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Have you ever noticed how some people can take their car to the strip and look as if they’ve raced all their lives, while others look totally out of control in the bleach box and during staging? More often than not, the driver with the calm, cool and collected approach seems to regularly trigger the win light. The reason for this smoothness isn’t completely initiated by the driver; in most instances, it is the correlation between man and machine.

A Southern Tradition
Johnson City, Tennessee didn’t just host a car show—it briefly turned into a rolling museum of American hot rodding. The 51st NSRA Street Rod Nationals South took over the Appalachian Fairgrounds on May 8–9, 2026, delivering two full days of traditional street rods, customs, and classic builds that reflected decades of craftsmanship and culture.

The Paws That Refreshes
Becky Walker, a housewife and career woman from Jarrell, Texas, has two hobbies: raising Great Pyrenees show dogs and her purple prism 53 Chevrolet show truck, appropriately named 53 PAW. About six years ago, my husband, Billy, dragged this raggedy old 53 Chevrolet farm truck home and told me he was going to fix it up for me to drive. That was the beginning of a major project that lasted over two years. We worked every night, weekend and holiday on that truck. In fact, I distinctly remember spending one New Year’s Eve, back in 2004, helping Billy change out two sets of springs.
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Gunning for Glory
The High-Stakes Action of the 3S Challenge at Holley LS Fest West
Author
Jamie Dent
Photography by Scott Killeen
Alright, buckle up and listen up, folks, ’cause we’re about to dive headfirst into the heart-pounding world of the 3S Challenge at the Holley LS Fest West. Now, you might be wondering what the heck “3S” stands for. Well, let’s break it down for ya—it’s all about Start, Steer, and Stop, tearing through a side-by-side, low-speed, down-and-back course layout that’ll knock your socks off. Picture this: 180-degree turnaround, slalom, and stop box—each one a challenge waiting to be conquered. But it ain’t just about speed; it’s about finesse, precision, and making split-second decisions. You wanna taste victory? You gotta master both sides of the course, blending ’em together like a symphony for one flawless execution.
Start
First up, we got Start, with Competitors lined up, engines revving, heartbeats thumping like bass drums in a Tarantino flick. When that starting beam lights up, it’s like a gunshot at the start of a wild west duel. Both drivers slam their foot on the gas, gunning for glory. It’s pedal to the metal, and these drivers are gunnin’ for two sweet times to set their score. It’s a symphony of speed and precision, tryin’ to launch like a bat outta hell without losin’ grip.
Steer
Steer’s up next. After that rush of pure adrenaline, it’s time to whip those wheels around in a full-on 180, tearing down that road like you’ve got the devil on your tail. One course, two choices—left or right, doesn’t matter, ’cause either way, you’re in a tango with fate. They gotta thread that needle with precision, slicker than a getaway driver dodging the fuzz.
Stop
Last but not least, we got Stop. You’ve blasted through the course, adrenaline pumping, heart racing, but now you gotta bring that beast of a machine to a screeching halt inside a tiny box. No room for error here, folks. One wrong move, and you’re knocking over cones faster than a bull in a china shop.
But hey, it ain’t just about the spectacle, alright? For these drivers, it’s a religion. Some dissect every second of their run, analyzing it down to the nanosecond, like mad scientists,searching for that perfect formula, that extra edge.
So, you see, the 3S Challenge ain’t just about horsepower and speed. It’s a test of grit, of skill, of adaptability. Only the baddest, most versatile drivers and machines come out on top in this automotive battleground.
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Holley LS Fest West
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