2026 Event Recap
Now in its fourth year—and for just the second time at the state-of-the-art Ten Tenths Motor Club at Charlotte Motor Speedway—the 2026 Smith Hendrick Heritage Invitational brought together passionate enthusiasts, legendary racers, celebrated collectors and valued partners for three unforgettable days celebrating automotive excellence.
This year’s event featured the East Coast debut of the iconic IROC series and Vintage Indy exhibitions, a star-studded Pro-Am benefiting Speedway Children’s Charities, and a world-class concours showcasing more than a century of automotive artistry, innovation and performance. Throughout the weekend, guests enjoyed a unique blend of luxury automotive culture and motorsports heritage, with NASCAR Hall of Famers Jeff Gordon, Bill Elliott, Mark Martin, Bobby Labonte and Kurt Busch joining renowned collectors and industry personalities including Justin Bell, Ed Bolian, Wayne Carini and Jay Ward.
From rare automobiles and historic race cars to memorable stories and new friendships, the 2026 Smith Hendrick Heritage Invitational once again delivered an experience unlike any other—where passion for the automobile brought together some of the most influential figures in the collector and racing communities. As anticipation already builds for the fifth annual Heritage Invitational in 2027, the event continues to cement its place among the world’s premier luxury automotive gatherings, setting a new standard for celebrating automotive culture, craftsmanship and competition.
Welcome
Hendrick Welcome Dinner Kicks Off Heritage Weekend
The 2026 Smith Hendrick Heritage Invitational kicked off with a welcome dinner on the campus of Hendrick Motorsports. In addition to previewing the weekend and providing a backdrop for friendships to be renewed on the opening night of the event, the dinner helped raise a record $300,000 for Speedway Children’s Charities’ through live auctions and celebrity Pro Am registrations.
IROC
Kurt Busch Bests Field of Inaugural IROC Event at Ten Tenths
NASCAR Hall of Famer Kurt Busch stood atop the star-studded podium follow the International Race of Champions (IROC) East Coast debut during Friday’s action-packed day of on-track action on the famed 1.7-mile Ten Tenths Motor Club circuit. Busch beat out fellow Hall of Fame race Jeff Gordon and legendary racer Scott Pruett for top honors in front of a sold-out crowd.
Celebrity Pro-Am
Papis Powers to Celebrity Pro-Am Win
Renowned for his road course prowess, Max Papis teamed up with amateur driver Wyatt Foster to cap off Friday’s on-track excitement with a win in the second annual Heritage Invitational Celebrity Pro-Am time trial event. The charity showdown saw racing legends pair up with amateur drivers to compete in time trails to raise money for Speedway Children’s Charities and bragging rights for their team. Papis and Foster took home top honors ahead of second place team Scott Pruett and JC Fickenscher, with Boris Said and 2025 winner Ryan Wildrick rounding out the podium.
RADwood
Cool Vibes and Even Cooler Cars
New for 2026, RADwood brought cool vibes and even cooler cars to a standalone display paying homage to the music, fashion and car culture of the 1980s and 90s. Integrating pop culture, nostalgia and styles that defined the era, RADwood’s showcase served as a perfect complement to the elegance and sophistication of the traditional Heritage Invitational concours.
Concours
Expanded Concours Brings Together Unparalleled Greatness
Saturday’s Smith Hendrick Heritage Invitational concours featured more than 115 rare and desirable vehicles across a wide range of classes from supercars to century-old classics. Guests marveled at the history, artistry and innovation on display, including Rob Kauffman’s history-making 1966 Ford GT40, which earned the show’s Chairman’s Choice Sport award, and Bruce Miller’s 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Coupé Ellena, which was named the Chairman’s Choice d’Elegance winner. The closing day of the event also saw more than 100 cars representative of the 1980s and 90s on display as part of the first-ever RADwood display at the Heritage Invitational.
Celebrant
NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott Honored
Throughout the weekend, NASCAR legend and automotive icon Bill Elliott was honored at the 2026 Smith Hendrick Heritage Invitational celebrant. The 1988 NASCAR Cup Series champion and 16-time NASCAR Most Popular driver greeted fans, shared stories and displayed the Harry Melling-owned Ford he drove 212.809 mph at Talladega Superspeedway, a feat that remains a NASCAR record.
