ARaymond, a global leader in fastening, assembly and fluid connection systems, has announced the launch of the Selfy XS, an ultra-compact quick connector engineered specifically for the evolving demands of high‑density thermal management applications, including electric vehicle (EV) battery systems.

Designed for environments where space is at a premium, the Selfy XS introduces a new standard in compact fluid connection technology. With an ultra-short profile, approximately 40% smaller than conventional industry connectors, the solution enables manufacturers to optimize system layout, reduce weight, and improve overall efficiency across mobility and industrial thermal management architectures.

“Battery systems and thermal management systems are becoming increasingly compact and complex, as manufacturers strive to deliver higher performance, efficiency and reliability,” said Sébastien Frasse-Sombet, Senior Global Product Manager for ARaymond. “With Selfy XS, we’ve created a connector that fits where others cannot, without compromising performance, safety or reliability.”

If you’re a regular visitor to the NASCAR corner of the social media world, there is a common theme you may be hearing in 2026 — that NASCAR is cooking the books for the Toyota camp, and Denny Hamlin in particular, to become champions this year.

And while I can understand a little bit why that thought springs to mind for some people — as Toyota have won 10 of the first 16 races between Tyler Reddick (5), Hamlin (4) and Ty Gibbs (1); and even lesser Toyota teams like Legacy Motor Club are starting to show speed and run up front — the reality is far more boring that the conspiracy would have you believe.

Hamlin is just that good this year. As he’s said in the past, he’s beating your favorite driver, week in and week out, and achieving new career milestones week after week. He recent entered the ultra-rare 50 win/50 pole club, and has now passed the late Kyle Busch with his 64th career win (and sits 12 wins behind 8th-place Dale Earnhardt).

To be doing this at age 45 is nothing short of incredible in a sport where youth often prevails.

With Daytona behind us and a full year of racing ahead, it’s inevitable that some things will be changing this year.

Some drivers will fall off from their 2025 performances, others will step up big time and reach the next level of success. And some new faces will make waves.

Read on for my picks of 5 Cup drivers who I believe will make a big splash in 2026 at the top level of NASCAR.

1. Connor Zilisch: This young man will be the breakout star of the year in Cup, I can say with confidence. He is a generational talent – and he has more accolades as a teenager than most people get in their careers. Sky’s the limit, and Trackhouse has themselves a gem.

Between Zilisch and Shane Van Gisbergen, Trackhouse should take all the road course wins this year, plus some of the ovals as well. Zilisch needs to get better in pressure situations in Cup, but once he does, the rest of the field can get used to the feeling of waving goodbye as he drives off in the distance. I predict at least one checkered flag for the rookie, and possibly several victories.

DETROIT — After an intensive, year-long jury process designed to identify the best-in-class vehicles for the upcoming model year. The winners of the NACTOY honors for 2026 have been named.

The winners are:
— North American Car of the Year: Dodge Charger
— North American Truck of the Year: Ford Maverick Lobo
— North American Utility Vehicle of the Year: Hyundai Palisade

NACTOY jurors have spent the last year test-driving, researching and evaluating vehicles on criteria including automotive innovation, design, safety, performance, technology, driver satisfaction, user experience and value.

Ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season, the Audi Revolut F1 Team was officially unveiled in Berlin on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2026. Nearly 400 guests witnessed the first public appearance of the Audi factory Formula 1 team.

“Today, a lot of pieces of the puzzle are coming together,” said Gernot Döllner, CEO of AUDI AG and Chairman of the Board of Management of Audi Motorsport AG, at the team presentation. “It’s impressive to see how the intensive preparation is paying off and the performance of those involved is becoming evident. For the first time, the full power of the project is on display. We are ready and excited to inspire people around the world by taking part in Formula 1.”

Audi is set to make its debut at the pinnacle of motorsport in Australia on March 8. The Audi R26 is powered by a drivetrain (‘power unit’) developed at the Neuburg an der Donau facility and labelled AFR 26 Hybrid. It was fired up in the chassis for the first time shortly before Christmas at the Hinwil site. On January 9, the team completed its first rollout at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain as part of a filming day.

Hettinger Racing will compete full-time in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2026.

Owned by second-generation racer Chris Hettinger, the team will field the No. 5 Ford Mustang Dark Horse and receive technical support from Ford Racing. Roush Yates Engines will be the team’s engine supplier.

“This is about putting our race team in the right place at the right time,” Hettinger said. “The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series has incredible momentum. It features great racing and the series gets significant exposure thanks to coverage from The CW. Combining that platform with the support of Ford Racing and Roush Yates Engines gives us the opportunity to grow our program into one that competes at a national level.”

After years of justifiable grumbling from fans about the playoff system as it has existed in recent years, with multiple resets and cutoff rounds, and cries that the champions crowned in recent years weren’t truly deserving due to the one-race finale, change has come to NASCAR in a big way.

Starting with the 2026 season, the sport is returning to its (recent) past. No, we’re not getting a full season championship with no points resets, like we had from 1975 through 2003, but we got as close we were ever going to get — a return to a (slightly altered) version of the 10-race Chase that launched back in 2004 (and similar setups in the O’Reilly and Truck series as well).