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Kyle Busch said he is grateful for what Jim Pohlman brought to his Richard Childress Racing No. 8 team through the first 10 races of the season and that senior leadership ultimately made the decision to pair him with Andy Street instead. After finishing second to Carson Hocevar in the Truck Series race on Friday night at Texas Motor Speedway, Busch addressed the change in leadership atop the ...Keep readingView the full article

After two red flags and an overtime restart, Carson Hocevar captured the checkered flag in Friday's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Texas Motor Speedway. He passed Gio Ruggiero on the final restart, winning at Texas just days after his first Cup win at Talladega, continuing a dream week for the rising star. Kyle Busch finished second in a Spire 1-2 for the team. "It’s ...Keep readingView the full article

A late-season Sierra Nevada winter storm is taking aim at California today, Friday May 1, 2026, with the Weather Prediction Center flagging significant snow Sunday night through Tuesday as a Pacific low ejects onshore and drives moisture more than 90 percent above seasonal norms into the high country. Peak Driving Danger WindowSunday night through Tuesday morning across I-80, Highway 50, and Highway 395, when snow levels crash from 7,000 feet to as low as 4,500 feet and overnight ice forms on lower-elevation approaches. What to ExpectSnow totals: 1-2 feet above 6,000 feet, with up to 3-4 feet possible on the highest peaksWind gusts: 50-70 MPH along the Sierra crest, locally to 80 MPHSnow level crash: Starts around 7,000 feet Sunday, drops to 4,500 feet by Tuesday morningWorst corridors: I-80 over Donner Pass (7,000 ft), Highway 50 over Echo Summit (7,382 ft), Highway 395 along the Eastern SierraRoad ConditionsCaltrans will require chains on most vehicles above 5,000 feet, and AWD or 4WD with snow tires may still need them. I-80 and Highway 50 both face possible multi-hour closures Sunday night into Monday, and when both routes shut simultaneously there is no realistic alternative across the central Sierra. Winter Driving TipsCalifornia's Traction Law and chain controls apply through any active warning. Carry chains, a blanket, flashlight, portable charger, water, food, and a full tank of fuel before crossing any pass. Autoblog's best practices for driving in snow, ice, and rain covers the fundamentals, and our roundup of the best cars and SUVs for snow and winter driving is worth a look if your vehicle isn't set up for it. Check Caltrans QuickMap before you leave. TimingThe system arrives Sunday evening, peaks Monday, and tapers Tuesday afternoon. We'll update this article as conditions evolve. View the full article

When Jim Pohlman left JR Motorsports to take the job to serve as crew chief for Kyle Busch, Justin Allgaier said that the two-time champion would get back whatever he put into that relationship. In the end, the Pohlman-Busch pairing lasted just 10 races, with Andy Street returning to a role he occupied on an interim basis last year with the Richard Childress Racing team. Pohlman was replaced on ...Keep readingView the full article

AJ Allmendinger will be the next driver in Kaulig Racing's 'free agent' No. 25 Ram 1500, driving the truck at Watkins Glen International next weekend. That race will feature several other notable names, including Connor Zilisch, Shane van Gisbergen, Ross Chastain, and Carson Hocevar. Kaulig has used a variety of drivers in its No. 25 truck this year, and recently announced Jamie McMurray (San ...Keep readingView the full article

For the first time, NHRA’s Mission Foods Drag Racing Series is racing at South Georgia Motorsports Park, and on the first day of qualifying there at the NHRA Southern Nationals, Greg Anderson rolled the dice on an unknown racing surface and came up aces. Driving the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro out of the esteemed KB Titan Racing stable of Pro Stock cars, six-time world champ Anderson is set to thrown down on Saturday at SGMP in an effort to keep hold of the top spot and chase a second Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge title. In the first session of qualifying on a racetrack that no one yet knew how to manage, Anderson was out of the gate with a wildly quick 6.498-second pass at 210.60 mph. Three bonus points were drawn in, and the KB Titan team began to build a notebook. In the second session, the power applied was more than the racetrack could hold, which set bookends for Anderson and his HendrickCars.com Chevy. “It’s great out there, it’s fantastic, and that’s why we used to come here to test,” said Anderson, who hadn’t been to South Georgia Motorsports Park in upwards of a decade. “There were quite a few cars that got over-center today, but that’s just because the air was very good and we’re making a lot of power. We missed a little bit on the starting line second session and got a little bit too aggressive, but that will just be a small adjustment for tomorrow.” Weather permitting, Saturday should bring two final rounds of qualifying as well as the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge, the specialty race that pits the semifinalists from the previous race against one another for bragging rights and bonus points that will come into play when the Countdown to the Championship kicks begins. Anderson, along with KB Titan Racing teammates Matt Latino, Cody Coughlin, and Charlotte winner Matt Hartford, will all compete in the bonus event. If Anderson holds onto the top spot, it will be the fourth consecutive and 144th No. 1 qualifier award of his career. “Power-wise, the weather is looking good all weekend, so it’s going to be fast, and come Sunday, it’s going to be a great race,” said Anderson. “This is such a neat place to race. The people here are very appreciative that we’re here, and I like that a lot. I love being here, and I’m having fun.” Qualifying and the first rounds of the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge are scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at South Georgia Motorsports Park, with final qualifying and the #2Fast2Tasty finals to take place beginning at 3 p.m. ET. The post Peachy Start for Greg Anderson and HendrickCars.com with Provisional No. 1 first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Iker Lecuona topped Friday practice at Balaton Park as Ducati filled the top seven on combined WorldSBK times. Albert Arenas claimed WorldSSP Superpole, while Maria Herrera was fastest in WorldWCR before a grid penalty. The post Ducati top seven as Lecuona leads dominant Balaton Friday appeared first on MCNews. View the full article

