The Goodguys Lonestar Nationals, located at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, is one of those shows that we look forward to all year long. While Texas barbeque is reason enough to hang out in the lone star state for a few days, the thing we look forward to most is seeing many of the best built trucks in the country assembled together for the crowning of the Truck Of The Year. Actually, two trucks are picked, one for the early class (pre-'52) and one for the late ('53-72). Many of the trucks that receive a CLASSIC TRUCKS Top 10 throughout the year make the trek for this yearly competition.
In addition to the heavy truck influence, Fort Worth contains all of the usual features and activities that make the Goodguys' events a success. Over 1,500 rods, customs, muscle cars, and classic trucks were in attendance for the three-day event. In addition, the swap meet and cars-for-sale corral were filled with now-or-never deals, as was the massive vendor and manufacturer area. There were also arts and crafts and model car shows, but those with more of an appetite for speed, say 140 mph, were invited to take a ride on the speedway (throughout the weekend in a NASCAR or on Saturday night in their own ride).
Great show weather prevailed for the entire week, only for the sky to turn black and the downpour to begin right about noon on Sunday. The awards, however, went off without too much trouble, and the big winners of the day probably didn't even mind that their vehicles were soaked.
If you're slightly partial to trucks like we are or you are building a truck that might just be a contender, we highly recommend attending next year's Lone Star Nats. For more information about this show or any other Goodguys event, log onto www.good-guys.com.
Bob Johnson brought out his Alan Johnson/Boyds/Buterra-built Blazer, which appeared on our March '02 cover. It looks every bit as good as the day we shot it, and it ended up a finalist for the TOTY competition. | 
You might recognize this '55 Chevy as last year's TOTY, as well as our April '03 cover truck. This year, brothers Darrell and Tim Cimbanin were invited back as judges, and like everyone else, were caught cruizin' in the rain on Sunday. | 
We couldn't resist running a shot of this super-clean unrestored Sub on 'bags and rain-soaked with an old long board on the racks. |
It seems there was a precursor to the Ford Super Crew--or at least someone wished there was, and made it happen with their '59ish Edsel Villager. | 
It's not often that we come across a '40 Chevy that looks this good. Jack Bourn of Lewisville, TX, built his clean two-tone ride with a 454/700-R4 combo and new-school Cragars. | 
Justin Eversole and his '72 Chevy were part of the "Homebuilt Heaven" display. He built the truck in one year: suspension, 'bags, bodywork, and all. The badge on the fender reads: "C-20s." Get it? |
It's not every day we get to run a shot of a Scout, but Lynn Owens' '61 was so damn cool, we just had to. It runs a 305/350 combo, a half-top and smooth tonneau, and traditional flames with Cragars. If we didn't see it with our own eyes... | 
Rain or shine, there were a whole bunch of awards to be given out. The Goodguys crew, as well as the participants, were troopers 'til the end. We'd venture to guess that many of these trucks had never been wet before. | |
CLASSIC TRUCKS' TOP TEN
Michael and Deborah Hall are Dallas locals that showed up with this '69 Chevy--one that we had never seen or heard about until the day of the show. The cab is stretched 6 inches, the glass is all glue-in, and the stock bed was
modified by using another set of cab corners up front. Add in the Air Ride Technologies Suspension, ZZ4 engine, and the red leather with black ostrich interior, and it's not hard to see why Michael went home with a Top 10 award, as well as the late Truck Of The Year award. | 
This '58 Chevy with a late-model bed belongs to Billy McSwain, of Rockwall, TX. It features a blown 355/700-R4/ Camaro 10-bolt combo and a Camaro front clip with Air Ride Tech four-link and Shockwaves. The 18-inch Boyd Coddingtons wrapped in Michelins makes for a unique wheel and tire combo, and the DuPont Torador Red Paint glows in the sun. | 
Texas local Steve Green brought out his '72 Chevy that was recently painted by graphics master Pat Maxwell. An airbrushed spear and set of orange flames breaks up the PPG Copperhead and Linen White paint. Suspension was handled by a 4/6 drop from Early Classic, which fits the 20-inch Boyd Coddington Stingrays nicely. Under the hood rests a Vette TPI engine. |
Scotty Gray wowed the crowd with his '48 Ford COE that was recently completed at the Boyd Coddington garage. It runs the original frame equipped with an MII front and a hand-made bed. The drivetrain is a 429/C6/9-inch combo, and the interior is red leather from Gabe Lopez. The restored Quarter midget was a last minute addition--compliments of Greg Coddington. | 
Another surprise entry that was a TOTY finalist and left us with dropped jaws was this '41 Ford owned by Brad Goodheart of Paola, KS. A 6-inch, stretched Art Morrison chassis resides under the likewise stretched cab. Other features include a side-opening tailgate and a bed floor that lifts to reveal an amazingly detailed chassis. A Ram Jet 350 is under the hood, and HOK paint was used throughout. | 
Ed and Joy Stuart brought their '55 F-100 from Pensacola, FL, to compete in the TOTY competition--where they were also a finalist in the later class. The Art Morrison chassis was built using a C4 Vette front, and a '00 Vortec 8.1-liter with a 4L80E and 9-inch resides in it. The heavily modified cab and bed were sprayed with PPG Gold Pearl over Sun Kiss Yellow. Add in the ivory leather interior and the Billet Specialties wheel combo and we'd say this might be one of the nicest Pro-Streeters ever! |
Dennis Quin has built and won awards with at least a dozen classic trucks and rods over the years, and he seems to outdo himself every time. This '48 Chevy is no exception. Behind the PPG Hot Red paint and 18- and 20-inch Billet Specialties sits a Monte Carlo clip, a '96 LTI drivetrain, and tan leather with matching tan satin sheetmetal. | 
John Thompson rolled in from Magnolia, TX, with his clean and smooth '72 Chevy. John 'bagged the truck himself and bolted up a set of 18- and
20-inch Billet Specialties wheels. The gutters and seams were trimmed off of the cab before the PPG Yellow was sprayed up top and the House
of Kolor Blue, Orange, and Green were layered over the lower panels. The interior was retrofit from a late-model Chevy. | 
Another truck making a good argument for Pro Street was this supremely detailed '66 Chevy owned by Brian and Kristen Jacobs of Wichita, KS. The cherried frame incorporates an '87 C10 front and Art Morrison rear, and under the hood is a blown 350/350 combo. The exterior got a full shave before the deep red paint and has a bed floor full of hardwood flamed inlays. Those deep, deep wheels are Budnik Famosas. |
Sally Lewis owns this '48 Chevy five-window that their family brought south from Broken Arrow, OK. The truck rides on an MII front and S-10 rear and features a 350/350 combo. The HOK Orange and Silver paint with blue graphics is accented by a gray leather interior with blue suede graphics. The rollers are 20-inch KMC SS's with Kumho rubber. | | |