FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Texas Auto Writers Association Announces Award-Winning Vehicles from 2025 Texas Auto Roundup

Conroe, Texas (April 30, 2025) — The Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) proudly announces the winning vehicles from their annual Texas Auto Roundup, where members evaluated and honored the best vehicles across multiple categories. First held in 2003, this year's Auto Roundup was held at the Margaritaville Resort on Lake Conroe on April 6, 2025.

After a day of rigorous testing, standout models were awarded top honors, showcasing excellence in performance, luxury, family-friendliness, and innovation.

People’s Vehicle of Texas (Best Value)

• Winner: Honda Civic Hybrid Sport Touring
  “Best daily driver money can buy.”
• Second Place: Kia K4 GT-Line Turbo
• Third Place: Nissan Murano Platinum AWD

Family Vehicle of Texas

• Winner: Toyota Sienna Platinum Hybrid AWD
  “I was blown away by the Toyota Sienna. The value really can't be beat, and it's a hybrid to boot. I was sold with the vacuum and reclining back seats with the footrest.”
• Second Place: Kia Carnival Hybrid SX-Prestige
• Third Place: Honda Odyssey Elite

Minivan of Texas

• Winner: Toyota Sienna Platinum Hybrid AWD
  “It’s like a Gulfstream with wheels—super comfortable and impressive cabin, mileage, and drivability.”
• Second Place: Chrysler Pacifica Limited AWD
• Third Place: Kia Carnival Hybrid SX-Prestige

Performance Vehicle of Texas

• Winner: McLaren Artura Spider
  “A pure driver's car. Even with the hybrid system, power hard top, and glass roof adding weight, it still came in at only 3200 lbs. Unreal! The only car I would ever own in orange. I've been dreaming of it since I got out of it.”
• Second Place: Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack
• Third Place: Toyota GR Corolla

Luxury Vehicle of Texas

• Winner: Genesis G80 AWD 3.5T Sport Prestige
  “Genesis continues to develop their vehicles to be a value that cannot be ignored in this segment. Arguably better at the same game than the current competition.”
• Second Place: INFINITI QX80
• Third Place: Lexus LX 700h Hybrid Overtrail

EV of Texas

• Winner: Hyundai IONIQ 5 Limited AWD
  “The styling for me is more creative, distinctive, and unique than a Model Y. Hyundai has married a nice fusion of futuristic touches and current modern styling.”
• Second Place: Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack
• Third Place: Acura ZDX Type S

Hybrid Vehicle of Texas

• Winner: Honda Civic Hybrid Sport Touring
  “This vehicle is practical, well-executed, reliable, and has great handling. It’s also fuel-efficient.”
• Second Place: Lexus LX 700h Hybrid Overtrail
• Third Place: Toyota Sienna Platinum Hybrid AWD

Best Exterior

• Winner: McLaren Artura Spider
  “I can NOT say enough about the papaya spark color on the McLaren! It will definitely turn heads on the road!”
  “Incredible…”
• Second Place: Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack
• Third Place: INFINITI QX80

Best Interior

• Winner: INFINITI QX80
  “The driving experience was effortless with its intelligence integrated technology. Easily one of the best family-oriented vehicles on the market, and its luxury design and craftsmanship are exquisite.”
• Second Place: Genesis G80 AWD 3.5T Sport Prestige
• Third Place: Lexus LX 700h Hybrid Overtrail

Best NEW Interior

• Winner: INFINITI QX80
  “Just WOW!”
• Second Place: Nissan Murano Platinum AWD
• Third Place: Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack

Best New Feature

• Winner: Nissan Armada Invisible Hood View
  “The Nissan Armada is a big, beautiful beast!”
• Second Place: Dodge Charger Daytona Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust
• Third Place: INFINITI Klipsch Reference Premiere Audio System with Individual Audio

“The 2025 Texas Auto Roundup showcased an incredibly diverse field of vehicles,” said Cory Fourniquet, TAWA President. “From electrifying EVs and cutting-edge hybrids to luxurious family movers and pure performance machines, our journalist members had the difficult but exciting job of recognizing the best of the best.”