Top Fuel’s Shawn Langdon made the fastest pass in NHRA history on Friday, making a huge splash in NHRA’s debut at South Georgia Motorsports Park and taking the provisional No. 1 spot at the NHRA Southern Nationals. J.R. Todd (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are also the provisional No. 1 qualifiers at the fifth of 20 races during the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season. Langdon went 3.724-seconds at an incredible 345.00 mph in his 12,000-horsepower Kalitta Air dragster, shattering the previous speed record of 343.51 set by Brittany Force last year in Indianapolis. The record-breaking pass puts Langdon, a past world champion in the category, on track for his third No. 1 qualifier of the season and the 25th in his career. Langdon made impressive passes in testing before the season-opener in Gainesville and had made 340-mph runs in his career, but making the fastest run in NHRA history on Friday certainly qualifies as an incredible statement for the driver named to NHRA’s Top 75 Drivers list before the season. “To see that [345 mph] pop up on the scoreboard, I think it was special for the guys. I was happy for them, especially Brian [Husen, crew chief],” Langdon said. “We were able to do that testing and some people had different ideas on what they thought, if it was legit or not. We kind of talked about it and Brian was like, ‘Well, we’ll just do it in the season to prove it was legit’. “It’s also good to be able to do that here, at this new track, in front of these new fans. I knew it was on a good run, but I was actually a little surprised because you don’t really notice the mile per hour.” Tony Stewart went to second with a 3.758 at 334.40 and points leader Doug Kalitta is third after going 3.762 at 334.40. Not to be outdone by his Kalitta Motorsports teammate, Funny Car’s J.R. Todd had his own spectacular showing on Friday at South Georgia Motorsports Park, making the fastest pass of the year in Funny Car with a fantastic run of 3.887 at 339.28 in his 12,000-horsepower DHL Toyota GR Supra. It sets a massive career-best speed for the past world champion and puts Todd in position to pick up his second No. 1 qualifier of the season and 16th in his career. After going five years in between No. 1 qualifiers, Todd now has a chance for two in the past three races, which is a great showcase for the progress of his team. He’s third in points and closing in on his first victory of the season, and Todd was also impressed with the 3.930 the team ran in the second round of qualifying, giving him the best pass of both sessions on Friday. “Obviously, today was a good day and kind of continues everything we’ve done so far this year,” Todd said. “We hit the ground running in testing and I knew we had a really good car. What I’m happy with is Dickie [Venables] and Todd [Smith] adjusting to the conditions. Even here, the track is good, but it’s still a bit tricky, and you see a lot of people struggling to get down. We made that good run in Q1 and the speed surprised me when I got out and saw the time slip. “We went back and kind of slowed it down for Q2, because we just wanted to make sure we got down the track. We weren’t trying to throw down, but they said we pretty much got all of it. It was refreshing to hear that we didn’t leave anything on the table.” Jordan Vandergriff sits second with his pass of 3.924 at 325.14 and Pomona winner Matt Hagan jumped to third in the second session after going 3.933 at 328.78. Pro Stock’s Greg Anderson continues to be nearly unstoppable in qualifying and that was evident on Friday, blasting to a 6.498 at 210.60 in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro as he looks for his fourth straight No. 1 qualifier of the season. No other car sniffed the 6.40s on Friday at SGMP, putting the six-time world champ in a great position to claim his 144th career No. 1 qualifier. Anderson has praised the car all year and the results have shown, as he’s advanced to the final round at three of the first four races, winning in Pomona. He’d love to do it again at NHRA’s debut at the facility and add another impressive accomplishment to his legacy. “This is a good racetrack, but it seems like quite a few of us got a little greedy today, just because the air was so good. We made a lot of power out there today, and some of us missed, including myself,” Anderson said. “We missed a little bit on the starting line, just got a little bit too aggressive, but other than that, we just have to adjust for tomorrow. It’s not a big adjustment.” Eric Latino is second after Friday thanks to his 6.508 at 209.75 and Aaron Stanfield is third with a run of 6.525 at 210.60. In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Matt Smith made his NHRA debut at SGMP on his Denso Auto Parts Buell a good one, making the first run in the 6.60s in 2026 with a standout pass of 6.669 at 203.03. It’s the quickest run of the season in the category and puts Smith on track for his second straight No. 1 qualifier. This comes a race after he became Pro Stock Motorcycle’s all-time leader in No. 1 qualifiers with 60. Smith, a six-time world champion is now looking to make it 61 and he had a consistent Friday with the quickest run in each session. Next on the to-do list for Smith is finishing the job and he hopes Friday’s strong start at a new track leads to his first victory of the 2026 campaign. “You know, we tested a lot, even when we left Charlotte, we went and tested again in Rockingham, so, I mean, we’re out here trying to be better and it’s showing every day. We’re getting better and better, and that’s the name of the game,” Smith said. “Looking at the weather I said we should run 6.69 to 6.70, and it went 6.699, so it was as close to a 70 as you can get. On the second run, we had a headwind, so we knew we were going to slow down a little bit.” Charlotte winner Gaige Herrera is currently second with a run of 6.723 at 200.23 and reigning world champ Richard Gadson is right behind after going 6.730 at 201.37. Qualifying continues at 12:30 p.m. ET on Saturday at the NHRA Southern Nationals at South Georgia Motorsports Park. This story was originally published on May 1, 2026. The post Langdon Makes Fastest Run in NHRA History; Todd, Anderson, and M. Smith Open NHRA Southern Nationals in Provisional No. 1 Spots first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

