Our Most Coveted Awards
The Annual Top 12
Our Most Coveted Awards
The Annual Top 12
About The Goodguys
TOP 12
Every year, Goodguys recognizes 12 of the nation’s finest show cars and trucks, and the best Autocrosser. These are known as the “Top 12 Awards, presented by Meguiar's.”
Winners are recognized throughout the Goodguys Event Season leading up to the final selection and showcase of the “Goodguys Top 12 of the Year Awards” at the Southwest Nationals in Scottsdale, AZ in November. All Top 12 winners are invited to attend the final awards ceremony, receive; “Showcase Parking,” special prizes from our sponsors, the coveted of-the-year award trophy at the event and are featured in the Goodguys Goodtimes Gazette and Yearbook!
Winners are recognized throughout the Goodguys Event Season leading up to the final selection and showcase of the “Goodguys Top 12 of the Year Awards” at the Southwest Nationals in Scottsdale, AZ in November. All Top 12 winners are invited to attend the final awards ceremony, receive; “Showcase Parking,” special prizes from our sponsors, the coveted of-the-year award trophy at the event and are featured in the Goodguys Goodtimes Gazette and Yearbook!
How To Enter
There are two categories within the Top 12 Awards, presented by Meguiar's: "Event-Specific" and "Regional".
Event Specific Awards
Event Specific Awards include 7 award categories selected at six specific events throughout the year. These awards and events include:
- Custom Of The Year: selected at Goodguys 38th All American Get-Together, March 27-28, Pleasanton, CA
- Street Rod D' Elegance: selected at Goodguys 20th Meguiar’s Del Mar Nationals, April 9-11, Del Mar, CA
- Hot Rod Of The Year, presented by Tanks Inc.: selected at Goodguys 15th BASF Nashville Nationals, May 28-30, Nashville, TN
- Street Rod Of The Year, presented by Classic Instruments: Goodguys 23rd Summit Racing Nationals presented by PPG, July 9-11, Columbus, OH
- Street Machine Of The Year, presented by PPG selected at: Goodguys 23rd Summit Racing Nationals presented by PPG, July 9-11, Columbus, OH
- America's Most Beautiful, presented by BASF: selected at Goodguys 34th West Coast Nationals presented by BASF, August 27-29, Pleasanton, CA
- AutoCrosser Of The Year: selected at Goodguys 24th Speedway Motors Southwest Nationals presented by Barrett-Jackson (Featuring the "Duel in the Desert" AutoCross Shootout), November 19-21, Scottsdale, AZ
The selection committee for these awards are made up of industry experts and Goodguys staff members. Each member of the selection committee places their picks in order of preference. The first choice will receive five points, second choice four points and so on. The winner is then determined by whoever receives the most total points.
Regional Awards
Regional Awards include 5 award categories, where "finalists" are selected at a series of events. Finalists are then voted on by a committee and the winners announced on October 8, 2021.
- Custom Rod Of The Year, presented by Vintage Air
- Muscle Car Of The Year, presented by RaceDeck
- Muscle Machine Of The Year, presented by Griot's Garage
- Truck Of The Year Early (thru 1959), presented by Scott's Hot Rods 'N Customs
- Truck Of The Year Late (1960-1987), presented by LMC Truck
These awards will be selected by using the regional "finalist" method. These awards will be selected by the Goodguys staff from a group of finalists chosen from various events in different regions of the U.S. This method benefits participants from all regions of the country – east to west, north to south – instead of limiting the award to a certain region and certain event. Each Top 12 award and how its winner is selected are explained in detail below.
Event Specific "Top 12" Awards
2021 CUSTOM OF THE YEAR
Eligibility: Custom cars 1936 through 1972 vintage.
Basic Criteria: This award is designed to honor an exceptional custom car. The award is open to all styles and genres of customs (from traditional to radical to modern).
How to Enter: You must have your custom entered in the indoor portion of the 38th All American Get-Together to be eligible for this award.
