Route 66 Thunder: The 2026 Hot Rod Power Tour Awakens McLean County Images by Alan Look Photography There is a specific kind of magic that happens when thousands of American horses wake up at sunrise, and this morning, McLean County had a front-row seat to the symphony. As part of the historic Route 66 Centennial celebrations, the  2026 Hot Rod Power Tour  turned the local pavement into the world’s largest rolling automotive festival.  For gearheads and Mother Road purists alike, this morning's leg was nothing short of a religious experience.  An estimated  5,000 to 6,000 classic cars, custom hot rods, and high-octane muscle machines  filled the horizon, converting a routine Wednesday commute into a living, breathing timeline of American horsepower. The caravan rolled into the county via Route 136, making its unmistakable presence known through Heyworth and into the Village of McLean. Lawns were lined with folding chairs, and local folks stood shoulde...