If you want to see live big money bracket racing, this Triple Threat Bracket Series event is one to watch so check it out LIVE right here thanks to our friends at MotorManiaTV. We love this track, love the staff, and love that the racing action is hot and heavy regardless of the series. If you want a great time, make sure you hit Virginia Motorsports Park. Video Description: North Dinwiddie, VA – The East Coast’s favorite big money bracket series just got BIGGER! Due to the weather forecast for Saturday, the format has been adjusted so we’re bringing you two massive $15,000-to-win days — Friday and Sunday — live from Virginia Motorsports Park! Event Dates: April 30 – May 3, 2026 Location: Virginia Motorsports Park – North Dinwiddie, VA Huge Weekend Payouts: Friday & Sunday – $15,000 to Win each day $3,750 Runner-Up • $1,500 Semis • $150 Round Money $750 Bonus to the No-Box Winner each day! Thursday Action: Test & Tune + Super 64 Shootout – $4,000 to Win New This Year: 32-Car Junior Dragster Showdown – $1,200 to Win (Sunday Double-Header – 2 Races in 1 Day!) Featured: 2025 PDRA Series Champion Austin Thompson No-Box Runs Separate Down to the Final! Double Entries Permitted This is high-stakes bracket racing with massive payouts all weekend long! The post FREE LIVE DRAG RACING: PDRA Mega Bucks Triple Threat Bracket Series Racing At VMP – Friday appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

Here we go with action from the NHRA Southern Nationals LIVE at South Georgia Motorsports Park. This is the first NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing event held at SGMP which is normally home to some of the nations biggest Radial races like Lights Out and No Mercy. This is the first time that NHRA has brought nitro drag racing to the Valdosta area and it should be a run event to watch. They have added all kinds of new grandstands at SGMP for the event and we’re looking forward to it. Check out all your favorites below! The post FREE LIVESTREAM: NHRA Southern Nationals FREE Preview Friday Plus Pro Mod Qualifying! appeared first on BangShift.com. View the full article

Peter Biondo and Dan Fletcher headline the free Smarter Racing Workshop. Attendees gain proven strategies to lower their reaction times.View the full article

