RPM Nationals ’26

September 2026 • By Kev Elliott & Tony Thacker •  Presented by FirstUpApparel.com & MicksPaint.com

Billed as a drag race for pre-’36 flathead V-8 and 4-cylinder hot rods and racecars, the RPM Nationals Flathead Drags is one of our favorite events. Organized by Justin Baas, Russ Hare, and their team the RPM Nats is held at the Santa Margarita Ranch—200 miles up U.S. Route 101 north of Los Angeles.

This year, marked the 10th annual event and as usual it attracted people from as far away as Canada, Europe, and Japan.     

Proving you are neither never to old nor never too young to get behind the wheel and burn some fossil fuel while we still can the RPM Nats enjoys more than 115 racing participants including lots of female racers, and a wide range of ages. They also enjoyed their biggest spectator crowd ever.

The RPM Nationals Flathead Drags is sponsored by Anson Axles, American Hot Rod Foundation, Baron Racing Equipment, Biltwell Helmets, RE Borrmann Steel, Co., Carrillo Customs, CW Moss, Frenzel Superchargers, Hanford Auto Supply, H&H Flatheads, Hop Up Magazine, Lee’s Iron & Metal, Pacific Quick Change, Red’s Headers, Schnaubelt Distillery, and Tres Noir.

And the winners were:

• Full race flathead V-8: Riverside Johnny

• Flathead V-8 modified street: Justin Scaplo

• Flathead V-8 street: Tom Kniesels

• Full race 4cyl: Seth Hammond

• 4cyl modified street: Redbluff Joe

• 4cyl street: Max Herman Jr.

Model T competition: John Schnaubelt

Model T modified: Justin Jurgens

Model T stock: Joe Miles

If you want to learn more about this and other events visit RPMNationals.com

It’s shit when you wake up and somebody has jammed your car among all the potty’s.