Selected at: Goodguys 38th All American Get-Together, March 27 & 28, Pleasanton, CA
Basic Criteria: This award is designed to honor an exceptional custom car. The award is open to all styles and genres of customs (from traditional to radical to modern).
How to Enter: You must have your custom entered in the indoor portion of the 38th All American Get-Together to be eligible for this award.
Selected at: Goodguys 38th All American Get-Together, March 27 & 28, Pleasanton, CA
2020 Winner - Jeffrey Hess's 1956 Oldsmobile 98
2021 STREET ROD D’ ELEGANCE
Eligibility: Street rods through 1948 vintage.
Basic Criteria: This award is designed to honor a gorgeous, elegant street rod.
How to Enter: You must have your street rod entered in the indoor car show at the 20th Del Mar Nationals. Finalists will be selected from the indoor car show only.
Selected at: Goodguys 20th Meguiar’s Del Mar Nationals, April 9-11, Del Mar
Basic Criteria: This award is designed to honor a gorgeous, elegant street rod.
How to Enter: You must have your street rod entered in the indoor car show at the 20th Del Mar Nationals. Finalists will be selected from the indoor car show only.
Selected at: Goodguys 20th Meguiar’s Del Mar Nationals, April 9-11, Del Mar
2020 Winner - Dave Gonzales - 1935 Ford 3 Window Coupe
2021 HOT ROD OF THE YEAR
Eligibility: Hot Rods 1948 and earlier.
Basic Criteria: It makes noise; it’s regularly street-driven, has a mean attitude and screams the words “Hot Rod.” No cream puffs!
How to Enter: Cars interested in competing for this award need to enter the “Hot Rod of the Year” staging area, Friday, May 28th at Nissan Stadium, 9am sharp. The hot rods will then take a 100-mile (approx.) road-trip/reliability run around Nashville which will include, 1/8th dragstrip fun run and a tire smoking burnout (times will not determine the winner, but style points will count). During the day, the selection committee will be looking for hi-revving, hard driven hot rods with attitude. Five finalists will be selected and displayed together on Sunday. The overall winner will be announced Sunday May 30th during the event award ceremony.
*Schedule subject to change
Selected at: Goodguys 15th BASF Nashville Nationals – May 28-30, Nashville, TN
Basic Criteria: It makes noise; it’s regularly street-driven, has a mean attitude and screams the words “Hot Rod.” No cream puffs!
How to Enter: Cars interested in competing for this award need to enter the “Hot Rod of the Year” staging area, Friday, May 28th at Nissan Stadium, 9am sharp. The hot rods will then take a 100-mile (approx.) road-trip/reliability run around Nashville which will include, 1/8th dragstrip fun run and a tire smoking burnout (times will not determine the winner, but style points will count). During the day, the selection committee will be looking for hi-revving, hard driven hot rods with attitude. Five finalists will be selected and displayed together on Sunday. The overall winner will be announced Sunday May 30th during the event award ceremony.
*Schedule subject to change
Selected at: Goodguys 15th BASF Nashville Nationals – May 28-30, Nashville, TN
2020 Winner - Norm Bradley's 1932 Ford Five Window
2021 STREET ROD OF THE YEAR
Eligibility: Street rods through 1948 vintage
Basic Criteria: This award is designed for a true modern masterpiece. 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 9th by 10am at the Ohio Expo Center to be eligible for Street Rod of the Year award. Contenders will park inside the Celeste Bldg. Friday & Saturday.
Selected at: Goodguys 23rd Summit Racing Nationals, July 9-11, Columbus, OH
2020 Winner - Nathan Powell's 1932 Ford Sedan
2021 STREET MACHINE OF THE YEAR
Eligibility: Street machines 1954 through 1987 vintage
Basic Criteria: This award is designed for a cutting-edge Street Machine which combines masterful build quality with extreme performance. Quality of craftsmanship, body & 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 9th by 10am and participate in a two-lap Goodguys AutoCross Friday afternoon at the Ohio Expo Center. AutoCross lap times will not determine the overall winner, but style points do count! Contenders will park inside the Celeste Bldg. Friday & Saturday.
