The Supplemental Regulations for the 2026 SCCA® National Championship Runoffs® have been released, offering competitors, volunteers, and fans an early look at what promises to be another exciting edition of amateur road racing’s most prestigious winner-take-all championship event. The Supplemental Regulations (Supps) includes both a preliminary test day schedule and a preliminary event schedule, offering valuable insight for those planning to be at Road America for the Sept. 28-Oct. 4, 2026, event.
The 2026 Runoffs marks the third consecutive year the event will be hosted at Road America, the legendary 4.048-mile, 14-turn circuit located near Elkhart Lake, WI. Widely regarded as one of North America’s premier road courses, Road America has become a favorite among drivers and fans alike thanks to its high-speed straights, technical corners, and picturesque setting in the Kettle Moraine.
While the event Supps can be found using the link below, there are several elements within that deserve highlighting.
Schedule Updates
The schedule reveals the event’s overall timeline will remain the same with three days of testing, followed by two days of qualifying, culminating with two days of crowning National Champions. However, based on a recent survey sent to drivers of past Runoffs and current U.S. Majors Tours®, an additional qualifying session is being added.
Kicking off the week are three optional days of testing. Monday will offer drivers four 20-minute sessions, Tuesday will bring three 20-minute sessions, and Wednesday will see drivers take to the track for a pair of 20-minute sessions.
For qualifying, drivers helped steer the course.
“We polled drivers that raced in the last two Runoffs, as well as those who competed in a U.S. Majors Tour event in 2025 or so far in 2026,” said Eric Prill, SCCA’s Vice President of Road Racing. “The survey revealed a two-to-one preference for a schedule option including three, slightly shorter, qualifying sessions over two days versus the 2025 schedule that had one session each of the two qualifying days. More than 63% of the drivers indicating they might attend this year's Runoffs preferred a schedule featuring three qualifying sessions over the 29% favoring two sessions.”
To achieve the three-session schedule, the 18 Runoffs races have been placed in 12 groups for Q1 and Q2, and will revert to the 18 race groups, which was announced in November, for Q3 and the races. Thursday will now feature two 16-minute qualifying sessions for groups 1-10. Groups 11 and 12 will run their Q1 session on Thursday and their Q2 session on Friday morning. The remainder of Friday will comprise of 19-minute final qualifying sessions for each of the 18 race groups.
“This new qualifying schedule puts everyone on track for one additional session and gains nine minutes of scheduled track time compared to 2025,” Prill continued. “With a finite amount of available on-track time each day, every adjustment has a trade-off. While no proposal ever receives unanimous support, the survey response for this one was pretty overwhelming.”
A summary of the recent survey can be found here.
A five-time Runoffs Tire Rack Pole Position winner, Prill offered some advice for approaching both multi-class and shorter sessions. “While it’s good to have a plan going into your session, over-orchestrating it can burn valuable time. Runoffs qualifying can be a pressure-cooker, but don’t be over-anxious. An over-anxious driver can end up ending the session for everyone. If you know your lap has been compromised by a mistake or traffic, re-group and prepare for the next one. Finally, a great qualifying effort is the result of one lap. I’ve seen a lot of fast drivers fail to turn a representative lap because they turned the session into a race with the cars around them.”
The race timeline will utilize the same event structure introduced in 2025, which is designed to minimize the amount of time racers, crew members, and volunteers spend away from work and family, while packing in all of the excitement of years past.
Thursday’s program includes Sunoco 260 Thursday, with Friday showcasing Hawk Brake Through Performances that lead into the Tire Rack Pole Awards. The format keeps the intensity high throughout the week, building to the drama that comes during Hagerty Race Days on Saturday and Sunday.
Expanded Friday Celebrations
Friday evening will once again feature one of the event’s signature traditions: the Tire Rack Pole Awards ceremony at Victory Circle. The celebration recognizes drivers who earned pole positions during qualifying and has become a highlight of championship week. This year’s ceremony will carry added significance with the inclusion of the SCCA Worker of the Year Presented by Mazda award recognitions. By honoring the volunteers and officials who help make SCCA events possible, the expanded ceremony reinforces SCCA’s strong culture of member involvement and dedication.
Immediately following the awards presentation, the annual Runoffs Block Party will return to the paddock. The gathering is a relatively new, but popular, tradition for racers, crews, workers, and fans alike, allowing the entire motorsports community to gather before the weekend’s championship races begin.
Race Weekend Fun
Those attending the Saturday and Sunday Runoffs Hagerty Race Days will have opportunities to get closer to the action midday both days. Grid Walks are planned during the lunch break prior to the GT-2 and B-Spec races, giving spectators a chance to interact with teams, see the race cars up close, and experience the excitement of pre-race prep firsthand.
These fan-access opportunities have become increasingly popular in motorsports, helping strengthen the connection between competitors and the racing community. Additional Grid Walk details will be shared with drivers and teams as the event approaches.
Dates to Remember
The Supps also contain several dates you’ll want to put in your calendar to ensure you don’t miss anything (although we’ll be back to remind you as the year pushes on).
More to Come
As preparations continue for the 2026 Runoffs, the combination of a proven venue, streamlined scheduling, and enhanced engagement suggests another exciting year for one of amateur racing’s premier events.
With Road America hosting its final Runoffs before the National Championship transitions to Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta for the 2027 and 2028 seasons, the 2026 edition is shaping up to be both a celebration of the present and a bridge to the future of SCCA Road Racing.
Photo by Jay Bonvouloir
