Hudson emphasized performance when promoting its cars and entered speed and endurance events to prove it. It always did well in these events but its shining hour as a performance car didnt come until near the end of its history. A powerful engine, a low center of gravity, excellent suspension and steering combined in the Hornet to make it unbeatable on the stock car racing circuit from 1951 through 1954. Unfortunately, racing success did not translate into sufficient sales to keep the company healthy and in 1954 Hudson was acquired by Nash to form American Motors. Nevertheless, Hudson left a legacy of design innovations that will be long remembered.