The victory marks Shanahan’s second career FD PRO win and his first with Jerry Yang Racing in the Red Bull / GT Radial Toyota GT86. It comes at the start of his third season in the series.

Shanahan’s route to the Final included a dramatic Top 32 moment against Ken Gushi. Following a collision, Shanahan appeared to be eliminated when his team was unable to complete repairs in time. However, judges called for a One More Time, allowing the runs to be repeated. Shanahan advanced from the rerun and continued through the bracket to secure the win.

Aasbo, driving the Rockstar Energy Toyota GR Supra, delivered a clean weekend, advancing through the field without incident before finishing second.

Third place went to Jack Shanahan. His weekend ended before the Top 4 battle against Aasbo due to engine issues, preventing a potential matchup between the Shanahan brothers in the Final.

Five-time champion James Deane, who qualified first, was eliminated in the Top 16 by Diego Higa. Returning after a year away from competition, Higa showed strong pace before exiting in the Top 8 against Conor Shanahan.

Cole Richards was named Top Rookie in Long Beach, finishing fourth overall after losing to Shanahan in the Top 4.

Elsewhere, Matt Field was eliminated in the Top 32 by Dylan Hughes. Adam LZ was also eliminated in the Top 32 by Ryan Litteral following contact during their One More Time battle.

The event also saw the expanded use of the Universal Drift Scoring Method (UDSM) telemetry system from Race Data Labs. After its introduction during qualifying, it was used in a supporting role during Top 32 competition to assist judges with vehicle dynamics and incident evaluation, while also helping to accelerate the judging process.

Following Round 1, Shanahan leads the standings with 50 points, followed by Aasbo with 40 and Jack Shanahan with 32.

Toyota leads the 2026 Formula DRIFT Auto Cup standings, while Kenda leads the Tire Cup by one point.

Round 2 of the Formula DRIFT PRO Championship will take place May 7–9 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, alongside the opening round of the Link ECU PROSPEC Championship and the return of the GridLife series.

Photography provided by Formula Drift

There’s a moment at King of the Hammers where everything clicks. It doesn’t happen at the start line, and it doesn’t happen on the podium. It happens somewhere out in the desert, with dust hanging in the air, engines echoing off canyon walls, and helicopters circling overhead, when you realize this isn’t just a race.

Out here, the machines are epic. Purpose-built, tuned, and pushed to the absolute limit. You hear the sharp click of harnesses locking in as drivers sit staged, eyes forward, running routes in their heads one last time. The air is thick with high-octane fuel, hot metal, and desert dust baked into everything.

The desert feels alive. Waiting for mistakes. It’s a war of attrition as much as skill.

Loren Healy ripped the entire front end off his truck in pre-running. Not damaged. Gone. And somehow, that same truck staged, qualified, and lined up to race.

Two Worlds, One Desert

But that’s only part of the story.

Within that precision chaos is something far less controlled, but just as significant. Campfires burn through the night. Generators hum. Broken parts get fixed under headlamps. Homemade buggies mix with side by sides that cost the same as a Porsche. People have driven across states not just to watch; they’re here because they belong to it.

King of the Hammers is not just an event. It is a living, breathing culture.

From Sideways to the Desert

That same mindset is what led to RTR, born not from a traditional business plan, but from a desire to reshape what car culture could look like for a new generation. A different way of thinking about cars, about style, and about what cool actually is. Not following trends, but creating them.

So when Vaughn showed up to King of the Hammers, it was not as an off-road veteran. It was as someone who understands culture.

“I pulled in and it felt like Burning Man with race cars,” he says.

That reaction says everything. Not just about the scale of the event, but about what it represents—something built from the ground up by people who are fully invested in it.

Instead of treating it like unfamiliar territory, Vaughn approached it the same way he has approached everything in his career: by leaning into it. For him, the discipline may change, but the core does not.

“Automotive has been such an extension of my personality since I can remember,” he says.

That perspective is what makes the transition from drift to desert feel natural. Underneath the surface, it is not really a transition at all. It is still about feel, control, and operating right at the edge—just in a different environment.

And that is where the bigger picture comes into focus. This is not about drifting crossing into off-road. It is about recognizing that the same mindset has always existed in both.

From Dirt to Drift

If Vaughn’s path into the desert came from the outside looking in, Darren Parsons represents the opposite.

Dirt is where he was built.