Full list of participating vehicles:

• Acura RDX A-Spec w. Advance
• Acura ZDX Type S
• Alfa Romeo Tonale 2.0L Turbo
• Chrysler Pacifica Limited AWD
• Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack
• Genesis G80 AWD 3.5T Sport Prestige
• Honda Civic Hybrid Sport Touring
• Honda Odyssey Elite
• Hyundai Elantra N
• Hyundai IONIQ 5 Limited AWD
• Hyundai Kona Limited AWD
• INFINITI QX80 AUTOGRAPH
• Kia Carnival Hybrid SX-Prestige
• Kia K4 GT-Line Turbo
• Lexus LX 700h hybrid Overtrail
• McLaren Artura Spider 
• Nissan Armada Platinum Reserve
• Nissan Murano Platinum   AWD
• Toyota 4Runner TRD Sport Premium
• Toyota Crown Signia Limited
• Toyota GR Corolla GR Direct Automatic Transmission Premium Plus
• Toyota Sienna Hybrid AWD Platinum

About TAWA
Founded in 1987, the Texas Auto Writers Association has grown to become one of the most recognized and reputable automotive media organizations in the industry. TAWA’s mission is to promote quality and accuracy in automotive content creation and to disseminate information about the automotive industry through news-related print, online and broadcast media.

For more information about the Texas Auto Writers Association, please visit texasautowriters.org

Media Contact:
Cory Fourniquet
TAWAPresident@texasautowriters.org
Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA)

TAWA Truck Rodeo Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Texas Auto Writers Association Announces 2024-2025 Truck Rodeo Winners

Austin, TX – January 15, 2025 – The Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) proudly announces the winners of the coveted category awards at the 31st annual TAWA Truck Rodeo. This prestigious event celebrates excellence within the automotive industry, highlighting vehicles that have set the standard for innovation, performance, and design among trucks and SUVs.

Award-Winning Vehicles of 2024-2025:

• Sub-Compact SUV of Texas: Nissan Kicks SR
• Mid-Size SUV of Texas: Lexus GX 550
• Luxury SUV of Texas: Genesis GV80
• Off-Road SUV of Texas: INEOS Grenadier Trialmaster
• Electric SUV of Texas: Kia EV9
• Compact Truck of Texas: Hyundai Santa Cruz
• Mid-Size Truck of Texas: Toyota Tacoma
• Full-Size Truck of Texas: Ram 1500
• Heavy Duty Truck of Texas: Ram 2500 Rebel
• Luxury Truck of Texas: Ram 1500 Tungsten
• Off-Road Truck of Texas: INEOS Grenadier Quartermaster Fieldmaster

Special recognitions were also awarded for technological advancements and features that enhance safety and performance:

• Best Towing Technology: Toyota’s Wireless Trailer Camera System
• Best Powertrain: Ram’s 3.0L Hurricane High Output Straight-Six Turbo
• Best Driver Assist or Safety Feature: Toyota’s Safety Sense 3.0

The TAWA Truck Rodeo is a landmark event that gathers automotive journalists, manufacturers, and industry experts. This year's competition was fierce, with vehicles evaluated on a range of criteria, including capability, performance, and value.

“We are thrilled to honor these outstanding vehicles and manufacturers who have shown exceptional dedication in pushing the boundaries of technology and design,” said Cory Fourniquet, President of TAWA. "Each winner demonstrates the remarkable innovation and quality that consumers have come to expect in the Texas market.”

The event underscores the importance of the automotive industry in Texas, providing a platform for showcasing groundbreaking advancements and fostering community and collaboration among industry leaders.

For more information about the TAWA Truck Rodeo and the full list of winners, please visit https://www.texasautowriters.org.

Contact: Natalie Merola | VP of Communications | tawavpcomms@texasautowriters.org

New Year, New Board of Directors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Texas Auto Writers Association Welcomes New Members to Its Board of Directors

Tyler, TX – January 6, 2025 – The Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) proudly announces the appointment of new members to its Board of Directors, further strengthening its commitment to promoting excellence in automotive journalism.

