Eligibility: Street Rods, Hot Rods, Trucks, Customs, Custom Rods through 1965 vintage

Basic Criteria: This award is designed to honor a gorgeous, elegant pre-1966 vehicle. The committee will seek a vehicle that exudes style and class, one that would look at home cruising the coast or arriving at the country club.

How to Enter: You must have your competing vehicle entered in the indoor car show at the 25th Del Mar Nationals presented by FiTech Fuel Injection. Finalists will be selected from the indoor car show only.

Selected at: Goodguys 25th Meguiar’s Del Mar Nationals presented by FiTech Fuel Injection, April 10-12, 2026, Del Mar, CA

Eligibility: Hot Rods through 1948 vintage

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 at the event.

How to Enter: All award contenders must meet Thursday, May 14h at 9am sharp at the Sheraton Music City Nashville Airport hotel for the Reliability Run to be eligible for Hot Rod of the Year.

Selected at: Goodguys 1st Surventis Legends of Hot Rodding event, May 14-16, 2026, Nashville, TN

Eligibility: Street Rods through 1948 vintage

Basic Criteria: This award is designed for a true modern masterpiece that represents current trends in street rodding. 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 10th by 10am at the Ohio Expo Center to be eligible for Street Rod of the Year award. A Top 10 will be selected Friday afternoon from the Cardinal lot, the Top 10 Contenders will then park inside the Celeste Building on Friday & Saturday.

Selected at: Goodguys 28th Summit Racing Nationals presented by Grundy Insurance, July 10-12, 2026, Columbus, OH

Eligibility: Street Machines 1954 through 1999 vintage

Basic Criteria: This award is designed for a cutting-edge Street Machine which combines masterful build quality, extreme performance, and a style that represents current trends. 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 10th by 10am at the Ohio Expo Center to be eligible for Street Machine of the Year award. A Top 10 will be selected Friday afternoon from the Cardinal lot, the Top 10 Contenders will then park inside the Celeste Building on Friday & Saturday.

Selected at: Goodguys 28th Summit Racing Nationals presented by Grundy Insurance, July 10-12, 2026, Columbus, OH

Eligibility: Street Rods, Hot Rods, Trick Trucks, Street Machines, Customs, Custom Rods and Muscle Cars through 1999 vintage

Basic Criteria: This award is designed to honor a truly bitchin’ modified vehicle, anything from a traditional-style hot rod or custom to a modern cutting-edge truck or street machine. The selection committee will look for innovation, attitude, and compelling design, in addition to quality of craftsmanship, body and paint, overall engineering, the three F’s (fit, form and functionality), stance, and overall creativity in concept.

How to Enter: All candidates must park in the “Builders Choice” Parking Area Saturday, October 2nd starting at 8am through 2pm. The Top 5 Finalists will be chosen from this area only.

Selected at: 33rd Summit Racing Lone Star Nationals, October 2-3, 2026, Fort Worth, TX

Eligibility: Custom vehicles 1936 through 1965 vintage

Basic Criteria: This award is designed to honor an exceptional Traditional Custom vehicle. Quality of craftsmanship, body and paint, design, the three F’s (fit, form and functionality), stance, and overall creativity in concept is what the selection committee will seek.

How to Enter: Attend any of the qualifying events with your Traditional Custom vehicle, park in the Builder’s Choice or Indoor display area (where applicable) and you'll have a chance to be selected as a finalist!

Overall Winner Announced: Friday October 9th, 2026

Eligibility: Custom rods 1949 through 1972 vintage

Basic Criteria: A Custom Rod is defined as a custom car that tastefully blends customizing techniques or refined original bodies with modern performance, engineering, components, and styling. The selection committee will seek a car that represents current trends and evaluate vehicles based on quality of craftsmanship, body and paint, the three F’s (fit, form and functionality), stance, creativity in concept, and overall design.

How to Enter: Attend any of the qualifying events with 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!

Overall Winner Announced: Friday October 9th, 2026

2025 Winner - Homer Zamora's 1957 Pontiac Safari Wagon | Built by Kenny's Rod Shop

Eligibility: Muscle Cars of all makes 1960 through 1987 vintage

Basic Criteria: Designed to honor an original factory stock or original fully restored muscle car of superb quality. The selection committee will evaluate originality, rarity, and quality of components and presentation.

How to Enter: Attend any of the qualifying events with your stock or restored Muscle Car and park in the Mighty Muscle Special Parking Area on Saturday or Indoor display (where applicable) and you'll have a chance to be selected as a finalist!

Overall Winner Announced: Friday October 9th, 2026

Eligibility: Muscle Machines 1960 through 1999 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. Cars must make a minimum of three laps on the Goodguys AutoCross track, and finalists must be willing to attend the Summit Racing Lone Start Nationals for a reliability run and performance evaluations. Convertible vehicles must have a rollbar to compete.

How to Enter: Attend any of the qualifying events and complete at least three laps in the Goodguys AutoCross either on Friday (all day) or Saturday before noon. On Saturday, have your vehicle parked either in the AutoCross pits or the Builders Choice special parking area between 10am-2pm. Only cars parked in the AutoCross pit area or Builders Choice area and cars that have completed the three-lap AutoCross minimum will be eligible for a finalist award.

All event award finalists must attend the 33rd Summit Racing Lone Star Nationals - October 2-3, 2026, and participate in a reliability run Friday October 2nd that will also include 2 autocross laps, drag strip burnout and 1/8-mile pass, overall times won’t determine the winner, but style points count.

Overall Winner Selected At: 33rd Summit Racing Lone Star Nationals, October 2-3, 2026, Fort Worth, TX

Eligibility: Trick Trucks through 1959 vintage

Basic Criteria: This award is designed to honor an outstanding pre-’60 tricked-out truck. The selection committee will seek a truck that represents current truck trends and evaluate each contender based on quality of craftsmanship, overall design, body and paint, the three F’s (fit, form and functionality), stance, and creativity in concept.

How to Enter: Attend any of the qualifying events with your pre-1960 Truck and park in the Trick Truck Corral, Builder’s Choice area, or Indoor display area (where applicable) to have a chance to be selected as a finalist!

Overall Winner Announced: Friday October 9th, 2026

Eligibility: Trick trucks 1960 through 1999 vintage

Basic Criteria: This award is designed to honor an outstanding ’60 through ’99 vintage tricked-out truck. The selection committee will seek a truck that represents current truck trends and evaluate each contender based on quality of craftsmanship, overall design, body and paint, the three F’s (fit, form and functionality), stance, and creativity in concept.

How to Enter: Attend any of the qualifying events with your 1960-1999 Truck and park in the Trick Truck Corral, Builder’s Choice area, or Indoor display area (where applicable) to have a chance to be selected as a finalist!

Overall Winner Announced: Friday October 9th, 2026

Eligibility: Lifted four-wheel -drive trick trucks & SUVs through 1999 vintage. All lifted 4x4 trucks and SUVs eligible for 2026 title, looking for new debut vehicles (AKA “Of The Year”) beginning in 2027.

Basic Criteria: This award is designed to honor outstanding 1999 and older lifted 4x4 tricked-out trucks and SUVs. The selection committee will seek a vehicle that represents current overland truck trends and evaluate each contender based on quality of craftsmanship, overall design, body and paint, the three F’s (fit, form and functionality), stance, and creativity in concept.

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

Overall Winner Announced: Friday, October 9, 2026