2026 Goodguys Columbus Nationals Coverage

By Brian Brennan – Photography By The Author

For three days each July, the hot rodding compass points your cell phone’s GPS straight to Columbus, Ohio. That’s when the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association rolls out its biggest gathering—the 28th Summit Racing Nationals presented by Grundy Insurance—at the Ohio Expo Center. Held in July, the event once again brought together thousands of rods, customs, classics, muscle cars, imports, trucks, and autocross muscle for the weekend Goodguys regulars simply call “The Big One.” With everything through the 1999 model year welcome, the fairgrounds offered a rolling snapshot of the hobby, from traditional early Fords and period-style customs to Pro Touring muscle and carefully engineered late-model builds.

A little on-and-off rain (OK, Saturday afternoon brought a “gully washer”) tried to interrupt the weekend, but it never washed away the energy. (Although we must say it was enjoyable watching editors Rob Fortier of Classic Truck Performance and Nick Licata of All Chevy Performance sloshing about.) The aisles stayed busy, the parking areas remained full, and the mix of homebuilt drivers and professionally finished show cars gave spectators something worth studying in every direction. Columbus has always been as much about the people as the sheet metal, and the 2026 edition kept that tradition intact, with builders, owners, vendors, and enthusiasts trading ideas—and more than a few bench-racing stories—throughout the grounds.

The show was far more than a static display. The Goodguys Autocross Racing Series kept tires working and cones flying as hot rods, muscle cars, and trucks attacked the timed course. Nitro Thunderfest added its own dose of noise, while the swap meet and Cars 4 Sale Corral tempted anyone convinced there was still room in the garage. Inside and outside the Bricker Building, the vendor midway put new parts, tools, and ideas within easy reach. A best-new-product exhibit, activities for rodding families, live demonstrations, and specialty displays rounded out the schedule.

Columbus also carries extra weight because Goodguys crowns two of its most coveted Top 12 winners there. Matt Jewell’s 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle, built by Eddie’s Rod & Custom and designed by e.Black Design, earned the 2026 Forgeline Street Machine of the Year title. Jewell has owned the Chevelle for 30 years, but its latest form is anything but nostalgic underneath. The comprehensively reworked street machine combines extensive custom touches with modern suspension and a Steve Morris Engines–built LS3 reported to produce 1,300 hp.

The Classic Instruments Street Rod of the Year honor went to John and Jennifer Fairleigh’s 1933 Ford roadster, built by Mike Kellar and the crew at Big Creek Restoration. (This roadster was also a contender for America’s Most Beautiful Roadster earlier in the year.) Its true hot rod character starts with a dramatically kicked-up frame, a 5-inch dropped axle, vintage-style Kinmont brakes, and knock-off wheels. A Jon Kaase Racing Boss 520 topped by an eight-stack Borla fuel-injection system delivers more than 800 hp. Finished in custom PPG Kansa Blue and detailed with a laid-back grille, windshield, and beautifully integrated brightwork, the roadster balanced visual speed with genuine road manners—it had already logged miles on reliability runs and even made passes down a dragstrip.

The awards ceremony brought more headline material. Goodguys unveiled its 2027 Grand Prize Giveaway car, a Pro Touring–inspired 1966 Chevelle built by GAP Industries, while Sunday’s drawing sent the 2026 giveaway—a blown Cadillac-powered 1940 Ford coupe built by Roseville Rod & Custom—to one fortunate entrant. Elsewhere, the Builder’s Choice Top 20 and finalist selections for several other Goodguys national awards ensured that outstanding craftsmanship received plenty of attention.

What makes Columbus matter, however, is the range between the trophy contenders and the cars driven through the gate by everyday enthusiasts. The nation’s best shops may arrive looking for major hardware, but they share the same grounds with local cruisers, long-haul road cars, classic pickups, and projects still wearing the evidence of regular use. Add the autocross, after-hours gatherings, new-product displays, and the constant circulation of ideas, and the show becomes a working survey of where hot rodding has been—and where it is headed. In 2026, “The Big One” once again lived up to the nickname, proving that even gray skies cannot dull a gathering built on bright paint, big horsepower, and the simple urge to drive something special.

Several other noteworthy awards were presented. Let’s begin with the Vintage Air 2026 Custom Rod of the Year finalist honor, which went to Jim Bridgewater’s 1966 Ford Thunderbird. (Modern Rodding readers will remember this T-bird, as it was built at Rad Rides by Troy and has appeared as a feature in the Sept. ’26 issue of Modern Rodding. You can also view a great walk-around video on the custom here.) Dakota Digital’s 2026 Truck of the Year Late finalist honor went to Kevin and Wendy Flondor’s 1968 Chevrolet C10.

The autocross cones took their share of abuse in Columbus, but five drivers emerged with First Place class honors. Ron Scott Jr. put a fresh-build 1978 Chevrolet Corvette straight into Victory Lane in Speedtech Performance PRO-X, while Chris Smith wheeled his 1970 Chevrolet Camaro to the Summit Racing Equipment PRO-class win—and backed it up by taking the Forgeline Buckeye Shootout. Tom Farrington topped the Forgeline Street Machine field, Bob Bertelsen hustled his 1968 Chevrolet Corvette to the weekend’s quickest overall lap at 40.617 seconds and the Corvette-class victory, and Ryan Mathews claimed first in the Sports Car Class.

We should also point out that the Columbus Expo Center has been under major reconstruction for the past several years, with segments nearing completion. While everyone had to “handle” the construction zones, we can tell the grounds should be fantastic next year, making the event even more enjoyable.

A Fresh Finish for the Fairgrounds

The long-range overhaul began in July 2019 when Governor Mike DeWine formed the Expo 2050 Task Force to guide the Ohio Expo Center’s future. A 2022 master plan developed with the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission and industry consultants moved into design and construction in 2023—and the progress is now easy to see.

At the center of the grounds, the new Town Square will improve traffic flow while adding flexible event space, food options, family areas, shade, and seating near Natural Resources Park. Expected to be finished before next year’s Goodguys event, it should give “The Big One” an even better home.

Come for the cars, stay for the horsepower, and be ready to see a familiar Columbus tradition on a freshly finished stage. MR