2026 Hemmings Great Race to Stop in Twentynine Palms

Presented by Coker Tire

The Hemmings Great Race presented by Coker Tire is a nine-day classic car rally that spans more than 2,300 miles and features 120 of the world's finest antique automobiles. The event uses a new route each year and features 17 hosted city stops along the way, including a hosted stop in Twentynine Palms, CA on Saturday, June 27. For 2026, the Great Race is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Mother Road with a Route 66 themed event that starts in Springfield, Illinois on Saturday, June 20 and ends in Pasadena, CA on Sunday, June 28 with many historic towns and attractions along the way.

TWENTYNINE PALMS STOP DETAILS
Location: Luckie Park, Twentynine Palms
Date & Time: Saturday, June 27, 2026 | 11:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

The City of Twentynine Palms will host the Great Race stop at Luckie Park with a full slate of activities for the whole family. The event will kick off with an Opening Ceremony featuring a performance of the National Anthem, a flag ceremony, and remarks from local dignitaries. Following the ceremony, guests can enjoy food vendors, family-friendly activities, and the chance to get up close with the incredible antique vehicles as they arrive.

The City is currently seeking volunteers to assist with parking and greeting participants as they arrive. Community members interested in volunteering are encouraged to contact the Twentynine Palms Parks & Recreation Department at (760) 367-7562 x1025 for more information.

Each stop on the Great Race is free to the public and spectators can visit with the participants and look at the cars for several hours. It is common for racers to allow kids to climb in the cars for a first-hand look. "When the Great Race pulls into a city it becomes an instant festival," says Houston Gibson, Great Race Coordinator. He continued, "Last year, many of our overnight stops drew exceptionally large crowds, with spectators lining the streets to welcome the Great Race! Throughout the event, thousands of people experienced the excitement firsthand. Our traveling entourage alone includes several hundred racers, support, and staff."

The Great Race was started in 1983 by Tom McRae and it's now the world's premiere vintage car rally. This traveling time/speed/endurance rally isn't just a casual back road cruise, as it has a strict set of rules to keep competition tight. The vehicles, each with a driver and navigator, are given precise instructions each day that detail every move down to the second. They are scored at secret checkpoints along the route and are penalized for arriving at the checkpoints early or late. As in golf, the lowest score wins. Purse of $160,000 split among five classes, with the overall winner taking home $50,000.

Teams and cars from Japan, England, Australia, Canada, and every corner of the United States participate in the annual event, which is often considered a "bucket list" item for car enthusiasts, especially in 2026 with the Route 66 as the backdrop. Cars, trucks, and motorcycles built in 1974 and earlier are eligible to compete, and the scoring system features an age factor to keep the earlier cars competitive. In the 2025 Great Race, a 1933 Ford pickup truck won the event. A 1913 Chevrolet, a 1916 Hudson, and a 1918 American LaFrance are the oldest cars scheduled to be in the 2026 Great Race.

The 2026 Great Race will begin on Saturday, June 20 in Springfield, Illinois, home of President Abraham Lincoln. In fact, the event will start in front of the old state capitol, where Lincoln first rose to fame. Nine days later, on Sunday, June 28, the race will finish at City Hall in downtown Pasadena, CA. In between the start and finish cities are approximately 2,300 miles of competition and 17 hosted city stops in Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and California, with many iconic Route 66 sights along the way.

The Great Race is proudly partnered with Hemmings as the Title Sponsor and is Presented by Coker Tire Company.

For more information, go to greatrace.com, or visit the Great Race Facebook Page. You can also email communications@greatrace.com.