HPX 2026 Connects Builders, Racers, Brands, And Enthusiasts

Being a part of the Charlotte car scene is something we sometimes take for granted. There is no doubt that our beloved Queen City is the hub of motorsports. NASCAR is everywhere, from the Hall of Fame to various local tracks. We’re also home to the World of Outlaws, IROC, the zMAX CARS Tour, and a new Formula 1 team. We enjoy numerous drag strips, road courses, and circle tracks, both asphalt and dirt. And that’s not even counting the specialty dealerships or the 10 months of endless car events.

What was sorely lacking was a big, centralized affair that brings together every aspect of that culture. A mecca of the mecca, of sorts, that embraces the present and looks to the future. That’s where the High Performance Expo (HPX) comes in. Founded in 2025, HPX touches on every aspect of the industry, celebrating manufacturers, vendors, builders, retailers, race teams, and diehard enthusiasts.

#HPX2026

In addition to some of the biggest vendors in the aftermarket, this year’s High Performance Expo included educational conferences, interesting talks, curated networking events, featured builds, and driver appearances. The HPX Shop Car Challenge was an exclusive, invite-only custom car showcase that highlighted builds from some of America’s top automotive performance shops. There were daily showcases of the Randy Dorton Hendrick Engine Builder Showdown. Speedology Lifestyle Solutions curated an exhibit highlighting local car clubs. The North Carolina Motorsports Association held its annual awards reception and dinner. There was even a tie-in to Street Car Takeover, which kicks off tonight, about 25 minutes north of center city, in Concord.

Build An Engine in 20 Minutes?

One of the biggest highlights of HPX 2026 was the Randy Dorton Hendrick Engine Builder Showdown. The idea is fairly straightforward: teams of two compete to assemble a 358 cubic inch Chevrolet V8 as fast as possible. The teams consist of one Hendrick Motorsports engine builder and one Master Certified Technician from Hendrick Automotive Group. Each team assembles 243 components in front of a judge, and the whole competition is narrated by someone who knows the intricacies of the process. By the end of the build, the engine must hold fluid, start, and run.

Shops, Cars, And HPX 2026

The HPX Shop Car Challenge brought together top-notch builds from the worlds of late-model performance, European cars, racing, JDM, and off-road. At the end of the show, one car received a People’s Choice Award and one car received the Top Builder Award–an honor determined by the shops competing in the competition. Of course, we at LSX were a bit partial to the 3,072hp Vengeance Racing C6, which we’ve covered extensively. In addition to being the fastest manual transmission Corvette in existence, the car was also the first Corvette to crack 200 mph in the half-mile.

The Speed And Performance Lifestyle

Another cool aspect of the show was Speedology Lifestyle Solutions’ collection of car clubs. There is so much diversity in this hobby, and it’s great to see a lineup that honors the artistry of building both performance icons and style icons. Where else can you go to see a semi-daily drive twin turbo split window next to a bright pink, fully bedazzled C8? Or a killer Rapid Blue ZL1, complete with blue carbon fiber, next to the world’s most driven 1966 Cadillac?

In reality, HPX feels like the missing piece Charlotte should have had a long time ago. We’ve always had the tracks, the teams, the shops, the history, and the people. But pulling all of that into one organized, forward-looking event gives the local performance scene a proper front door. It’s not just another car show, and it’s not just another trade event. It’s a place where engine builders, aftermarket companies, race teams, builders, clubs, and fans can all exist under the same roof without any part of the hobby feeling like an afterthought.