With a legacy of over three decades, TAWA is dedicated to fostering a vibrant community of automotive journalists who uphold the highest standards of integrity and professionalism. The newly appointed board members bring a wealth of experience and fresh perspectives to the organization’s leadership.

Joining the TAWA Board of Directors are:

• VP of Communications - Natalie Merola-Garcia, TAWA is thrilled to announce Natalie Merola-Garcia, an award-winning automotive editor, as the new VP of Communications. Natalie's innovative approach to digital automotive content stands out online. As founder of Kitty’s Glam Rides and a co-founder of Femme Drive, a diverse and inclusive car collective, she continues to champion the presence of women in the automotive world. Natalie's passion for motorsports and her engaging content makes her an exciting addition to the TAWA board. Natalie previously served on the board as our Secretary.
• VP of Events - Marc Newman, Marc Newman, Marc joins the TAWA board as VP of Events, bringing a wealth of expertise in video production, live broadcast, streaming, and event planning. As the Managing Partner at High Altitude Entertainment, LLC, Marc has showcased exceptional skills in multimedia content creation and unscripted television production. His leadership in organizing live events will be invaluable to TAWA's future endeavors.
• Treasurer - Eric O'Hara, Eric joins the TAWA Board as the new incoming treasurer. As a creator and self-employed business owner from East Texas, Eric’s business acumen and knowledge from running a successful production company will prove invaluable as our new treasurer. We eagerly anticipate the innovative ideas and fresh perspectives that Eric will bring to TAWA, ensuring its continued profitability and creativity within the industry.
• Director At Large - Bryan Raupe, Moving from our VP of Events, Bryan will still lend his expertise and knowledge about running TAWA from his new role as Director at Large. We are grateful for his time served as VP of Events and are glad to continue to have his voice on the TAWA Board.

These new board members will work alongside existing members to further TAWA’s mission of recognizing and promoting excellence in automotive journalism. Their diverse backgrounds and expertise will contribute to shaping the future of TAWA and ensuring that it continues to adapt to the ever-evolving automotive landscape.

Existing TAWA Board of Directors with 1 Year Remaining on their Terms:

• President, Cory Fourniquet
• VP of Membership, David & Kelly Boyd (serving with a singular vote)
• Director at Large, OEM, Greg Thome
• Past President, Teia Collier

With her appointment as VP of Communications, Natalie’s vacant Secretary seat will be filled by board member vote in January’s meeting.

“We are thrilled to welcome our new members and I am excited to see what we can do for our membership, our OEM partners, and the entire automotive industry,” said Cory Fourniquet, TAWA President. “Their combined expertise and passion for the industry will be invaluable as we continue to expand our reach and impact within the automotive journalism community.”

TAWA remains focused on its goal of providing its members with opportunities for professional development, networking, and recognition through its annual events and awards.

For more information about TAWA and its Board of Directors, please visit texasautowriters.org.

About Texas Auto Writers Association:

Founded in 1987, the Texas Auto Writers Association brings together professionals dedicated to covering and analyzing the automotive industry. TAWA hosts several marquee events, including the Texas Truck Rodeo and the Texas Auto Roundup, to showcase and evaluate the latest vehicles on the market.

Contact:

Cory Fourniquet

TAWA President

texasautowriters.org

Once again, the competition was high quality and fierce. A big thanks to all of our judges for spending time reading, watching, and listening to all of this great work: Kevin McCarthy, Nicole Wakelin, Amelia Dalgaard, Kimatni Rawlins, Harvey Briggs, Jared Rosenholtz, Cherise Threewitt, and Daryl Killian. 

TEXAS AUTO WRITERS ASSOCIATION EXCELLENCE IN CRAFT COMPETITION

Writing: Feature category

3rd: Natan Tazelaar, “The story of Ferrari’s Three-Liter Superamerica”

2nd: Chris Collard, “Thorny Devils and Blue Tongues”

1st: Mercedes Lilienthal, “The Land of Fire and Ice: Iceland Versus the Lilienthals” 

Our judges said of the winning entry, “Excellent storytelling and descriptions of a beautiful place.” 