As a three-time No Prep Kings points champion and winningest driver ever in the series, Ryan Martin is no stranger to success. His stoic nature is one of a driver that never appears to be too high or too low. But standing at the top end of zMAX Dragway after winning the first-ever event in the Right Trailers Outlaw Street class at the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals, not even Martin could reign in his emotions. “Honestly, it’s pretty surreal,” says Martin. “I thank God that I’ve been very fortunate – I’ve won races for $100,000 and I’ve won championships back-to-back, and that is all fantastic. But you still go, ‘Hey, NHRA is the big stage, NHRA gives away Wally’s, and I don’t have one of those.’ This class gave us the ability to go get a Wally – a 75th anniversary Diamond Wally. That was just icing on the cake.” The final round was decided right at the starting line. Martin’s opponent, Scott Taylor, went -.002 red, throwing away a 3.702-second pass at 195.65. A timing malfunction in Martin’s lane caused him to not receive a time, and despite seeing the win light come on in his lane, it took a couple minutes until he knew for sure. “It was a very odd moment,” Martin says. “I could clearly tell he got out in front of me, so the first thing I do is look up to see if he went red. He didn’t have a red light when I looked up, but I had a win light. I make my pass and no time comes up. I’m on my radio going, ‘What happened? What happened?’ waiting for somebody to say something. They’d already kicked their headphones off celebrating. Until I parked the car next to Scott, then looked over at the guy walking up to me with the Wally…that’s the first time I knew.” The weekend wasn’t without its challenges. Martin’s team struggled throughout qualifying, with a 3.889 at 177.84 mph being his best pass, narrowly making the field in the No. 8 position. His reward for getting in the show was a first-round matchup with No. 1 qualifier Kyle Canion, who posted a 3.667 elapsed time at an incredible 218.58 mph. Martin admits there was no specific moment that turned things around. “I hate to say this, but I think we just had a lot of bad luck,” says Martin. “We tested at Rockingham on the way here, and we couldn’t do no wrong. This car’s been a 3.64 before, and we were dipping close to that. When we left the test session, I thought we were gonna be in good shape. “We showed up for Q1 and I honestly believed we were going to go down and set the bar, but we busted the bypass valve off the hose. In Q2 it was a tuneup malfunction, and Q3 the thing smoked the tires out of nowhere. Sometimes you get bad luck and sometimes you get good luck – we just had a string of bad luck.” Martin’s luck changed quickly in eliminations. He used a slight starting line advantage and a 3.724 e.t. at 210.57 mph to get around Canion in Saturday afternoon’s first round, who slowed to a 3.807 at 175.94. From there, he knew he had his hot rod back headed into Sunday. “We knew you can only suck so many times, right?” Martin says with a laugh. “We knew Kyle was the car to beat, but we also knew the sun was out. The track was 125 degrees. That’s where [tuner] Jamie [Miller] came in and really helped us out. He said, ‘Let’s calm it down, make a fast run in the heat of the day.’ That’s why we won, because he made the right tuning call on race day.” In the semifinals, Martin faced his teammate Carson Baker in his orange “Speedo Cheeto” Camaro. Like Taylor would do later in the final round, Baker also went red, handing Martin a free ticket to the final round. While some might argue that Martin got lucky being on the receiving end of two red lights in three rounds, it’s also an example of how widely respected Martin is – opponents know they have to cut a great light to beat him. “I guess you could call it an intimidation factor,” says Martin. “For me to be able to go up there and they be worried about racing me, I like that. Carson’s my teammate, so I don’t like to have that on him. He had a bunch of family members here, and he was on a big stage. It was easier for me to just breathe and make a pass than it was for him. “Scott, that’s a different story. He’s a veteran driver. Him and I have been battling it out back and forth for 10-plus years now. We know how to deal with each other, and he was getting in my head as much as I was getting in his. You could say he had a consistent car and I didn’t, but at the end of the day, we got the W.” This story was originally published on May 1, 2026. The post Ryan Martin Savors “Surreal” Moment, Earns First Career Wally in NHRA’s Outlaw Street Debut first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

With the exception of a very reserved legalese declaration, Denny Hamlin has largely kept his feelings to himself regarding the Joe Gibbs Racing v Chris Gabehart and Spire Motorsports lawsuit. Those feelings were made way more explicit on Thursday evening. Earlier in the day, Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson appeared on the GluckCast weekly show and answered a very specific question ...Keep readingView the full article

Once again, Pres. Donald Trump is revising his tariff playbook, this time announcing he will increase tariffs on European auto imports to 25%, up from the 15% figure set in a trade deal the U.S. and EU reached last year. The move comes at a perilous time considering the economic challenges already posed by Trump’s war with Iran. And it could cost European automakers and suppliers hundreds of millions of dollars in additional tariffs each month, based on forecasts previously made by EU officials. The president accused the Europeans of “not complying” with terms of last year’s trade agreement. But EU officials previously said they expected the U.S. “to honor its commitments.” Volkswagen The Trade War Heats Up AgainAs far back as his first term in office, from January 2017 to January 2021, Trump frequently threatened to take steps to increase duties on, and even ban, European auto imports. He finally acted shortly after taking office for a second term last year. Last July, Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reached terms on a broad deal setting tariffs at 15% on most imports from the EU, including automobiles. But the so-called Turnberry Agreement – named after a Trump golf course in Scotland – has since come under review. Now, he said in a Truth Social post. "Based on the fact the European Union is not complying with our fully agreed to Trade Deal, next week I will be increasing Tariffs charged to the European Union for Cars and Trucks coming into the United States. The tariff,” he added, will be increased to 25%.” Kristen Brown A Big Hit to European BrandsThe impact of the planned tariff hike could be substantial, especially for German and British luxury brands. Tariffs are based on what are, effectively, wholesale prices. But that could still add up to several thousand dollars on a model like the Golf GTI, which starts at $34,590 before delivery fees. The increase could push into the tens of thousands of dollars on high-line models, like the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class which starts at $185,000. Last September, EU officials estimated that the 15% figure set in the trade deal with the U.S. would save its manufacturers from 500 million to 600 million euros, or $585 million to $700 million, a month compared to the 27.5% tariff the White House originally set. That offers a sense of how much costs go up under Trump’s latest shift. European automakers like Mercedes, VW, BMW and Volvo do produce a number of vehicles in U.S. plants – but their costs could go up substantially, as well, if the revised tariffs broadly cover auto parts and components, as well as fully assembled vehicles. Most of the American-made models still use thousands of dollars of everything from anti-lock brake systems to powertrains supplied from the EU. Alicia Windzio/picture alliance via Getty Images A Deal is a DealThe European Union is America’s largest trade partner, accounting for a bilateral 1.7 trillion euros, or $2 trillion, in goods and services in 2024, according to European statistics organization Eurostat. EU Pres. Von der Leyden welcomed the deal after it was approved last year, but the European Commission spoke out after the U.S. Supreme Court subsequently weighed in, ruling Trump “lacked the legal authority to declare an economic emergency and charge tariffs on EU goods,” according to the AP. “A deal is a deal,” the European Commission responded in February 2026. In that statement, the commission said it “stands by its commitments (and) expects the U.S. to honor its commitments set out in the Joint Statement. In his Truth Social post, Trump did not offer any specific examples of where he felt the EU was not complying with last year’s trade deal. View the full article

