Phantom Nation Summerfest 2025: Community and Cars Unite

August 16, 2025 – we finally made it out to a Phantom Nation event. Missed the very first Summerfest last year, but no way we were sitting this one out. And man… it did not disappoint. Big shoutout to my boy Michael Debakey from Donuts and Booty for making sure this one hit the calendar—last time we linked was way back at SEMA 2023. Way overdue.

This one leaned heavy on the import scene, but don’t get it twisted—American muscle, trucks, and even a few Jeeps came through to represent. The vibes? Pure car culture. And the spot? Rockingham Dragway. Hands down one of our favorite tracks. First time hitting an import event outdoors at a strip like this, and it just hit different.

Awards were handed out across an impressive lineup of categories:

What stood out most, however, wasn’t the cars—it was the people. Don’t get it twisted; there were some fire cars here. A couple of my favorites were the high pink BMW, the Honda Civic with the see-through hood, Royal Whips Auto Club, every Honda S2000 there, and always Team Hybrid, which I learned they have a chapter here. While I already knew a handful of enthusiasts, I was welcomed like family by many I’d never met before. That sense of community is rare, and it’s what makes Phantom Nation different. In a scene where negative attitudes can easily turn people away, Summerfest 2025 was nothing but love and positivity.

This was our first Phantom Nation event, but it certainly won’t be the last. For anyone passionate about the import scene—or car culture in general—this is a movement worth supporting. To learn more about their mission and upcoming events and to check out professional media coverage from the show, visit http://www.phantomnation.club and follow Phantom Nation across social platforms.