John Jackson is back at it, this time in Alabama for the Battle in Bama and the OBS Nationals. This was an epic weekend at Talladega Super Speedway, and the trucks that showed up were really something special. Whether you are into late models or classics, minis or fullsize rigs, you will dig something at this show. And if you are like us you are going to dig a bunch of things. Check it out if you like custom cars and trucks!

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Wild Weekend at Battle in Bama 2026: If you’ve ever been to Talladega Motor Speedway, you know the place just feels legendary. But this past weekend? It wasn’t NASCAR stock cars tearing up the asphalt—it was the massive Battle in Bama car show and the OBS Nationals, and man, it was one for the books. For me, the weekend was a whirlwind of killer trucks, elite hot rods, a lot of dodging raindrops, and honestly, some of the best times I’ve had in years. If you missed it, here is how it all went down from behind my camera lens.

Dodging Raindrops with a Ridler Winner

My weekend actually started early on Wednesday. I rolled in ahead of the crowds with a pretty heavy mission: photograph the freshly crowned 2026 Ridler Award winner built by the geniuses over at Kevin Riffey Hotrods.

Let me tell you, Mother Nature did not want to cooperate. It was a literal battle against the Alabama rain just to find a five-minute window of dry weather. I’d set up, the skies would open, and we’d scramble. But patience pays off in this game. The sun finally broke through the clouds, and we absolutely knocked the shoot out of the park. Seeing that level of craftsmanship up close is something that makes what I do not feel like a job at all.

This year was also a personal milestone for me. I finally brought my 1964 Corvair van to its very first Battle in Bama. I was a little anxious about how the crowd would take it, but the response was incredible. A huge shoutout to the crew at Johnsons Hotrods for letting me park the van right in their booth all weekend—having that kind of support from a legendary shop means the world.

Between hanging out at the booth, I managed to sneak away for another bucket-list shoot. I got to photograph Angie Johnson’s Custom Trans Am right on the Talladega track. You might remember this car making waves when it debuted at SEMA last year, but seeing it sitting on the bankings at ‘Dega was next level. And yeah, we had to dodge a few more raindrops to get it done, but the results were pure magic.

More Than a Car Show:

The Battle in Bama Vibe

Aside from those annoying pre-show showers, the weather actually cleared up and turned out beautiful for the main event. The turnout for the OBS Nationals was insane—if you love custom Chevy trucks, this was absolute heaven. But what really struck me about this weekend wasn’t just the sheer number of high-end builds or the famous track. It was the vibe.

Honestly, it didn’t even feel like a car show. It felt like a massive family reunion where everyone just happens to own a badass ride. I’ve got to give a massive thank you to Craig Rowley and his entire staff. They put on one hell of an event and went out of their way to help me coordinate a couple of really cool, exclusive photoshoots.

Between the trucks, the hot rods, the Corvair love, and hanging out with good people, Battle in Bama 2026 is going to be hard to top. Clean off the road grime, pack your bags, and I’ll see you guys there next year!

Did you make it out to Talladega for the OBS Nationals this year? Drop a comment below and let me know what your favorite build of the weekend was!