Once again, Pres. Donald Trump is revising his tariff playbook, this time announcing he will increase tariffs on European auto imports to 25%, up from the 15% figure set in a trade deal the U.S. and EU reached last year. The move comes at a perilous time considering the economic challenges already posed by Trump’s war with Iran. And it could cost European automakers and suppliers hundreds of millions of dollars in additional tariffs each month, based on forecasts previously made by EU officials. The president accused the Europeans of “not complying” with terms of last year’s trade agreement. But EU officials previously said they expected the U.S. “to honor its commitments.” Volkswagen The Trade War Heats Up AgainAs far back as his first term in office, from January 2017 to January 2021, Trump frequently threatened to take steps to increase duties on, and even ban, European auto imports. He finally acted shortly after taking office for a second term last year. Last July, Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reached terms on a broad deal setting tariffs at 15% on most imports from the EU, including automobiles. But the so-called Turnberry Agreement – named after a Trump golf course in Scotland – has since come under review. Now, he said in a Truth Social post. "Based on the fact the European Union is not complying with our fully agreed to Trade Deal, next week I will be increasing Tariffs charged to the European Union for Cars and Trucks coming into the United States. The tariff,” he added, will be increased to 25%.” Kristen Brown A Big Hit to European BrandsThe impact of the planned tariff hike could be substantial, especially for German and British luxury brands. Tariffs are based on what are, effectively, wholesale prices. But that could still add up to several thousand dollars on a model like the Golf GTI, which starts at $34,590 before delivery fees. The increase could push into the tens of thousands of dollars on high-line models, like the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class which starts at $185,000, or a $242,700 Bentley Continental GT. Last September, EU officials estimated that the 15% figure set in the trade deal with the U.S. would save its manufacturers from 500 million to 600 million euros, or $585 million to $700 million, a month compared to the 27.5% tariff the White House originally set. That offers a sense of how much costs go up under Trump’s latest shift. European automakers like Mercedes, VW, BMW and Volvo do produce a number of vehicles in U.S. plants – but their costs could go up substantially, as well, if the revised tariffs broadly cover auto parts and components, as well as fully assembled vehicles. Most of the American-made models still use thousands of dollars of everything from anti-lock brake systems to powertrains supplied from the EU. Alicia Windzio/picture alliance via Getty Images A Deal is a DealThe European Union is America’s largest trade partner, accounting for a bilateral 1.7 trillion euros, or $2 trillion, in goods and services in 2024, according to European statistics organization Eurostat. EU Pres. Von der Leyden welcomed the deal after it was approved last year, but the European Commission spoke out after the U.S. Supreme Court subsequently weighed in, ruling Trump “lacked the legal authority to declare an economic emergency and charge tariffs on EU goods,” according to the AP. “A deal is a deal,” the European Commission responded in February 2026. In that statement, the commission said it “stands by its commitments (and) expects the U.S. to honor its commitments set out in the Joint Statement. In his Truth Social post, Trump did not offer any specific examples of where he felt the EU was not complying with last year’s trade deal. View the full article

The year 2020 was a tumultuous one for the world, but for the custom motorcycle scene, it was a year of focused, high-caliber craftsmanship. While the global pandemic slowed the pace of life, it gave builders the solitude they needed to refine their art.In this Flashback Friday special, we count dow... View the full article

A functioning brake light is essential for safe and legal driving because it alerts other drivers when you are slowing down or stopping. If your brake light is out, replace it quickly to avoid traffic tickets and stay visible on the road. Searching for brake repair Houston can help you find professional help if you need an electrical or brake system inspection. Changing a brake light is a simple maintenance task that most car owners can complete with basic tools […] The post How to Change a Brake Light appeared first on Return of the Cafe Racers. View the full article

