Storms swept across Solo Town overnight and a light drizzle persisted into early Wednesday morning, resulting in a damp surface with some puddles for Heat 1 competitors. Nonetheless, gamers are already attempting to fly through courses faster than Sonic the Hedgehog, carving around orange cones on the last day of competition for the first half of drivers taking part in the 2026 Tire Rack SCCA® Solo® National Championships at Lincoln Airpark.
“Video games” is the theme for this year’s 53rd running of the event taking place Sept. 7-11 in Nebraska’s capital city of Lincoln. On Tuesday, this particular set of challengers attacked either the East Course, nicknamed “World of Conecraft”; or the West Course, rightfully termed “Level Up!” Today, they switch courses for three final runs that will decide the first set of 2026 Solo National Champions at the winner-take-all experience.
Keep tabs on the day’s action in real time with an East Course live audio broadcast found here, and the West Course live audio broadcast here. Live results can also be viewed at the Solo Nats Timing webpage.
Coolest Controllers from Kiesel Guitars
For more than a decade, Kiesel Custom Guitars has supported SCCA’s Solo and ProSolo® programs with themed instruments that are the coolest of trophies awarded to some of the year’s best competitors. Last year it was '80s-esque crackle Kyber models recognizing the rock ‘n’ roll theme in Lincoln. This year the artists at Kiesel may have outdone themselves, creating pieces that mimic classic video game controllers.
The five guitars being awarded this year come from Kiesel’s Aero line. Drivers earning these magnificent pieces include top PAX performers from the Tuesday/Wednesday and Thursday/Friday run groups, as well as top PAX performance overall by a rookie. The Ladies ProSolo winner gets a guitar, too, as does the driver with the most ProSolo Super Challenge points for the year.
Aero guitars take the best elements of Kiesel’s acclaimed Kyber and A2 instruments, then adds a unique twist of tradition inspired by the Delos model. The rounded body edges, pickguard, and bolt-on construction pay homage to the classic "golden age of guitar" while enhancing the features to match the modern era of guitar, as seen in the extreme top arm bend, the slotted pickguard design, and the 2025-edition neck heel slope.
The Kiesel family has been a vibrant piece of SCCA Solo in many ways for many years. There’s patriarch Jeff, a Solo Driver of Eminence with 18 Solo National Championships, 11 ProSolo Championships and four Solo Triad Award honors. Matriarch Shawn has another 13 Solo Nats victories, and Daughter Kaila has won four times. Zak has three Solo Nats victories to his credit, plus seven ProSolo Championships.
"I look forward to crafting these guitars each year based on the annual theme, and I think we came up with something pretty cool for this year’s video game concept,” Jeff said. “As a longtime Solo competitor, I know how much work drivers put in each year, and I hope these special guitars further honor their huge accomplishments."
Kiesel has been building world-class guitars, basses, and pickups since 1946 for pro and hobbyist musicians alike. The extremely rare musical instruments created for SCCA members have been handcrafted by a small set of skilled artisans in Southern California. Even as a direct-to-consumer model, each SCCA trophy guitar is valued at well over $4,000 apiece.
Known for high-quality workmanship, and industry leading use of exotic woods, the company offers countless combinations of options so you can design your own custom shop instrument at an affordable price. So if you don’t earn one of the five limited-edition trophy guitars this year, head to the Kiesel Custom Guitars website and get yourself something nice while supporting a great family that is a big part of SCCA’s Solo community.
Wednesday Evening’s Arcade Activities
Wednesday evening is another big party for attendees of Solo Nats. That’s when the Tire Rack Solo Awards Celebration occurs, which is always a big draw. Held in the giant Tire Rack Event Center tent, this year’s ceremony is slated to start right around 5:45 p.m. local time.
That celebration includes food and drink, plus recognition of the first set of Solo Nats winners. Additionally, major annual accolades pertaining to the Solo community are announced during the gathering. Those include the Heart of Solo Award, Driver of Eminence, Solo Cup, plus a special honor this year.
At sunset, which should be right around 7:35 p.m. Central Time, the cherished Sunset Remembrance Toast will be held once again. The location of that gathering is near the Impound Scales positioned between the East Course and West Course. It’s a chance for people to join together and remember those who have departed the game, but who will always be part of SCCA’s spirit.
Photo: One of five custom Kiesel Guitars designed specifically for SCCA Autocross, this particular instrument was presented to Andie Albin for claiming the ProSolo Fletcher Cup.
Photo by Jon Krolewicz
