In 2026, the Tire Rack SCCA Time Attack Challenge included a point series that involved a West and East series. While many drivers chose to enter events near them, Jessica Mignone decided to try her hand at winning in one (or potentially both) series. That meant travel was in her future.
“When I heard about the East and West circuits for the Time Attack Challenge, I decided I was going to win them, which means I had to start driving at every track I could get to,” the SCCA Lone Star Region member reveals. “I started at Eagles Canyon [in Decatur, TX] and I decided to go out to Thunderhill [Raceway Park in Willows, CA]. I wasn’t able to hit all the tracks out there, but I made a whole trip of it – I’m from California originally, so I went out and visited friends out there. Then within the same three-week span I went out to Carolina [Motorsports Park in Kershaw, SC].”
She also entered and competed in the inaugural Tire Rack SCCA Time Attack National Championship during the Oct. 22-25, 2026, weekend at Eagles Canyon.
Which car did she select for this? An NC Mazda Miata built for one of SCCA’s newest classes, Club Spec MX-5. The Club Spec concept involves a build once, run anywhere mentality. Another important aspect is drivability and reliability.
“I had some experience with Miatas before … [and] when I heard about the spec series, I knew I wanted to do it simply because it was a spec series and I knew it wouldn’t be an arms race,” she explains. “I love the idea of a spec series because it’s all about the driver and not necessarily about the car. I also liked the idea that we would be able to do multiple things with one car.”
The car was originally built for autocross, with her co-driver being an autocrosser. When he stepped back from competition, she decided to upgrade the safety level of the car with a class-approved roll bar, seats, harnesses, and removable steering wheel and take it to the track.
“The speeds are so much faster on the track, it’s just common sense to upgrade the safety level,” she says.
Eventually, every car put on the track will have issues, and Mignone’s adventure is no exception, but she found the community made that a non-issue.
“The car has had issues, as all race cars do, but the good thing is I see the same people everywhere I go, so I went out to Thunderhill and got help out there when the car had trouble, [and] I’ve gone out to Carolina and gotten help from people I knew when the car had trouble,” she says, adding, “I’ve never had anything massive since it’s a newer gen Miata.”
What advice does she have for someone traveling the country to hit events far from home?
“You really have to keep up on general maintenance,” she says. “You have to make sure your fluids are all good. I go through the car before I go on a big trip … so I check the brake fluid, the coolant, all those kinds of things. Then I always check the tires – I always bring an extra set of tires just in case.”
Anything else? “Bring all of your tools,” she adds. “The good thing, though, is that community of racers – if there’s a piece you don’t have, there’s always someone who has a tool to help you out.”
Learn more about the Tire Rack SCCA Time Attack Challenge by clicking here.
Photo by Gregory Pfaff