Years of off-road racing, time on dirt bikes, and a deep understanding of the machines themselves—not just how to drive them, but how to build and evolve them—form the foundation. Not just competition, but craftsmanship.

“I’ve raced off-road my entire young adult life,” Darren says. “Fifteen years in trucks, and ten before that on dirt bikes.”

That kind of background produces instinct—a feel for terrain, for mechanical limits, and for how far something can be pushed before it pushes back.

Which makes where he ended up feel less like a departure and more like an extension. “I wanted to drift with my friends,” he says.

No strategy. No calculated pivot. Just curiosity.

What followed was not a polished transition, but a process of figuring out a completely different discipline from the ground up.

“I didn’t know how to build a drift car… I just built it.” Different surface. Different rules. Same mindset.

Because even with that experience, nothing carried over clean. “It’s been a learning curve for sure.”

But that is the point. Not mastery, but willingness—the willingness to step into something unfamiliar and build understanding through repetition, failure, and adjustment.

That is where the connection between dirt and drift becomes undeniable. Not in how they look, but in why people do them.

Because whether it starts in the desert or on asphalt, the drive is the same—to create, to push, and to find the edge, then learn how to stay there.

One Culture, Different Terrain

At first glance, drifting and off-road racing appear to exist in completely different worlds.

One is defined by precision on asphalt—angle, style, and control at the very edge of traction—while the other unfolds in the desert, shaped by terrain that is unpredictable, unforgiving, and constantly changing.

But the longer you spend around both, the harder it becomes to see them as separate.

Because beneath the surface, the foundation is the same.

It is the same obsession with machines. The same drive to build something better, refine it, and push it further than it was ever meant to go. It is the same willingness to commit fully—whether that means holding a car sideways at full lock or navigating rock and sand at the limit of control.

You see it in the way Vaughn approaches everything. The discipline may change, but the mindset does not. It is still rooted in expression, progression, and the pursuit of doing something differently.

“For me it’s always been about expressing myself through a car,” Vaughn says.

You see it in Darren as well—taking a deep background in off-road and applying it to a completely different environment, not because it was the logical next step, but because the same curiosity drove him there.

That is where the connection becomes clear.

Not in the surface-level differences between drift and dirt, but in the underlying mindset that connects them.

A mindset that has never been about staying in one lane, but about following the thing that keeps you building, learning, and pushing forward.

Protecting the Culture

King of the Hammers feels untouchable when you are in it. The scale, the energy, and the sense that this has been built over years by people who genuinely care about it create the impression that something like this could never disappear.

But the reality is, it can.

Not because of the racing itself, but because of everything that surrounds it.

Out at Hammers this year, there was a noticeable shift. Not in the drivers or the machines, but in pockets of the culture around it—moments where the focus moved away from the craft, the engineering, and the experience, and toward something else entirely.

Attention. Spectacle. Being seen.

“It’s less than one percent of the people,” Darren says. “But they’re the ones doing it for the views.”

That is what makes it dangerous.

Because it does not take the majority to change the trajectory of something like this. It only takes a small group pushing in the wrong direction—prioritizing attention over respect, and momentary impact over long-term sustainability.

Vaughn sees the value of that culture clearly, and why it is worth protecting.

“Automotive has been such an extension of my personality since I can remember it,” he says. “It’s been so fulfilling. I met my wife through it, and tons of friends.”

But he is just as clear about where things start to go wrong.

“The takeover culture… shutting down public streets is just ignorant,” Vaughn says. “It really just makes everybody look bad.”

Events like King of the Hammers do not exist in isolation. They rely on access, on trust, and on the understanding that what is happening out here is worth preserving.

When that balance starts to shift, the consequences do not show up all at once.

They happen gradually.

Restrictions increase. Access tightens. Permits become harder to secure. And eventually, opportunities disappear.

That responsibility does not sit solely with organizers or sponsors. It sits with the people who are part of it.

“The 99% need to call out the 1%,” Darren explains. Not as a reaction, but as a standard.

Because this culture has never been sustained by rules alone.

It has been sustained by respect—for the machines, for the environment, and for the people who built it.

And if that respect fades, so does everything built around it.

Close

What keeps something like King of the Hammers alive is not just the racing—it is the connection people have to it.

This has never been just about machines.

It is about what happens when engineering and emotion collide—when cold steel, precision, and horsepower are brought to life by the people who build and push them.

That is what draws people in. It is what keeps them here.

Whether it is drifting, off-road, or anything in between, the reason it matters does not change.

