SCCA® RallyCross® Divisional Challenges bring the feel of the annual winner-take-all SCCA RallyCross National Championship to your backyard. Divisional Challenges cluster the competition, offering drivers the ability to test themselves against competitors from a further reach than might come to a monthly Regional event. To that end, the June 19-21, 2026, SCCA Great Lakes RallyCross Divisional Challenge did just that, with the fun taking place in Ousley County, KY, and the Daniel Boone National Forest.
But for this case in particular, the mid-June event also “clustered” top-notch organizers and staff, creating an event that will help build a foundation for future RallyCross success in that particular neck of the woods, so to speak.
While event recaps normally talk about the winners (and we will), the success of this event extended well beyond the results sheet.
How It Happened
We’ll begin with Central Kentucky Region.
On what could be called a rulebook technicality, this wasn’t the first event held at the Appalachian Overland Triangle site – that goes to the “test” event held in April. Yet the reality is, this was the first to take on the full event challenge.
And what a challenge! The site was seemingly made for RallyCross, with elevation change and open space. But it wasn’t made for RallyCross – or the more than five inches of rain that fell 24 hours before the first green flag (adding to the challenge for course designers Leon Drake and Z.B. Lorenc, aided by Chief of Safety Tom Harrington).
You can check out the site (and the cars making runs) from an elevated perspective thanks to RS Photography, which was on site capturing runs via a chase drone. Check out that incredible action here.
Central Kentucky Region’s RE Dylan Poe was instrumental in working with staff and volunteers to turn a traditional autocross Region into a full-blown RallyCross Region. He and his wife Emily became the Timing & Scoring team once the weekend began.
Ron Chester and Erik Hubbard, who the larger SCCA population has gotten to know through their work with Backroads of Appalachia and several successful HillClimb events, ensured the site was ready to go and managed spectators, with Ron taking on a newly appointed role as the Region’s RallyCross chair.
The spectators, which were offered ride-alongs through the weekend and introduced to competitors for more information, numbered close to 100 through the weekend – not a large number compared to a World Cup match, but a very significant pool of potential RallyCross participants.
Ed Trudeau served as Chief Steward and put together the Chiefs Team and schedule, which led to competitors getting a combined 14 runs (!) across three courses in two days of competition.
(What a site! The Appalachian Overland Triangle site did not disapoint. Photo by Carmen Rowlands.)
This is not a one-time event, either. Tracy Lewis and Carmen Rowlands from SCCA’s national event staff were in attendance, functioning as an event admin lead and Timing & Scoring lead and providing training to all who were interested so that future local events could benefit.
Perhaps the most significant development was the RallyCross community coming together from across the eastern half of the United States (and beyond) to make sure this significant event went off without a hitch.
The Winners
Now, on to the class winners:
- Stock FWD: Tom Harrington, Huntsville, AL., Honda Civic
- Stock AWD: Max Hamlin, Chappaqua, NY, Subaru WRX
- Prepared FWD: Christian Retterer, Marietta, GA, Acura Integra
- Prepared RWD: Shawn Roberts, Woodbridge, VA, Mazda Miata
- Prepared AWD: Timothy Thompson, Leon, KS, Ford Focus RS
- Modified FWD: Z.B. Lorenc, Dublin, OH, Volkswagen GTI
- Modified RWD: Ian Glen, Stow, OH, BMW 318i
- Modified AWD: Jason Fuller, Knoxville, TN, Subaru Impreza
- UTV Sport: Ed Trudeau, Covington, OH, Yamaha YXZ1000
- UTV Max: Tony Clifton, Liberty, KY, Polaris RZR
- RallyCross Truck: Steve Cerqueira, Madison, AL, Ford Ranger
Coming Up
Want to participate in a RallyCross Divisional Challenge? Good news! The next event is July 3-5 with the MIDiv RallyCross Divisional Challenge at Billy Bobs in Billings, OK. This event not in your backyard? Turns out, the closest to you may be later in the year.
For more information about upcoming events, head to the RallyCross Divisional Challenge page to find your chance to get your car, truck, or UTV dirty.
RallyCross Divisional Challenge
Lead photo by RS Photography
