FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 18, 2026

Kingman, AZ – The City of Kingman invites residents and visitors to celebrate Route 66’s centennial as the 2026 Hemmings Great Race Presented by Coker Tire makes a stop in Kingman on Friday, June 26.

The day will begin with a special dedication ceremony at 11:30 a.m. at Locomotive Park, near the Welcome to Kingman Arch, recognizing Route 66 as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. The plaque dedication is part of a project led by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) to commemorate significant engineering achievements along the historic highway. Kingman is one of several Arizona communities selected to receive a commemorative plaque. The plaque recognizes the Route 66 segment through the Black Mountains southwest of Kingman, which featured some of the most challenging terrain along the Mother Road and contained the steepest and most winding alignment on the highway’s 2,448-mile route.

Following the dedication, approximately 140 antique automobiles participating in the 2026 Hemmings Great Race will begin arriving at the Kingman Visitor Center at noon. Vehicles will arrive approximately one minute apart, with the final car expected to arrive around 2:00 p.m. Recognized as the world’s premier vintage automobile rally, the Great Race brings together historic vehicles and competitors from around the globe for a unique time, speed, and distance competition. Rather than racing head-to-head for speed, participants follow precise route instructions and are scored at checkpoints along the course.

In honor of Route 66’s 100th anniversary, the 2026 event follows a Route 66-themed route from Springfield, Illinois, to Pasadena, California. To accommodate the event, Beale Street between Grandview Avenue and First Street, adjacent to Locomotive Park, will be closed to traffic during the event. Motorists traveling through the area are encouraged to plan ahead and use alternate routes.

The public is encouraged to attend this free event to view historic vehicles, meet participants, and celebrate Kingman’s role in the history and legacy of Route 66.

For additional information about the Great Race, please visit https://www.greatrace.com/

About Kingman
Founded in 1882 and incorporated in 1952, Kingman is the county seat of Mohave County located in northwest Arizona along Interstate 40, U.S. 93, and the historically famous Route 66. The city’s population is 32,689, and approximately 60,000 including neighboring communities. Kingman operates under a council/city manager form of government with a mayor and six councilmembers elected at large. The city government provides a wide range of municipal services including administration, development services, engineering, public works, parks and recreation, water, sewer and sanitation services, and fire and police.

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