By Nick Licata – Images by the Author
When car show promoters navigate their way to running a highly successful annual event for the third time in a row, said event tends to run smoother than the prior two, which was certainly the case when Bobby Alloway and Gary Case plowed through the 3rd Annual Triple Crown of Rodding presented by PPG held at the Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tennessee, September 5-6, 2025. The only inconvenience was when a bit of rain made an unwanted appearance on Saturday morning, which was obviously out of their control, but by early afternoon had given way to some sunshine in time for the highly anticipated trophy presentations.
There was no doubt that the third Triple Crown of Rodding would surpass the previous two events, as early vendor and participant registration had risen substantially. With that in mind, Alloway and Case rallied their crew to ensure the show ran smoothly. Parking was effortless, providing easy access for families looking to enjoy the weekend. Entrants were welcomed with plenty of space to set up camp and showcase their classic vehicles.
The two-day event was open to all hot rods, street rods, street machines, classics, customs up to 1972, and American-made trucks up to 1998. The 2025 Triple Crown accommodated over 3,600 vehicles and over 20,000 people with ease, making for a great weekend taking in the sights and checking out the latest parts from the numerous rows of venders showing their latest performance-related go-fast goodies—some being shown publicly for the first time.
This year’s Triple Crown was extra special as Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band were on hand Saturday afternoon performing an amazing set that included classic rock songs for all attendees while providing up-close, VIP seating for hundreds of wounded military service members, active members, veterans, first responders, and families of fallen heroes from all around the world as a special “thank you” for keeping watch. To say the Lt. Dan Band features incredibly talented musicians and singers would be an understatement, as they delivered familiar tunes with their special brand of boost and endless energy. Cloudy skies and a little rain had no chance of getting in the way of Lt. Dan Band’s idea of a rockin’ good time. Oh, and Sinise held down the bottom end with the use of melodic runs on the neck of his Fender Jazz bass while providing plenty of thunder, proving he’s not only a talented Academy Award–nominated actor but also an accomplished musician.
Another popular aspect of the show included a meet and greet session that featured many influential car and truck builders and magazine and television personalities in the hot rod industry, including Troy Trepanier, Chip Foose, Phil and Jeremy Gerber (Roadster Shop), Kyle Tucker, Jonathan Goolsby, Troy Trepanier, Art Morrison, Alan Johnson, Corky Coker, and many others. All were on hand either showing their latest automotive creations or were there as enthusiasts, themselves, enjoying all the hot rod greatness.
As in previous years, more than 50 beautifully crafted awards—designed by skilled individuals and aftermarket companies—were presented to honor the best hot rod and truck builds. The coveted Triple Crown of Rodding trophies, along with custom electric guitars, were awarded to the Best Street Rod, Best Street Machine, and Best Street Cruiser. On the truck side, Triple Crown awards and guitars went to Best Truck Up to ’72, Best Truck ’73-’87, and Best Truck ’88-’98. For the full list of award recipients, visit modernrodding.com for Best Car winners and classictruckperformance.com for Best Truck winners.
The event also included a 50/50 raffle with half the prize money going to one lucky winner and the other half going to the Gary Sinise Foundation, which honors America’s defenders, veterans, first responders, and their families. There was also separate 50/50 raffle drawings for a brand-new BluePrint LS Compatible engine and a 2025 Chevy pickup. Prior to the raffle drawing, Gary Case announced that a plethora of individuals and various aftermarket companies and hot rodders made impromptu donations. As of this writing, the event has raised over $75,000 for the Gary Sinise Foundation, showcasing the hot rod community’s philanthropic spirit.
As with most classic car shows, there was no shortage of stunning Chevy muscle on display. All Chevy Performance was onsite to capture the best Chevys and hot rods, giving you a taste of the incredible quality showcased at this premier outdoor event.
In just its third year, the Triple Crown of Rodding proves once again that enthusiast and casual car fans of all ages love the ability to get up close and personal with some of the most incredibly built machines on earth.
Bobby Alloway and Gary Case, they know what’s up. The duo has perfected a formula that brings Tennessee a vintage hot rod and muscle car extravaganza unlike any other.
Many have referred to the Triple Crown of Rodding as a true “bucket list” event for classic car enthusiasts. We couldn’t agree more—and with three incredible shows already in the books, we’re looking forward to filling a fourth bucket in 2026.
Info for the 2026 Triple Crown of Rodding can be found at triplecrownofrodding.com. Reserve your room today as availability will be going fast.
