This Ford highboy two-door phaeton can be seen nearly every year at the Nats, and it’s always doing the same thing—having fun driving around, as it should be.
Fifty-seven editions in, the NSRA Street Rod Nationals remains one of those red-circle dates on every hot rodder’s calendar. The first Nats rolled into Peoria in 1970, and aside from the COVID-19 cancellation, the event has never stopped gathering momentum. Come the first full week of August, Louisville, Kentucky, becomes hot rodding’s temporary capital as the Kentucky Exposition Center fills with street rods, customs, classic pickups, manufacturers, builders, and enough like-minded enthusiasts to make the fairgrounds feel like one sprawling family reunion—with horsepower. The Nats traveled through Memphis, Detroit, St. Paul, Oklahoma City, Syracuse (New York), Columbus(Ohio), and other milestone cities before settling in Louisville in 1997. Traveling to a different host city was part of the fun in the early years, but Louisville supplies everything an event this large requires: hotels, restaurants, local attractions, and easy access to and from the fairgrounds throughout the four-day run. Nearly three decades later, the pairing still works: a landmark event, a proven venue, and thousands of reasons to keep coming back.
Rex and Rhonda Satterfield were on hand with their 2026 Detroit Autorama Ridler-winning 1956 Chevy Bel Air convertible built at Kevin Riffey’s Hot Rods & Restorations.
Now that you are inside the Kentucky Expo Center, the time has come to go on a walkabout and see what you can see:
Todd Day was on hand with his 1932 Ford three-window highboy coupe built at Brad Starks Rod & Custom. Starks was also voted the 2026 Elite Builder of the Year.
NSRA Builders’ ShowcasePresented by Moser Engineering
The Kentucky Exposition Center lobby once again becomes prime real estate, with32 of America’s top buildersbringing out vehicles that reward a slow walk and a close look. This is where stance, proportion, fabrication, paint, upholstery, and the small details all come together—and where you can see just how far today’s best craftsmen continue to push the hobby. Coming out of the Builder’s Showcase as the 2026 Elite Builder of the Year was Brad Starks Rod & Custom for a 1932 Ford three-window highboy coupe that was built in the shop and owned by Todd Day. (Hot rod coupe also competed in the Slonaker award at the Grand National Roadster Show earlier in the year.)
Whether it be an early Ford or a late-model Chevy, there were all sorts of hot rods taking advantage of the Autocross offerings. (Photo Courtesy of NSRA, Louie Mayall.)
NSRA Autocross
If polished paint and perfect panel gaps are only part of your hot-rodding equation, follow the tire noise. The autocross runs Thursday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., putting street-driven machinery to work against the clock. Free spectator ride-alongs offer a right-seat taste of the action, while a new course location within the fairgrounds provides its own entrance, trailer parking for loading and unloading, and a dedicated exit.
John McLeod of Classic Instruments and now Holley Brands fame had his 1967 Chevy Nova on display in the ITGM booth. This amazingly well-built, detailed hot rod grabbed attention all weekend long.
NSRA New Product Showcase
Hot rodding has always moved forward one smart part at a time, and the New Product Showcase is where many of those ideas make their public debut. More than 50 new products from American manufacturers will compete for Best New Product of the Year honors, giving builders and rodders an early look at the pieces likely to show up in garages—and on finished cars—next.
HRIA Seminars
There is always another trick to learn, another trend to track, or another problem worth solving. On Thursday and Friday, the Hot Rod Industry Alliance will bring industry specialists together for sessions packed with practical information, informed opinions, and firsthand insight from the people building the parts and shapingthe business.
The NSRA Nats wouldn’t be complete without at least one blown 1941 Willys gasser; only this time it is a blown small-block Chevy topped with a complete set of Ford carbs.
NSRA Safety Inspections
Good looks may get the attention, but sound construction gets you home. Throughout the event, trained NSRA Volunteer Safety Inspectors will offer free inspectionsand award 16- or 23-point certification to vehicles that meet the mark. It is time well spent for any rodder who wants confidenceunder the car to match the milesshown on the odometer.
Swap Meet
Located behind the South Hall, where it has been for many years, the swap meet is everything a hot rodder would expect. There are lots of vintage sheetmetal, suspension pieces, wheels, and loads of old-timey engine accessories. Over the past few years, we’ve noticed more complete cars showing up for sale. Vintage stuff from pre1949 for sure, but this year, for instance, we found lots of later-model (1955 to 1970s) cars and trucks that would make great starting points.
On hand, as they have been since the earliest days, is the Michigan Hot Rod Association with their Rod Repair Shop to help those rodders in need; they are a big help and very much welcomed.
MHRA Rod Repair Shop
Hosted by the Michigan Hot Rod Association since 1972,club members donate their time to help rodders in need—and we do mean in need. We have seen everything from the simplest fixes to full engine and transmission swaps—and that doesn’t even include the experienced welders we have on hand to handle those truly serious “breakdowns.” This is made possible by the MHRA’s true hot-rodding spirit and the dozen-plus industry manufacturers who support the traveling “repair center.” Special thanks go to Pete & Jakes Hot Rod Parts, which has supported the Rod Repair Shop since its inception.
