Syracuse Nationals
Awards
During the Syracuse Nationals, awards are given out to show appreciation to the vehicles that make this show the largest car show in the northeast. Awards range from the prestigious Gene Winfield Legacy Award to Specialty Awards given out by area reps. Below is a break down of the different awards that are given at the Syracuse Nationals.
The Gene Winfield legacy Award
2025 Winfield application
Honoring a Legend: The Gene Winfield Legacy Award
One of the most prestigious honors at the Syracuse Nationals is awarded annually to a car owner who exemplifies true automotive artistry. Formerly known as the Winfield Award and presented by the legendary custom car builder Gene Winfield, this recognition has been renamed the Gene Winfield Legacy Award following Gene’s passing. A panel of his closest friends and colleagues will now carry on the tradition, selecting the vehicle that best captures Gene’s visionary spirit and lifelong dedication to custom car culture.
$15,000 in Prizes
To qualify, vehicles must be from 1937 or newer and feature at least one radical modification—such as being chopped, sectioned, or channeled. From these entries, a panel of expert judges will select six standout vehicles, dubbed the “Select Six.” These elite cars will be showcased indoors throughout the weekend at the Syracuse Nationals.
The grand prize winner will be announced Saturday evening at the Awards Banquet, receiving a custom trophy, commemorative jacket, and $10,000. The five remaining finalists will each take home a trophy, jacket, and $1,000.
$15,000 in Prizes
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2024 WINFIELD AWARD WINNER!
Eric Henderson was the first-place Winfield Award winner with a glowing 1951 Ford convertible.
Congratulations to all of the Winfield Select Six Candidates!
Eric Henderson
Paul White
Pamela Thompson
Lou Kriger
Jason “London J” Handsor
Bill Jagenow
Syracuse nationals 2023 Winfield award WINNER
Erin Yates was the first-place winner with a glowing gold 1949 Buick. Body work was done by Cody Walls. The custom car is sectioned, chopped, shaved, and expertly reshaped into the rolling art on wheels that we see today.
History of the Winfield Award
Gene was a master of his craft, and world famous for his custom cars and hot rods. A recipient of the 2001 NHRA Lifetime Achievement Award, he has over 60 years experience in custom hot rod fabrication, land speed, and oval track racing. Winfield is one of the key players who started the customizing craze that first swept through California and then throughout the nation in the '50s and '60s. Gene's cars have appeared in more than 25 motion pictures.
Winfield's best known custom car, the "Jade Idol," started as a '56 Mercury. The "Jade Idol" positioned Winfield at the leading edge of auto exotica. This car took two years to build and received top sweepstakes awards at national car shows for the next several years.
Syracuse nationals top 10
Syracuse Nationals Top 10 Awards, presented by Monster Energy, are awarded to the top 10 vehicles at the show! Our Syracuse Nationals judges move through the crowd to pick out the best and most exceptional show cars from this year’s show!
Winners are selected and awarded where they sit. Hank Hanro, a close friend of the Syracuse Nationals, will personally engrave the Syracuse National Top 10 Awards.
Congratulations to all of our 2024 Syracuse Nationals Top Ten Winners!
Below are a few of our winners!
Tucci Hot rods style & Design award
Of the many awards given annually during the NAPA Auto Parts Syracuse Nationals, none are more coveted than the Style and Design Award, awarded by nationally known car designers and builders of Tucci Hot Rods, in Marcy, N.Y. Tucci roams the New York State Fairgrounds during the annual show and selects a few cars he believes are worthy of special attention.
3 Tucci Hot Rods Style & Design awards will be awarded. Theses awards are for vehicles that catch the eyes from a distance with the right stance and back it up with good fit, finish and attention to detail.
Tucci's keen eye for fine details and exacting work has resulted in awards to some of the finest vehicles entered each year at the Nationals. Tucci, by the way, is the builder of several of the cars that have been awarded as the grand prize at many past Syracuse Nationals.
COUNT’S CREW AWARD
NEW FOR 2025!
A custom bead rolled piece of artwork personally created by the Hobo’s Hot Rod Garage. The award will be presented to one lucky winner by the Count Kustom’s Crew!
CAYUGA COUNTY BOCES AWARD
NEW FOR 2025!
