By Rob Fortier – Images by the Author
Over the years, Southern California has slowly lost its preeminent (outdoor) truck shows—as of 2026, other than some good local get-togethers, we’re down to just the Western F-100 Nationals! But in 2023, Rod Shows, the folks behind the three-quarter-century-old Grand National Roadster Show, saw that gathering gap and decided to do something about it: the Grand National Truck Show (GNTS). And like the GNRS has its America’s Most Beautiful Roadster, one of the most prestigious awards in hot rodding, the GNTS had to have its own coveted crown: the World’s Most Beautiful Truck (WMBT).
Now in its fourth year, the GNTS, held this past weekend at the Fairplex in Pomona, California (where else?!), was moved back from its previous Friday-Saturday schedule to the traditional Saturday-Sunday format, with the awards at 5 p.m. Sunday evening. We showed up early (Thursday) for the WMBT judging, with 10 competing trucks all vying for the ARP trophy and $12,500 cash!
From Tony Jurado’s South City Rod & Custom–built 1956 F-100 “Cashmere” (CTP’s gorgeous cover model for the Nov. ’26 issue!) and Thomas Cauthen’s Classic Car Studio–crafted ’56 F-100 “EFFY” to Brian Wojcik’s Scott’s Hotrods–built 1995 Chevy OBS and Larry Gloria’s iKandy-colored C10 from Tre 5, it was a tough field this year.
But in the end, the honors—and the loot—went to Cedar City, Utah’s Gary Holyoak and his (literal) family heirloom 1963 Chevy Stepside “50SHDZE,” by H&S Customs! The C10 has been a member of the Holyoak clan since Gary’s father acquired back in the mid’60s, and it still has the same bench seat that resided in the truck when Gary dated his now-wife, Stephanie (against H&S’ desires during the build!!). Stay tuned to future issues of Classic Truck Performance for more on the Don Hardy–powered, Roadster Shop–chassis’d, Seams Impossible–upholstered award winner.
2026 also saw the addition of the Classic Car Studio “Scott France Excellence in Fabrication” memorial award (in honor of Scott’s recent death), which went to our buddy Doug Jerger/Squeeg’s Kustoms and his amazing ’65 Dodge AA/100! This year’s Steve Stilwell Memorial Award was given to a truck that, in our opinion, should’ve been in WMBT competition, Scot Scialpi’s Kaase 520 Boss-powered ’62 Ford Unibody by Wheeler’s Speed Shop.
All in all, the 2026 GNTS was a truly enjoyable experience for us at In The Garage Media—even more so when show promoter, John Buck, and ARP’s Bob Florine, announced the expansion of the World’s Most Beautiful Truck award to TWO categories: Early and Late. We’re looking forward to seeing the growth of both the WMBT competition as well as the show in general for years to come!