Writing: Reviews

3rd:  Amy Plemons, ”2024 Acura MDX Type S”

2nd:  Holli Fourniquet, "2023 Lexus RX 350h"

1st: Mercedes Lilienthal, “Ineos Grenadier at the 2024 Alcan 5000 Rally”

The judge commented, “One part adventure story, one part review, Mercedes wove her review of the Ineos Grenadier into an engaging rally adventure.” 

VIDEO

3rd: Joe and Lori Raiti, “Why did I buy a Chevrolet C4 Corvette Z51 instead of a 2024 C8 Stingray?”

2nd: Holli Fourniquet, “Why is the 2023 Toyota Sienna So Popular? We Find Out!”

1st: Tim Esterdahl and Jill Ciminillo, “Toyota Tacoma vs Ford Ranger Raptor vs Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison Midsize Battle!”

One judge lauded Tim and Jill’s podcast with these words: “Expert talk with the knowledge required to understand overlanding and off-roading features.”

RADIO/PODCAST

3rd: In Wheel Time, “EV fires - a new solution to a burning question”

2nd: Cory Fourniquet, “Vehicle Safety with Mazda's Head of Safety Jennifer Morrison”

1st: Jerry Reynolds, “Why Americans are NOT buying electric cars”

“Jerry consistently delivers knowledge and insight and delights us once again this year,” the judge commented.

PHOTOGRAPHY: STATIC

3rd: Cory Fourniquet: “Hyundai Ioniq 5 N”

2nd: Mercedes Lilienthal: “Mystery Glacier and RAV4 Rental Car”

1st: Elias Garcia: “Mazda CX-50”

Our judge said Elias’ entry was “A very nice, heroic shot, at the right time of day, captured purposefuly and with intention. We know what the subject is, but we can see enough of the surroundings to be an interesting scene, and a shallow depth of field prevents things in the background from being distracting.” 

PHOTOGRAPHY: ACTION

3rd:  Elias Garcia, “BMW M2”

2nd:  Chris Collard, “Frozen South”

1st: Mercedes Lilienthal, “The 56th-Annual Baja 1000 Race: a Momentous Occasion of Epic Proportions”

“A front-quarter panning shot is tricky to pull off, and this does it perfectly,” our judge said. “The blurred crowd and bystanders help show the frenetic energy of the event, and the perspective brings us into the action.”

SOCIAL MEDIA

3rd: Sean Tajipour, “Family Christmas Wish List”

2nd: Joe and Lori Raiti, “Raiti's Rides Nissan Tokyo Trip”

1st: Mercedes and Andy Lilienthal, “A State of Shock and Total Redemption”

One judge said, “This is such a cool set of posts, showing a tough event that looks like it required physical and mental strength.” 

TEXAS TRUCK INVITATIONAL

3rd: Cory Fourniquet,”King Of The Hammers Founder Dave Cole Is A Real-Life Dom Toretto”

2nd: David Boldt, “Ford Bronco: The Original SUV”

1st:  Mercedes Lilienthal, “The Land of Fire and Ice: Iceland “

“Unique story and an appropriate use of first person,” the judge said. “Plus, gorgeous photography.”

And the overall winner of the Texas Truck Invitational and cash prize goes to: Mercedes Lilienthal for her piece called “The Land of Fire and Ice: Iceland” 

TAWA EVENT COVERAGE

3rd:  Natalie Merola-Garcia, Off-Roading in the '24 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 at the TAWA TX Truck Rodeo"

@gingermeglam Off-roading in the @Jeep #wranglerrubicon392 at the TAWA #TXTruckRodeo ✨ #OIIIIIIIO #jeepjeepjeep #392jeepwrangler #jeepfamilyforever ♬ Cravin' - Stileto & Kendyle Paige

2nd:  Amy Plemons, "2024 Texas Auto Roundup Winners And Our Notable Mentions"

1st:  Cory Fourniquet, "2024 GMC Sierra Denali Ultimate vs. Toyota Tundra 1794 Limited Edition | Western Themed Trucks"

TAWA JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR

For 2024, TAWA added a new award for the person who contributed the most to TAWA’s event coverage for the 2023 Texas Truck Rodeo and 2024 TAWA Auto Roundup. The inaugural award goes to Cory Fourniquet for his quality and body of work for the past year. 

