2026 Hemmings Great Race presented by Coker Tire - Day 7

The action got HOT today as we descended from the 7,000-foot elevation in Flagstaff down to less than 600 feet above sea level. We started our course on Historic Route 66, aimed for Kingman, Arizona. Before that, we had a quick, but challenging maze in Seligman, a town that's covered in old cars, many of which are themed after the movie "Cars". Then, we rolled into Peach Springs, which was one of the many inspirations for the small fictional town called Radiator Springs in the movie. After a long stretch of two-lane highway, we finally made our way to Locomotive Park in downtown Kingman for lunch. We had a great crowd on hand, and quickly got back on the road.

This afternoon's route was challenging, and beautiful. First, a tough climb up the Hualapai mountains into the community of Pine Lake and then back down for an equally tough descent. With temperatures nearing 100, just keeping the car operational was part of the challenge. Then, we came back down to Kingman and embarked on an amazing journey across Sitgreaves Pass. Oatman Highway is Route 66, which offers incredible views during the climb up and over the mountain and into Oatman, Arizona. This town of less than 100 people is known for its roaming donkeys and old Western store fronts. Finally, we drove into Laughlin, Nevada for a relaxing evening at the Aquarius Resort. Due to extreme temperatures (110+), we didn't have a hosted stop. Instead, racers entered the hotel and got their scores and enjoyed the casino, restaurants and other amenities. Buddy Green and Trevor Stahl dominated Stage 7 with a score of 4.05 seconds, widening their lead in the cumulative scores to 8.91 seconds going into the Championship Run. California here we come!