Corvette Meets NOPI: Sam Mahdavi’s 2026 Tour Schedule

Key Takeaways: The 2026 NOPI & NDRA Revival

• .The $60,000 Purse: The NDRA Championship returns for 2026 with a regional focus and a massive $60,000 prize pool to be split at the September finale.

• Regional Strategy: To combat rising travel costs, the 2026 tour hits key Southeast hubs including Virginia (VMP), South Georgia (SGMP), and Florida, building momentum for the Georgia “Mega Show.”

• EchoPark Speedway Finale: The flagship NOPI Nationals Motorsports Supershow returns to Hampton, GA (formerly Atlanta Motor Speedway) on September 12–13, 2026.

• Mission Critical Mentorship: Industry legends Kevin Tetz and Sammy Maloof will lead a 16,000-square-foot trade expo in the NASCAR garage, teaching the next generation hands-on skills like “Paintucation” and performance tuning.

• Unified Car Culture: The 2026 tour officially ends the “us vs. them” era, inviting Corvette owners (C3 through C8) to compete alongside imports, overlanders, and exotics.

Plugging Into the Source: A Backstage Pass to Sam Mahdavi’s Studio

Let’s be honest, some days, it’s cool being the editor of Vettes of Atlanta Magazine. One of the best perks is when you get a chance to sit down with automotive expert and national TV star, Sam Mahdavi.

People always ask me, “Rod, what’s it like interviewing Sam?” Honestly, it’s like plugging yourself directly into a high-voltage battery; his energy levels always stays pegged in the red, and his real-world car knowledge truly has no redline.

Without fail, the follow-up question is always: “So, what’s the studio really like?”. Stepping onto the active set of Sam’s Garage is a total gearhead’s reset. It offers a raw, tactile perspective that the polished lens of a TV screen simply can’t capture.

Being there in person allows you to see the builds from angles the cameras miss, turning the broadcast experience into something far more visceral and real. As you step past the cameras and recall the legendary builds that have rolled through these doors over the years, you can’t help but have a total “fan-boy” moment.

Standing inside the immaculately clean studio, the air carries that intoxicating, unmistakable scent of high-performance builds mixed with the electric hum of a live production. You quickly realize this isn’t some typical “Hollywood” set; it is a sanctuary of precision and power. Sam isn’t just turning wrenches; he’s preserving a culture.

During our conversation, Sam gave us a front-row seat to the NOPI master plan for the 2026 season—and we made sure to keep a few Corvette-related reader questions in our back pocket for good measure.

Beyond the Bolt-On: How “Connect & Cruise” Kits Save Your Custom Build

Rod Worley: Sam, thanks for carving out some time for us here at your studio. You’ve been a fixture in this industry for decades, from winning the SEMA Installers Challenge in 2004 to your current television success on Sam’s Garage.

With your expertise in LS7 and LT engine swaps, what is the single biggest hurdle enthusiasts face when trying to drop a modern Corvette powertrain into a classic Vette or a custom street rod?

Sam Mahdavi: It’s about the integration, Rod. A lot of guys think they can grab a harness from a wrecked car or go with a generic aftermarket ECU, but they forget that modern GM engines, especially the LS7 with its 58x reluctor wheel, require incredibly precise timing.

If the computer isn’t perfectly synced with the crankshaft and the electronic throttle, you’re going to have “limp mode” issues every time you try to floor it.

The Connect & Cruise systems are factory-engineered. When you buy that crate motor—whether it’s the 460 hp LT1 or the 525 hp LS3—it comes with a calibration that is already tuned for the specific camshaft and intake setup.

You’re not just buying an engine; you’re buying peace of mind because the transmission, like a SuperMatic 4L70-E, is already programmed to shift exactly when that engine needs it to.

Builders are often great at the mechanical side, but they aren’t software engineers. This kit takes the “guesswork” out of the diagnostic side.

The Return of the NDRA: Sam Mahdavi Resurrects Championship Drag Racing for 2026

Rod Worley: That makes total sense—buy the “brain” that was designed for the “heart.”

Switching gears to the upcoming NOPI events side, the return of NOPI in 2025 was a massive success. What is your master plan for the 2026 season, particularly as you look to keep the momentum going at the Atlanta Motor Speedway?

Sam Mahdavi: We’ve hit a vein of nostalgia that I honestly didn’t expect to be this big. Thirty days ago, we started a group called “Car Culture Back in the Day,” and it already has 25,000 members and almost 6 million views. People are going through their physical photo albums and finding pictures of their old cars—and 80% of them still have those cars.

For 2026, we’re bringing back the NOPI Drag Racing Association (NDRA) Championship series. I won that championship in 2005, and we’re starting it back up with three regional events.

People are more regional now; they don’t always have the funds to travel across the country for a 12-event series. We’ll crown a champion on September 12th with a $60,000 purse to split.

