AM Radio Mandate Passes, Bristol Breaks Out, and Clarkson Cashes In: This Week in Car News

It's been a strange and fun 24 hours for the automotive world. A US House vote could lock an anachronism into every new car for a generation, NASCAR's Bristol night race turned into a full-contact sports story with punches on pit road, and one of TV's most famous presenters is clearing out his legendary garage. Here's what matters from today's headlines.

AM Radio Could Be Required in All New Cars

The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act passed the US House of Representatives this week and now heads to the Senate. Car and Driver and The Drive both covered the move. The logic is mostly emergency-services related: AM bands can still reach some emergency broadcast infrastructure. Whether it becomes law, car buyers will know at the next model year's options sheet.

Bristol Night: Logano Wins, Blaney Throwing

Under the lights at Bristol, Joey Logano stole the win amid a Gibbs/Hocevar battle for the lead. Then the real story: Ryan Blaney became the first driver to swing at Carson Hocevar after a crash, testing NASCAR's no-fighting stance — and apparently its merch department.

IMSA Battle of the Bricks: Acura on Pole

The No. 60 MSR Acura ARX-06 took pole for what is billed as their final IMSA sprint race at the Brickyard — a fitting farewell setup. Weather also canceled GTD Pro qualifying, a reminder that short ovals don't play favorites.

Clarkson Is Selling His Grand Tour Cars

Jeremy Clarkson is listing three of his most famous Grand Tour cars, including the Lancia from the show's final episode. For collectors, this is once-in-a-generation inventory; for the rest of us, a reminder that the cars of a generation are becoming museum pieces.

EV Corner

Two lighter but useful reads: a SONDORS three-wheeled electric car — genuine EV vaporware history — just hit eBay, and Car and Driver published a solid guide to buying discount low-mile used EVs if the savings window is open in your market.

Takeaway

Regulation, rivalry, and resale value moved in three different directions in one day: Washington may mandate an 80-year-old radio standard, short ovals keep producing fights as entertaining as the racing, and celebrity collections are quietly becoming the new collector-car market.

Sources: Car and Driver, The Drive, Road & Track, Motor1, Electrek. Headlines pulled 2026-09-20 UTC.