I’ve never held a Sonic tool in my hand, but I’ve spent a lot of time looking at its wares online—the company makes incredibly classy and tidy-looking sets that are unfortunately well out of my price range. Today, it dropped a track-day specific set called the Mobile Track Kit, as a collab with Keis Motorsports. It ain’t cheap, but it sure is impressive looking.

The “MTK” is a 124-piece tool arsenal that tucks neatly into a branded Pelican-style travel case. The tool loadout was picked by Bryan Kiefer, CEO of Kies Motorsports, a tuning shop in NJ specializing in BMWs (but also does Porsche and other Euros). The items it comes with were chosen “… based on years of trackside experience, reflecting a detailed understanding of what performance vehicles need for on-site repairs and adjustments,” per the press release.

“The partnership with Sonic allows us to deliver the solution we’ve always wished existed: a durable, portable, organized track kit that reflects the reality of what performance vehicles actually need when away from the shop,” Kiefer said.

Sonic’s MTK is metric-based and seems to be optimized for BMWs and Porsches, though you should be able to get a lot done on any Euro or Japanese car with this kit. It almost looks like a hypebeast fashion collaboration; “KIES” is engraved in a lot of the tools, and has an emblem on the outside of the box.

There’s an extensive range of sockets, wobblers, extensions, bits, wrenches, and other standard stuff in there, along with specialty sockets, hooks, and pullers that you might need for more finicky jobs. This PDF has the full list of exactly what’s included:

I just really like how taut and organized the set looks … did I mention that already? It really puts the Sterilite box I toss my driving-event tools into to shame.

That said, it’s also priced considerably higher—the MTK retails for $2,315. I told you, Sonic’s stuff is always out of my price range! Beyond tool quality and the curation-coolness factor, the brand promises a lifetime warranty. “Our online warranty process takes 2-3 minutes, and your replacement tool is on the way to you. Replacement tools typically ship in 48 hours,” Sonic says.

You don’t need to make a comment about how much cheaper you can find all the items in this kit at Harbor Freight. We know. This is built to a higher standard and probably smells a lot better.

The only real downside I see to this thing (besides the price) is that the box supposedly weighs just over 100 pounds. That’ll make it tough to heave into a trunk on your way to the track. Maybe I don’t need to replace my plastic Walmart-sourced track-day tool loadout right away after all. But I did love looking at the pictures of this new kit and thought you might too.

And hey, if you do want to build your own set with lower-end gear, copy the parts list!

Sonic-Tools-x-Kies-MTK-Briefing

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NASCAR’s trial against 23XI Racing/FRM has been one of the biggest talking points in the offseason. With more figures coming forward to testify in the trial and the courtroom data being made available online, many in the community have been startled. Among the many interesting points in the legal battle, the one that has particularly caught the eye of most is Tony Stewart’s SRX series.

NASCAR’s stance and approach when it came to dealing with the growth of Smoke’s venture shocked many, including sport legend and Hall of Famer, Dale Earnhardt Jr. In his recent podcast, Earnhardt opened up about his feelings after learning about NASCAR’s moves against Stewart’s SRX Series.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Stance In The ‘NASCAR Vs. 23XI Racing/FRM’ Trial

On the recent episode of Dale Jr. Download, the former driver addressed several aspects of NASCAR’s ongoing trial and shared his thoughts about the revelations from the legal drama. The NASCAR Hall of Famer was joined by his sister, Kelley Earnhardt, who is also the brains behind their business empire.

Before breaking down the different aspects of the lawsuit, the siblings declared themselves neutral in the matter. As they began dissecting the latest updates from the court, both expressed disappointment and sadness over how the entire scenario had unfolded for the sport.

Following this, the Earnhardt siblings discussed how NASCAR owning tracks was acceptable, considering how tedious and difficult it can be to maintain and build new racetracks. Earnhardt also expressed his disapproval of teams having to contribute to the Driver Ambassador Program.

He believed that, for an initiative launched by NASCAR for the drivers, the governing body should take care of the finances instead of relying on the teams’ contributions.

Earnhardt’s Shock Over NASCAR’s Actions Against Tony Stewart’s SRX

Earnhardt then brought up the topic of Stewart’s SRX series and how NASCAR had handled the situation. The former driver revealed being “shocked” about the whole matter. He highlighted the vision of Ray Evernham, the co-founder of the series, to recreate IROC. He said:

“The initial idea of SRX as a series was that it would go into these local markets, bring out retired guys, unique personalities from different forms of racing, and offer good cars to local heroes.”