EchoPark Speedway Takeover: The 2026 NOPI Tour Sets Its Sights on Hampton

Rod Worley: That regional focus for the 2026 NOPI season at EchoPark Speedway (formerly Atlanta Motor Speedway) sounds like a smart move given the economy. You mentioned the $60,000 purse and the return of the NDRA. How does the 2026 schedule look for our readers who want to follow the tour?

Sam Mahdavi: We’re making it accessible again. People can’t always haul a car across ten states, so we’re hitting key hubs. The 2026 NOPI Tour is designed to build momentum leading up to our “Mega Show” right here in Georgia:

• April 24–26: NOPI NDRA Drag Race at Virginia Motorsports Park.

• May 15–17: NOPI NDRA Drag Race at South Georgia Motorsports Park.

• June 26–28: NOPI Drift & Car Show at South Florida Fairgrounds.

• Sept 12–13: NOPI Nationals Motorsports Supershow at EchoPark Speedway (formerly Atlanta Motor Speedway).

The September finale at AMS is going to be massive—two days of autocross, drifting, and the “HOP” hydraulics. We’re even doing a “Glow Off” on Saturday night because that’s the kind of energy the car community is hungry for right now.

The Art of the Feel: Why Mentorship is the Secret Sauce at the 2026 Career Expo

Rod Worley: You also mentioned the Mission Critical Career Expo and getting guys like Kevin Tetz and Sammy Maloof involved in the NASCAR garage. Why is it so important to have “mentors” rather than just “instructors”?

Sam Mahdavi: Because these kids need to see that this is a viable path to “winning in the game of life”. Kevin Tetz—the “Paintucation” guy—he doesn’t just talk about sanding; he shows you how to feel the panel.

Sammy Maloof, who’s done stunts in some of the biggest movies in the world, teaches these kids that discipline on the track translates to discipline in your personal life.

Mentor Spotlights: Tetz and Maloof

The garage floor at EchoPark Speedway is about to become a classroom, but don’t expect a chalkboard and a lecture. Sam is bringing in the heavy hitters—guys like Kevin Tetz and Sammy Maloof—who have spent their lives either painting masterpieces or jumping cars through buildings.

These aren’t just “instructors” checking a box; they are mentors showing the next generation that turning a wrench is a ticket to a rewarding life.

• Kevin Tetz (Paintucation): A former host of Spike Network’s TRUCKS! TV for nine seasons, Tetz has spent decades teaching fundamental automotive restoration through his “Paintucation” instructional series.

• Sammy Maloof (Winning at the Race of Life): A Hollywood stuntman with credits in Fast & Furious and Mission Impossible, Maloof specializes in vehicular stunts and uses his “Winning at the Race of Life” program to provide mentorship and mechanical skills training to youth.

The Big Tent: Sam Mahdavi on Why Corvette Soul Belongs at the NOPI Supershow

Rod Worley: NOPI has legendary roots in the sport compact scene, but the 2026 tour seems much more inclusive. What would you say to a Corvette owner who might be on the fence about bringing their high-performance C8 or a classic C3 to a NOPI event?

Sam Mahdavi: Back in the day, we were so heavy into imports that people didn’t even realize we had other classes. That’s changed. For 2026, we have a place for everybody. We have classes for Overlanders, Jeeps, Broncos, and Exotics. We even have a “Work in Progress” class.

We need the guys from the GSRA—the veterans—to mingle with the young kids. We’ve all matured. The older guys used to look at imports as “rice burners,” but now everyone is ready to educate one another. We want the lowriders, the mini-trucks, the imports, and the domestics all together at the end of the year to talk about what they built.

* Editor’s Note

The “us vs. them” standoff is officially in the rearview mirror, as Sam Mahdavi tears down the fences to transform the 2026 NOPI Tour into a high-octane melting pot where domestic muscle and precision engineering take center stage.

For decades, the Corvette Brotherhood and the NOPI scene occupied different galaxies—one defined by NCRS-certified chrome and the other by neon underglow—but those old stereotypes are dead.

If you’re still picturing nothing but blow-off valves and tuner culture, you’re missing out on the best asphalt action in the Southeast; on the 2026 tour, the only metric that matters is “Fast vs. Slow.”

Beyond the “Don’t Touch” Sign: How the 2026 NOPI Tour is Trading Screens for Wrenches

Rod Worley: You’ve always been passionate about the next generation. What is the one thing we should be doing right now to ensure young people in Georgia stay interested in turning wrenches?

Sam Mahdavi: We have to let them touch and feel the cars. If a kid sees a Fast & Furious Toyota Supra but isn’t allowed to touch it, it’s just a picture. But if they can sit in it, it becomes a memory.