Selected at: Goodguys 23rd Summit Racing Nationals, July 9-11, Columbus, OH
2020 Winner - Chris McPhie's 1969 Camaro
2021 AMERICA’S MOST BEAUTIFUL
Eligibility: Street Rods, Hot Rods, Trick Trucks, Street Machines, Customs, Custom Rods and Muscle Cars through 1987 vintage.
Basic Criteria: This is simply a beauty contest. The most beautiful will be chosen.
How to Enter: All candidates must park in the “Builders Choice” Parking Area Saturday, Aug. 28th from 7am-Noon. Finalists will be chosen from this area only.
Selected at: Goodguys 34th West Coast Nationals, August 27-29, Pleasanton, CA
2020 Winner - Bob and Elaine Matranga 55 Chevy
2021 AUTOCROSSER OF THE YEAR
Eligibility: AutoCross entries 1987 and earlier; the top two from each qualifying shootout throughout the autocross series will earn an invite to the year-end Duel in the Desert Shootout in Scottsdale, Arizona; remaining field will "race-in" and top 32 fastest cars will compete for the Duel in the Desert Autocrosser of-the-year.
Criteria: Must compete in a minimum of five event shootouts during the 2021 season, not including the Sponsor Shootout or Duel in the Desert Shootout. Must be within the top sixteen points for your class. The winner of the Duel in the Desert Shootout that meets these requirements will be the 2021 Autocrosser of the Year.
How to Enter: Must compete in a minimum of five event shootouts with the same car that qualifies for the Duel in the Desert during the 2021 season (not including: Sponsor Shootout, Duel in the Desert Shootout or All-American Sunday Shootouts); must be one of the 32 cars racing in the Finals Shootout held Saturday, November 20th during the Goodguys 24th Speedway Motors Southwest Nationals @ Westworld in Scottsdale.
Selected at: Goodguys 24th Southwest Nationals, November 19-21, Scottsdale, AZ
2020 AutoCrosser of the Year - Scott Fraser in Bruce Cambern’s 1966 Shelby Cobra
Regional "Top 12" Awards
CUSTOM ROD OF THE YEAR
Eligibility: Custom rods 1949 through 1972 vintage.
Basic Criteria: A custom rod is defined as a custom car that tastefully blends customizing techniques or factory stock bodies with modern day performance, engineering, components, and styling.
How to Enter: Attend any of the events listed below in 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! One finalist will be chosen from each of the seven events listed.
Winner Announced Friday October 8th, 2021 based on a finalist selected at each of these qualifying events.
2020 Qualifying Events
- 29th Speedway Motors Heartland Nationals, July 3-5, Des Moines, IA
- 11th LMC Truck Spring Lone Star Nationals, March 12-14, Ft. Worth, TX
- 11th FiTech Fuel Injection Spring Nationals, March 19-21, Scottsdale, AZ
- 20th Meguiar's Del Mar Nationals, April 9-11, Del Mar, CA
- 6th Griot’s Garage North Carolina Nationals, April 23-25, Raleigh, NC
- 15th BASF Nashville Nationals, May 28-30, Nashville, TN
- 30th Speedway Motors Heartland Nationals, July 2-4, Des Moines, IA
- 23rd Colorado Nationals, September 10-12, Loveland, CO
Current Qualifiers:
2020 Heartland Nationals
Bradley Ranweiler – 1963 Chevy Wagon
MUSCLE CAR OF THE YEAR
Eligibility: Muscle Cars of all makes 1960 through 1987.
Basic Criteria: Designed to honor an original factory stock or original fully restored Muscle Car of superb quality.
How to Enter: Park in the Mighty Muscle Special Parking area or Indoor display (where applicable) at any Goodguys 2021events listed below.
