Holley’s Ford Fest has been thrilling participants and spectators alike for quite some time, and the 2026 version was no exception. Whether you’re into car shows, drag racing, drifting, autocross or off-road shenanigans, the Holley Ford Fest had plenty of all those things.
We’ve been attending Holley’s single-marque events since the very first LS Fest, and we’ve never not been blown away by the sheer number and variety of cars and trucks that attend. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, someone pulls up in something that makes you say, “OK, now I’ve not only never seen anything like that before, but I never even imagined that.”
A perfect example of that would be Joey Aytes’ Destroyer Gray Ford Falcon. It sits on a four-wheel-drive ‘74 Bronco chassis, and uses that car’s 302 V8, three-speed transmission and Dana 20 transfer case, Dana 44 front axle and Ford 9-inch rear.
What makes it even more interesting is that it was built at the Morgan County Career and Technical Center in Wartburg, Tennessee, where Joey works as a high-school shop teacher.
The Drift Exhibition is a huge draw for spectators, whether they’re first timers or repeat attendees. Even the drag racers sometimes stop to take notice. Driven by Vaughn Gittin Jr. and the RTR Vehicles team alongside a roster of grassroots Mustang pilots, the drivers adapted effortlessly to the slick, wet track on Day 1 before unleashing maximum tire smoke on Saturday. The highlights of the weekend included aggressive, high-angle tandem runs by the RTR pros, thrilling 10-to-15-car drift trains screaming door-to-door through The Arena.
Jeff Maggs of Franklin Ohio, took the 9-second True Street crown in his remarkable retro appearing 1990 Ford Mustang. The supercharged Fox body had mid-’90s style with 2026 performance.
The drag racing is what Beech Bend Raceway is always known for and it did not disappoint. Whether you were a True Street devote or wheels-up Coyote Stock sky pilot, there was a quarter-mile of track where you could prove your worth.
We never get tired of Fox bodies, whether they are stock or modified, Mustang, Capri or Fairmont/Zephyr. The ability to interchange parts on them makes them ideal for drag racing, open track events, autocrossing, or whatever your automotive calling might be. Naturally, there were hundreds of them in Bowling Green.
In the Grand Champion competition, drivers had to perform in autocross, the 3S Challenge, and drag racing. That required more than a quick vehicle, as driver skill played a major role. A car that dominated the quarter-mile wasn’t necessarily the car that could win the weekend. Grand Champion rewards the combination of acceleration, braking, handling, and driving ability, which helps explain why the competition attracts such a wide range of vehicles.
Overall Grand Champion Winners
Late-Model – Brayden O’Banion, Coxs Creek KY, 2020 Ford Mustang GT
Truck – Kevin Wilbourn, Tekonsha MI, 2023 Ford F-150
Vintage – Ron Schoch, Lawrenceburg IN, 1965 Ford Mustang
Grand Champion Autocross Results
- Russell Wood, Goshen KY, 1990 Ford Mustang
- Ron Schoch, Lawrenceburg IN, 1965 Ford Mustang
- Brayden O’Banion, Coxs Creek KY, 2020 Mustang GT
Grand Champion Drag Race Results
- Kevin Wilbourn, Tekonsha MI, 2023 Ford F-150
- Bradley Davidson, Mason OH, 2020 Ford GT500
- Mike Gallagher, Kankakee IL, 2021 Ford Shelby GT500
3S Challenge Results
- Kevin Wilbourn, Tekonsha MI, 2023 Ford F-150
- Ron Schoch, Lawrenceburg IN, 1965 Ford Mustang
- Michael Lukens, Newburgh IN, 2017 Ford Focus RS
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