When we last left off, Seiji was racing Takeshi Nakazato at Myogi. Takeshi had the lead but Seiji was right behind him.

Takeshi told himself "I can't lose this battle! I can't lose to these guys who stepped on our home with dirty shoes!"

Seiji then said it was time to make a pass. Takeshi drifted up a bit which opened the door for Seiji to pass him. Seiji passed Takeshi like he wasn't there.

One guy said "NO WAY! He passed Takeshi easily." & another guy said "That Evo IV is good!"

At the finish line, a guy told Shingo "Takeshi's R32 fell behind. The Evo IV is trying to widen the gap!"

Shingo then said "What's that Lan-Evo guy thinking?"

Shingo then looked at Kyle and said "Against a skilled Myogi racer, he chose to be in front, which is unfavorable. Does he think he's good enough to do that, or is he an idiot?"

While racing, Takeshi said "This race is just starting"

Seiji drifted into the next corner but Takeshi decided not to drift causing Takeshi to lose ground to Takeshi.

In Akagi at the Takahashi residence, Keisuke knocked on a door said to Ryousuke "Big brother, are you in there?"

Keisuke opened the door and Ryousuke said "What is it, Keisuke?"

Keisuke said "The Lan-Evo team is racing at Mount Myogi. I just got the news.

Ryousuke said "Against the Night Kids' Nakazato?"

Keisuke then said "I suppose. Who's going to win, big brother?"

Ryousuke didn't respond and Keisuke then said "Just this once, I'm rooting for Nakazato to win. The Lan-Evo's vulgar spoiler makes me want to puke."

Ryousuke then told Keisuke "Nakazato's strength lies in his boldness and his offensive driving method. When he's on, he's fast, but he tends to crack under pressure. I sure hope he has recovered from the loss he suffered against you."

Back at Myogi, Takeshi was trying to catch up with Seiji but couldn't seem to gain ground. Takeshi then said "This can't be happening! But the race is far from over! If I don't stop them, then who will?"

Takeshi went wide at the corner and hit the wall which infuriated him.

At the finish line, Kyle said to Takeshi "We get your team sticker, as promised." Kyle then took out his Swiss army knife and slice the Night Kids sticker in half.

Seiji put the sticker on his rear spoiler and then said "In no time, my Evo IV's spoiler will be covered with the stickers of all the teams in Gunma."

Shingo then told Seiji "Don't start celebrating yet! There are many fast racers in Gunma!"

Seiji then said "That sounds to me like the pathetic cry of a loser."

Kyle told Seiji that they would be leaving to go back to Tochigi. Before leaving Seiji said "By the way, from now on, you pull over whenever you see a car with the Emperor sticker on it.

Shingo then told Takeshi "I can't believe that he was faster than your R32 in an uphill race."

The next day in Haruna, Max told everyone "Last night, the Night Kids were defeated by that Lan-Evo team."

Drew then went "WHAT? NO WAY! MY BROTHER LOST?!"

Kenji then told him "Everyone has been talking about it, Akito. They say Nakazato's R32 hit the wall and was damaged.

Drew then went "That sucks! Things certainly have been rough for the Night Kids lately. I wish I felt bad for them but I don't want anything to do with them"

Kenji then said "You're right. I also heard the Lan-Evo corps says that they'll conquer Gunma in a month and are now setting their sights on Haruna."

Drew then said "What do we do if they come here?"

Max said "We will fight them but I want either Ash or my sister to race them. Since they are the fastest here in Haruna, I think it's best one of those two have a battle with them."

Drew then came along and said "I think that sounds like a great idea, Max. None of our cars could even pose a threat so you brought up a good idea."

Max then said to Drew "I am glad you agree with me, Drew. Since those two are the fastest, then one of them will race them."

Drew then said "I heard the leader, Kyle Sudou, wants a rematch with Ash so I wouldn't be surprised if Ash raced him."

A few minutes later, Ash came by and said "Hey guys. What's up?"

Max said to Ash "They may specifically challenge you to a downhill battle, but you can just ignore them."

Ash said "Why do you want me to race them?" & Max said "You and May are our pride. I'd hate to ruin it against a Lan-Evo. You're also not officially a Speed Star, either."

Kenji then said "I want you and May to keep on racing and winning. The Lan-Evo is no joke. It's like racing against a WRC rally car. Its light body is equipped with turbo and 4WD. That car shouldn't be allowed on any pass."

Yuichi then came outside listening to the guys talk about the Lan-Evo.

Ash then said "I will race them because I would hate to run away. Besides, they want to beat me so bad for what happened a year ago."

The guys agreed with what Ash said and then May came to the gas station.

May said "So it looks like you are racing one of the Lan-Evos on Haruna, huh Ash? You will win because you're awesome. GO FOT IT, ASH! THE LAN-EVO IS GOING DOWN!"

Kenji then asked Max if Ash would be okay and Max said "Even though his Supra has a lot of power, the chances of Ash winning is zero because he's going up against the fastest 4-cylinder car in Japan. Not to mention, the Lan-Evo is a car made for street racing."

Later that day, May said to Ash "I think you should power up your Supra. It's your best chance to win."

Ash said "Well since you are a top racer now, I think your R34 needs more power to compete but I should power up my Supra and it starts with the turbo system. The engine in here now is starting to wear down so maybe I need a new 2JZ-GTE engine and I've already found one. It should be here tomorrow and I will have it installed at the shop I work at when I go to work tomorrow."

May said "That's great! The new engine should be more powerful, right?"

Ash said "The guy who sold me the engine says it has more than 400 HP because it has a racing turbo."

