Street Rod Nationals Cruise Into Louisville With New 5 Year Contract

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (July 30, 2025) – This week, one of the most anticipated summer traditions returns when Louisville gears up for the annual August gathering of hundreds of brightly colored street rods and vintage automobiles wheeling around town as the city welcomes back the National Street Rod Association’s (NSRA) Annual Street Rod Nationals, July 31-August 3, at the Kentucky Exposition Center (KEC).

This year’s gathering will mark the 56th anniversary of this popular summer ritual. Louisville has hosted the group for 31 years, with this year being the 28th consecutive year the city has put out the welcome mat.

"The Street Rod Nationals is a beloved tradition and powerful economic engine for our city. This event showcases Louisville's vibrant hospitality, drives local business growth, and reinforces our status as a top-tier destination for world-class gatherings," said Mayor Craig Greenberg. "We’re proud to host the NSRA’s 56th Street Rod Nationals and grateful for the energy and opportunity it brings to our community."

The Annual Street Rod Nationals will also celebrate their 60th anniversary in Louisville after signing a new five-year contract through 2030.

Typically, this event is one of the world’s largest automotive participation events, generating over $7 million in estimated economic impact for Louisville’s local community from this four-day show. This year's Street Rod Nationals is estimated to have 55,000 participants over the event days and more than 10,000 street rods, customs, classics and muscle cars from all fifty states. No other event in the world attracts the number and quality of specialty cars thirty years old and older.

Vehicles in attendance range in value from $25,000 to $1,000,000 with the average being approximately $80,000. The total value of the street rods attending will be more than $250 million. All of the street rods, custom and classic cars will be on display for public viewing.

Along with all the cars on display, the four-day event includes product seminars, a trade show, arts and crafts fair, a vintage auto parts swap meet, and plenty of entertainment.

• NSRA Autocross
• Circle of Winners: A Sunday awards ceremony honoring 44 outstanding rods from the event.
• Over 250 manufacturers and dealers showcasing automotive parts, accessories, and supplies, with many products vying for the prestigious “NSRA New Products of the Year” award.
• Daily Attractions: Enjoy the Arts and Crafts Fair, Nitro Knockout, and live music at the Rodders’ Tent. Additional highlights include Thursday’s UPS Commercial Way, Friday’s Alumicraft Street Rod Grilles “Pros Pick selections,” and Saturday’s Mopar Country and Vintage Air “29 Below.”

This year’s event will once again include a special area called “Builder’s Showcase” displaying cars built by the top professional rod shops in the country. The Showcase offers a rare opportunity to see these vehicles under one roof at the same time.

All NSRA activities are open to the public. Tickets are $20 for adults (13 and older) and $6 for children (6 – 12). Children five and under are free when accompanied by an adult. A $45 Family Pack ticket price is available for two adults and three children. A special discounted $18.00 admission is available for military personnel with proper military identification and NSRA members with a current membership card or anyone 60 years of age or older. One discounted admission per person. Discount tickets are on sale at O’Reilly Auto Parts and will be available during the event at the Kentucky Exposition Center.

Advance tickets are available at the Kentucky Exposition Center Box Office.
Show hours are:
Thurs., July 31 from 8am – 5pm
Fri., Aug. 1 & Sat, Aug 2 from 8-7pm
Sun., Aug. 3, 8am – 12:30pm
Use KEC gates 1, 4 & 6 to enter

For more information, contact: Craig Meads, NSRA marketing director, (417) 827-0099, cmeads@nsra-usa.com or visit www.nsra-usa.com.