It is not about the platform.

It is about the pursuit.

If we hold onto that, this does not disappear.

It evolves.

GALLERY

Lone Star Throwdown 2026 was an event not to miss. Coming off a very cold and rainy 2025 show—and with 2026 starting off snowy across much of the United States—anticipation was high for warmer, drier weather. Fortunately, this year delivered exactly that. Sunny skies and warm temperatures brought spectators out in huge numbers throughout the entire weekend.

With gates and ticket booths opening at 8 a.m. each day, lines were already forming by 7:30 a.m. on Saturday. By midday, the event grounds were packed with attendees capturing photos and videos as vehicles cruised through the show. As usual, the main arena featured American Force Wheels and their handpicked display of standout builds. Inside the pavilions, the C10 Truck Club filled one half while Relaxed Atmosphere club vehicles occupied the other.

Nearby, displays from Plan B Fab and Nitto Tire added even more excitement to the indoor areas. Past the judging lanes, another indoor section showcased high-end builder displays complete with custom lighting, stanchions, and detailed flooring setups that highlighted the craftsmanship behind each build.

Once outside, the full scale of the event became clear. Vehicles filled nearly every corner of the Lone Star Expo Center & Montgomery County Fairgrounds. While many people assume Lone Star Throwdown is strictly a truck show, this year proved it truly welcomes everything. Alongside lifted and lowered trucks and SUVs, spectators could also find restored classic cars, custom imports, SXS builds, off-road rigs, and even a unique tractor featuring the cab of a first-generation Ford Econoline.

For builders working on projects at home, there were plenty of vendors on site offering wheels, tires, suspension components, billet parts, and fabrication services. Spectators could also browse a wide variety of apparel vendors selling shirts, hats, stickers, and other automotive lifestyle merchandise.

After the rough weather in 2025, it’s safe to say Lone Star Throwdown 2026 was a massive success for the promoters, participants, vendors, and thousands of fans who attended throughout the weekend.

If you missed it this year, be sure to mark your calendar for the next event scheduled for February 26–28, 2027.

Specialty Award Winners
Memorial Awards

Pickle Memorial Award
Entry #R247 — Dominic Cortez — San Antonio, TX — 2011 Ford F350

Greg Miller Memorial Award
Entry #R1598 — Luiz Vasquez — Tulare, CA — 1972 Chevrolet C10

Josh Coleman Memorial Award
Entry #R1476 — Carlos Zapata — Pearland, TX — 1972 Chevrolet C10

NC Memorial Award
Entry #R1397 — John Vradenburg — Brooksville, FL — 1994 Nissan Hardbody

Sponsor Choice Awards

Airlift Choice
Entry #R2073 — Christerfer Pate (Mobile Toys Inc) — College Station, TX — 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe

Allout Offroad Choice
Entry #R2261 — Nate Scrivner (American Force) — Eldon, MO — 2024 Ford F350

American Force Choice
Entry #R566 — Travis Hellewell — San Luis Obispo, CA — 1949 Chevrolet 3100

Kicker Choice
Entry #R2171 — Paul Rutledge (Complete Performance) — Jasper, TX — 1972 Ford F350

MTI Choice
Entry #R1422 — Jason Watts — Liberty Hill, TX — 1996 GMC Sierra 1500

PSE Choice
Entry #R1495 — Charlie Morris — Brenham, TX — 1971 Ford F100

Raceline Choice
Entry #R2094 — Terrence Potter (Raceline Wheels) — Houston, TX — 1957 Chevrolet C10

Renegade Products Choice
Entry #R2024 — Rikki Bell (Bodyguard Bumpers) — Paris, TX — 2024 Ford F250 Platinum

Special Recognition

Hard Luck Award
Entry #R496 — Eddie Gordy Jr — Germanton, NC — 1991 Mazda B2200

Longest Distance
Entry #R1062 — Earnie Reddic — Marysville, WA — 2015 GMC Sierra 1500

Kids Choice
Entry #R447 — David Ginter — Katy, TX — 2018 Ford F-450

Ladies Choice
Entry #R2222 — Sirena Vecellio (Renegade) — Pueblo, CO — 1977 Ford F150

Police Officers Choice
Entry #R274 — Daniel Cumby — Santa Fe, TX — 2016 Ford F150

Best Club
Team Billet

Category Awards

Best Undercarriage
Entry #R2179 — Dwayne Manns (Plan B Fab) — Sorrento, FL — 1987 Chevrolet 3500