Scrappers Racing team owner Mike Salinas will return to Top Fuel competition later this month when he joins his daughter, Jasmine Salinas, at the IHRA Triple Crown event at Maple Grove Raceway near Reading, Pennsylvania. The father/daughter duo will compete in the same category for the first time in their careers, with both drivers racing under the Valley Services banner. In 2024, just one race into the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, the Scrappers Racing organization announced that Mike would be stepping back to address health issues, and Jasmine would replace him as the pilot of the 12,000-horsepower Scrappers Racing Valley Services machine. Now, depending on how the qualifying sheets shake out, the two Top Fuel drivers may have the opportunity to line up their Todd Okuhara-tuned dragsters side-by-side in eliminations. “I’ve been working to get back in the driver’s seat since I had my surgery,” said the elder Salinas. “But I had to get healthy again. Then work has been so busy, it became my main priority, and I haven’t had the time. The last time I raced, Jasmine was ‘Mike’s daughter in A/Fuel.’ She’s been doing good in Top Fuel, and now I’m coming back as ‘Jasmine’s dad.’ When we do line up together, it will be pretty fun.” Since making her Top Fuel debut at the 2024 NHRA Winternationals, Jasmine has come into her own as a driver and has been managing the day-to-day operations of the race team. This year, the fan-favorite is competing in a hybrid schedule of NHRA and IHRA events in order to maximize seat time on a limited budget as the team continues to seek full-time funding. “I’m excited for my dad to get back into the driver’s seat,” added Jasmine, who raced her way to a runner-up finish at an IHRA event earlier this year in Benson, North Carolina. “He’s been working so hard to make this happen, and there’s been a lot that he’s had to prioritize, both with his health and business. We’re planning to do more races together this year, so I can’t wait to see what it’s like to line up against my dad and have him as a teammate. This has been a dream of ours for years, and I can’t wait to finally make it happen.” The first of the IHRA Triple Crown events will take place at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pennsylvania, May 22-24. Mike Salinas plans to add more races throughout the year as his schedule allows. The post Mike Salinas to Return to Top Fuel Competition with Daughter Jasmine at IHRA Triple Crown at Maple Grove first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

For the first time as an official series in the NHRA, the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports will compete at South Georgia Motorsports Park, bringing a wealth of talented racers and action to the area as part of this weekend’s NHRA Southern Nationals. This weekend’s event is the fourth of 11 races in the category during the 2026 campaign and this weekend’s race is powered by Dixie Trucking. Scott Tidwell, a racer and team owner in the NHRA Pro Mod ranks, owns Dixie Trucking and he’s thrilled to see the class – and the NHRA national event tour – make its official debut at South Georgia Motorsports Park and the region’s impressive fanbase. “Being the ‘Powered By’ sponsor this weekend in Valdosta is a great opportunity for Dixie Trucking to connect with the racers, teams, businesses and fans who make this sport so special,” Tidwell said. “Pro Mod is built on hard work, trust and strong partnerships, and that is exactly how we run our company. We’re always looking to build new business relationships, grow with the right partners and bring great people onto our team. If you’re looking for a company that values relationships and drives for its people, Dixie Trucking is ready to talk.” It’s the first back-to-back race of the season for the category as NHRA Pro Mod nears the end of the regular season. There’s been a different winner at each of the first three races, with Mike Stavrinos taking the win last weekend in Charlotte. He’ll look to keep rolling against a stellar field as he jumped to second in points behind only Justin Bond, who won in Phoenix. The rest of the loaded field includes past world champions Stevie “Fast” Jackson and Mike Castellana, as well as the likes of Billy Banaka, Gainesville winner Derek Menholt, Alex Laughlin, Mason Wright, Stan Shelton and Chip King. The JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports features two qualifying rounds at 1 and 3:30 p.m. ET on Friday, and the final two qualifying rounds at 11:55 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. The first round of eliminations is slated for 1:05 p.m. on Sunday. The first qualifying session of the day on Friday and Saturday, as well as the first round of eliminations, will be broadcast for free on NHRA’s YouTube page. To purchase tickets to the 2026 NHRA Southern Nationals, fans can visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. Children 12 and under are free in general admission areas with the purchase of an adult ticket. For more information about the NHRA, visit www.nhra.com. This story was originally published on May 1, 2026. The post JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Series Thrilled for SGMP Debut at Race Powered by Dixie Trucking first appeared on Drag Illustrated. View the full article

