Listen closely and you’ll hear the Pac-Man-esque waka-waka-waka as autocrossers make their move toward Lincoln, NE, for the Sept. 4-6, 2026, Tire Rack SCCA® ProSolo® Championship Finale and the videogame-themed Sept. 7-11, 2026, Tire Rack SCCA Solo® National Championships.
Combine those two events, and it’ll be on like Donkey Kong in Nebraska’s capital for an experience that you’ll never forget thanks to the 1,300+ drivers on the registration list. It’s a can’t-miss party with friends that has roiled for five decades and confirms the expertise of epic cone-carvers on their way to National Championship accolades.
But none of that is starting for days, and we want to have fun now!
To kick things off early, we’re tipping our hand and naming the recipients of two massive awards that will be presented on Monday evening, Sept. 6, at the Mazda Motorsports Town Center tent located in the lower paddock. Join us on site to celebrate!
Johnson Spirit of the Sport Award
Recognizing Solo community members who bring the spirit of fun to their fellow participants, the Johnson Spirit of the Sport Award is presented annually by the Royal Order of the Sheep to a member of the flock who upholds the spirited virtues of fun, camaraderie, and tomfoolery.
Recipients of this award are selected annually by the three previous winners, those being Team “F Bomb Troop,” David Nolan, and Jay Bullington. The honor is named after the inaugural recipient: Exalted Grand Shepherd, Roger E. Johnson. For 2026, there is not one winner of the Johnson Spirit of the Sport Award, but two. The co-winners are Jeff Jacobs and Tony Savini.
Both Philadelphia Region members of the SCCA, Jacobs since 1993 and Savini since 2005, the pair (who will be co-driving in Solo Spec Coupe at this year’s Solo Nats) are no strangers to the Solo community.
During his 19 visits to the Solo Nationals, Savini has collected an impressive 15 trophies, two of which involved him taking the win. While Jacobs’s shelf doesn’t hold as many Solo Nats trophies as Savini’s (Jacobs “only” has 10), the Silver Circle member (hitting the 25 Solo Nats appearance mark in 2021) is also a past recipient of the Solo Cup (2011). Jacobs is involved beyond the Solo community, being the chair of the SCCA Foundation, the charitable arm of the SCCA.
For those who don’t know Tony Savini, if you’ve been to the Solo Nationals recently, you’ve undoubtedly witnessed his bright yellow bumper car pit vehicle. And if you’ve ever wondered who can expertly quote the Solo Rules while also announcing the ProSolo Finale in such an expert way, the answer is Jeff Jacobs. Combining over-the-top with subtlety makes these two the perfect match for this year’s Johnson Spirit of the Sport Award.
“Tony and I are honored to be selected to be part of this notorious – I mean esteemed – group of SCCA members,” Jacobs said after hearing they’d been selected for the award. “In Lincoln, we spend six minutes actually competing. The rest of the week is spent with our friends from across the country. I think this award reflects what everyone really values about our Club – the friendships and connection.”
Dick Berger Perseverance Award
While everyone at Solo Nats is a winner in our eyes, not everyone drives home with a physical trophy. The Dick Berger Perseverance Award recognizes someone each year who is undaunted by limited success over many National Championship events but keeps coming back to enjoy the camaraderie and community. Past Dick Berger Perseverance Award recipients include Mark Valera, Robert Chrismas, and Roger H. Johnson.
Frank Wietharn is the 2026 Dick Berger Perseverance Award winner.
Joining the Club in 1994, the Kansas Region member holds certifications as a Solo Safety Steward and Solo Course Designer and was inducted into the Silver Circle in 2023. His first time to the Solo Nationals came in 1997 driving a Corvette, and in the years since (where he’s competed in three different generations of Corvette), he’s earned a trophy three times, with his highest finishing position coming in 2009 when he finished third in Super Stock to multi-time National Champions Tom Kotzian and Gary Thomason.
“It’s nice to know that my hard work and determination are being noticed,” laughed Wietharn. “Over the years, I managed to win a few trophies. This will be my 27th year of refusing to let a pile of plastic cones defeat me at Solo Nationals.”
Wietharn’s perseverance is what SCCA is all about. Trophies are fun, but it’s the challenge of the sport mixed with the friends you make along the way that keeps you coming back for more.
Before That: Saturday Night at the Museum
The Museum of American Speed in Lincoln has put together a historic evening in conjunction with SCCA Foundation and SCCA’s Solo Department for ProSolo and Shootout competitors, along with others in town for Solo Nats.
From 5-9 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5, the museum will be open to SCCA members for finger foods and beverages while taking in amazing displays that include homage to SCCA and its history. Videos showcasing the Canadian-American Challenge Cup (Can-Am) series will be shown throughout the venue, and a Can-Am car will be on display. Tom Stefani, owner of the Can-Am car, will also make a presentation and be on hand for a chat.
You know who else should be there? You! Come join us!
Catch the Action from Afar
Can’t make it to Lincoln for the Tire Rack SCCA ProSolo Championship Finale and Tire Rack SCCA Solo National Championships (and the awards listed above)? The action can be experienced in a “sim” fashion from afar by following Tire Rack SCCA Solo or SCCAOfficial on Facebook.
Fun can also be discovered on the SCCAOfficial Instagram page, and ridiculous stuff at the SCCAOfficial TikTok page. Even more coverage will be posted to YouTube’s SCCAOfficial page.
Also check out SCCA.com for daily articles (multiple articles per day during the Solo Nationals!), and sign up for the weekly SportsCar® News newsletter if you’d like those articles to also end up in your email inbox.