Best Engine
Entry #R1330 — Ken Tilton — Glendale, AZ — 1970 Chevrolet C10

Best Interior
Entry #R2076 — Mike Lau (Mobile Toys Inc) — College Station, TX — 1970 Chevrolet C10

Best Paint
Entry #R404 — Marlon Fuselier — Lake Charles, LA — 1955 Chevrolet 3100 Pickup

Best Graphics
Entry #R1069 — Patrick Reid — San Leon, TX — 2008 Ford Ranger

Best Female Owned
Entry #R1260 — Carolyn Sonnier — New Caney, TX — 1959 Chevrolet Apache

Best 25 Years Old & Under
Entry #R262 — Keegan Craighead — Salem, VA — 1988 Mitsubishi Mighty Max

Best Under Construction
Entry #R287 — Jason Danos — Raceland, LA — 1964 Ford F100

Best Engineered
Entry #R2204 — Dustin Sterling (MTI) — College Station, TX — 1968 Chevrolet C10

Best Bike
Entry #R253 — Darin Cottrell — McAllen, TX — 2014 Harley-Davidson Street Glide

Best Tow Pig
Entry #R642 — Robert Jenkins — Blue Springs, MO — 1987 Freightliner Cor

Best Lowrider
Entry #R957 — Adam Ochoa — Spring, TX — 1968 Lincoln Continental

Best Import Car
Entry #R604 — Scott Hopkins — Hiram, GA — 1956 Volkswagen Beetle

Elite 5 Lifted

Bryan Summers (Plan B Fab) — 1965 Ford F100
Mike Hunt — 2024 Ford F250
Danny Derasmo (JTX) — 1951 Dodge Power Wagon
Rick Waychoff — 2024 Ford F350
Stephanie York (Plan B Fab) — 2024 Ford Bronco

Top 10 Mini Truck

John Vradenburg — 1994 Nissan Hardbody
Steven Bell — 1995 Chevrolet S10
Smiley Mikeska — 1991 Toyota Pickup
Keith Chandler — 1992 Mazda B2600i
John Juarez (Chassis Fab) — 2000 Chevrolet S10
Heather Montgomery — 1992 Nissan Hardbody
Deven Ramsey — 2004 Toyota Tacoma
Jonathon Verret — 1996 Toyota Tacoma
Shane Evans — 2003 Nissan Frontier
Daniel Brummett — 2013 Toyota Tacoma

Additional Awards

Promoters Choice
Entry #R1134 — Terry Rose — Mount Juliet, TN — 1959 Chevrolet Suburban

Best Debut
Entry #R2239 — Scott Luscombe (MTI) — Mont Belvieu, TX — 1985 Chevrolet K10

Best SUV
Entry #R2073 — Christerfer Pate — 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe

Best American Car
Entry #R2047 — Jake McKiddie — 1961 Cadillac Coupe De Ville

Best Classic Car
Entry #R1252 — Robert Smith — 1967 Chevrolet Nova

Best Classic Truck
Entry #R496 — Eddie Gordy Jr — 1991 Mazda B2200

Best Full Size
Entry #R2014 — Larry Gloria (Tre 5 Customs) — 1972 Chevrolet C10

Best of Show

🏆 Entry #R411 — Ed Ganzinotti — Montgomery, TX — 1968 Dodge Charger

The 2025 Slammedenuff Daytona Beach Car Show — the 8th edition — took place at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Florida. The event welcomed car-culture fans and enthusiasts to a single-day indoor showcase bringing together a broad range of custom, stanced, and carefully modified vehicles. 

From the moment attendees stepped through the doors, they were met with what many described as a “visual feast”: rows upon rows of custom cars — imports and domestics alike — each uniquely modified to emphasize stance, fitment, style, and personal expression. Cars ranged from sleek show builds to classics given new life — all showing meticulous detailing: lowered suspensions, wheels tucked just right under fenders, custom paintwork, finely tuned interiors, upgraded audio, polished engine bays, and more.

Owners and builders didn’t just showcase cars — many were on-site, ready to talk about their builds, share the inspiration behind them, and swap stories with fellow enthusiasts. This sense of community and shared passion gave the show a social vibe much more than a cold display. Several vendor booths and media presences were set up, allowing attendees not just to admire but also to connect, shop accessories or parts, and absorb the broader “custom car culture.”