Thanks to everyone who submitted their work. We look forward to seeing next year’s entries! 

Decatur, TX – June 25, 2024 – The Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) is pleased to announce the award winners of the 2024 TAWA Texas Auto Roundup. This year’s event was held in Decatur, Texas at the spectacular Eagles Canyon Raceway. 

Automotive journalists and content creators from across the country tested a cross-section of the world’s most capable vehicles during the event held on April 23^rd - 24^th. TAWA members evaluated vehicles within their category and amongst the entire fleet of vehicles present. Votes were based upon each vehicle's interior, exterior, value, performance and overall personal appeal. Members also voted on which vehicles should carry the title awards within each category. Votes were electronically submitted and then calculated by a third-party accounting firm and presented to TAWA for presentation.  This year’s attendees rated vehicles from a global selection of automakers including Acura, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Genesis, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Lexus, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, and Toyota.

This year, the title award categories were Vehicle of Texas, Performance Vehicle of Texas, Electric Vehicle of Texas, and Crossover Utility Vehicle of Texas. An additional 5 calculated merit-based vehicle aspect awards, 13 category awards and three featured based awards were also awarded by TAWA’s Member Jurors.

The Genesis G70 was named the Vehicle of Texas, the Performance Vehicle of Texas is the Alfa Romeo Giulia, the Crossover Utility Vehicle of Texas is the Toyota Grand Highlander and Mazda CX-50 and the Electric Vehicle of Texas is the Kia EV9.

The Texas Auto Writers Association congratulates all of the automotive partners and members for joining us for this year’s Texas Auto Roundup. We give special congratulations to the title and category winners of the 2024 Texas Auto Roundup; the competition was fierce, and all attending partners made a great showing. The backdrop of Eagles Canyon Raceway and Decatur, Texas, allowed us a unique opportunity to experience and test these world-class vehicles in a variety of conditions. It was an exciting and exhilarating experience that provided confidence in the present and future of the automotive world.

A special thank you and recognition to the members of TAWA, DriveShop and Prestige Auto for their diligent efforts and continued support through the years.

2024 Texas Auto Roundup Awards

Title Awards

Vehicle of Texas: Genesis G70

Performance Vehicle of Texas: Alfa Romeo Giulia

Crossover Utility Vehicle of Texas:

Toyota Grand Highlander and Mazda CX-50

Electric Vehicle of Texas: Kia EV9                          

Vehicle Category Awards

Luxury Car ($50,000-$75,000): Genesis G70                                  

Luxury Car ($75,000+): Mercedes-Benz E 350                               

Performance Coupe: Toyota GR Supra                              

Performance Sedan: Genesis G70                          

Performance Hatchback: Toyota GR Corolla 

Performance SUV: Kia EV9                          

Mid-Size Vehicle: Hyundai Sonata                           

Compact CUV: Mazda CX-50                                   

Mid-Size CUV : Kia EV9                                 

Luxury CUV: Lexus TX 550h+                                  

Minivan: Chrysler Pacifica                             

Green Vehicle: Toyota Prius Prime                          

Electric Vehicle: Kia EV9                             

Calculated Awards

Best Interior: Genesis G70                           

Best Exterior: Genesis G70                          

Best Performance: Toyota Prius Prime                               

Best Value: Genesis G70                              

Highest Personal Appeal: Genesis G70

Feature Awards

Best New Feature: Lexus TX 550h+ Plug-in Hybrid Powertrain                              

Best New Interior: Mercedes-Benz E-Class Interior                                    

Best Value: Toyota RAV4                             

Photo Credit:

