Oklahoma City will welcome one of the country’s most unique automotive events when the 2026 Hemmings Great Race presented by Coker Tire makes a stop in Stockyards City on Monday, June 22. Beginning at 4:30 p.m., approximately 140 antique automobiles will roll into the historic district along E xchange Avenue as part of the nine-day, 2,300-mile rally that stretches from Springfield, Illinois, to Pasadena, California. The event is free to attend and gives spectators an opportunity to get an up-close look at vehicles spanning more than a century of automotive history. The Great Race, founded in 1983, is considered the world’s premier time-speed-distance rally for vintage vehicles. Unlike a traditional race, participants compete by following precise route instructions and maintaining exact speeds. Drivers and navigators are scored at secret checkpoints throughout the route and receive penalties for arriving too early or too late. The team with the lowest score at the end of the event is declared the winner. This year’s rally carries special significance as it celebrates the 100th anniversary of Route 66. The 2026 route follows portions of the historic Mother Road through Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and California, highlighting many of the communities and landmarks that helped define America’s most famous highway. Stockyards City serves as one of 17 official host stops along the route. Visitors can meet drivers, talk with participants and explore the vehicles during the event. The Great Race regularly attracts thousands of spectators at stops across the country and draws competitors from throughout the United States as well as several international locations. Vehicles eligible to compete must have been built in 1974 or earlier. Among the oldest entries expected this year are a 1913 Chevrolet, a 1916 Hudson and a 1918 American LaFrance. The defending champions are the team behind a 1933 Ford pickup truck, which captured the overall title in 2025. The rally begins June 20 in Springfield, Illinois, and concludes June 28 in Pasadena, California. Along the way, competitors will travel approximately 2,300 miles while vying for a share of a $160,000 prize purse, including $50,000 awarded to the overall winner. For Oklahoma City residents, the Stockyards City stop offers a rare chance to see some of the world’s finest antique automobiles in motion while celebrating a century of Route 66 history. The post Great Race Brings Vintage Automotive History to Stockyards City appeared first on Oklahoma Gazette. ...read more read less