have enabled us to adapt quickly to UK market needs and grow sustainably here,” he added. Jaecoo UK As Autocar points out, the Jaecoo 7 is not the only Chinese car that UK buyers are buying in large numbers. In the first quarter of 2026, SAIC Motor-owned MG had a market share of 3.88%, while BYD was not far behind. Chinese brands are growing their market share in Europe, reaching 8% of the total EU car market in February 2026. This should serve as a warning to European manufacturers as it shows that consumer loyalty to the established companies, badges and models in the region only goes so far, with the better deals offered by Chinese carmakers being more important for an increasing number of buyers. Jaecoo UK View the full article

Chad Green wants to keep his Funny Car points lead. Green rolls into the Winternationals looking for another win.View the full article

American Honda is also issuing a Stop Sale notice on affected bikes, but before you get too worried, the recall affects under 20% of bikes.View the full article

We’ve got live drag racing coming to you from Division 2! It’s Lucas Oil Drag Racing at it’s finest and every pair that goes down the race track is right here live. If you like Sportsman Drag Racing, where wheels-up action is the norm, then this is the racing for you. We’re talking Stock, Super Stock, Comp, Alcohol classes, and more right here from South Georgia Motorsports Park. Check it out and let us know what you think! The post FREE LIVE DRAG RACING: NHRA Division 2 Divisional Lucas Oil Sportsman Drag Racing At South Georgia Motorsports Park – Friday appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

Mitsubishi Sets Its Sights on the “Real” Land CruiserWe already know the Mitsubishi Pajero is returning. The name is confirmed, the comeback is locked in, and the timing is starting to look clearer. Current reports point to a global debut sometime in the third quarter of 2026, with order books opening shortly after and first deliveries trickling in toward December. It’s also clear where Mitsubishi is aiming. The new Pajero isn’t returning to blend in with the crowd. It’s being developed to go head-to-head with the Toyota Land Cruiser 300, which still sets the standard in markets where the Land Cruiser name means something. That’s not just speculation anymore. A Pajero prototype was recently spotted in Japan running side by side with a Land Cruiser 300 during testing. Automakers don’t set up these comparisons unless they’re serious. It’s a clear sign of who Mitsubishi is targeting. Toyota What the Sighting RevealsThe prototype sighting, published exclusively by Japan’s Best Car, was covered in heavy camouflage and running Okazaki plates. It doesn’t reveal everything, but the basics are there. The proportions point to a full-size SUV with real presence, likely built on a ladder frame from the latest Triton pickup, not on the Nissan Patrol platform. Compared to the Land Cruiser 300 running alongside it, the Pajero appears slightly lower in height but still carries a solid, upright presence. The design leans boxy, more squared-off than recent Mitsubishi SUVs, and notably skips the rear-mounted spare tire seen on older models. Underneath, it’s expected to use Mitsubishi’s Super Select II four-wheel-drive system – hardware that’s proven itself off-road (Mitsubishi Ralliart’s return in rallying). There’s also word of an upgraded eight-speed automatic replacing the Triton’s six-speed, which should help close the gap in refinement with Toyota. With the latest sighting, this isn’t just about bringing back a rugged nameplate. Mitsubishi looks set to move the Pajero upmarket, focusing on comfort and on-road manners as much as off-road ability. MitsubishiMotorsTV/YouTube Benchmarking Isn’t Just for ShowHaving experienced one of Mitsubishi Motors’ benchmarking sessions firsthand during my visit to Okazaki last year, it’s clear these comparisons aren’t symbolic exercises. Engineers push both the Destinator SUV and the benchmark vehicle to their limits, often well beyond what most drivers would consider reasonable. At one point, it got intense enough that I opted out of a final session. Riding shotgun in the competitor while both vehicles were being driven flat-out back-to-back wasn’t exactly reassuring. That background makes this Pajero sighting matter more. If Mitsubishi is benchmarking the new SUV against the Land Cruiser 300, it shows they’re not just chasing nostalgia. They know what they’re up against and are preparing for it. If Mitsubishi gets the mix right – durability, refinement, and the right tech – the new Pajero won’t just be another option. It could shake up the segment in a way we haven’t seen for a long time. Jacob Oliva View the 4 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

The Trump Administration recently announced that it was going to move the Forest Service headquarters from Washington D.C. to Salt Lake City, which puts it firmly in public lands enemy territory. View the full article

Registration is now open for the RS 457 Trofeo, a five-round championship built to develop new racing talent. View the full article

The Southeast Gassers Association is ready to kick off its 2026 season. Shadyside Dragway will host the first event of the season. View the full article