Events

This summer, the 2026 Hemmings Great Race—a renowned endurance rally for antique, vintage, and collector cars—will include the Will Rogers Memorial Museum as a key stop along its route.

The Hemmings Great Race, presented by Coker Tire, is a nine-day, 2,300-mile classic car rally featuring 120 antique automobiles. The event visits 17 cities along a new route each year, including a stop in Claremore, OK, on Monday, June 22.

In 2026, the Great Race will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Mother Road with a Route 66-themed event. It starts in Springfield, Illinois, on Saturday, June 20, and ends in Pasadena, California, on Sunday, June 28, passing through many historic towns and attractions along the way. Each free public stop offers several hours for spectators to view the cars and interact with participants. While in Claremore, the drivers will stop for lunch at the museum, paying tribute to the fact that the memorial museum is located on Will Rogers Highway.

Teams and cars from Japan, England, Australia, Canada, and across the United States participate in the annual event, often considered a “bucket list” item for car enthusiasts, especially in 2026, with Route 66 as the backdrop.

The 2026 Great Race starts Saturday, June 20, in Springfield, Illinois, and finishes Sunday, June 28, at Pasadena City Hall in California. It covers 2,300 miles with 17 city stops across eight states, passing many iconic Route 66 sights.

The Great Race is proudly partnered with Hemmings as Title Sponsor and is Presented by Coker Tire Company. Would you like to join the list of sponsors such as Stahls, Samuel Smith Old Brewery, McCollister’s Auto Transport, and many others? Contact us at info@greatrace.com for information on branding and event activation opportunities. For more information, go to www.greatrace.com, or visit the Great Race Facebook Page. You can also email communications@greatrace.com.