ALSO READ: Steve Phelps Stuns NASCAR Jury Trial With Long-Awaited Explanation Behind Explosive Texts About Tony Stewart’s SRX Series

Though Earnhardt himself was not interested in participating in the series, he still liked the idea. What startled him was the fact that SRX threatened NASCAR in some capacity. He added:

“To hear that NASCAR was even remotely the least bit threatened is so surprising to me cause they’re this giant and SRX is just this little thing.”

He further mentioned that SRX at the time was a 12-car operation with limited financing and would have taken years to reach a level even close to that of NASCAR. Earnhardt also referred to the comments made by the sport’s bosses regarding SRX and expressed disbelief at why an entity like NASCAR would be threatened by a newly launched entity operating in a different domain.

Though the reason behind SRX’s demise had more to do with the financial unsustainability and declining TV ratings, NASCAR’s actions against Stewart’s initiative certainly shocked many in the sport.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — NASCAR reached a settlement Thursday of the bruising antitrust lawsuit filed against the stock car series by two of its race teams, including one co-owned by NBA great Michael Jordan.

The settlement came on the ninth day of the trial before U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell, who set aside motions hearing for an hour-long sidebar. Jeffrey Kessler, attorney for 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, emerged from a conference room at the end of the hour to inform a court clerk “we’re ready.” Kessler then led Jordan and 23XI co-owner Denny Hamlin, as well as Front Row owner Bob Jenkins, to another room for more talks.

In a statement to NBC News Jordan said the lawsuit was about “making sure (NASCAR) evolves in a way that supports everyone: teams, drivers, partners, employees, and fans. With a foundation to build equity and invest in the future and a stronger voice in the decisions ahead, we now have the chance to grow together and make the sport even better for generations to come.”

Details were not immediately released. In a joint statement from NASCAR, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports said the agreement would “delivers long-term stability and creates the conditions for meaningful growth for all teams in a more competitive environment.”

23XI and Front Row filed their lawsuit last year after refusing to sign agreements on the new charter offers NASCAR presented in September 2024. Teams had until end of day to sign the 112-page document, which guarantees access to top-level Cup Series races and a revenue stream, and 13 of 15 organizations reluctantly agreed. Jordan and Jenkins sued instead and raced most of the 2025 season uncharted.

Both teams said a loss in the case would have put them out of business.

Bell told the jury that sometmes parties at trial have to see how the evidence unfolds to come to the wisdom of a settlement.

“I wish we could’ve done this a few months ago,” Bell said in court. “I believe this is great for NASCAR. Great for the future of NASCAR. Great for the entity of NASCAR. Great for the teams and ultimately great for the fans.”

All teams felt the previous revenue-sharing agreement was unfair and two-plus years of bitter negotiations led to NASCAR’s final offer, which was described by the teams as “take-it-or-leave it.” The teams believed the new agreement lacked all four of their key demands, most importantly the charters becoming permanent instead of renewable.

The settlement followed eight days of testimony in which the Florida-based France family, the founders and private owners of NASCAR, were shown to be inflexible in making the charters permanent.

When the defense began its case Wednesday it seemed focused more on mitigating damages than proving it did not act anticompetitively.

An economist earlier testified 23XI and Front Row were owed over $300 million in damages.

Denny Hamlin, a co-owner, 23XI Racing said in a statement “Racing is all I’ve ever known, and this sport shaped who I am. That’s why we were willing to shoulder the challenges that came with taking this stand.”

With the NASCAR trial well into its second week of jury proceedings, witness testimonies continue to provide shocking updates on the case, with the league currently facing a worrying position. Jim France, the current CEO of the sport, was among those who took the stand most recently, and as his testimony concluded, many felt that the 81-year-old’s statements may have irreparably harmed NASCAR’s case.

However, Chris Yates and his team continued their defence as planned and were ready to bring another witness to the stand to prove their point. However, before they could do so, Judge Kenneth Bell ruled that the testimony was unnecessary, delivering a critical blow to the sport’s defensive strategy on the day.