Powermaster Performance
Along with the Rod Repair Shop, you will also find the Powermaster Performance Starting and Charging System Testing site located adjacent to the MHRA Rod Repair Shop. It is another free service Powermaster provides for hot rodders who suddenly need automotive electrical experience and know-how.
There was plenty more to see and do, as there is every year, proving that the NSRA Nationals is one of the “bucket list” events within the rodding community that should be seen by all hot rodders multiple times during your rodding life! Remember, it is the first full week in August each year at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville. Being there is guaranteed fun. MR
…having fun driving around, as it should be.
Bryant Allen was on hand with his 1936 Ford five-window coupe that was built at Reisinger Custom Rebuilding under the oversight of Pat Reisinger.
Terry and Sara Rose brought out their great-looking 1959 Chevy Suburban built at Reviving Relics under the guidance of Josh Wallace.
This beautiful 1968 Dodge Charger R/T belongs to Tony Scalf and was built at Kyker’s Rod & Kustom with the project overseen by Keith Kyker.
Scott Adams of Greer, SC, brought out his 1968 C10, painted in battleship gray, to the Pro’s Pick area sponsored by Alumicraft.
This 1967 Chevelle belongs to Art Patterson of Henderson, NC, and was built at L & S Customs and powered by a stroked LS topped with a Whipple supercharger. The centerlock wheels are from Forgeline, shod with Michelin Redline rubber.
Larry Olson, from South Dakota, was on hand with his 1951 Cadillac built at Alloway’s Hot Rod Shop. The Caddy was featured in the In The Garage Media (Modern Rodding) booth.
The In The Garage Media booth was in its familiar position for another year, rounding up new and renewing subscribers for all three brands: Modern Rodding, Classic Truck Performance, and All Chevy Performance.
The “stock”-appearing 1955 Chevy Bel Air belonging to David and Brenda Lurding of La Grange, KY, was on hand. The kind of hot rod everyone would truly enjoy driving.
Another hot rod from La Grange was this 1950 Ford “shoebox” coupe complete with a louvered hood belonging to Jason and Heather Rayburn.
A local hot rodder, Phil Vance of Louisville, was on hand with this 1940 Ford sedan powered by a small-block Chevy, featuring Vintage Air A/C.
This PPG Blue Sapphire 1972 Chevelle SS belongs to Bill Decker, another local rodder from Louisville. The 396 big-block is topped with a Holley 770-cfm Street Avenger carb, an Edelbrock intake, Hooker headers, and rides on American Racing wheels. The transmission is a TH400 feeding a 4.11-geared rearend.
The 1933 Ford Vicky belongs to Robert Jubenville of Clinton Township, MI, riding on American Racing five-spokes and painted in a deep black over a louverless hood and smooth body.
Dennis Thomason of Illinois brought out his 1937 Ford coupe, painted in 2013 Cadillac Delton Flame Red (Maroon) over the all-steel body. The powertrain consists of a 350/350 Chevy, a 700-R4, and a 10-bolt rearend equipped with 3.08 gears.
This two-tone 1957 Chevy Handyman wagon belongs to Mike and Linda Eberly of York, PA.
Todd Becker of Dwight, IL, brought out his black-over-maroon interior 1932 Ford Tudor and features Classic Instruments gauges in an engine-turned dash panel, a four-spoke Sprint Car wheel, and a solid-shaft steering column.
This 1966 SS 396 Chevelle with all original sheet metal in Aztec Bronze was built by the Roadster Shop and is one of their Survivor Series builds. Power comes from an LS3 Chevrolet Connect and Cruise, while the wheels are 19- and 20-inch Forgeline OEM1 billet wheels.
This 1965 Buick Riviera belongs to Steve Craven, another local from Louisville, with his lowrider featuring a highly intricate paint job, wires, and “skinny” whitewall rubber.
This black beauty is a 1935 Ford five-window coupe belonging to Greg Miller of Wabash, IN.
Another five-window is this all-steel (original) 1932 Ford highboy coupe belonging to Phil Reid of New Palestine, IN.
This custom 1953 Olds 88 belongs to David Weidekamp, again, of Louisville. Note the 1958 Chevy roof faux vents, custom taillights, fender skirts, and wide whites.
The 1967 Mercury Cougar belongs to Dean Drake of Avon, IN, was a favorite in the Pro’s Pick area.
If you like patina and that original look then this will be a favorite. It is a 1955 Chevy 210 “post” hot rod complete with early five-spokes. It belongs to Tommy Thompson Jr., who is a local.
We have seen this build style 100 times, maybe more, but it never grows old—a 1933 Ford five-window coupe belonging to Jeff and Kristy Blanton of West Chester Township, OH.
This radical custom started life as a 1949 Buick four-door sedan, and the rest, as they say, is history. The custom belongs to Harry and Mary Hackett of Inverness, FL.
The Autocross event has a new “home” within the expanded Expo Fairgrounds, which features its own entrance and exit, parking, and loading and unloading areas. The pit area is also well organized and offers plenty of space. (Photo Courtesy of NSRA, Louie Mayall.)
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