All photos please credit Kevin McCauley / Capturing the Machine

About TAWA

The Texas Auto Writers Association is a non-profit organization founded in 1987 by automotive journalists who wanted to provide an avenue for professional growth, development, and networking. These

media professionals sought to create an automotive event that was unique to Texas, and as a result the TAWA Truck Rodeo was created. Since 1993, Truck Rodeos have been held in San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Granbury, Spring Branch, Dripping Springs, Bee Cave and most recently at

Eagles Canyon Raceway in Decatur, Texas.

In 2003, TAWA created an event for sedans, sports cars and other vehicles not eligible for the Truck Rodeo. The event as it is called today is the Texas Auto Roundup. 

Contact: Adeina Anderson, TAWA Communications at tawavpcomms@texasautowriters.org

12TH GRADER MATVEY PUKALO NAMED GRAND PRIZE WINNER OF INAUGURAL BILL NEALE AUTOMOTIVE FINE ART AWARD FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AT MECUM HOUSTON 2024

Houston, TX - (April 10, 2024) -   And the winner is… Matvey Pukalo! The Michigan 12th grader is the Grand Prize award winner of the inaugural Bill Neale Automotive Fine Art Award for High School Students!  Pukalo was named the first place winner at Mecum Houston 2024 on April 6, 2024. His winning entry was titled “Racing Roxy the T Rex.” The second and third place finishers were 11th grader Harmon Joel Laatsch with his entry titled “Desert Dream Machine” and New York 10th grader Fatemah Alloo with her entry titled “Red.”  

"The level of artistic talent from all the winners of this year's Bill Neale Automotive Fine Art Award for High School Students was exemplary!  My father would be so proud this contest is finding and supporting young artists to further the genre of Automotive Fine Art.” - Leslie Neale, Bill Neale’s Daughter/Terlingua Racing Team 

“I am unbelievably grateful to be the first high school student to receive this prestigious award. It truly is important to who I am. I will be attending the College For Creative Studies next year to continue my studies involving automotive art, and it was really special to have this competition that really aligned with my passion for cars and art. In my work I was really inspired by the raw emotion and speed of racing; the blur of the cars flying by at unbelievable speeds. I wanted to create a sensation more than just a canvas with paint on it. I would also like to thank everyone involved in this program as it was an amazing experience and it means so much to me.” - Matvey Pukalo, 1st Place Winner

The award was open to U.S. high school students in grades 9-12 with an exception made for Laatsch who attends school in Germany where his father, who serves in the United States Air Force, is currently stationed. The first place winner receives a $1,000 cash prize, the second place winner a $500 cash prize and the third place winner a $250 cash prize.  For more on the award visit BillNealeAward.org. 

Stay tuned for details about the 2025 Competition which launches in September at Mecum Dallas 2024!

Benefiting TechForce Foundation

TechForce Foundation will receive a $2,500 donation check as the 2024 award beneficiary. TechForce Foundation is a national nonprofit, 501(c)(3) with the mission to champion all students to and through their education and into careers as professional technicians. TechForce powers the technician workforce by awarding more than $4 million in scholarships and grants annually to financially disadvantaged students; changes perceptions towards this evolving, ‘new collar’ STEM career; and provides local career exploration and workforce development programming.

About the Award

The Bill Neale Automotive Fine Art Award for High School Students honors world-renowned automotive artist Bill Neale by recognizing and encouraging excellence in automotive fine art among high school students. The Dallas-based artist passed away in 2021 at the age of 95.  The award would not be possible without the generous support of the following sponsors: The Carroll Shelby Foundation, Mecum Auctions, Terlingua Racing Team and the Texas Auto Writers Association.

Springtime is just around the corner and that means new beginnings and Auto Roundup.

For the new beginnings, we would like to formally welcome the new 2024 Board of Directors. We would like to say thank you to the board members rolling off this year and hello to our new positions for the coming year. 