NASCAR Handed Critical Blow to Their Defense by Judge Kenneth Bell

Day 1 of France’s testimony saw Jeffery Kessler relentlessly question the NASCAR chairperson with questions around the case, even digging into the personal finances earned by him via the sport. There were questions around the nearly $400 million payment to the France family trust between 2021 and 2024 that added fuel to the fire, but through it all, France remained true to his unmoved stance.

Day 2 of his testimony saw him face friendlier fire, with the NASCAR lawyers asking him questions. While it could have been a session to repair the sport’s image, France’s final statements around what he plans for the future might well have damaged NASCAR’s case even more.

To follow that up, Yates and his team had planned to bring in FOX Sports’ Jordan Bazant on the stand. They wanted Bazant to explain how a competitor series would hurt NASCAR, but Matt Weaver, through an X update, revealed that Judge Bell denied the testimony.

According to the update, Judge Bell was unsure whether the testimony was necessary, as he believed it wasn’t relevant to the dispute at hand.

“Yates wanted to introduce testimony from FOX Sports’ Jordan Bazant that showed a competitor series would hurt NASCAR. Judge Bell wasn’t sure that needed to be presented to the jury because it’s not additive to the dispute at hand. Judge Bell also says that if there was a competitor series in this hypothetical, the teams would be in it, and not NASCAR. So he ruled against allowing it.”

According to Lawrence Buterman, a NASCAR lawyer, the teams involved in the sport also receive a portion of the payment from FOX. Therefore, in the event of added competition from a rival series, the teams would have faced a pay loss.

To make matters worse for NASCAR, the 23XI and FRM attorneys have presented definitive proof of multi-million-dollar losses to the teams, even with no rival series currently in play. Most notably, Hendrick Motorsports has incurred $20 million in operational costs over the last few years, despite winning two championships during the same period.

That, and the “brick wall” persona of France during the jury trial, has added even more pressure on the NASCAR lawyers, whose case seems to have reached a danger point. And with both parties hoping to hear a verdict by the end of this week, it looks like NASCAR doesn’t have much time left to save its case.

After making her initial runs last year in Funny Car and a trio of events this year behind the wheel of Del Worsham’s car, former Top Alcohol Dragster world champion Julie Nataas has further committed her future to NHRA’s Professional ranks by hiring PowerDrive Motorsport Futures to represent her in partnership development.

PowerDrive Motorsport Futures, led by founder and motorsport executive Tami Powers, will drive all commercial strategy, sponsorship development, and brand partnerships as Nataas transitions into the sport’s most demanding and high-profile category.

Nataas, the 2023 NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster world champion, is known for her precision, consistency, and fierce competitive spirit and represents the next wave of elite talent rising through the NHRA ladder system.

“I look forward to working with Julie both on and off the track,” said Powers. “She’s an incredibly talented driver with a competitive edge that pairs well with Nitro Funny Cars. There is no limit to what she can achieve.”

“Partnering with PowerDrive Motorsport Futures at this stage in my career is incredibly meaningful,” said Nataas. “As I step into an NHRA Nitro Funny Car, having a team that truly understands both the sport and the business side of racing gives me confidence to go all in on my Funny Car journey. I’m excited to build something powerful together in 2026 and beyond.”
 

As 2026 rapidly approaches, Hendrick Motorsports is slowly rolling out its new looks for the new year.

With four cars and drivers and a number of new paint schemes to keep track of:

All four of the team’s drivers – Kyle Larson (not revealed here yet), Chase Elliott, William Byron and Alex Bowman – will sport fresh liveries on their Chevrolets next season. Here’s a look at what they will look like.

William Byron No. 24 All-Pro Chevrolet

Check out William Byron’s No. 24 All-Pro look from all angles here!

Chase Elliott No. 9 UniFirst Chevrolet

Took a peek at Chase Elliott’s 2026 UniFirst scheme from all angles here!

Chase Elliott No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet

See the scheme: A complete look at Chase Elliott’s new NAPA Auto Parts ride!

Chase Elliott No. 9 Kelley Blue Book Chevrolet

From all angles: Chase Elliott’s No. 9 Kelley Blue Book livery for 2026 revealed!

Alex Bowman No. 48 Ally Chevrolet

Check out a gallery of Alex Bowman’s new No. 48 Ally Chevrolet for 2026!

William Byron No. 24 HP Chevrolet

A more in-depth look at William Byron’s No. 24 HP scheme for the 2026 season!

Related Article: NASCAR News: Larson uses lucky break to win his 2nd Cup title