While the weather forecast for Road America in Wisconsin predicts light rain throughout most of Thursday with temperatures reaching the upper 60-degree mark, the vibe at America’s National Park of Speed is much, much hotter. The anticipation level is hovering around 135% as competitors are already on track during the first day of qualifying for the 63rd Mission Foods SCCA® National Championship Runoffs®.
Most of the 24 car classes will have two 16-minute sessions on course Thursday to establish their best lap around the 4.048-mile, 14-turn circuit that travels through the state’s Kettle Moraine region between the hamlets of Plymouth and Elkhart Lake. Everyone will then have a third qualifying session Friday that lasts 19 minutes, after which we’ll have our 2026 Tire Rack Pole Award winners.
A free video broadcast for both qualifying days is available online at the SCCA YouTube channel thanks to DriversEye Live. A few Hoosier Racing Tire SCCA Super Tour announcers will provide the “call” during qualifying, with Brendan Kaczmarek and Gregg Ginsberg offering insight, along with the voice of Road America, Eric Mueller. Expect some special guests to visit the broadcast booth, too, throughout the days.
Live Timing/Scoring during qualifying can be monitored here. For more information about everything Runoffs related, click the link below.
Sunoco 260 Thursday
The opening day of qualifying is “Sunoco 260 Thursday” once again this year. During the first 16-minute qualifying session, drivers in each class whose best time comes nearest to including .260 will earn 15 gallons of Sunoco race fuel free for their car. Those winners will receive official confirmation via the email address they supplied during Runoffs registration, as well as instructions for retrieving their reward.
Sunoco’s 260 race fuel has been highly regarded for years. Sunoco’s 260 GT is a street-legal (in most states), oxygenated, unleaded gasoline designed for high performance street cars, muscle cars, classics, street rods, motorcycles, and the like.
With a 100-octane rating, Sunoco 260 GT allows increased boost levels in supercharged or turbocharged applications as compared to lower octane “pump” gas. It’s engineered to not harm catalytic converters or oxygen sensors and contains a comprehensive additive package for greater engine protection and reduced fuel system deposits. It’s also compatible with two-stroke synthetic and mineral-based engine oils, and safe for carbureted and fuel injected engines.
Sunoco has been the Official Fuel of SCCA since 2001. The company has been powering victories on and off the track for more than 100 years, which is why Sunoco is trusted to fuel more than 50 series of racing, driving, and winning – including the SCCA National Championship Runoffs, SCCA Pro Racing, SVRA, and NASCAR. Sunoco also helps keep Thursday’s event running at Road America by fueling volunteers and event staff with food and beverages at lunch.
Hawk “Brake-Through” Performers
Also on Thursday, during the second 16-minute qualifying session, those on track will be part of the Hawk “Brake-Through” Performer competition. The one driver from each competition class who makes the biggest jump in position from the first qualifying session receives a free set of Hawk brake pads for street cars, race cars, or tow vehicles. To be eligible, drivers must have participated in the first qualifying session. Winners will be notified by email, and awardees can retrieve their certificates starting Friday by visiting the Contingency Table in Tech between 7:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.
For nearly 30 years, championship winning drivers and teams have demanded Hawk Performance motorsports brake pads. The company leverages its experience on the track, and technology used in aerospace and the military, to make first-class products in the USA. It has also been the Official Brake Products of SCCA since 2003 and is helping to keep Runoffs volunteers fed and ready to go during lunchbreaks.
Hawk’s advanced technology is also available for daily-driven cars, trucks, and SUVs thanks to Hawk Performance street products. With the LTS compound for SUVs and Jeeps, Super-Duty pads for tow vehicles, and brake fluids for both the street and the racetrack, Hawk has every braking need covered, and learn more by visiting HawkPerformance.com. Then help out by giving Hawk a “like” on Facebook and Instagram.
Thursday Evening Social Engagements
While there is lots of on-track action throughout this year’s Runoffs, taking place Sept. 28-Oct. 4, there is plenty of stuff happening at day’s end, too. Thursday’s off-track activity lineup opens at 6 p.m. Central Time with the Formula Vee® Hall of Fame induction celebration going on at Road America’s Victory Circle. This year’s ceremony will honor the Lazier family (Bob, Buddy, Jaques, and Flinn), as well as longtime competitor and engine builder Brian McCarthy.
Thursday evening will also see another Volunteer Worker Refuel going on at 6 p.m. in the Road America Center. An SCCA Women On Track and Women in Motorsports North America gathering will be held at the same time in the same location that evening, with food and drinks supplied for all.
Certainly, don’t forget about Friday evening’s festivities either. The fun begins at 6 p.m. with a Tire Rack Pole Award celebration held at Road America’s Victory Circle. That’s followed by this year’s #2Fast2Tasty Block Party, which is made possible thanks to the event’s title sponsor, Mission Foods. The Block Party will be centered around victory circle and includes an expanded catering option, so everyone gets plenty to eat. Victory circle is also where the 2026 Worker of the Year Presented by Mazda awards will begin at 7:30 p.m., that way everyone can experience the surprise and jubilation.
Join the Party at Road America
There’s still time to get to America’s National Park of Speed to enjoy one more day of qualifying and two days of Runoffs competition. Known as one of the finest racing facilities in the United States, Road America’s park-like venue sits on 640 acres with absolutely amazing spectator opportunities. Fantastic concessions add even more to an experience that includes high-speed excitement enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of spectators each year.
A full-event pass, which includes gate admission and general parking for Thursday through Sunday, is well worth the investment. A complete rundown of pricing and ways to get tickets can be found by clicking the link below.
Photo: Dean Kiriluk hustles his Formula Continental machine around Road America in the rain on Thursday morning.
Photo by Philip Royle
