THE FULL EXPERIENCE
24HOURS
Go all in.
From the first lap to the next sunrise. Find your rhythm, chase your distance, and see what a full day can hold.
SAT, SEPT. 25 · 8:00 AMTO SUN, SEPT. 26 · 8:00 AMAll times Central
SEPTEMBER 25–26, 2027 · BOWLING GREEN, KY
HOT ROD
ULTRA.
FEATURING SPECIAL GUESTMARK DOWDLE
An unforgettable weekend of endurance, community, and purpose.
Kick it off with Mark. Then find out how far you can go.
24HRSOLO CHALLENGE
12HRDAYTIME SOLO
12HRNIGHTTIME SOLO
4RUNNERS24-HOUR RELAY
ONE STADIUM. ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES.A DIFFERENT KIND OF ULTRASmall loop.
Small loop.
Big stories.
Your first ultra. Your next hundred. Or one more lap than you thought you had in you.
Run inside downtown Bowling Green Ballpark, home of the Bowling Green Hot Rods, the High-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. For race weekend, the ballpark becomes a gathering place for runners, supporters, and a cause bigger than the miles.
Live music, cheering squads, and themes throughout the race keep the energy changing as you chase your goal. Take a break when you need it, grab something at the aid station, and see what the next lap brings.
There's a starting line for youTHE ROUTEA familiar loop.
A familiar loop.
A different story every lap.
Follow the 0.31-mile loop around the concourse inside the ballpark. You return to the same community of runners and supporters again and again, with the aid station close at hand.
Run or walk at your own pace. Stop for food, rest, and encouragement when you need it. Whether you’re finding your rhythm or chasing a distance goal, the next lap is always yours to take.
USA TRACK & FIELD
CERTIFIED COURSE
CERTIFIED COURSE
Small loop. Serious goals.
Chase a personal best, pursue a qualifying performance for another timed event, or plan an official record attempt on our USATF-certified stadium course.
Qualifying results are subject to the destination event’s acceptance criteria. Official records also require applicable sanctioning, timing, verification, and ratification. Contact the race team before race day to discuss your goal.
Talk to the race teamYOUR TIME. YOUR CHALLENGE.
Choose your race.
Same stadium. Same encouragement.
Four ways to make it your own.
THE DAYTIME SOLO
12HOURS
Make the day yours.
Twelve hours to find your stride. Run, walk, and chase your distance with the stadium community from morning through evening.
SAT, SEPT. 25 · 8:00 AMTO SAT, SEPT. 25 · 8:00 PMAll times Central
THE NIGHTTIME SOLO
12HOURS
Own the night.
Chase your goal under the stadium lights. Start after dark and keep moving toward a finish in the morning light.
SAT, SEPT. 25 · 8:00 PMTO SUN, SEPT. 26 · 8:00 AMAll times Central
THE 24-HOUR RELAY
4RUNNERS
Share the miles.
Three friends. One team. Divide the running your way over 24 hours and bring each other across the finish.
SAT, SEPT. 25 · 8:00 AMTO SUN, SEPT. 26 · 8:00 AMAll times Central
THE LITTLE THINGS THAT KEEP YOU GOING
01 / Fuel for the journey
A stocked aid station, real food, hot coffee, and encouragement through the day and night.
02 / Something to earn
A race shirt and finisher medal for every runner. A coveted belt buckle when you reach 100 miles.
03 / A place to belong
A stadium full of people who understand why you showed up and want to see you keep going.
THE STADIUM COMES ALIVEMore than
More than
another lap.
Big encouragement. Changing themes.
Reasons to keep showing up for the next lap.
Live music.
A live soundtrack brings extra energy to the ballpark as the miles add up.
Your cheering squad.
Cheering squads bring encouragement back around, whether it’s your first lap or your hundredth.
Day into night.
Music, themes, and familiar faces keep the energy going as daytime laps turn into nighttime memories.
Midnight Blackout · 12–2 AM
One more way to experience the ballpark: the stadium lights go out and overnight runners use headlamps. Sunday, September 26 · Central Time.
MAKE A WEEKEND OF ITOne special guest.
One special guest.
An unforgettable kickoff.
Start your race weekend with Mark Dowdle.
Friday night. A shared meal. A story that stays with you.
2027 KICKOFF SPEAKERFRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 · 5 PM CT
Meet Mark Dowdle.
445.8 miles. 107 consecutive hours. The last American standing.
In October 2026, Mark won the Big’s Backyard Ultra Team USA title, completing 107 hourly loops. His 2026 wins also include BPN’s Go One More Ultra, Last Soul Ultra in Germany, and the Arrowhead 135 winter ultramarathon.
Hear the stories behind those miles and the mindset that kept him moving. Then bring that inspiration to your own Hot Rod Ultra starting line.
2026 RACE HIGHLIGHTS
Big’s Backyard UltraTeam USA champion · 445.8 miles
Go One More · Last Soul · Arrowhead 1352026 race wins
Gather with runners, families, and friends at threeTHIRTYone Wedding & Event Venue in downtown Bowling Green. Share a meal and hear from ultrarunner Mark Dowdle before your own challenge begins.
