Sports Illustrated  has chosen the eye-popping Gibson Guitar trophy for Nashville’s Busch race as the best NASCAR trophy and one of the top ten coolest awards ever. The long-coveted Gibson trophy got supercharged in 2002, thanks to a collaboration between the incredible craftsmen of the Gibson Custom Shop and renowned motor sports artist Sam Bass. “When I saw that guitar in the driver’s meeting, I knew I wanted it real bad,” said racing legend Jack Sprague, who won the trophy at Nashville Superspeedway in 2002. “We can only guess how many strummed a few bars of ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ in the victory lane,” writes Pete McEntegart of SI.com.

Jack Sprague with his trophy guitar.

NASCAR driver David Green (left) with Sam Bass (center) at the Custom Shop.

 

Michael Waltrip winner of the 2004 spring race

David Green with his trophy he won in 2003

Scott Riggs shows off his trophy in 2002

The trophy guitar in the middle of all of the action in Victory Lane
at the NASCAR Craftsman Truck race in fall of 2002