Winner Announced Friday October 8th, 2021 based on a finalist selected at each of these qualifying events.
2019 Qualifying Events:
- 2nd Kentucky Nationals, October 11-13, 2019 Lexington, KY
- 22nd Speedway Motors Southwest Nationals, November 15-17, 2019 Scottsdale, AZ
2020 Qualifying Events:
- 29th Speedway Motors Heartland Nationals, July 3-5, Des Moines, IA
- 1st RaceDeck Salt Lake Nationals, July 17-19, Salt Lake City, UT
- 23rd Speedway Motors Southwest Nationals, November 20-22, Scottsdale, AZ*
2021 Qualifying Events:
- 11th LMC Truck Spring Lone Star Nationals, March 12-14, Ft. Worth, TX
- 11th FiTech Fuel Injection Spring Nationals, March 19-21, Scottsdale, AZ
- 20th Meguiar's Del Mar Nationals, April 9-11, Del Mar, CA
- 6th Griot’s Garage North Carolina Nationals, April 23-25, Raleigh, NC
- 2nd RaceDeck Salt Lake Nationals, May 21-23, Salt Lake City, UT
- 15th BASF Nashville Nationals, May 28-30, Nashville, TN
- 27th Summer Get-Together, June 5-6, Pleasanton, CA
- 30th Speedway Motors Heartland Nationals, July 2-4, Des Moines, IA
- 23rd Summit Racing Nationals, July 9-11, Columbus, OH
- 33rd Griot’s Garage Pacific Northwest Nationals, July 23-25, Puyallup, WA
- 19th Great Northwest Nationals, August 13-15, Spokane, WA
- 2nd Grundy Collector Car Insurance Great American Nationals, August 20-22, York, PA
- 34th West Coast Nationals, August 27-29, Pleasanton, CA
- 23rd Colorado Nationals, September 10-12, Loveland, CO
- 28th Summit Racing Lone Star Nationals, September 24-26, Ft Worth, TX
- 1st So Cal Nationals, October 1-3, Del Mar, CA
- 24th Speedway Motors Southwest Nationals, November 19-21, Scottsdale, AZ
Current Qualifiers:
2019 Kentucky Nationals
Gary Goodin – 1969 Chevrolet Z28 Camaro
2019 Southwest Nationals
Stephen Burke – 1968 Plymouth Superbee
2020 Heartland Nationals
Reggie Kopecky – 1967 Pontiac GTO 400
2020 Salt Lake Nationals
Lew Bisbing – 1970 Plymouth AAR Cuda
2020 Southwest Nationals
Neil Anderson – 1970 Plymouth Roadrunner
MUSCLE MACHINE OF THE YEAR
Eligibility: Muscle Machines 1960 through 1987 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
How to Enter: Attend one of the events listed above and park in the AutoCross pit area Saturday between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. You must also run at least three laps in the Goodguys AutoCross. Lap times will not determine the overall winner, but style points do count! Only cars parked in the AutoCross pit area and cars that have completed the three-lap AutoCross minimum will be eligible for this award.
Winner Announced Friday October 8th, 2021 based on a finalist selected at each of these qualifying events.
2020 Qualifying Events
- 29th Speedway Motors Heartland Nationals, July 3-5, Des Moines, IA
2021 Qulifying Events
- 11th FiTech Fuel Injection Spring Nationals, March 19-21, Scottsdale, AZ
- 20th Meguiar's Del Mar Nationals, April 9-11, Del Mar, CA
- 6th Griot’s Garage North Carolina Nationals, April 23-25, Raleigh, NC
- 27th Summer Get-Together, June 5-6, Pleasanton, CA
- 15th BASF Nashville Nationals, May 28-30, Nashville, TN
- 29th Speedway Motors Heartland Nationals, July 2-4, Des Moines, IA
- 23rd Summit Racing Nationals, July 9-11, Columbus, OH
- 2nd Grundy Collector Car Insurance Great American Nationals, August 20-22, York, PA
- 28th Summit Racing Lone Star Nationals, September 24-26, Fort Worth, TX
Current Qualifiers:
2020 Heartland Nationals
Gordon Prinster – 1967 Ford Mustang
TRUCK OF THE YEAR - EARLY (through ‘60)
Eligibility: Trucks through 1960 vintage
Basic Criteria: This award is designed to honor an outstanding pre-’60 tricked-out truck.
