2025 Winfield application

Each year, one car owner at the Syracuse Nationals receives the prestigious Annual Winfield Award, now in its 15th year. This honor for automotive excellence was traditionally presented by the legendary master car customizer and builder, Gene Winfield. Following Gene’s passing, the award will be renamed the “Gene Winfield Legacy Award” and will now be bestowed by a panel of Gene’s colleagues and friends, who will select the car that best embodies his spirit and legacy.

Entrants must have at least one radical modification (e.g. chopped, sectioned, and/or channeled). Entries must be 1937 and newer. From the entries, our panel of judges will nominate 6 vehicles to be known as the “Select Six”. The Select Six are on display indoors all weekend at the Syracuse Nationals.

The Winfield Award winner is announced Saturday evening during the Awards Banquet. The winner receives a beautiful custom trophy, jacket and $10,000. The remaining 5 each receive a custom trophy, jacket and $1,000.

Congratulations to all of the Winfield Select Six Candidates!

1. Eric Henderson

2. Paul White

3. Pamela Thompson

4. Lou Kriger

5. Jason “London J” Handsor

6. Bill Jagenow

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.