It’s summer, and that means (checks calendar) that somehow the 2026 Tire Rack SCCA Time Attack Challenge is at its halfway point. Being that the Time Attack Challenge is more than individual events (although there’s nothing wrong with hitting only one event a year, if that’s how you want to play it), now’s the ideal time to look at how the point races are shaking out for the East and West Series.
Let’s back up a smidge.
For the 2026 competition season, the Time Attack Challenge is comprised of eight total events, plus the inaugural National Championship event in October at Eagles Canyon Raceway. Drivers can compete in any event, logging points toward the East or West Series (or both!), with East Series competitors also getting the chance to earn points at the National Championship event.
The East and West Series breakdown like this:
East Series
- May 2-3: Eagles Canyon Raceway, Decatur, TX
- June 13-14: Carolina Motorsports Park, Kershaw, SC
- July 18-19: Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, PA
- Aug. 1-2: Autobahn Country Club, Joliet, IL
West Series
- Feb. 21-22: Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas, NV
- May 30-31: Thunderhill Raceway Park, Willows, CA
- Aug. 22-23: Ridge Motorsports Park, Shelton, WA
- Nov. 14-15: Buttonwillow Raceway Park, Buttonwillow, CA
Time Attack National Championship
- Oct 23-25: Eagles Canyon Raceway, Decatur, TX
For those competing in the East Series, their best finishes from any two events will count, as long as one of them is on the East Series calendar. Additional points will be earned at the Time Attack National Championship – and keep in mind that the National Championship is worth more points than a standard Time Attack Challenge weekend.
The West Series stands alone, with points being earned by a driver’s best two finishes. In other words, if you tank it at one event, consider heading to a third or fourth to replace the points from that unfortunate Time Attack weekend.
Time Attack Challenge Calendar
Points Tally
The points system is straightforward. The top six drivers in each class will earn points, with first place claiming 10 points, second place taking 7 points, and third earning 5 points. Beyond the podium, fourth gets a driver 3 points, fifth is worth 2 points, and a sixth-place finish means a driver goes home with 1 point.
For East Series drivers, the Tire Rack SCCA Time Attack Challenge ups the ante. Not only is that event the battle for a coveted SCCA National Championship title, but in some cases, the points are more than doubled. A win not only lands you with a National Championship trophy, but you’ll also get 16 points. A second-place finish is rough at a National Championship event, but the 12 points earned toward the point series might make up for it. Third-place finishers will earn 10 points, fourth claims 8 points, fifth gets 6 points, and sixth earns a driver 4 points.
Then there are bonuses for lap records. Score a lap record during a Time Attack Challenge weekend and you’ll earn 1 bonus point. Do it at the National Championship and you’ll score 5 bonus points.
Battles to Watch
The points keepers are actively adding in the lap record bonus points, but right now there are a number of races worth watching.
In Club Spec MX-5, Jessica Mignone has earned two wins, one in the East Series and one in the West, putting her in prime contention for an East Series point victory. But even with that, she’s not in the clear to win the points race, especially when you consider the points on the line at the National Championship event.
It’s a similar cross-Series battle in Sport 3, with David Webb driving in Las Vegas and at Eagles Canyon. He, however, logged a pair of second-place finishes, putting him in the danger zone if some of the other East Series drivers head to the National Championship. For instance, Raghvan Madawela was the winner at the Eagles Canyon event Webb competed at, meaning a solid finish at another event plus the National Championship (where he’s already registered) could result in an overall win. It’s a similar story for David Albrecht, who stood atop the podium at the Carolina Motorsports Park Time Attack Challenge.
Out west, there are plenty of battles up for grabs, with numerous drivers coming out of the gate strong. Mark Shrivastava has a pair of wins in Max 5, with Jonathan Lugod having the same win record in Tuner 3. With a more tenuous grip on the points lead is Peter Bollenbecker in Max 2, who leads with a win and a fourth. Taylour Wargo has a similar story in Tuner 5, sitting on a win and a second-place finish. Then there’s Josh Cummings and Jason Estrada, both of whom have a pair of second-place finishes, with Cummings competing in Unlimited 1 and Estrada in Unlimited 2.
Check out how all the drivers are faring in the East and West Series, then get out there and earn some points!
Photo by Blake Ellis