2024-2025 Incoming Board Members:

Cory Fourniquet - President

Teia Collier - Treasurer

Natalie & Elias Garcia- Secretary

Kelly & David Boyd - VP of Membership

Greg Thome - OEM Representative 

Existing Board Members in Their 2nd Year

Adeina Anderson - VP of Communication

Bryan Raupe - VP of Events

Michael Garfield - Director at Large

As always, there are dozens of ways to plug-in, get better connected and to spend time with your fellow members. Have ideas? Be sure to let a Board Member know -- the best part of TAWA is you.


As for Auto Roundup, those dates are set and you should have seen a save-the-date for April 23-24, 2024. Auto Roundup will once again take place at Eagles Canyon Raceway outside of Decatur Texas, and more details will hit your inbox soon.

We are looking forward to a fun and exciting year.

The Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2023 Excellence in Craft Competition and Texas Truck Invitational.

Launched in 2007, The Texas Auto Writers Association Excellence in Craft Competition has moved forward with the goal of featuring, recognizing and encouraging excellence in automotive journalism and content creation. Together with the Texas Truck Invitational competition, TAWA invites members along with non-members from around the globe to enter their works in exclusive categories related exclusively to truck and truck-adjacent writing.

"Once again, the entries displayed a cross-section of the best in automotive journalism and were both consistently of a high quality and impressive in their competitive categories" said Teia Collier, President. "TAWA offers our thanks to all our judges for sharing their time and energy reading, watching and listening to the submissions entered in this year’s competition."

Thank you to Kristin Shaw for facilitating, Daryl Killian, Kevin McCarthy, Jaime Florez, Steven Cole Smith, Harvey Briggs, Jason Fogelson, Jared Rosenholtz, Amelia Dalgaard and Chris Teague for their assistance with judging the dynamic entries.

2023 Awardees: 

PHOTOGRAPHY 

3rd: Sean Tajipour (Jeep Gladiator) 

JUDGE: An inviting scene that highlights what makes the Gladiator unique.  

2nd: Jill Ciminillo (Ioniq 6) 

JUDGE: Beautiful tones of gray and blue throughout the image — a great combination of subject and setting.

1st: One Off productions (Kia Stinger) 

JUDGE: Falling leaves, low perspective, and canopy of trees give a great sense of speed.

PODCAST

3. GT Garage Talk: Racing for a Cause with Bryant Blakemore

2. AutoNetwork Reports: Inside the Modern Car Industry  

1. In Wheel Time: Solar Car Challenge.

JUDGE: I chose this "In Wheel Time Car Talk" podcast for a couple of reasons. First the topic is timely and much needed for the industry and for the opportunity that the program offers for the future generations. Also, it's a testament to the effort involved in editing down a Live radio show to an interesting podcast.

RADIO 

2. In Wheel Time: So, what is holding Americans back from widespread EV adoption?

1. The Car Pro Radio Show: Randy Parker Interview (Hyundai)

JUDGE: Very nice interview with the right person, entertaining and informative, about a brand that has been conquering more and more happy customers every year, not only in the US, but also in the rest of the world, due to their ability to bring to the market innovative and high-quality products.

VIDEO 

3. 1 Off Productions  

2. The Fast Lane Truck

1.  GT Premium Reviews

JUDGE: I had never seen this reviewer before, but the cinematography is excellent with great music and editing at the opening. This is a very polished product.

SOCIAL MEDIA 

3. WHM Automotive Media (Sean Tajipour): Nissan Z

2. Raiti’s Rides: Ford Mustang GT

1. Crankshaft Culture: Alcan Rally

JUDGE: The quality of this real is excellent, as is the copy. It really gives the viewer a sense of the pleasure and the pain of such an adventure.

WRITING: FEATURE

3. Ricardo Rodriguez-Long: Hopes of Argentina

2. Mercedes Lilienthal: 10 States, 2,400 Miles and More Than 100 Classic Cars

1. Holli Fourniquet: Celebrating Black History Month with The Custom Truckers Car Club

JUDGE: A wonderful feel-good story about an African-American truck club that does more than show off its ’55 -’59 Chevy Task Force pickups – it does good in the community.

