The 2015 Hyundai Genesis is The Car of Texas

SAN ANTONIO--May 3, 2014: It happens every spring. About 50 auto journalists, including Linda Water Nelson, editor of INSIDEout: Cars & Trucks, and sports vehicle editor of Texas Fish & Game magazine, travel to the Texas Motor Speedway to evaluate a nearly equal number of vehicles to honor the best in Texas, as part of the Texas Auto Writers Association Spring Roundup.

This year cars were driven 782 times – a first time for this statistic so we'll call it a record. Manufacturers enter the vehicles that they want to spotlight and identify them for on-track or on-road usage.

"Even performance cars are daily drivers most of the time, and many never see a track. Everything needs to be what consumers want and need the rest of the time," Water Nelson says.

The 2015 Hyundai Genesis is The Car of Texas. It was a standout at $55,000 loaded with a V8, all the bells and whistles and a gorgeous interior, which also earned best new interiors honors.

Family Car of Texas, the 30th Anniversary Edition Chrysler Town & Country was a favorite. "I drove that minivan with a load of children and grandchildren for more than a week and the experience was outstanding," she explained.

The 2014 Ford Fiesta ST won for best value. Journalists drove it on and off the track and they sung its praises and price tag. Ford's 1.0L EcoBoost Engine, highlighted in the Ford Fiesta SE won best new feature. The Fiesta was the single most driven vehicle.

Other category winners (2014 models unless otherwise noted) were: Sub-compact: Ford Fiesta SE Compact: Dodge Dart SXT/Rallye Appearance Premium Compact: 2015 Subaru WRX Limited Performance Compact: Fort Fiesta ST Mid-size: 2015 Chrysler 200 Mid-size luxury: 2015 Hyundai Genesis Full-size: Chrysler 300C Full-size luxury: Cadillac XTS Twin Turbo VSport Premium Performance coupe: Jaguar F-Type V8S convertible Performance sedan: Lexus IS 350 Sport Minivan: Chrysler Town & Country Activity vehicle: SRT Jeep Grand Cherokee Green vehicle: Ford Fusion Energi Titanium

"I couldn't argue with these winners. These were exceptional choices and not one of the winners was a total budget buster this year," she added.