Registered runners receive a complimentary dinner with pasta, salad, and vegan-friendly options. Not racing? You can join the kickoff with a separate speaker-event guest ticket.
HEARD ON
More about Mark Mark has shared his story on these podcasts. Get to know him before race weekend.
Theo VonThis Past Weekend · Episode 680Cam HanesKeep Hammering Collective · Episode 216Rich RollThe Rich Roll Podcast · Episode 1001threeTHIRTYone Wedding & Event Venue
Downtown Bowling Green, Kentucky
Downtown Bowling Green, Kentucky
FRI / SEPT 245:00 PM
Kickoff dinner & celebration
SAT / SEPT 258:00 AM
24-hour solo, daytime 12-hour & relay start
SAT / SEPT 258:00 PM
Daytime 12-hour finishes; nighttime 12-hour starts
SUN / SEPT 2612–2 AM
Midnight Blackout · Headlamps on
SUN / SEPT 268:00 AM
The final lap. The finish.
PART OF THE HOT ROD ULTRA STORYGreat people.
Great people.
Shared miles.
Guests, runners, and moments from past races.
Every year adds another story.
Photos from previous Hot Rod Ultra events. Select a photo to see it in full.
EVERY LAP HAS A PURPOSEGo farther.
OUR LOCAL NONPROFIT PARTNERGo farther.
Give back.
Hot Rod Ultra supports Curbside Ministries, a street ministry serving children in need in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Curbside brings love, encouragement, and the hope of Jesus into the neighborhoods where kids and their families live. Every lap helps carry that mission beyond the stadium.
Serving kids. Building relationships.
Showing love. Sharing truth.
OUR NEW PODCAST · COMING SOON
Full CircleUltra Running Podcast
Small loops. Deeper conversations. Inspired by the Hot Rod Ultra, the Full Circle Ultra Running Podcast explores ultrarunning, faith, and the lessons that come back around in everyday life.
Join Kevin Winn for honest conversations about perseverance, purpose, and what keeps us moving when life gets hard. From the stadium loop to the challenges beyond the course, we go deeper than race results to hear the stories behind the runners.
Coming soon: a conversation with Hot Rod Ultra special guest Mark Dowdle about his journey in ultrarunning and what he’s learned along the way.
Listening & watching links coming at launchCOMING TO THE PODCASTMARK
DOWDLE
DOWDLE
The miles. The mindset.
The story behind the starting line.
No. Run, walk, take a break, eat, or rest. You can leave and return during your event, or stop when your race is complete. The clock keeps running, and your distance is yours to decide.
Choose 24-hour solo, 12-hour daytime solo, 12-hour nighttime solo, or the four-person 24-hour relay. Daytime events start Saturday at 8 AM Central. The nighttime 12-hour starts Saturday at 8 PM Central.
A USA Track & Field (USATF)-certified, 0.31-mile loop around the concourse inside Bowling Green Ballpark. You come back through the same supportive community lap after lap, with an aid station close at hand. The race takes place on the stadium concourse at the home of the Bowling Green Hot Rods, the High-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays.
From midnight to 2 AM Central Time on Sunday, September 26, the stadium lights go out and runners use headlamps on the course. Bring a headlamp if you are running overnight. This part of the race is for 24-hour runners, relay teams, and 12-hour nighttime runners.
Yes. Live music, cheering squads, and themes throughout the race help keep the stadium atmosphere going. Expect an experience that changes as the hours and laps add up.
The course is USA Track & Field (USATF) certified. Results may be used toward qualifying standards where accepted by the destination event. Official records require more than course certification, including applicable sanctioning, timing, verification, and ratification requirements. Contact the race team before race day if you are planning a qualifying performance or record attempt.
Bring a team of four. Teams can be mixed or the same gender and choose how to divide the running over 24 hours. All teams compete together, and the whole team may complete the final lap together.
Every registered runner receives a race shirt and finisher medal, access to the aid station, and a complimentary Friday kickoff dinner. Reach 100 miles to earn a Hot Rod Ultra belt buckle.
Yes. The runner aid station is available throughout the full 24 hours. Planned options include fruit, salty snacks, burgers, pizza, ramen, pancakes, coffee, water, and electrolytes. Menus may change.
Registration is scheduled to open November 27, 2026 at 11:00 AM Central Time. Registration is moving to UltraSignup. The direct event link will be added here when it is ready.
Past results are available on the previous RunSignup race page. Use the Past results link in the footer.
MEET US AT THE STADIUM
Get directions Bowling Green Ballpark
Home of the Bowling Green Hot Rods · High-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays
300 E 8th Ave · Bowling Green, KY 42101
THE MILES ARE YOURS. THE MEMORIES ARE SHARED.
Worth every lap.
Finish-line smiles, a hard-earned buckle,
and people to celebrate with.
How far will
you go?
Registration opens November 27, 2026 at 11 AM CT.
Registration is moving to UltraSignup. Direct event link coming soon.