Stellantis had a pretty rough year in 2025, posting a $26.3 billion net loss after writing down billions due to a strategic pivot away from aggressive EV targets, product plan restructuring costs, and slowing consumer demand. But there are encouraging signs for 2026, especially in North America. The company’s first-quarter 2026 financial results are in, and Stellantis’ U.S. unit is by far the main growth driver for the entire group. North America Unit Lifts Stellantis' Global Net Revenues and Profit Stellantis The company’s net revenues increased to €38.1 billion ($44.7 billion) worldwide, up 6% versus Q1 2025, supported by improved performance in North America, as well as gains in Enlarged Europe and Middle East & Africa. The company also posted a net profit of €377 million ($443 million), reflecting volume growth and stronger operating performance, according to a Stellantis press release. Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa praised Ram and Jeep in the financial report, as these two brands were the automaker’s main growth drivers in North America, where its sales increased 6% compared to Q1 2025 while consolidated shipments rose 16.6% to 379,000 units. U.S. sales were up 4%, bucking a declining U.S. industry trend which was down 6% in the first quarter of the year, making Stellantis the fastest-growing automaker in the region. The company’s Canada and Mexico sales rose by 15% and 19%, respectively. Ram 1500 Hemi, Jeep Cherokee, Jeep Grand Wagoneer and Dodge Charger Sixpack Stellantis Stellantis’ U.S. market share rose to 8.1% driven by Ram, which was North America’s fastest-growing brand with U.S. sales increase of approximately 20% year-over-year—the highest since 2023. This was due to strong sales of Ram trucks, especially the 2026 Ram 1500 Hemi; sales of the Ram 1500 line were up 27% in Q1 2026 year-over-year while Ram Heavy Duty sales rose 21%. Jeep was also singled out in the report thanks to increased deliveries of the all-new 2026 Cherokee and refreshed Grand Wagoneer. Stellantis also noted that these models, along with the new gas-powered Dodge Charger Sixpack, are now available in dealer showrooms across the U.S. after their launches in late 2025. "As we initiate quarterly reporting, the first three months of 2026 reflect the early results of our actions to return Stellantis to sustainable, profitable growth,” said CEO Antonio Filosa. “The products we launched in 2025 have been well received and we’re confident that the 10 new vehicles planned for 2026 will build on this momentum.” Customers "Back at the Center of Everything We Do": Stellantis CEO Elisa Marchina/NurPhoto via Getty Images Filosa added that the company’s priority is “to put our customers back at the center of everything we do.” The executive noted that Stellantis will share more on this at its Investor Day on May 21 in Auburn Hills, Michigan, likely hinting at new product announcements. “And looking ahead for 2026, I’m very excited about the upcoming launches of the new Ram SRT TRX, the new Jeep Recon BEV, and our first range-extended, the Jeep Grand Wagoneer REV coming this year,” Filosa said on the Q1 2026 earnings call. He added that Stellantis North America order book remains strong, growing more than 20% year-over-year. Last week, Reuters reported on Stellantis plans to focus on Ram, Jeep, Peugeot, and Fiat going forward. The company will reportedly prioritize these four brands in terms of investments, with Ram and Jeep doing the heavy lifting in North America, while Peugeot and Fiat will do the same in Europe and Latin America. That may result in brands like Chrysler, Dodge, Citroën, Opel, Alfa Romeo and Maserati being relegated to the status of regional players and receiving less attention. Stellantis is expected to shine more light on the plan at the May 21 Investor Day event. View the full article

So, Who's at Fault?Over the past few years, autonomous driving vehicles have somewhat enjoyed a more lax treatment when it comes to following the rules of the road. In California, for example, there was a loophole that allowed autonomous cars to operate freely and without fault. To resolve that, California has just released new regulations that promise to be stricter for autonomous driving vehicles and their owners. So, who's at fault? The manufacturer, apparently. Hyundai New RulesPreviously, officers who would apprehend robotaxis for traffic violations would have to hold the person behind the wheel at the time liable for the violation. If there were no person sitting behind the wheel, there was no law/rule that empowered the officers to issue any ticket despite a violation having been committed. As spotted by Carscoops, a new law, Assembly Bill No. 1777, aims to fix that loophole. Now, the officers who want to go after a robotaxi can issue a notice of non-compliance, which effectively treats the manufacturer as the driver under the law, making it liable for the violation. To ensure proper tracking of violations, the law requires that the company report the citation within 72 hours, and, if the incident involves a collision or is more serious, within 24 hours. California's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) can also impose stricter sanctions, such as capping a company's fleet or suspension of its permits, if its vehicles are serious repeat offenders. Getty Images Self-Driving TruckingPart of the new legislation also gives first responders more control over these autonomous driving taxis, following previous incidents in which these cars obstructed fire and rescue operations. Moving forward, the legislation requires cars to respond to commands from first responders during emergencies. One measure is through geofencing, where a command can be sent to direct robotaxis to avoid a certain area while operations are ongoing. Another huge part of the new legislation is that heavy-duty autonomous driving trucks are now allowed on the state's highways. The California DMV lifted the ban on vehicles weighing over 10,001 lbs and on medium-sized trucks weighing 14,001 lbs. However, these trucks must undergo 500,000 miles of testing with a human safety driver before moving to fully driverless operation. Tesla View the 4 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

Do you have what it takes to win the $10K Drag Shootout? Here's your chance to apply and be a part of the ultimate drag racing show.View the full article