Photos of Tony Savini (left), Jeff Jacobs (top right), Frank Wietharn (bottom right) by Will Huxtable and Jon Krolewitz
Since the concept’s introduction in 2023, Club Spec has taken off. Shortly after registration opened for the 2026 Tire Rack SCCA® Solo® National Championships, Club Spec Mustang and Club Spec MX-5 entries quickly filled the entry list, with more than 70 drivers signing up. Likewise, the mid-October Tire Rack SCCA Time Attack National Championship will also see an admirable Club Spec population.
Club Spec is growing both in participation as well as in the brands of cars receiving the Club Spec treatment. It wasn’t long ago that SCCA announced Porsche would be entering the fray with Club Spec Cayman. That class will include 718 Caymans and Boxsters with the 2.0L turbo flat-four equipped with either the six-speed manual or PDK (but not the Sport Chrono Package) and will hit SCCA entry lists beginning in the 2027 season.
Between Club Spec Cayman’s (CSC) announcement less than a year ago and the present day, progress has been made on the ruleset and, as you might expect when developing a new class, it was discovered that not all components were going to be ideal.
Put another way: Club Spec Cayman’s suspension needed a rethink.
Suspension Shift
The original plan involved Club Spec Caymans to utilize the X73 suspension kit and Vorshlag camber plates. While the Vorshlag camber plates will remain, availability limitations of the X73 kit led SCCA’s Club Spec Committee to search for a new long-term solution that would also feature factory support. With that in mind, the X73 suspension kit will be joined by Öhlins Road & Track coilovers as an approved suspension option on CSC cars.
“The X73 kit will remain a legal option for the class, as we do want people who have, or prefer, the X73 to be able to participate,” said SCCA Vice President of Rally/Solo and Experiential Programs Heyward Wagner. “The [Club Spec] Committee is also recommending that underprepared or partially prepared cars be allowed to run with the class. This includes cars that have camber plates only or are in stock form.”
Öhlins is the Official Suspension System of the SCCA, and Wagner notes this partnership enables the Club to have direct access to the manufacturer, ensuring longtime support and parts accessibility. Furthermore, Tire Rack, the Official Tire Retailer of SCCA, is an Öhlins dealer and can assist in ensuring stock availability.
Road & Track coilovers are a one-way adjustable monotube shock with independent damper length adjustment.
“The Öhlins Road & Track coilovers are a ‘do everything’ solution that embody the true spirit of Club Spec,” said Mitch Bloom, USA Sales Manager for Öhlins. “These coilovers offer drivability and comfort on the street, thanks to their Dual Flow Valvetechnology that bleeds the high shaft speed pressures you’ll see with bumps and surface irregularities, while having the performance and durability that’s needed for autocross and track use. And should someone need to service their coilovers, Öhlins has a network of dealers and service centers across America.”
The Dual Flow Valve (DFV) architecture used in Öhlins Road & Track coilovers is derived from technology proven in major automotive OEM applications, where it has been validated for 100,000 miles of real-world road use, including testing for damper performance and resistance to salt corrosion.
For those who have already purchased the X73 suspension and wish to move to Öhlins Road & Track coilovers, Wagner says that SCCA is working with Öhlins, Tire Rack, and Vorshlag to ease the transition. Furthermore, to offset the time and cost for those who already installed the X73 setup and are choosing to move to Öhlins coilovers, SCCA will offer a free entry to a 2027 Tire Rack SCCA Solo National Tour and a free entry to a 2027 Tire Rack SCCA Time Attack Challenge. If this affects you, contact Wagner directly at [email protected].
Wagner added that the committee will evaluate vehicle performance throughout the 2027 season to determine whether the X73 kit will be permitted into 2028 and beyond.
Your Turn
From the 2023 concept announcement to today, it’s impressive how quickly people built to the Club Spec Mustang and Club Spec MX-5 rulesets. With a higher initial vehicle cost, Club Spec Cayman might see a slower adoption, but drivers will discover the minimal modification list that offers maximum impact, doubled with low maintenance costs, making CSC an affordable option.
The next step is … well, it’s up to you! Whether you own a Club Spec Mustang, a Club Spec MX-5, or are just curious about the new class, check out the Club Spec Cayman page on scca.com to discover whether your next car should be a CSC Porsche.
Photo by Gregory Pfaff
We’ve been chugging right along with these “Who Will Win?” polls for the Sept. 7-11, 2026, Tire Rack SCCA® Solo® National Championships. Did you miss some? Don’t worry, there’s still time to vote! Plus, voting is free and you can vote as much as you want. (Also, there’s no prize for correctly predicting the winners).
Now that we’ve cut through the chaff of those other classes that we claimed to be our favorite, it’s time to get serious: Let’s look at Modified and Kart Modified.
If you don’t know the Modified category, then you’re in for a treat when you see them run for a National Championship title at Lincoln Airpark in Nebraska. Come to think of it, if you do know the Modified category, you’re still in for a treat. These cars are dedicated competition vehicles, offering more speed than should be legal. They’re light, quick, and require fast hands and smooth feet to drive correctly.
Case in point, you have to get past A Mod, B Mod, and C Mod before you even get to vehicles that look like they’re related to a street vehicle – although that doesn’t mean D and E Mod cars have stereos and a/c. Far from it. Then the moment you thought you understood the naming nomenclature of this category, F Mod smacks you in the face (but only for the glory) with tiny, loud, machines. Then it’s time to assault your senses even more with a hefty dose of kart action with Kart Mod.
Who will win any of these classes? No clue! That’s why we’re asking you. Below, you’ll find polls listing the drivers for each class. Select the drivers you think will win, hit “submit,” then scroll back up and tap that “See previous responses” link – that’ll reveal how your favorite drivers are faring.
Are the polls accurate? Probably not. But they’re fun! And if you found taking this poll particularly fun, then refresh the page and take it again!
But before you can take the poll again, first you need to take it first. Let the journey begin:
Photo by Jeff Loewe