How to Enter: Attend any of the eight events listed above 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!
Winner Announced Friday October 8th, 2021 based on a finalist selected at each of these qualifying events.
2019 Qualifying Events
- 30th Autumn Get-Together, November 9 & 10, 2019 Pleasanton, CA
2020 Qualifying Events
- 29th Speedway Motors Heartland Nationals, July 3-5, Des Moines, IA
2021 Qualifying Events
- 11th LMC Truck Spring Lonestar Nationals, March 12-14, Fort Worth, TX
- 20th Meguiar's Del Mar Nationals, April 9-11, Del Mar, CA
- 6th Griot’s Garage North Carolina Nationals, April 23-25, Raleigh, NC
- 15th BASF Nashville Nationals, May 28-30, Nashville, TN
- 30th Speedway Motors Heartland Nationals, July 2-4, Des Moines, IA
- 34th West Coast Nationals, August 27-29, Pleasanton, CA
- 23rd Colorado Nationals, September 10-12, Loveland, CO
- 28th Summit Racing Lone Star Nationals, September 24-26, Fort Worth, TX
- *31st Autumn Get-Together, November 13 & 14, Pleasanton, CA*
*Finalists chosen at these shows will be added to the list of 2022 Truck of the Year Early finalists
Current Qualifiers:
2019 Autumn Get Together
Shaun Salehyan – 1937 Studebaker Coupe Express
2020 Heartland Nationals
Tin Mans Garage – 1936 Willys
TRUCK OF THE YEAR - LATE (’60 through ‘87)
Eligibility: Trick trucks 1960 through 1987
Basic Criteria: This award is designed to honor an outstanding ’60 through ’87 vintage tricked-out truck.
How to Enter: Attend any of the events listed above 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!
One finalist will be chosen from each event listed.
2019 Qualifying Events
- 2nd Kentucky Nationals, October 11-13, 2019 Lexington, KY
- 30th Autumn Get-Together, November 9 & 10, 2019 Pleasanton, CA
2020 Qualifying Events
- 29th Speedway Motors Heartland Nationals, July 3-5, Des Moines, IA
- 1st BASF Salt Lake Nationals, July 17-19, Salt Lake City, UT
2021 Qualifying Events
- 11th LMC Truck Spring Lonestar Nationals, March 12-14, Fort Worth, TX
- 11th FiTech Fuel Injection Spring Nationals, March 19-21, Scottsdale, AZ 20th
- Meguiar's Del Mar Nationals, April 9-11, Del Mar, CA
- 2nd RaceDeck Salt Lake Nationals, May 21-23, Salt Lake City, UT
- 30th Speedway Motors Heartland Nationals, July 2-4, Des Moines, IA
- 23rd Summit Racing Nationals, July 9-11, Columbus, OH
- 2nd Grundy Collector Car Insurance Great American Nationals, August 20-22, York, PA 28th
- Summit Racing Lone Star Nationals, September 24-26, Fort Worth, TX
- *31st Autumn Get-Together, November 13 & 14, Pleasanton, CA*
*Finalists chosen at these shows will be added to the list of 2022 Truck of the Year Early finalists
Current Qualifiers:
2019 Kentucky Nationals
John Jennings – 1972 Ford F100
2019 Autumn Get Together
Jerry Wood – 1972 Ford F100
2020 Heartland Nationals
River City Rods – 1976 Ford B100
2020 Salt Lake Nationals
Cody Viebell – 1981 Chevy K2500
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