Fans of Sports Car Club of America® Road Racing have been eagerly awaiting venue news about the 2026 National Championship Runoffs® presented by Sunoco, which is the pinnacle of U.S. amateur road racing and the major motorsports event capping the Summit Racing Equipment SCCA Road Racing program each year.
While SCCA’s Road Racing department has explored a variety of options for the Runoffs, the Club is proud to announce that the 63rd Runoffs will be held Sept. 28-Oct. 4, 2026, at Road America in Elkhart Lake, WI, for a third-straight engagement. The recommendation to extend one additional year was approved by SCCA’s National Board of Directors (BOD).
Eric Prill, SCCA’s Vice President of Road Racing, admitted that conversations have been held with several other venues, but because of the improvements that Road America is completing for the coming year, the 4.048-mile, 14-turn circuit was the perfect fit for 2026.
“There’s no doubt Road America is an amazing circuit and premier facility located in an area with plenty of great food and lodging options,” Prill said. “The track staff have been fantastic partners, and they were excited to welcome the Runoffs back to America’s National Park of Speed. Enhancements being made at the venue will be appreciated by drivers and spectators alike.”
Mike Kertscher, Road America’s President and General Manager, added that he is very much looking forward to the Runoffs extending its stay at the track. "The SCCA is one of the cornerstones of Road America's history, plus it is a great platform for amateur road racers,” Kertscher said. "Road America has hosted the gathering many times over the years, and we are very pleased to see it return in 2026 for a third-consecutive National Championship run, and we are very proud to see SCCA Road Racing Champions crowned here in Wisconsin for another year."
What’s New at Road America
Road America never stops working to create a world-class experience for competitors, event partners, and fans alike. Modern enhancements are already being made to enrich safety, accessibility, and the overall atmosphere in advance of even the 2025 WeatherTech Chicago Region June Sprints® as well as the Sept. 29-Oct. 5, 2025, Runoffs.
For starters, new track-out curbing is going in at the Kink, as well as modifications to mitigate ruts and dust at the exit of that challenging, highspeed corner. Competitors will also appreciate that an alternate entry to false grid will be created, thus reducing race car traffic on the Midway at certain events.
Safety remains a top priority at Road America, so additional adjustments are being made to barriers at two key locations. Barrier straightening, which requires removal and reconstruction of barrier bases, is underway at driver’s left between Turns 4-5 and Turns 13-14. All fences and barriers will return to their original locations upon completion, maintaining the integrity of the beloved circuit while improving safety measures.
The North Paddock is getting a significant upgrade, transitioning to an all-paved surface while maintaining roughly the same paddock potential as before. That enhancement isn’t just about smooth pavement, as the project includes a major overhaul of the water management system, complete with storm sewers and a retention plan designed to make sure the area remains functional in all weather conditions. Also, the previous carport utilized by many is being transformed into a proper garage structure, offering better protection from the elements and improved functionality.
For spectators, the staired access walkover bridge from 1961 is being replaced with a modern, multi-use bridge designed to accommodate pedestrians and golf carts. This new bridge features ramped approaches, making it accessible and convenient for all guests.
On the event side, Prill noted that the Runoffs test day and qualifying timing loop will move to Turn 13, providing drivers more time to prepare for their fast laps.
SCCA and Road America: A Shared History
Located midway between Green Bay and Milwaukee, Road America has a long and storied history with SCCA. The beautiful circuit first hosted the Runoffs from 2009-’13, then again in 2020 and 2024. That history will grow further in 2025 and 2026 as the Runoffs returns again to America’s National Park of Speed.
Established in 1955, many of the world's best racers have competed at Road America over the years. The 640-acre, park-like grounds offer amazing viewing opportunities, fantastic concessions, and high-speed excitement to hundreds of thousands of spectators each year. The venue is a favorite amongst competitors thanks to top-notch facilities, a spacious paddock, and a racing surface repaved just a couple years ago.
In addition to hosting the Runoffs, the track has been home to the June Sprints since 1956 – an event that was part of the series that helped determine SCCA Road Racing Champions prior to the creation of the Runoffs. That makes the June Sprints one of the longest, consecutively held road races in the United States.
Runoffs History Builds
Since 1964, SCCA has crowned Champions through the winner-take-all, single race Runoffs format. The massive gathering is filled with exhilarating action, so much so that it was recently voted one of the top five events in USA Today’s 10Best Reader’s Choice Award for Best Motorsports Race. The Runoffs has also been named by Car and Driver magazine as one of the Top 10 racing events in motorsports, and Edmunds called the event “an institution.”
Hundreds of drivers compete for National Championship medals each year at the Runoffs. The record for the largest Runoffs entry occurred in 2017 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with 969 entries. Over the years, however, SCCA’s National Championship has been decided at a multitude of tracks.
For the first six years, SCCA’s National Championship alternated between Riverside International Raceway in California (1964, 1966, 1968) and Florida’s Daytona International Speedway (1965, 1967, 1969). After that – and for the next two dozen years – the Runoffs was held at Road Atlanta in Georgia. That era saw a period that produced many memorable moments.
In 1994, the Runoffs moved north to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course through 2005. In 2006, the Runoffs added a fifth track to its resume: Heartland Motorsports Park in Topeka, KS. Then from 2009-’13, Road America was home for the Runoffs.
In 2014, the Runoffs began a more frequent alternating schedule. To begin the rotation, SCCA selected one of the country’s most historic road courses west of the Rockies: Laguna Seca. This marked the first time the Runoffs took place out west since the event’s final visit to Riverside International Raceway.
Since then, the Runoffs has added stops at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Sonoma Raceway, Daytona International Speedway, and VIRginia International Raceway to its history book.
The glorious history of the Runoffs will grow further at Road America in 2025 and 2026 when SCCA’s National Championship returns to Wisconsin. Every racer and fan of motorsport knows those will be can’t-miss events at America’s National Park of Speed.
Photo by Adam Brooks
