Following the success of its Route 66 to the SEMA Show 2025, Pavement Pounder Events has announced details for Motor City to Wheel Hub Live presented by Heatshield Products, an eight-day, 1,000-mile automotive road tour taking place May 16–23, 2026. Designed for automotive enthusiasts, the event connects significant automotive locations with a curated driving route that prioritizes engagement, authenticity and enjoying the drive alignment over interstate travel, event officials stated in a press release.
Motor City to Wheel Hub Live launches in Detroit, the epicenter of American automotive manufacturing and performance culture, and concludes in Lincoln, Nebraska, at Wheel Hub Live at the Museum of American Speed. The route intentionally links past, present and future automotive touchpoints.
Key destinations include:
- The Henry Ford/Greenfield Village
- Cord-Auburn-Duesenberg Museum
- Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum during Indy 500 week
- Route 66 in Springfield, Illinois
- Historic Hills Scenic Byway in Iowa
- White Pole Road in Iowa
Limited to 300 Vehicles
Exclusive access to additional venues will be announced in the coming weeks, noted the release. For 2026, vehicle count is capped at 300, reinforcing Pavement Pounder Events’ focus on participant experience.
All registered participants receive full access to Wheel Hub Live, including museum entry, curated vehicle displays and the Wheel Hub Reliability Run, making the event both a destination and a content-rich activation opportunity for media and partners.
Pavement Pounder Events says that it has introduced several refinements driven by participant and partner feedback, including preorder-only event apparel to streamline fulfillment; a clearly defined registration window closing April 1, 2026; and multiple participation tiers to accommodate varying schedules and levels of involvement.
The event is supported by leading industry partners, including TREMEC, which will award one registered participant a TKX 5-speed transmission through a random drawing—underscoring the event’s close ties to the performance aftermarket industry.