COVER YOUR BOTTOM
August 13, 2024
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
CLASSIC RECONSTRUCTION
Kinney Lazarus has owned several Jeeps over the years, and he had an interest in owning one of these vintage Willys pickups. While searching the Internet one day, he came across a running ’52 Willys 4WD pickup in Arkansas. He purchased the pickup online and had it shipped to his home in Georgia. Once he had possession of the truck, he quickly found that the performance of the original flathead four-cylinder engine left a lot to be desired by today’s standards. Also, being accustomed to a more modern ride, he found that the outdated suspension was less than desirable. In general, this classic Jeep was no fun to drive.
BIG ON STYLE
Although there is no set list or solid criteria we look for when choosing a feature car, we typically know the instant we’ve found one. Sometimes it’s a flawless paint job and subtle body mods that draw us in; other times, it’s a fully built motor loping angrily. Other times, though, we come across a car that is just plain cool—not the fastest, or even highly modified, but the kind of car you just look at and say, “Wow, check out that…” So it was at Goodguys Charlotte this year: sitting proudly in the mist and drizzle was Doug Wayne’s ’66 Galaxie convertible. At Auto Builder, we have a soft spot for large vehicles, and, realistically, Ford is not known for making many great small cars. Even small Fords are big, and if you don’t believe us, stick an early Falcon next to a Scion. But few companies do big as well as Ford, and even from a distance, we knew this Galaxie was as cool as it is long.
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Spotlighter
NOPI Nationals 2025: A Legendary Comeback
The legendary car show makes a triumphant return with custom rides and high-octane entertainment.
After years away, NOPI Motorsports made a triumphant return with the NOPI Nationals 2025, officially the NOPI Nationals Motorsports Supershow. Fans from across the country flocked to the event, experiencing two full days of custom car showcases, high-octane competitions, and festival-style entertainment that reminded everyone why NOPI is a cornerstone of car culture.
Author
The Auto Builder Staff
Photography by Scott Killeen
A Premier Event for Car Enthusiasts
Part of the larger NOPI Tour, the Nationals brought together two routes of enthusiasts for a high-energy meetup celebrating performance, creativity, and community. From static displays of meticulously modified vehicles to dynamic action on the autocross and drifting courses, the show offered something for every type of car fan.
Saturday: Screeching Tires and Bass-Pounding Action
The weekend kicked off at 9 a.m., with autocross, drifting, and sound competitions taking center stage. By 11 a.m., burnouts fired up the crowd, while live music from Walt and FF Talk kept the atmosphere electric. Afternoon highlights included HOP competitions, more drifting and autocross, and nonstop beats from DJs and Electric Soul. As night fell, the glow-off competition lit up the venue, while late-night burnouts and autocross runs kept fans on the edge of their seats.
Sunday: Competition, Community, and Creativity
Day two carried the energy forward with more autocross, drifting, sound competitions, and burnouts. Attendees witnessed show-stopping custom builds and gravity-defying HOP contests, while music from DJs, RYE, and Electric Soul powered the action through the afternoon. By the end of the day, fans had experienced two full days of tire-shredding, bass-pounding, and adrenaline-fueled entertainment.
More Than Just a Car Show
Beyond the competitions and displays, the 2025 NOPI Nationals was a celebration of car culture and community. Builders and enthusiasts swapped stories, explored cutting-edge mods, and shared a passion for performance and creativity. The event reaffirmed NOPI’s status as a trailblazer in automotive entertainment, bridging the nostalgia of its legendary past with the excitement of modern car culture.
Hopping Cars, Burnouts & Drifting — NOPI Does It Differently
NOPI Nationals 2025 wasn’t just about polished paint and spotless chrome—it was about action. The HOP competitions brought the crowd to its feet as lowriders launched skyward, slamming back down with hydraulic precision and ear-splitting style. Just a few feet away, the burnout pits turned tires into smoke clouds, with competitors laying down rubber in a haze of noise and adrenaline. On the drifting course, drivers pushed the limits of control and creativity, slinging their cars sideways at full tilt. When the smoke cleared, it was Taylor Hull in his Dale Earnhardt tribute car who captured the win, sealing his status as the drift king of NOPI 2025. This blend of showmanship, skill, and spectacle is exactly why NOPI still defines the high-energy edge of car culture.
Show Cars
At the heart of NOPI Nationals 2025 were the show cars—wildly customized builds that pushed creativity and craftsmanship to the limit. From sleek imports with flawless paint and stance, to muscle cars packing modern power under classic sheetmetal, the show floor was a rolling gallery of innovation. Every car told a story, blending performance with personality, and reminding fans why NOPI has always been the stage where builders bring their boldest visions to life.
Even More Show Cars
A Comeback That Left a Mark
From classic throwbacks to futuristic builds, the 2025 NOPI Nationals delivered speed, style, and spectacle at every turn. The event wasn’t just a return—it was a full-throttle reminder that NOPI still sets the standard for high-energy automotive events, inspiring enthusiasts old and new alike.
NOPI is officially back and next year promises to be even bigger, bolder, and harder to miss — CLICK HERE to learn more and make plans to attend next year’s NOPI Nationals. Don’t just watch car culture, be part of it.
ARTICLE SOURCES
NOPI Motorsports
Official page of NOPI. NOPI Nationals Super Show and NOPI Drag Racing. The NOPI Show is a celebration of all things automotive.
