The Annual Top 12

Eligibility: Street rods through 1948 vintage.

Basic Criteria: This award is designed to honor a gorgeous, elegant street rod.

How to Enter: You must have your street rod entered in the indoor car show at the 22nd Del Mar Nationals. Finalists will be selected from the indoor car show only. Show us what you’re bringing! Use #GGSRDE23 on Instagram to get your ride on our radar!

Selected at: Goodguys 22nd Meguiar’s Del Mar Nationals, March 31 - April 2, Del Mar, CA

Eligibility: Hot Rods 1948 and earlier.

Basic Criteria: It makes noise; it’s regularly street-driven, has a mean attitude and screams the words “Hot Rod.” No cream puffs! No Trailer Queens, Hot Rods must have a minimum of 500 miles on the odometer before arriving to the event.

How to Enter: Friday, May 19th 9AM Sharp on pit road at Nashville Superspeedway. Show us what you’re bringing! Use #GGHROTY23 on Instagram to get your ride on our radar!

Selected at: Goodguys 17th BASF Nashville Nationals – May 19-21, Lebanon, TN

Eligibility: Street rods through 1948 vintage

Basic Criteria: This award is designed for a true modern masterpiece. Quality of craftsmanship, body and paint, overall engineering, the three F’s (fit, form and functionality) stance and overall creativity in design and concept is what the selection committee will seek.

How to Enter: All award candidates must park in the Cardinal lot Friday, July 7th by 10am at the Ohio Expo Center to be eligible for Street Rod of the Year award. Contenders will park inside the Celeste Bldg. Friday & Saturday. Show us what you’re bringing! Use #GGSROTY23 on Instagram to get your ride on our radar!

Selected at: Goodguys 25th Summit Racing Nationals, presented by PPG, July 7-9, Columbus, OH

Eligibility: Street machines 1954 through 1998 vintage

Basic Criteria: This award is designed for a cutting-edge Street Machine which combines masterful build quality with extreme performance. Quality of craftsmanship, body & paint, overall engineering, the three F’s (fit, form and functionality) stance and overall creativity in design and concept is what the selection committee will seek.

How to Enter: All award candidates must park in the Cardinal lot Friday, July 7th by 10am and participate in a two-lap Goodguys AutoCross Friday afternoon at the Ohio Expo Center. AutoCross lap times will not determine the overall winner, but style points do count! Contenders will park inside the Celeste Bldg. Friday & Saturday. Show us what you’re bringing! Use #GGSMOTY23 on Instagram to get your ride on our radar!

Selected at: Goodguys 25th Summit Racing Nationals, presented by PPG, July 7-9, Columbus, OH

Eligibility:  This prestigious award goes to the 2023 winner of the fastest 16 car “King of the Desert” shootout season finale.

King of the Desert and car must be present Sunday at the Speedway Motors Southwest Nationals to accept the award; if the racer cannot be present it will go to the racer with the next fastest time from the 16 car shootout. The winning car will go from the Autocross to Meguiar's “Top 12” Of-the-Year display as the final award winning car. 

Criteria: Must compete in a minimum of three event shootouts during the 2023 season, not including the Duel in the Desert Shootout. The “King of the Desert” shootout will be a multi-lap, elimination format with the fastest time advancing on to the next round. The 16-car elimination Ladder will be set by random draw. One car and driver will be crowned “King of the Desert.”

How to Enter: Must compete in a minimum of three event shootouts with the same car that qualifies for the Duel in the Desert during the 2023 season (not including: Sponsor Shootout, Duel in the Desert Shootout or All-American Sunday Shootouts); must be one of the 16 cars racing in the “King of the Desert” Shootout held Saturday, November 18th during the Goodguys 25th Speedway Motors Southwest Nationals @ Westworld in Scottsdale.

Selected at: Goodguys 26th Southwest Nationals, presented by Classic Performance Products,  November 17-19, Scottsdale, AZ

Eligibility: Custom vehicles 1936 through 1965 vintage.

Basic Criteria: This award is designed to honor an exceptional traditional custom vehicle.

How to Enter: Attend any of the events listed below in your traditional custom, park in the Builder’s Choice or Indoor display area (where applicable) and you'll have a chance to be selected as a finalist! One finalist will be chosen from each of the events listed.

Winner Announced Friday, October 6th, 2023 based on a finalist selected at each of these qualifying events.

Eligibility: Custom rods 1949 through 1972 vintage.

Basic Criteria: A custom rod is defined as a custom car that tastefully blends customizing techniques or factory stock bodies with modern day performance, engineering, components, and styling.

How to Enter: Attend any of the events listed below in your custom rod, park in the Builder’s Choice or Indoor display area (where applicable) and you'll have a chance to be selected as a finalist! One finalist will be chosen from each of the seven events listed.

Winner Announced Friday, October 6th, 2023 based on a finalist selected at each of these qualifying events.

Eligibility: Muscle Cars of all makes 1960 through 1987.

Basic Criteria: Designed to honor an original factory stock or original fully restored Muscle Car of superb quality.

How to Enter: Park in the Mighty Muscle Special Parking area or Indoor display (where applicable) at any Goodguys 2023 events listed below.

Winner Announced Friday, October 6th, 2023 based on a finalist selected at each of these qualifying events.

Eligibility: Muscle Machines 1960 through 1998 vintage

Basic Criteria: A Muscle Machine is defined by Goodguys as a muscle car that has been modified to perform at a high-level including handling, stance, engineering, and body and paint

How to Enter: Attend one of the events listed above and park in the AutoCross pit area Saturday between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. You must also run at least three laps in the Goodguys AutoCross. Lap times will not determine the overall winner, but style points do count! Only cars parked in the AutoCross pit area and cars that have completed the three-lap AutoCross minimum will be eligible for this award.

Winner Announced Friday, October 6th, 2023 based on a finalist selected at each of these qualifying events.

Eligibility: Trucks through 1959 vintage

Basic Criteria: This award is designed to honor an outstanding pre-’60 tricked-out truck.

How to Enter: Attend any of the eight events listed above and park in the LMC Trick Truck Corral, the Builder’s Choice or Indoor display area (where applicable) to have a chance to be selected as a finalist!

Winner Announced Friday, October 6th, 2023 based on a finalist selected at each of these qualifying events.

Eligibility: Trick trucks 1960 through 1998

Basic Criteria: This award is designed to honor an outstanding ’60 through ’97 vintage tricked-out truck.

How to Enter: Attend any of the events listed above and park in the LMC Trick Truck corral, the Builder’s Choice or Indoor display area (where applicable) to have a chance to be selected as a finalist!

Winner Announced Friday, October 6th, 2023 based on a finalist selected at each of these qualifying events.