Triple Crown of Rodding 2025: Top 30 Review

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Dieselsite’s 1992-2000 6.5L Chevy/GMC All-Aluminum Radiator

April 30, 2024

Bob Gruitch just thought his car was not performing up to his expectations. A ’55 Chevy equipped with a 502 big block, square port heads and a Crane H296-2 camshaft should be more than enough power. But it lacked power and didn’t idle all that well, especially in gear. This shouldn’t be happening with an engine built by John Gianoli at Reggie Jackson’s High Performance Engine Shop, so Gruitch figured he had something wrong and brought the car to John Bishop’s Hot Rod Tuning Service to have it checked. He’s lucky that he did.

2025 GNRS Pinstriping Charity Auction

The Grand National Roadster Show was packed with eye candy, from high-dollar show cars to garage-built hot rods, but one of the coolest parts of the event wasn’t about horsepower—it was about artistry. The Pinstriping Charity Auction has become a staple of GNRS, bringing together some of the best pinstripers in the game to sling lines, lay down color, and raise cash for a great cause.

COOL BLAST

Adding a nitrous spray bar to an intercooler is a proven way to lower the intake air temps and consequently give a more dense charge to the combustion chamber for more horsepower. We’ve been seeing more and more intercooler spray bars popping up on both performance and show-n-go cars.

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.