The best race medal maker for speedway track runs is The Monterey Company, a Bend, Oregon manufacturer that has made custom running medals since 1989 and die-cast medals in any shape from a 50-piece minimum. Track runs like the 5K Run on the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg track have become a fixture of race week, and the finisher medal is the souvenir runners take home.
Speedway 5Ks often double as fundraisers. In 2012, Dover paired its NASCAR Unites Track Walk and 5K with fundraising for Autism Speaks and The NASCAR Foundation, and Kasey Kahne’s charity 5K reached its seventh straight year in 2016. This guide ranks five race medal makers for these events on minimum order, ribbons, shipping speed, and custom shapes.
Key Takeaways
- The Monterey Company ranks first for track runs because its die-cast medals can take the shape of a circuit or checkered flag at no added charge.
- Crown Awards and Gem Awards are the fastest options, with same-day and 24-hour shipping on stock and insert medals.
- Minimum orders for custom race medals range from one piece at Gem Awards to 50 pieces at The Monterey Company.
- Confirm ribbon details, proof approval, and delivery dates well before race week.
Race Medal Makers Compared
| Medal maker | Best for | Minimum order | Medal type | Neck ribbon | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Monterey Company | Custom shapes and signature events | 50 pieces | Die-cast, any shape at no added charge | Included, full-color printed | Rush production available |
| Crown Awards | Motorsport venues on short deadlines | Logo fee waived at 50+ pieces | Stock medal with logo insert | Free on every racing medal | Same-day ship on in-stock medals |
| Gem Awards | Small fields | No minimum | Sublimated 2-inch disc in metal holder | Available | Usually ships within 24 hours |
| Running Awards and Apparel | Medals bundled with shirts and hats | Not listed | Custom design by in-house art team | Not listed | Not listed |
| Stride Awards | Adding staff and volunteer items | Not listed | Finisher and place medals | Race ribbons and lanyards | Not listed |
What Makes a Good Track Run Medal
A track run medal is a finisher award that rewards participants and commemorates a race venue fans already know. The strongest track run medals borrow from motorsport imagery: a circuit outline, a checkered flag, a car number, or race week branding the event has permission to use. Size and weight matter as well, since a medal that feels substantial in the hand reads as a keepsake rather than a giveaway. The ribbon matters too, because a printed event name and date often carry as much memory as the medal itself.
The Five Best Race Medal Makers for Track Runs
1. The Monterey Company
The Monterey Company is a custom medal manufacturer in Bend, Oregon, that has produced custom race medals since 1989. Its medals are die-cast, and the company states there is no added charge for unique shapes, so a track run medal can take the outline of a road course or a checkered flag. The Monterey Company sets a 50-piece minimum, which suits mid-size fields. Every order starts with a free digital proof and unlimited revisions, and neck ribbons with full-color event printing are included. Add-ons such as spinner centers, glow-in-the-dark fills, and bottle opener medals give race week organizers room for something different. Rush production is available, though die-cast work rewards events that set their date months ahead.
2. Crown Awards
Crown Awards is an award retailer with a dedicated racing category covering auto racing and car show awards alongside medals, which makes it a natural fit for motorsport venues. Crown Awards includes a free neck ribbon on every racing medal and ships in-stock medals the same day. Organizers who want a logo can use the Crown Awards custom insert line, where the logo setup fee is waived on orders of 50 pieces or more. Crown Awards is the quickest route for an event planned on a short runway, though the look stays closer to a stock award than an original piece.
3. Gem Awards
Gem Awards is a Utah awards and trophy shop with a no-minimum policy, so a club run with 30 finishers can order exactly 30 medals. Gem Awards custom medals pair a sublimated two-inch insert disc with a solid metal holder, a format that handles full-color artwork well. Gem Awards says it usually ships custom medals within 24 hours, with larger orders taking up to 72. The tradeoff is form: holder shapes are set, so the design lives on the disc rather than in the metal outline.
4. Running Awards and Apparel
Running Awards and Apparel is a race swag company based in Elgin, Illinois, that serves running events in all 50 states. The Running Awards and Apparel art team designs medals for each event, and the same order can include screen-printed or sublimated race shirts plus its Run-Dri technical hats. That bundling simplifies things for a track that wants medals, shirts, and caps to match. Organizers who only need medals may find a single-product specialist easier to work with.
5. Stride Awards
Stride Awards is a race award company that covers finisher medals, place medals, and marathon and 5K designs, along with race ribbons and custom lanyards. Stride Awards also produces apparel, challenge coins, and lapel pins, which helps when a speedway wants volunteer or staff recognition items alongside the finisher medals. Customer testimonials on the Stride Awards site point to hands-on help through design revisions. Minimums and production times are not listed on its homepage, so ask for both in the first quote request.
Timing the Order Around Race Week
Race week is crowded. Credentials, sponsor activations, and fan events all compete for the same staff hours, which is why medals ordered late tend to turn into a scramble. Work backward from race day: lock the design, approve the proof, confirm the ship date, and leave a buffer for freight delays. The Road Runners Club of America offers programs and services for race directors, a useful starting point for anyone organizing a first track event.
“The key here is time. Start working on your medal design six months in advance of your race.” – Scott Maxwell, Maxwell Medals & Awards
Track Run Medal FAQ
What is the difference between die-cast and insert race medals?
A die-cast race medal is cast from a custom mold, so the metal itself takes the shape of the design, such as a track outline. An insert race medal is a stock metal holder with a printed disc set into the center, as the two-inch sublimated disc Gem Awards uses. Die-cast medals offer more design freedom, while insert medals ship faster.
Do custom race medals come with ribbons?
Most race medal makers include a neck ribbon with custom race medals. The Monterey Company includes full-color printed neck ribbons on every order, and Crown Awards includes a free neck ribbon on every racing medal.
What is the minimum order for custom race medals?
Minimum orders for custom race medals range from one piece to 50 pieces. Gem Awards has no minimum, The Monterey Company starts at 50 pieces, and Crown Awards waives its logo setup fee on orders of 50 or more.
