Photos and story by John McCartney

The Syracuse Nationals celebrated a special anniversary with the 2025 running of this annual get together of car lovers at the Syracuse Fairgrounds located in Syracuse, New York. Back in 2000 the Syracuse Nationals took form and has been filling every square inch of the massive Syracuse Fairgrounds ever since. Over the 25 years of the event the event has changed very little, but the one thing is the way it brings folks from all over the United States and Canada to have weekend of having fun and checking out cool car.

Two veterans of the drag wars. Big Al Liebmann and Don Roberts

It was a few years ago that Big Al Liebmann had the idea to add a little old school drag racing feel to the event. So, he started what has become known as Street Side Classic presents Nitro Row powered by Racing Junk, Tub-O-Towels and Turn Key Collector Car Insurance.

Each and every year Big Al puts together a collection of some of the best vintage drag racing machine. This display features funny cars, gassers, nitro dragsters, altereds all sorts of cool stuff. But this is not just a visual display it is full blown interactive sound display as well. For you see each and every day during the run of the show several times each day all thee cars are fired up much to the delight of everyone in the crowd.

For folks that happen to pass by the Dead Man’s Curve Car Club camping area on Saturday night those folks are treated to some nighttime fire as several cars cackle under the nighttime sky. The Dead Man’s Curve Car Club know a thing or two about putting on a show make sure to check out their Wild Hot Rod Weekend over Labor Day weekend at the Delta Hotels by Marriott in Somerset, New Jersey.

Once again Big Al Liebmann will bring together another large selection of vintage drag racing machines in Thunder Alley (Funny Car Frenzy) check it out over Labor Day weekend in Somerset, New Jersey.

After folks checked out all the action along Street Side Classic presented Nitro Row powered by Racing Junk, Tub-O-Towels and Turn Key Collector Car Insurance fans could take a short walk into the Expo Center where fans could check out the six cars that were competing in the Gene Winfield Legacy Award exhibit where the best of the best taking home the ten thousand dollar first prize.

The big cash prize this year went to Jimmy and Debbie Hervatin for their 1952 Ford Pick Up.

John Sbrigato and TV Show Cars brought out a trio of cool tv and movie cars. On display folks were drawn in by the massive Batmobile from the Justice League which led them to check out the Jetson space ship but the most popular was with a doubt the Scooby Doo Van which everyone got a big joy out of seeing.

House of Kolor had a big booth set up which featured all of their products and this year also the House of Kolor jet dragster which is driven by the talented Josette Roach. Josette spent the weekend telling folks as she drives this wild car at events all over the country.

Hannah was on hand to promote the wild Burnout Nationals After Party held down the road, she stopped by to check out the Batmobile and Scooby Van

Right alongside of the House of Kolor tent folks could check out sorts of talented artists who donated their time and skills to take part in Syracuse Charity Brush Fest. For it is here where all kinds of artwork are created during the weekend and then raffled off with all the money going to Ronald McDonald House this year they raised well over 90 thousand dollars all going to help everyone have a better day.

This year show as in the past featured all sorts of bands playing all over the grounds. From the sounds of Rockabilly coming from the stage located inside of Sparky’s Round Up which also housed the Backyard Build Off. In addition to all the bands playing there fans could also check out music on several large stages located throughout the fairgrounds.

Danny “Count” Koker of Counting Cars fame brought out his own band Count’s 77 to perform on Saturday afternoon to a packed house. After playing a rocking set Danny along with Horny Mike, Ryan Evans, Ghetto Bob and Kevin Mack all spent time with all of the show’s fans inside of the Expo Center thanks to the fine folks at Lift King.

With the 25th edition of the Syracuse Nationals you can sure that Brian Badger all of his fine staff are hard at work for the 2026 edition of the Syracuse Nationals. Plans are in place to make it even bigger and better than it was this year making the Syracuse Nationals one event you need to check out.

Counting Cars TV stars Ghetto Bob and Horny Mike got to play Batman and Robin inside of the Batmobile used in the Justice League movie