We’ll have pros like Kevin Tetz teaching body shop courses—sanding, painting, real skills. We need to get back to teaching these kids how to be young men and women with trades and a passion for the hobby.

We’re setting up 16,000 square feet of trade space. We want kids sitting in these cars, feeling the rumble of the engine, and learning that if they learn a trade—whether it’s body work or high-performance tuning—they can earn a great living and be part of this incredible culture.

We have to rejuvenate the inventory of the youth, or the hobby dies with us.

NOPI Highlights: A Legacy of Automotive High Energy

Since its inception in 1966 as “Number One Parts, Inc.,” NOPI has evolved from a local Atlanta auto parts business into the definitive cornerstone of American car culture.

Originally focused on high-performance parts for enthusiasts, the company launched the NOPI Nationals Motorsports Supershow in 1988, which quickly became the premier stage for the burgeoning import and customization scene.

The highlight of the NOPI experience has always been its “festival” atmosphere. During the late 1990s and early 2000s, the event transformed into a holistic entertainment powerhouse.

It wasn’t just about polished paint; it was about the NDRA Drag Racing Association, where legendary racers like Kenny Tran and Tony Palo pushed the limits of front-wheel-drive performance.

After a brief hiatus, the 2025 “Legendary Comeback” reaffirmed its status, featuring everything from high-stakes drifting to the gravity-defying HOP hydraulic competitions.

Today, NOPI continues to bridge the gap between nostalgia and modern performance, ensuring that “turning wrenches” remains as cool for the next generation as it was for the last.

Master Mechanic, Media Personality & Champion Racer

It doesn’t take long to learn the difference between a “car guy” and a “car master.” Sam Mahdavi doesn’t just talk the talk from behind a microphone; he’s a man who has bled on the shop floor, taken the checkered flag, and built the very machines that define modern pop culture.

From the high-stakes drama of a Hollywood movie set to the “common sense” grit of a Saturday morning radio broadcast, Sam’s footprint on the automotive landscape is as wide as a set of rear drag radials.

Take a look at the pedigree of the man leading the charge for the 2026 season:

Media & Mentorship

Sam’s Garage TV (MotorTrend): Now wrapping its 15th season, the show is a staple for DIY enthusiasts, offering clear, step-by-step instructions on everything from basic maintenance to full restorations.

Radio Legacy: For over a decade, Sam co-hosted the nationally syndicated Sam’s Garage Radio Show with the late Sam Memmolo, providing “common sense repair” advice to callers across the country.

Next-Gen Advocate: Sam frequently travels to automotive institutes to mentor students, believing that hands-on experience is the key to preserving car culture.

Motorsports & Hollywood

Championship Pedigree: A two-time NDRA Drag Racing Champion, Sam also led the winning team at the 2004 SEMA Installers Challenge and famously triumphed on the Speed Channel’s Pinks in 2008 with a 2JZ-swapped Toyota Cressida.

Screen Credits: Highly respected by Hollywood for his technical prowess, Sam has provided over ten performance cars for the Fast & Furious franchise and appeared on-screen in Furious Seven.

Precision, Power, and Peace of Mind

As our conversation at the studio wound down, it became clear that Sam Mahdavi is moving at a pace most of us would need a supercharger to match.

Whether he is breaking down the intricate timing requirements of a 58x reluctor wheel for an LS7 swap or revitalizing the NDRA Championship series, Sam’s focus remains locked on technical integrity and cultural preservation.

He is a rare breed in this industry—a champion racer who conquered the SEMA Installers Challenge and Pinks, yet remains dedicated to helping the average enthusiast achieve “peace of mind” with their performance goals.

The 2026 NOPI master plan is more than just a tour; it is a full-throttle invitation for the Corvette community to bridge the gap with the next generation. By bringing icons like Kevin Tetz and Sammy Maloof into the NASCAR garage at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Sam is ensuring that the “art of the wrench” survives.

He wants our classic C3 and high-performance C8 owners to mingle with the youth, transforming a simple car show into a shared masterclass of automotive passion.

Walking away from the electric hum of Sam’s Garage, you realize that the future of the hobby is in steady, grease-stained hands. Sam’s vision for 2026 is rooted in the same common sense that defined Mahdavi Motorsports start back on April 12th, 1999.

So, whether you are prepping for a regional drag race or finally tackling that engine swap, remember Sam’s advice: let the kids touch the cars, trust the factory engineering, and never stop pushing the redline of what’s possible.

“Sam’s Garage” Info

Website: Mahdavi Motorsports

Where to watch “Sam’s Garage”: Motor Trend TV – REV’N

Social Media: Facebook – YouTube – Instagram

The 2026 NOPI Regional Event Schedule

The 2026 season is structured as a series of high-energy “Super Shows” across the Eastern United States, culminating in the flagship event in Georgia.