SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Drivers in vehicles built to move low and slow cruised Saturday down San Francisco's Mission Street in celebration of one of the city’s most distinctive cultural traditions: lowriding.
Music played as hundreds of customized cars bounced, tilted and otherwise made their way along the annual King of the Streets event, part of National Hispanic Heritage Month. Spectators and participants of all ages celebrated the culture, which once was the target of police crackdowns and is now commemorated on U.S. Postal Service stamps.
“We finally got our stamp of approval,” said Roberto Hernandez, founder of the San Francisco Lowrider Council. In addition to this year’s rollout of stamps featuring five classic lowriders, California Gov. Gavin Newsom recently announced a specialized state lowrider license plate.
“We have a lot to celebrate this year,” Hernandez said.
Lowriding has deep roots in Mexican American and Chicano communities in the U.S. Southwest, with California widely credited as the birthplace of the modern lowrider movement. States including Texas and Arizona have their own long histories that contributed to the culture.
Hernandez calls lowriding an art form and each vehicle an art piece. Cars are transformed with lowered suspensions, elaborate paint, chrome, custom interiors and hydraulics capable of making the vehicles bounce and hop.
For many participants, it is also an expression of Mexican American identity, family and craftsmanship.
“It’s about driving low, being seen and going slow,” said Johnny Castro, who was participating Saturday, adding: “We go slow so people can see us, see our art that we put together here, because it does take time and money to put these cars together.”
The road to acceptance for lowriding has been long. Hernandez recalls a time when police issued citations, made arrests and shut down Mission Street. He ultimately sued the city and police department, arguing for the right to cruise. But the fight wasn't unique to San Francisco.
Beginning in the 1980s, other California cities adopted anti-cruising rules. Critics of those laws argued enforcement disproportionately affected Latino communities and stigmatized a cultural tradition.
In 2023, Newsom signed legislation removing California’s restrictions on cruising and stripping local governments of the ability to enact bans based on repeatedly driving through an area.
Lowriding has become a family affair for Castro.
“Rolling with my wife and my kids. We all have our own little rides, and it’s great,” he said.
Drivers participate in the annual King of the Streets event celebrating lowriding, a Mexican American and Chicano cultural tradition rooted in car customization, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Haven Daley)
Drivers participate in the annual King of the Streets event celebrating lowriding, a Mexican American and Chicano cultural tradition rooted in car customization, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Haven Daley)
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Kenny Minchey threw two touchdown passes and CJ Baxter added two scoring runs as Kentucky used a huge third quarter to stun No. 9 Texas A&M 31-21 on Saturday.
Led by rookie coach Will Stein in his first road game, Kentucky beat a ranked opponent for the first time since downing No. 6 Mississippi 20-17 on Sept. 28, 2024.
Stein had vowed to do better after Kentucky (2-1, 1-1 Southeastern Conference) led then-No. 12 Alabama 17-13 at halftime last week before being outscored 32-0 in the second half of a 45-17 loss.
The game pitted Texas A&M’s offense against Kentucky defensive coordinator Jay Bateman, who spent the last two years in the same position with the Aggies. He seemed to have Texas A&M’s number, keeping the Aggies off-balance all day and limiting Marcel Reed to 26 of 49 passing for 236 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.
Minchey, a transfer from Notre Dame, found Kenny Darby wide open for a 42-yard touchdown on the first drive of the second half to break a 7-all tie.
Baxter’s two touchdown runs came on the next two possessions to extend Kentucky’s lead to 28-7.
The Aggies had been stopped on three straight possessions when Reed scored on a 5-yard touchdown run to cut the lead to 28-14 with about 11 1/2 minutes remaining.
The Wildcats made it 31-14 on a 52-yard field goal by Adam Zouagui that deflected off the upright and through with less than nine minutes remaining.
Texas A&M (2-1, 0-1) was driving after that, but Jordan Castell intercepted Reed on a the 7-yard line.
The Aggies cut the lead to 31-21 when Reed connected with Micah Riley for a 5-yard score with less than four minutes to go.
Minchey was 14 of 18 for 252 yards and Baxter had 19 carries for 87 yards.
The Aggies had punted on their previous two possessions when they went for it on fourth-and-2 from their own 33. But Reed’s pass fell incomplete to give the Wildcats great field position.
They took advantage of it when Baxter scored his second touchdown on a 2-yard run near the end of a third quarter in which they outgained A&M 196 yards to 20.
The Aggies took a 7-0 lead when Carsyn Baker’s 2-yard touchdown run capped a 14-play, 79-yard drive with about five minutes left in the first half.
Minchey found Henry Boyer wide open for a 3-yard touchdown pass that tied it with about two minutes until halftime. That score was set up by a 53-yard reception by DJ Miller two plays earlier.
Kentucky: The Wildcats could get a spot in the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2023.
Texas A&M: The Aggies are certain to plummet in the poll after losing to an unranked opponent at home.
Kentucky: Hosts South Alabama next Saturday.
Texas A&M: Visits No. 7 LSU next Saturday night.
Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here, visit the Top 25 here and see AP’s full college football coverage here
Kentucky's CJ Baxter Jr. (1) rushes for a first down as Texas A&M defensive end T.J. Searcy (18) and cornerback Dezz Ricks (2) defend during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Texas A&M wide receiver Mario Craver (1) is tackled by Kentucky's Ty Bryant (14) and Hasaan Sykes (12) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Texas A&M's Rueben Owens II (4) runs for a gain as Kentucky's Bo Barnes (0) and Jordan Castell (5) defend during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Kentucky's Sam Greene (2) returns an interception against Texas A&M during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Kentucky quarterback Kenny Minchey (3) throws a pass against Texas A&M during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