The Auto Body Technology program at Cayuga Onondaga BOCES in Auburn, New York, is a two-year Career & Technical Education (CTE) course designed for high school juniors and seniors. The program focuses on preparing students for employment in the automotive body repair field, offering hands-on training in various aspects of auto body repair and refinishing. Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES is committed to providing practical, career-oriented education to students in our 9 component school districts.
sparky’s rockabilly awards
Backyard Build-Off, Sparky’s Annual Award and the Badass Award will be presented at the 2025 Syracuse Nationals within the Ol’ Skool Rockabilly Round Up.
specialty Awards
judges, including Members of the CNY Car Club Association & Syracuse Nationals Reps, will be browsing the grounds looking for this year’s potential winners. Awards include:
SYRACUSE NATIONALS 2025 AWARDS
| AWARD | CATEGORY |
|---|---|
| SYRACUSE NATIONALS | BOB O'CONNOR FOUNDER AWARD |
| SYRACUSE NATIONALS | SYRACUSE NATIONALS REPS PICK |
| SYRACUSE NATIONALS | CNY CAR CLUB ASSCOATION PICK |
| SYRACUSE NATIONALS | MEMORIES ON MAIN STREET AWARD |
| SYRACUSE NATIONALS | MODERN MUSCLE ELITE - BEST IN SHOW |
| SYRACUSE NATIONALS | MODERN MUSCLE ELITE - HORSEPOWER |
| SYRACUSE NATIONALS | MODERN MUSCLE ELITE - BEST CUSTOM |
| SYRACUSE NATIONALS | MODERN MUSCLE ELITE - PEOPLE'S CHOICE |
| SYRACUSE NATIONALS | MODERN MUSCLE ELITE - BEST IMPORT |
| SYRACUSE NATIONALS | ORIGINAL OWNER AWARD |
| SYRACUSE NATIONALS | OUTSTANDING PAINT |
| SYRACUSE NATIONALS | OUTSTANDING ENGINE |
| SYRACUSE NATIONALS | OUTSTANDING INTERIOR |
| SYRACUSE NATIONALS | BAD ASS BIG TIRES |
| SYRACUSE NATIONALS | BAD ASS BLOWER |
| SYRACUSE NATIONALS | OUTSTANDING DETAIL |
| SYRACUSE NATIONALS | MARVELOUS MOPAR |
| SYRACUSE NATIONALS | GORGEOUS GM |
| SYRACUSE NATIONALS | FABULOUS FORD |
| SYRACUSE NATIONALS | 2025 ORPHAN AWARD |
| SYRACUSE NATIONALS | EARLY BIRD |
| SYRACUSE NATIONALS | FURTHEST TRAVELED |
| SYRACUSE NATIONALS | OUTSTANDING STREET ROD |
| SYRACUSE NATIONALS | 2025 ALL ORIGINAL |
| SYRACUSE NATIONALS | PEOPLE’S CHOICE |
| SYRACUSE NATIONALS | NATIONALS STAFF’S PICK |
| SYRACUSE NATIONALS | LAYIN’ FRAME AWARD |
| SYRACUSE NATIONALS | WTF AWARD |
| SYRACUSE NATIONALS | RIDICULOUS RAT ROD |
| SYRACUSE NATIONALS | WICKED WILLY’S |
| C10 INVASION | LONG HAULER AWARD |
| C10 INVASION | OUTSTANDING LIFTED |
| C10 INVASION | OUTSTANDING PAINT |
| C10 INVASION | RUNNER-UP SQUAREBODY |
| C10 INVASION | OUTSTANDING CUSTOM |
| C10 INVASION | OUTSTANDING INTERIOR |
| C10 INVASION | OUTSTANDING 1967-1972 |
| C10 INVASION | OUTSTANDING 1960-1966 |
| C10 INVASION | OUTSTANDING 1954-1959 |
| C10 INVASION | OUTSTANDING 1947-1953 |
| C10 INVASION | 1ST BEST OVERALL |
| C10 INVASION | 1ST OUTSTANDING OBS |