The next day, Ash woke up at 5:30 AM and went to his shop so he could get his new 2JZ-GTE installed. When he arrived, his friend Juichi said "Your engine should be here around 7:00 AM. You don't have to pay for it because the boss knew you needed a new engine in your Supra so he bought it for you. You better thank him for doing that."

Ash then went to Mr. Mitsuyama and thanked him for buying a new engine for him and his boss said "You are welcome, Ash. You should be able to set new records with this engine."

At 7:00 AM, Ash's new engine came and along with his co-workers, they put the new engine in his Supra. It took them about 2 ½ hours to install it but it was worth it.

Juichi then said to Ash "Your new engine has been installed, so are you happy now?"

Ash said "Happy? I'm over enjoyed about my new engine. So how much horsepower does it have now?"

Juichi said "We tested the car with the new engine on the dynamometer and it said it has 415 HP."

Ash said "WOW! That's only 10 less HP than May's R34. I have to find a new RB26DETT for May's car and the one I found can make more than 500 HP."

Later that day in Tochigi, Kyle and Seiji were looking at the side of Seiji's spoiler.

Kyle said "At this rate, the side of the spoiler will be covered in no time."

Seiji then said "It's kind of fun if I think of it as a game. But I want to race more capable racers. Where's our next target, Kyle?

Kyle said "Tomorrow night, we'll head to Haruna. I want to beat Ashton Morikawa and his Supra. This will be our revenge for what happened last year."

Seiji said "Morikawa and that Supra? How boring."

Kyle then said "I don't mind doing it myself, Seiji."

One of their friends said "Kyle will race him? Why?"

Kyle then said "Our ultimate target is Ryousuke Takahashi of the Akagi Red Suns. But before that, we will beat Morikawa and get our revenge. I went to see the course yesterday. The slope is severe. My Evo III is lighter and better suited for it.

Seiji then said "You kidding me? Let me take him on, Kyle. No matter where I race, I won't lose to anyone. There is only one car that my Evo IV can't beat and it's your Evo III, Kyle. Team Emperor's ace is not needed against a Supra. I will do it and get our revenge.

The next day in Haruna, May went to a grocery store to pick up some stuff with Drew.

Drew said to May "I am a little worried about Ash because he's going up against a 4-cylinder that's a force to be reckoned with."

May then said "I don't think he will lose. The only person he would lose to is me and my R34."

Drew said "I heard Ash put a new engine in his Supra. Maybe he will win."

Later that day, May was home when Max came over. May said "What's going on, bro?"

Max said "They're coming to Haruna. Tonight."

That night, Kyle and Seiji were driving on Haruna while Max, Kenji, Akito, and Drew were standing at the start line waiting for them. Ash was also with them waiting for Seiji and Kyle to arrive

Drew said "Here they come! The Lan-Evo squad!"

Kenji then said "The white one is the one who raced Nakazato on Myogi. Rumor has it that's he's ridiculously fast."

Kyle and Seiji along with other people driving Lan-Evos then came to the start area.

When Kyle and Seiji got out of their cars, they said "You must be the Haruna Speed Stars. I'm the leader of the Emperor team, Kyle Sudou. You probably know this already but we came here to take on a guy named Ash Morikawa. We accept all your conditions. Any number of races, of any type, under any conditions. But if you fail to win even one race, we'll take your team sticker. Understood?"

Max said "Our sticker?"

Drew then said "What are they going to do with it?" & Kenji said "I have no idea."

Akito then said "It's okay, right?"

Max then said to Kyle "We accept."

Kyle said "Then let's get right to the race. We don't have much time. The first race is the main downhill race. Have that guy's Supra ready."

Max then asked "Who's racing for you?"

Seiji said "I am, and I drive an Evo IV."

Kenji then said "Max, they said they were ready for more than one race, so who's racing after Ash?"Max said "If Ash loses, I will race next. If he can beat Ash, I sure won't be able to beat him, but we can't accept defeat without a fight."

Kenji said to Max "Then I will race after you. We've been relying on May too much lately. We can't rely too much on Ash also. Let's show him that we're capable, too!"

Ash was about to drive to the starting point when Max walked over to him. He said "I am counting on you, our leadoff man! Ash beat that punk!"

Ash nodded and Max said "GO GET HIM!"

Ash then drove off to the start point.

Akito said "BEAT HIM GOOD, ASH! WE'RE COUNTING ON YOU!"

Ash then went to the other part of the side road and faced his car in the right direction for the race.

Kyle said "Don't take this lightly, Seiji. Morikawa is a tough guy to beat, so go with Simulation 3."

Seiji said "WHAT? Are you serious? Simulation 3 against a Supra?"

Kyle said "That's right." Kyle then said in his head "I can tell. I felt his energy. Morikawa is capable. He's not a fake. He has something that made him beat me in a Corvette. Until we know what it is, we can't let our guard down.

Meanwhile Kenji pulled the cars to the starting point. He said he would be doing the countdown.

Max said to Ash "Are you ready?

Ash said "I am ready. I know I can beat him."

Seiji said to himself "I saw him once by Lake Haruna. It makes for Morikawa to switch from an overweight American sports car to a lighter weighty Supra. Kyle has developed 3 strategies to win on an opponent's course. Simulation 3 is only used against the toughest opponents, so it doesn't surprise me that he's using it against Morikawa and his Supra. I think I get Kyle's plan.

Kenji then said "We're going in 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, GO!"

Both Seiji and Ash got off to great starts.

While catching up to Ash, Seiji said "I won't show you how great the Evo IV is, but how incredible I am!"

Ash drifted through a pair of corners and Seiji fell a little behind. Then Seiji caught up to Ash and was right on his rear bumper.