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Hot Boats at the Grand National Roadster Show 2025
If you thought the Grand National Roadster Show was just about hot rods and customs, think again. Tucked away in Expo Building 8 was a full-blown horsepower fest on water, with a killer lineup of vintage drag boats, Grand National circle racers, and custom-built speed machines that make as much noise as they do waves. If you love anything that rips, this was the place to be.

Roll Control
Have you ever noticed how some people can take their car to the strip and look as if they’ve raced all their lives, while others look totally out of control in the bleach box and during staging? More often than not, the driver with the calm, cool and collected approach seems to regularly trigger the win light. The reason for this smoothness isn’t completely initiated by the driver; in most instances, it is the correlation between man and machine.

FLAMIN’ HELL
It seems to more than the occasional observer that there are about five Fords that make up the heart of the super rodding and custom car culture: the ’27 T pickup; the ’32 roadster; the ’33-’34 Ford coupe; the ’40 coupe; and the ’49-’51 “Shoebox” Ford, in all of its deviations.
Spotlighter
POPULAR READS
Triple Crown of Rodding 2025: Top 30 Review
Bold, badass, and built to wow—these are the Top 30 Winners that made Triple Crown 2025 unforgettable.
Distilled Excellence on Display
In its third year, the Triple Crown of Rodding keeps getting smoother, stronger, and more refined—like a finely aged bourbon, each year’s competition distills the craft down to its boldest, most complex flavors. The 2025 event brought a level of intensity and talent that proved just how far the hobby has come. Builders came prepared, and the competition was fierce, with every entry pushing boundaries in creativity, engineering, and execution. This wasn’t just a show—it was a proving ground where only the most exceptional rides could rise to the top.
Introducing the Top 30 Builds
We’re proud to introduce the Top 30 builds from this year’s Triple Crown—a photo feature showcasing the cream of the crop. From jaw-dropping custom finishes to meticulously engineered powertrains, each build represents the pinnacle of rodding craftsmanship, the distilled essence of what makes this hobby so thrilling.
Spotlight on Winners and Celebrity Picks
For an up-close look at the winners who took home top honors, check out our Top 6 Winners article for a deeper dive. And don’t miss the builds that caught celebrity attention in our Celebrity Pick Awards feature—these standout rides get the full in-depth treatment, showing why they captured the spotlight and everyone’s imagination.
The Top 30
The Myers Fenderless ’36 Ford Roadster
Owners: Ross & Beth Myers
Builder: Rad Rides by Troy
Celebrity Pick Award: Corky Coker of Coker Tire
1970 Dodge Challenger “Relentless”
Owner: Steve Nettleingham
Builder: Hot Rod Garage
1960 Cadillac Eldorado “Ruby Slippers”
Owner: Mark Fuqua
Builder: Jason Graham Hot Rods, LLC
1955 Chevrolet Cameo “Fine Whine”
Owner: Curt Wittman
Builders: Curt Wittman & McLin Paint Works
1975 Chevrolet C10 “Lucille 10”
Owner: Frank Walsh
Builder: Lakeside Speed & Shine
1995 Chevrolet C1500 “Big Papa”
Owner: Brian Wojcik
Builder: Scott’s Hotrods ‘N Customs
1932 Ford Roadster
Owner: Norm Caetano
Celebrity Pick Awards: Troy Trepanier (Rad Rides by Troy) & George Poteet Memorial Award
1957 Chevrolet Bel-Air Convertible “Inspire”
Owner: Clifford Mattis
Builder: Lucky 7 Customs
Celebrity Pick Awards: Big Oak Garage, Goolsby Customs, & Johnsons Hot Rod Shop
1966 Chevrolet C10 “Shorty”
Owner: Kenny Frederic
Builder: Goolsby Customs
1968 Dodge Charger
Owner: Ron Michels
Builder: South City Rod and Custom
1927 Ford "X27 Roadster"
Owner: Joe Steinmetz
Builder: Greening Auto Company
1931 Ford Model A Coupe “Flying Jav”
Owner: Ryan Kalil
Builder: Hot Rods and Hobbies, Inc.
Celebrity Pick Awards: Gary “Goodguy” Meadors Memorial Award & Pete & Jake’s Pick
1932 Ford Three-Window Coupe “Gracie’s Glide”
Owner: Beth Myers
Builder: Iron Hill Hot Rods
Celebrity Pick Award: Chip Foose Design Achievement Award
1932 Ford Roadster Pickup “Ella Gante”
Owner: Ella Selbert
Builder: Johnsons Hot Rod Shop
1933 Ford Cabriolet
Owner: Jon Hall
Builder: Shadow Rods
1933 Ford Roadster Pickup
Owner: Danny Shaffer
Builder: Detroit Metal Shaping Co.
1955 Chevrolet
Owner/Builder: Kelly Clark
1955 Chevrolet Nomad “Gray Madder”
Owners: Tom, Christy & Josh Bresnahan
Builder: Southern Comfort Customs
Celebrity Pick Award: Art Morrison
1955 Chevrolet Stepside Pickup
Owners: Kevin & Lynn Kirby
Builder: Pete’s Fabrications
1956 Volkswagen Beetle
Owner/Builder: Scott Hopkins
1959 Chevrolet Apache "Thunder Chief"
Owners: Chris & Morgan Stafford
Builder: Stafford's Garage
1961 Ford Galaxie Starliner "Bossliner"
Owner: Ed Ganzinotti
Builder: American Speed Company
1961 Oldsmobile F-85
Owner: David Foutch
Builder: Greening Auto Company
1964 Ford Galaxie 500
Owner: Rick Ritchie
1965 Corvette
Owner: Jared Hamilton
Builder: Hamilton's Garage, LLC
1969 Ford Bronco
Owner: Steven Bailey
Builder: Vini's Hot Rods
1970 Chevrolet Chevelle
Owner/Builder: Noah Alexander – Classic Car Studio Speed Shop
Celebrity Pick Award: Kyle Tucker Pick
1970 Chevrolet El Camino "RelentleSS"
Owners: Scott & Sherrie Cooper
Builder: HS Customs
1971 Plymouth Duster
Owner: Jordan Costello
Builder: BBT Fabrications
1997 Chevrolet Tahoe
Owner: Jason Hill
Builder: Hills Hot Rods



