Three women were again Wendi Allen Scholarship Fund (WASF) recipients in 2026, two of which are at Lincoln Airpark this week taking part in their very first Tire Rack SCCA® Solo® National Championships. But before arriving in Nebraska’s capital city of Lincoln for the winner-take-all event, they honed skills at other National Solo events around the country.
With a goal of encouraging women everywhere to become more successful drivers and contributing SCCA members, the WASF offers financial assistance to women who have the drive to improve on the Regional, Divisional, and National level. Managed by SCCA Women on Track, the scholarship is funded courtesy of the SCCA Foundation and Mazda Motorsports. The annual opportunity presents three women with $1,500 each in support of their travel to Tire Rack National Solo events and Solo Nats.
In addition to the funding, SCCA waives entry fees for scholarship recipients to all Tire Rack National Solo events attended during the year. The Club also collaborates with the Solo community and commercial partners to seek out other forms of support for the recipients, such as driver training, mentoring, products, and logistical assistance.
Those interested in future WASF opportunities, the process starts with submission of applications early each year. Keep an eye on SCCA.com for information on when the 2027 submission window opens.
What a Year for Scholarship Winners
Audra Paradie, 27, of SCCA’s New England Region, spread her wings in 2026 to enjoy several National Solo events. She did three ProSolos; those being the D.C., Toledo, and Bristol events. She also did the Solo National Tour in Bristol, as well as the Finger Lakes meetup.
“In the past, I’ve only done one or two events per year. So this has definitely been a busy summer for me,” said Paradie, who joined the Club in 2022. “It has been amazing.
“At every event I had so much fun,” she continued. “Every event was fun for its own reasons. Every site was unique and it was nice to get out of New England and see different places. I’ve definitely gotten faster over the season,” Paradie noted. “I think getting out … and having different competitors has pushed me to go faster as well.”
Paradie opened her first visit to Lincoln with participation in the Tire Rack SCCA ProSolo® Finale. She found that a humbling encounter, facing a lot of really fast drivers. That experience, however, was a great test-n-tune that prepped her for E Street Ladies competition on Tuesday and Wednesday. So prepared she was that a runner-up finish was ultimately earned on her very first try.
“It all felt really good except that I had first before the last run,” she said with a grin. “I didn’t improve on my last run, so I’m disappointed about that. But I’m happy that I trophied at all.”
Overall, Paradie simply can’t believe the chance to experience what she did this year, all thanks to WASF’s support.
“I feel like words can’t even describe how thankful I am,” she said. “I just feel so honored to be recognized as someone with potential that deserved this scholarship. It really helped out a lot, letting me go to all these events and meet all of these people.”
The other WASF recipient running at Solo Nats is Jenny Brown, 30, of SCCA’s Atlanta Region. She joined the Club in 2020, but this season has been one of her most active, too. She took part in the Atlanta ProSolo, as well as Solo National Tour stops in Charlotte, Bristol, and the Finger Lakes party.
“I feel a lot more comfortable at National events,” Brown said about her WASF season and experience. “I got to do a Starting Line School, which I’d never done before. That was so helpful. Thanks to Starting Line, I now feel much more confident about getting through slaloms quickly.”
The C Street Ladies class is where Brown is running Thursday/Friday during her first visit to Solo Nats. To see how she does, keep an eye on the Solo Nats Live webpage.
“I’m not used to the concrete at all,” Brown remarked. “My first run went clean and it felt really great. The second run, as soon as we started picking up some rubber, the car started driving like a jet ski. I was not prepared for that.”
As for her impressions of Solo Nats on her first visit, she said, “I was picturing a slightly bigger regional, but Solo Nats is so much more than that. It’s basically like a week of adult summer camp is the vibe I’m getting.”
The third WASF award winner in 2026 was Sue Anne Rische. A 55-year-old hailing from SCCA’s Texas Region, her autocross season unfortunately went “south” after attending the Beeville Solo National Tour. The engine in her competition vehicle went “kaput,” then her tow vehicle was totaled. Nonetheless, the art professor who joined SCCA in 2020 was grateful for the WASF opportunity.
“It’s been an adventure,” Rische said of her 2026 season. “It’s been something I wouldn’t trade for the world. I’m going to keep doing this, and I hope to turn up at Solo Nats next year or the following year.
“I’m not giving up,” Rische added. “If everything had gone as planned, this would’ve been amazing.”
More Info About Wendi Allen Scholarships
WASF, jointly supported by SCCA Foundation and Mazda Motorsports, was named and established by the family of Wendi Allen to honor the multi-time National Solo Champion. Wendi loved the SCCA Solo Community and wished to give back to the sport by helping young women become more successful drivers and contributing SCCA members. Learn more about the 2026 WASF award recipients here.
SCCA Foundation is always accepting donations which can help WASF, as well as other initiatives advancing opportunities within the Club. Go to SCCA Foundation’s website to discover more about the 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charitable organization.
Photo: 2026 Wendi Allen Scholarship Fund recipients at the Tire Rack SCCA Solo National Championships. Top is Audra Paradie, and bottom is Jenny Brown.
Photos by Jeff Loewe and Jay Bonvouloir
