Report from Thomas McCarthy

That’s right folks, the biggest, the best and the baddest Bagger racing on the planet has returned to the scene after some time off to deal with life’s many issues. Now on to the real deal issue is HGW is back and the bagger racing is hot and buck wild, like a red-headed step child.

The sanction founded in 2020, spearheaded by founder Roger Edgerton, took Bagger street racing off the streets of North Carolina during the Covid years. Roger began formal racing operations on drag strips across the lower part of the USA. Roger has taken up the cause and is promoting the sport once again in a way that would make PT Barnum his bad self, take notice and smile.

The recent event at Shadyside Dragway, in Shelby, N.C. held on June 12-13, 2026 was proof live & alive that the baddest baggers in the land are totally on board with Roger’s “Hogs Gone Wild” show once again. Dozens of bad azz baggers, the quickest and fastest in the USA, were on hand for his production at Shadyside, where the bagger revolution actually took hold, and began coming off the streets, onto the strip – eighth mile style, which is much closer to street racing.

Here the quickest bike wins, every time, and the racer with the quickest reaction times becomes the most desirable drag bike hired gun at the track. This is all about quick and quick wins drag races, not power and speed.

As the inaugural “We Back” season unfolds for HGW, there are no time sheets, no big classes or points (yet). It’s all about who wins rounds, goes round after round and get’s back into the lanes again until the final pair is down to the real deal. Yes there are some rules, but it’s kept simple and it’s not about rules – it’s about who goes rounds, and WINS!

This is about real racing at its most primal level. Cutting a tight light is very necessary, and to win the throttle jockey can’t get off the throttle- the winner will always be someone with the right stuff to throttle it out and stay in it, to win it! This is not just about bragging rights, that don’t buy groceries or pay the rent.

There are always guaranteed pay outs for the classes, but the side action is as serious as a heart attack. Paper talks, and bullshit walks.

Because Hogs Gone Wild is all about the show, for the fans and for the racers: Roger brought in some Nitro Harleys for the Shelby, N.C. event.  Six Pro Fuel Nitro Harley’s lit the place up for the fans with wheels up and nitromethane fumes making thunder like only Nitro bikes can do. Jay Beasley, Hot Rod Carlisle, Mike Blair Racing, Walter Halonski, John Jenkins all put the throttles to the stops and kept it there for the full 660’ pull at Shadyside, front wheels in the air!

There are many irons in the fire right now that will impact the future of Hogs Gone Wild. As of the summer of 2026, the Grand Finale of the 2026 season will be held October 1-2-3, at Darlington Dragway, in Hartsville, South Carolina.

For details be sure to visit https://hogsgonewildracing.com/  or contact Roger Edgerton directly.