| C10 INVASION | 1ST OUTSTANDING NBS |
| C10 INVASION | C10 CLUB PICK |
| C10 INVASION | 1ST 4 X 4 |
| C10 INVASION | 1ST LOWERED |
| C10 INVASION | 1ST SQUAREBODY |
| C10 INVASION | 1ST OUTSTANDING SUV |
| C10 INVASION | 1ST OVERALL STOCK |
| C10 INVASION | 1ST OVERALL ENGINE |
| PRO STREET ALLEY | TOP 5 |
| PRO STREET ALLEY | TOP 10 |
| PRO STREET ALLEY | MOST OUTSTANDING ENGINE |
| PRO STREET ALLEY | MOST OUTSTANDING PAINT |
| PRO STREET ALLEY | MOST OUTSTANDING INTERIOR |
| PRO STREET ALLEY | MOST OUTSTANDING ROLL CAGE |
| PRO STREET ALLEY | MOST OUTSTANDING NITROUS PLUMBING |
| PRO STREET ALLEY | MOST OUTSTANDING BODY MODIFICATIONS |
| PRO STREET ALLEY | MOST OUTSTANDING WHEELIE BARS |
| PRO STREET ALLEY | BEST OVERALL ENGINEERED PRO-STREET |
| PRO STREET ALLEY | LOWEST SLAMMED PRO-STREET |
| PRO STREET ALLEY | MOST RADICAL OVERALL PRO-STREET |
| PRO STREET ALLEY | MOST OUTSTANDING CHEVROLET |
| PRO STREET ALLEY | MOST OUTSTANDING PONTIAC |
| PRO STREET ALLEY | MOST OUTSTANDING AMC |
| PRO STREET ALLEY | MOST OUT STANDING OLDSMOBILE |
| PRO STREET ALLEY | MOST OUTSTANDING FORD |
| PRO STREET ALLEY | MOST OUTSTANDING DODGE |
| PRO STREET ALLEY | MOST OUTSTANDING PLYMOUTH |
| PRO STREET ALLEY | MOST OUTSTANDING PRO-STREET TRUCK |
| PRO STREET ALLEY | MOST OUTSTANDING WILLIES |
| PRO STREET ALLEY | MOST UNUSUAL PRO-STREET |
| PRO STREET ALLEY | BEST PRO-STREET 2025 |
| LOWRIDER EXPERIENCE | OUTSTANDING HYDRAULICS |
| LOWRIDER EXPERIENCE | OUTSTANDING PAINT |
| LOWRIDER EXPERIENCE | OUTSTANDING INTERIOR |
| LOWRIDER EXPERIENCE | OUTSTANDING PINSTRIPE |
| LOWRIDER EXPERIENCE | OUTSTANDING MURAL |
| LOWRIDER EXPERIENCE | LONG DISTANCE AWARD |
| LOWRIDER EXPERIENCE | RUNNER-UP MINI TRUCK |
| LOWRIDER EXPERIENCE | OUTSTANDING G BODY |
| LOWRIDER EXPERIENCE | OUTSTANDING ENGINE |
| LOWRIDER EXPERIENCE | OUTSTANDING CLASSIC LOWRIDER |
| LOWRIDER EXPERIENCE | 1ST BEST OVERALL |
| LOWRIDER EXPERIENCE | 1ST LUXURY |
| LOWRIDER EXPERIENCE | 1ST CLUB REPPIN' |
| LOWRIDER EXPERIENCE | 1ST PEDAL CAR |
| LOWRIDER EXPERIENCE | 1ST BICYCLE |
| LOWRIDER EXPERIENCE | 1ST FULL FIZE |
| LOWRIDER EXPERIENCE | 1ST MOTORCYCLE |
| LOWRIDER EXPERIENCE | 1ST MINI TRUCK |
| LOWRIDER EXPERIENCE | 1ST BOMB |
| LOWRIDER EXPERIENCE | 1ST WAGON |
| SYRACUSE NATIONALS | TOP 100 |
| SYRACUSE NATIONALS | SUNNY 102.1 CRUISER |
| DYNO CHALLENGE TOP DOG | PUMP GAS NATURALLY ASPIRATED |
| DYNO CHALLENGE TOP DOG | RACE GAS NATURALLY ASPIRATED |
| DYNO CHALLENGE TOP DOG | POWER ADDERS (TURBO-PRO CHARGER-NOS) |
Congratulations to our 2024 Award Winners!
Below are a few of our winners!
dick spring memorial award
Dick Spring was the founding member of the CNY Car Club Association. Each year, the Dick Spring Memorial Award is given out to one outstanding member of the CNY Car Club community.
