By Tara L. Simmons

The Hemmings Great Race presented by Coker Tire will shine the spotlight on The Last 100 Miles of Route 66 in southwest Illinois on Saturday, June 20, with a stop in Collinsville.

The Great Race 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 follows a new route each year and includes 17 hosted city stops along the way, including a stop in Collinsville. In 2026, the Great Race will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Mother Road with a Route 66-themed event beginning in Springfield, Illinois, on Saturday, June 20, and ending in Pasadena, California, on Sunday, June 28. The route includes stops at many historic towns and attractions along the way.

“We are incredibly excited for Collinsville to be a host city for the 2026 Great Race,” said Collinsville Mayor Jeff Stehman. “This multi-state event is a fantastic opportunity to showcase our historic Uptown Collinsville, highlight our local businesses, and welcome visitors from across the country. The timing could not be better, we are hosting the Great Race on the same day as the World’s Largest Catsup Bottle Festival, and these two events will create an unforgettable experience and truly capture the fun, energy, and character of our community.”

Each stop on the Great Race is free and open to the public. Spectators can visit with participants and view the cars for several hours. Racers often allow children to climb inside the vehicles for a first-hand look.

“When the Great Race pulls into a city, it becomes an instant festival,” said Houston Gibson, Great Race Coordinator. “Last year, we had several overnight stops with more than 10,000 spectators, contributing to more than 250,000 people seeing the Great Race during the event. There are more than 500 people in our entourage alone.”

The Great Race was founded in 1983 by Tom McRae and has grown into the world’s premier vintage car rally. This time/speed/endurance competition is far more than a casual cruise. It operates under a strict set of rules designed to keep competition tight. Each vehicle, driven by a driver and navigator team, receives precise daily instructions detailing every movement down to the second. Teams are scored at secret checkpoints and penalized for arriving early or late. As in golf, the lowest score wins.

The event features a $160,000 purse split among five classes, with the overall winner taking home $50,000.

“Hosting the Great Race during the Centennial Celebration of Route 66 is a wonderful way to showcase the impact this national highway had on southwest Illinois,” said Cory Jobe, President/CEO of the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau. “The race will arrive in Collinsville while we are celebrating the Catsup Bottle Festival, a Route 66 icon. These two events will introduce countless Route 66 fans to The Last 100 Miles of Route 66 in Southwest Illinois and give us an opportunity to showcase the amazing communities and attractions we have.”

Teams and vehicles from Japan, England, Australia, Canada, and across the United States participate in the annual event. For many car enthusiasts, especially in 2026 with Route 66 as the backdrop, the Great Race is considered a bucket list experience.

Cars, trucks, and motorcycles built in 1974 or earlier are eligible to compete. The scoring system includes an age factor to help keep earlier vehicles competitive. In the 2025 Great Race, a 1933 Ford pickup truck claimed the overall victory. Among the oldest vehicles scheduled to compete in 2026 are a 1913 Chevrolet, a 1916 Hudson, and a 1918 American LaFrance.

The 2026 Great Race will begin on Saturday, June 20, in Springfield, Illinois, home of President Abraham Lincoln. The event will start in front of the Old State Capitol, where Lincoln first rose to prominence. Nine days later, on Sunday, June 28, the race will finish at City Hall in downtown Pasadena, California.

Between the start and finish cities, competitors will travel approximately 2,300 miles through Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and California, with 17 hosted city stops and numerous iconic Route 66 landmarks along the way.

Stay tuned for updated information to be released closer to June 20. Current details can be found at greatrace.com or by visiting the Great Race Facebook Page. You can also email communications@greatrace.com.