WRITING: REVIEW

3. Cory Fourniquet: 2023 Chrysler Pacifica eHybrid Pinnacle: Better than a Telluride or Tahoe?

2. Mercedes Lilienthal: First Drive: Production-Ready INEOS Grenadier 4×4

1. Jim Nelson: Genesis G80

JUDGE: Jim's review of the Genesis G80 balanced key facts with an assessment of features and drivability in a way that made the review engaging and easy to read.

TEXAS TRUCK INVITATIONAL: FEATURE

2. Holli Fourniquet: Celebrating Black History Month with The Custom Truckers Car Club

1. Mercedes Lilienthal: From The Driver’s Seat: 2022 Rebelle Rally – A Journey And Adventure

JUDGE: Mercedes’ recap of the 2022 Rebelle Rally was thorough and engaging. I felt as though I were there!

TEXAS TRUCK INVITATIONAL: REVIEW

3: Cory Fourniquet: 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R: Better than the Ram TRX in Many Ways

2. David Boldt: RAMBO: FIRST BLOOD 6.2

1. Mercedes Lilienthal: His and Hers Mitsubishi Pajeros

JUDGE: This quirky vehicle deserves its time in the spotlight, and Mercedes and Andy did a fantastic job teaching us about it.

TEXAS TRUCK INVITATIONAL 

TOP PICK:

Mercedes and Andy Lilienthal: His and Hers Mitsubishi Pajeros

Congratulations to all of this year's winners, and we look forward to seeing more fantastic content from our community.

Automotive journalists from around the country joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in Decatur, Texas for the 2024 Texas Truck Rodeo to name the Vehicles of Texas. Held at the spectacular Eagles Canyon Raceway on September 28-29, 2023, 32 automotive media and content creators tested a cross-section of the most capable vehicles on the market.   

Image Credit: 1Off Productions

On-road and on a closed off-road course, TAWA members evaluated vehicles based on their interior, exterior, value, performance and overall personal appeal. Attendees rated 28 vehicles from automakers including Acura, Genesis, Honda, Hyundai, Jeep, Mazda, Nissan, Ram, Toyota, Nissan, Polaris, Volkswagen and Wagoneer. The Texas Truck Rodeo provides a unique opportunity for the media members of the TAWA to create stories, content and evaluate trucks, SUVs and crossovers side-by-side and consecutively on the same roads and off-road course for an accurate assessment. 

Once the testing is complete, the votes will be collected digitally and tallied by a third-party accounting firm to be presented and crown the upcoming model year’s Vehicles of Texas. This year, the title awards are Truck of Texas and Sport Utility Vehicle of Texas. An additional 12 category awards, two feature-based awards and 5 calculated merit awards will also be awarded by TAWA’s Member Journalists.

 “The Texas Auto Writers Association would like to thank all of our members and congratulate all of our partners for joining us first at the State Fair of Texas and then at this year’s Texas Truck Rodeo. It’s a special experience, and we are delighted to honor the title and category winners of this year’s Rodeo,” said TAWA President Teia Collier. “To experience these world-class vehicles on the dynamic course at Eagles Canyon Raceway is an exciting opportunity to see what these legendary machines can do.” 

About the Texas Auto Writers Association Texas Truck Rodeo

The Texas Auto Writers Association is a non-profit organization founded in 1987 by automotive journalists who wanted to provide an avenue for professional growth, development, and networking. These media professionals sought to create an automotive event that was unique to Texas, and as a result the TAWA Truck Rodeo was created. Since 1993, Truck Rodeos have been held in San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Granbury, Spring Branch, Dripping Springs, Bee Cave and most recently at Eagles Canyon Raceway in Decatur, Texas.

In 2003, TAWA created an event for sedans, sports cars and other vehicles not eligible for the Truck Rodeo. The event as it is called today is the Texas Auto Roundup. For more information, visit www.texasautowriters.org.