The drag racing action was hot during all three days of the event. The exhibition cars included wheelstanders, Pro Modified cars, and Junior Stockers, and ran twice daily to the delight of the fans. Mike Bilina is a showstopper in his wild 1956 Chevy gasser.
Photography by THE AUTHORhen the dog days of summer roll around, you know the Tri-Five Nationals presented by CPP isn’t too far away. Always held on the second weekend in August, the event celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2025 with a vast gathering of Tri-Five Chevys. While heat and humidity are often part of the recipe for this outstanding event, you can always count on a big turnout and a level of excitement that is unrivaled in many national events. Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, Kentucky, offers the perfect setting for this three-day show and easily houses more than 2,700 Tri-Fives on the property, with room to grow.
Each day of the event features a large car show with designated feature areas. Thursday’s feature area is for the American Tri-Five Association All Stars, composed of previous Top 25 winners chosen for spots in the American Tri-Five Association Hall of Fame. Another featured area includes a special parking zone for Tri-Fives equipped with Art Morrison Enterprises components, along with a 70th anniversary Nomad exhibit presented by CARS Inc. Friday’s special parking area serves as the show field for the Top 25. Here, owners wishing their cars be considered for the Lokar Top 25 awards park early in the morning; winners take part in a parade lap down the historic Beech Bend quarter-mile dragstrip to cap off the day’s festivities. On Saturday, the Lokar Top 25 cars are parked together, and their owners and builders vote among themselves to select the Lecarra Top 5 and ultimately the American Tri-Five Association Tri-Five of the Year.
Meanwhile, each day features two scheduled times for exhibition drag cars, including wheelstanding gassers, Junior Stockers, and Pro Modified cars. Additionally, the Holley drag racing program runs throughout the three-day event, culminating in a super eliminator-style showdown of the class winners. Moser Engineering posted $2,500 for the Grand Champion of the four-car shootout, as the winners from DOT, Junior Eliminator, Top Eliminator, and Gear Banger classes faced off in a bracket race. Another highlight of the racing program is the Thursday night “Under the Lights” charity race, giving racers a chance to make more passes after dark.
Over the past 10 years, this event has earned the reputation of being the world’s largest Tri-Five gathering and continues to bring joy to Tri-Five fans worldwide. With three days of action, the Tri-Five Nationals presented by CPP is a must-see celebration of classic Chevys. We’re sharing highlights from the 2025 event, hoping you’ll join the fun in 2026. For more information, visit americantrifive.com/tri-five-nationals.
The Night Stalker is a historic 1955 Chevy gasser owned by Greg Porter. The car retains its original chassis and suspension setup from the ’60s and relies on a stout Gene Fulton small-block for power. Greg ran a 9.00-second quarter-mile at 145 miles per hour.
Burnouts are plentiful on the dragstrip, as peer pressure from thousands of like-minded enthusiasts offers just enough incentive to keep them lit up for longer than usual. This A/Gas prepared 1955 Chevy punishes its tires and pleases the crowd.
History comes alive during the Junior Stock racing program. Twenty cars competed, many of them having Stock Eliminator history going back 60-plus years. Here, Chambers’ Chomper goes against the Stage Coach.
The Pennington Brothers came from Texas to drag race and put everyone on notice with a win at the Thursday night charity race. The car certainly stood out at the car show, where it earned a Lokar Top 25 award and a Lecarra Top 5 award. The car runs deep into the 8s, thanks to a 615ci big-block Chevy.
Each year, the crew at Woody’s Hot Rodz builds a giveaway car that goes home with a lucky participant at the Tri-Five Nationals. This year, the Golden Star Giveaway Car was a slick 1955 Chevy two-door hardtop, won by Lee Wall of Hendersonville, Tennessee.
The President’s Pick (new for 2025), the Tribute Award of Excellence, presented by Lokar, was awarded to Art Morrison of Art Morrison Enterprises in recognition of his and its many years of effort and dedication to the hobby. (Left to right) Bobby Alloway, Art Morrison, Jeanette Morrison, and Chris Sondles, President of the Tri-Five Association. (Photo by Cindy Alloway)
Kelly Clark spent seven years building his father’s abandoned project car into an absolute stunner. The white exterior is offset with bronze details, and the well-engineered build put Clark into the Lokar Top 25 and eventually the Lecarra Top 5.