The Sales LeaderYou don't need a rocket scientist to figure out the best-selling model in Porsche's lineup. For over a decade, the Macan has been Stuttgart's moneymaker, and has sat at the top of the company's sales charts since 2015. It has consistently sold over 80,000 units, taking up a good chunk of the company's total sales. Without it, Porsche probably wouldn't even sell 200,000 cars per year. Despite the arrival of the Macan EV, the first-generation model is still serving the brand, even 12 years after production began. In 2025, the millionth unit rolled out, and the nameplate achieved that far quicker than the Cayenne and 911. But now, the time has come for original Macan, as Porsche has a date for its retirement. Porsche So Long, First-Gen MacanAccording to a report from Automotive News, the final first-generation Macan will roll off the assembly line in the summer of 2026. That said, Porsche isn't winding down production; in fact, it will do the opposite. Sales are still strong for the gas-fed Macan, and the Porsche CFO Jochen Breckner has said "we produce as much as we can" in the final month. Breckner didn't specify an exact number of first-gen Macans to be built before production ends. However, the executive said that there might be challenges in making as many as possible. "Of course, our capacity is one factor there, but that's not limited. Supplier parts are the other issue," said Breckner. Porsche Filling the GapLast year, Porsche sold 84,328 Macans, but that's not the entire story. According to the company's own figures, over half of those were the EV model with 45,367 units. It's a good sign for the electric Macan, but the company risks losing a chunk of those once the supply of first-generation models dries up. The question now is whether Porsche can build enough of the gas-powered Macans to minimize that potential sales loss. Of course, there will be a second-generation ICE/hybrid Macan, but that's not due until 2028. It will be based on the current Audi Q5 and utilize Ingolstadt's Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) architecture. There's expected to be more parts commonality between the two models in a bid to cut down costs and speed up development. Breckner did say it's the U.S. market that has the highest demand for fuel-fed Macans, so a good chunk will be headed stateside. He also added that sales of the first-gen Macan might spill over into 2027, which actually might be good news for those who can't wait for the 2028 model. SH Proshots/Autoblog View the full article

Not Your Usual Amphibious ExperimentAmphibious vehicles have been around for a while, but most of them feel more like engineering projects than practical daily drivers. Not the modern ones, though. We’ve already seen BYD’s Yangwang U8 wade through surprisingly deep water, proving that a fully electric platform can be sealed and protected well enough to survive the elements. Another Chinese marque, Jetour (a brand under Chery Automobile), is now entering this space with the G700 Ark Edition, but with a different approach. Instead of going fully electric, the G700 keeps a traditional combustion engine as a range extender. Even so, it’s been shown to do more than just wade through water – it can supposedly move across the surface when the wheels are no longer touching the ground. Jetour How It Floats Without Falling ApartThe G700 Ark Edition uses a system that alters how the SUV operates in deep water. Rather than depending on the wheels for movement, the powertrain disconnects from the wheels and sends power to a separate fording setup. The Ark Edition comes with extra features to enable the vehicle to move through water: electric propellers. There’s also a gyroscopic stability system to keep the SUV balanced and heading where you want it to go. In effect, the G700 transforms from a car into a more controlled watercraft when afloat. To make this work, Jetour uses reinforced sealing throughout the G700. Key components are rated at IP68 for waterproofing, and the engine has its own protection against water entry. An integrated buoyancy and navigation system manages how the SUV floats and moves, so it doesn’t just drift aimlessly like most vehicles would in deep water. Jetour describes this as passive wading – where you simply hope not to stall – as opposed to active fording, where the SUV can keep its direction even when it’s fully floating. Of note, we’re still waiting for actual footage of the G700 Ark Edition, showing the claimed public fording test. We also don’t know for how long the G700 can “swim” through water when fully charged. What we have for now are images and not-so-technical information from the press release. Jetour A Gimmick, or Something More Useful?Most drivers won’t need amphibious capability every day, but Jetour sees it as an extra level of safety for extreme situations. The focus isn’t on turning SUVs into boats, but on helping drivers navigate flooded roads, river crossings, or remote areas where getting stuck could become a real problem. Beyond the amphibious system, the G700 is built as a capable off-roader. It uses a body-on-frame chassis, has triple differential locks, and reportedly makes up to 892 horsepower. Features like tank turn, crab-walk modes, and a 38.2-inch water wading capacity show that Jetour wants the G700 to stand up to established off-roaders, even without the amphibious features. Whether this technology becomes common or stays a niche feature will depend on how well it works in real-world use and how easy it is to own. If Jetour can deliver on both, it could set the G700 apart. Not in the US, though, as Chinese vehicles are still not eligible for a green card. Well, at least for now. Jetour View the 4 images of this gallery on the original article View the full article

The Green family is ready for some nitro at the Southern Nationals. The father and son duo both have their eyes on the Funny Car Wally.View the full article