For many in attendance, the show was more than just a list of cars — it was an experience. The energy was described as electric: excited chatter, cameras flashing, music laid down by live DJs, and people walking away inspired. The combination of finely built vehicles, lively crowd energy, and the Florida-coast backdrop made the event a highlight for custom-car lovers across the country.

Although the broader brand behind the show has faced scrutiny lately (after disturbances at another event in Sevierville,TN), the Daytona Beach stop appears to have delivered mainly in the spirit of community, respect for the venue (with explicit rules against burnout, drifting, or racing), and genuine appreciation for automotive craftsmanship.

Cold, wet weather set the tone early in Dallas, but it didn’t slow the turnout for this year’s Tuner
Evo. Builders and teams showed up ready, many of them making the trip from out of state, and
the variety on display reflected just how much effort went into being there.

The event stayed active throughout the day thanks to solid crowd engagement. Judges, hosts,
and participants kept the flow moving, and the audience responded by circling builds, asking
questions, and staying involved despite the conditions.

This stop wasn’t limited to cars, either. Alongside the show vehicles, BMX stunt performers
brought a steady rotation of runs that consistently drew people in. Quads were also added to the
lineup, and their quality stood out immediately with their clean, detailed bikes, and built with the
same level of care as the cars on display.

We also brought Tuner Battlegrounds LIVE to Dallas, where the crowd packed in to watch us
award the latest winner, Bryan Miguel, with his 2021 Toyota Supra. Stay tuned for his full
feature!

All in all,even with the weather working against it, Tuner Evo Dallas delivered a focused, well-
rounded event that highlighted the range and dedication within the community. It was a
straightforward reminder that the scene shows up, rain or shine.

Story by Jamie Lake

If you’ve ever been to a Clean Culture event, you know it’s more than just a car show. The SoFlo Showdown felt like a mix between a massive meet, a drift festival, and a social hangout. People talked about how much action there was, from non-stop drift demos to the burnout pits and ride-alongs that kept the crowd hyped.

Attendees said the variety of cars was one of the highlights. You could find everything from clean, detailed show builds to wild track monsters. Many also mentioned how the event had a fun, festival-like atmosphere with vendors, food trucks, and music keeping things lively all afternoon. Families seemed to enjoy it too, especially since kids under ten got in free.

The only real complaints came from the sheer size of the crowd and the Florida heat. With so much happening at once, it was easy to miss parts of the action unless you planned ahead. Some drivers also noted that the registration fees for competing or drifting were on the higher side, but most agreed it was worth it.

Overall, the 2025 SoFlo Showdown was a big success. It blended the best parts of car culture — style, performance, and community — into one high-energy day. Whether you were there to admire builds, watch tire smoke fill the air, or just hang out with friends, it was the kind of event that reminded everyone why car culture in South Florida hits different.

Formula DRIFT closed out its 2025 season in true Long Beach style — on a brand-new course built specifically for the series. The Shoreline Showdown marked the debut of a more technical layout with seven outside zones, designed to test precision and reward commitment. While the PRO Championship had already been decided one round earlier in Utah, the finale delivered plenty of drama and a glimpse at the sport’s future.

That future came into focus when Ireland’s Jack Shanahan captured his first career win and claimed Rookie of the Year honors in his Kumho Tires BMW 1 Series. His path to victory included eliminating heavy hitters like Adam LZ, Simen Olsen, and veteran Ryan Tuerck before advancing to a Final that never materialized — a mechanical failure sidelined Hiroya Minowa’s Toyota GT86, handing Shanahan the win. It was a fitting conclusion to a breakthrough season that saw the Irish rookie finish sixth overall with two podiums.

Minowa’s runner-up finish capped another impressive campaign for the 16-year-old Japanese prodigy, who remains the youngest driver in Formula DRIFT history to earn a Round win. Meanwhile, five-time champion James Deane continued his dominance, securing his seventh podium of the year after an uncharacteristic mistake in the Final Four. The AutoZone Mustang RTR driver had already locked in his record-breaking fifth title — and a third consecutive championship for RTR Motorsports — marking one of the most successful runs in FD history.

The season also concluded with Toyota securing its tenth Auto Cup title and GT Radial claiming the Tire Cup, each celebrating milestones that speak to the growth and consistency of modern drift competition.

From rookies like Shanahan and Minowa to legends like Deane and Tuerck, Long Beach once again showcased the full spectrum of the sport — a reminder that Formula DRIFT’s blend of innovation, intensity, and community is still accelerating into new territory.