Although the unmistakable lines of a 1957 Chevy are a favorite among car enthusiasts, Ervin Menebroker got creative with his four-door station wagon. He used four-door hardtop doors and custom sheetmetal work to create a “Sport Wagon.”
The Top 25 was packed with variety this year, including this incredible 1957 Chevy pickup, built by Stafford’s Garage in Tylertown, Mississippi. The truck features a Roadster Shop RS4 chassis, a rowdy LS engine, and one-off 20-inch wheels. 
Beech Bend Raceway backs up to the historic Beech Bend Park, which is highlighted by the Kentucky Rumbler wooden roller coaster. The property is beautiful, with rolling hills, shade trees, and plenty of space. 
While it isn’t common to see a 1955 Chevy convertible set up as a gasser, this one has remarkable history in the Snick family. Built by Ron Snick in the ’60s, the car features a fiberglass front end, radiused wheel openings, and a rollbar. Ron’s son, Todd, is the caretaker of this true survivor.
At the Tri-Five Nationals presented by CPP, you’ll see restored cars, customs, drag cars, and several cars you’ll remember from the big screen. This pair offers up nostalgia from the 1973 movie American Graffiti and the 1980 movie Hollywood Knights.
Stiles Lovern instilled a love for Tri-Five Chevys in his son, Brent, at an early age. This father and son duo work together on projects and finished this outstanding 1956 Chevy 210 earlier this year. The homebuilt hardtop stood tall in the judging area and earned a Lokar Top 25 award.
Randy Bynum always brings at least one car to the Tri-Five Nationals, and this year’s entry is a wicked 1955 Chevy Bel Air two-door sedan. The perfect hot rod stance is backed up by a 415ci Buick-headed small-block Chevy. 
On Saturday morning, dozens of Tri-Fives lined up for a parade down the quarter-mile to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Tri-Five Nationals. To be eligible for the parade, the car or driver had to be present for all 10 years.
Mickey’s Speed Shop in Springfield, Ohio, is responsible for this wild 1956 Chevy named “Street Freak.” The psychedelic paintjob goes great with the nose-up gasser stance and Cragar S/S wheel combination.
The Ridler-winning “Gray Madder” 1955 Nomad stunned the crowd at the Tri-Five Nationals with endless details and creative modifications. Tom, Christy, and Josh Bresnahan own the car, and Southern Comfort Customs in Ramseur, North Carolina, handled the extensive build.
Trucks were hot at this year’s Tri-Five Nationals, and Kevin Kirby’s 1955 Stepside is a perfect example. The truck features excellent attention to detail and features a stack-injected LS3 underhood. Sewn Tight upholstery puts a nice finishing touch on this high-end pickup.
We didn’t catch the owner’s name on this orange 1955 Chevy 210 two-door sedan, but it has some great history. It rolls on Mickey Thompson wheels and bias-ply tires and features a dual-quad small-block under the teardrop hood.
Brian Kelso came from Iowa with this slick two-tone 1956 Bel Air hardtop, which sits on an Art Morrison GT Sport chassis and features billet wheels that replicate the original steelies. A traditionally styled 5.3L LS combination provides the power.
We’re loving the old-school look of this 1957 Chevy 150, which sports an Isky-cammed small-block with a tunnel ram and dual Holley four-barrel carburetors. The ’60s flavor continues with five-spoke front runners and chrome reverse wheels out back.
Amid highly customized creations, David Riley kept it simple and took home a Lokar Top 25 award. His freshly finished 1955 Chevy 210 Del Ray features a first-generation LT1, backed by a Muncie four-speed. Slotted mag wheels are the answer for this traditionally styled Tri-Five.
Curt Wittman and Michael McLin built an incredible 1955 Chevy Cameo and it turned heads with its custom-mixed tri-coat paint, Bodie Stroud chassis, and Elegance Auto Interiors upholstery. The stunning pickup took home Tri-Five of the Year honors.
More than 2,700 Tri-Five Chevy cars and trucks poured into Beech Bend Raceway Park for the 10th annual Tri-Five Nationals presented by CPP.