For 2026, the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) has decided the extensive changes to its Majors road racing program was less than successful. Qualifying for the SCCA Runoffs vis the Majors route proved to only reduce the entry last year. So for 2026, the requirement to finish in the top half of the Majors conference standings has been dropped. Now, three Majors race weekends and five finishes are all that's needed to gain a SCCA Runoffs invite. With this in mind, my T3-spec 350Z will again be racing in SCCA Rocky Mountain Divisional and Mid-America Conference Majors competition. This simplifies planning. as my proposed schedule looks almost identical to last year.

April 11-12- St. Louis Worldwide Technology Raceway (roval circuit)
April 24-26- LaJunta Raceway (airport circuit)
May 23- 24- Pueblo Motorsports Park (traditional road racing circuit with drag racing front straight)
July 3-5- High Plains Raceway (traditional road racing circuit)
August 22-23- High Plains Raceway
September 28- October 4- SCCA Runoffs, Road America, Wisconsin.

Depending on my results, this schedule may be modified during the season. For 2026 the T3 class restrictions on the 350Z have not been released yet. We'll see what kind of flat plate restrictor will be spec'd, and I've written a letter to the Comp board to reduce our weight from 3,250 #. We'll see how that goes later in the month.

 

My letter to the SCCA Comp Board resulted in the 350Z getting a weight break for 2026 in T3. HR powered Zs will weigh 3,250#, while DE Zs will go down to 3,100#.

 

Success!

 

Indeed- but keep in mind this minimum weight is what competitors must come across the scales with AFTER the race has been completed. We all carry quite a bit of fuel to start a race and I've found I need almost a full tank to complete a high-speed race at a circuit like Road America,

 

This weekend a couple of things came up that'll affect my racing for 2026 and beyond. First, SCCA has signed a contract to go back to Road Atlanta for the Runoffs in 2027-28. The last time the Runoffs were run at Road Atlanta was in 1993, but had a long history prior to then. Road Atlanta is much like Road America, a classic high-speed track with long straights and fast turns with connected lines. Triple digit speeds high enough that if you go off, you'll never see the big collision coming, so NO mistakes! But like a climber who loves big mountains, I love big, fast road racing circuits, so at least we know what we're in for if for the near future.

Second, and more immediate, is that the Colorado Auto Show announced that its 2026 dates would be April 10-12th. I've been the Colorado SCCA show coordinator for so long now that I don't even remember who did it before. But looking at my proposed 2026 race schedule, there's a conflict with the St. Louis Majors that weekend. I've always been dedicated to keep racing alive in my home state, and exposing this sport to the public for the future remains a top goal. So, it becomes a classic values dilemma- go race and let the show flounder, or stay true to my original goal?

 

Ive always wondered at what point are they going to make the DE / DE engine Z more competitive … one reason I did not choose a Z for my first SCCA car was bc the DE is all I know and it wouldnt be competitve … hence the NB miata.

But I’m happy they are re-balancing the balance of power for the z cars … its a shame that very few at these events (hurts my heart)…

I hope intend to race the full schedule with the excpetion of the World Wide Tech race … I dont think the car will be ready and the drive is a little too far for me … Ozarks is about my limit.

I intend to do the Hallett, La Junta, Pueblo, HPR, Ozarks, HPR and then I would love to do Runoffs - especially if this is the last year at Road America … so its in consideration.


Dave - why no Ozarks? And do you know why they blitzed Hastings?

for contrast (no apples to apples) I burn about 4 gallons in a given race, lol…

 

James- timing of the Ozarks Majors is right in the heat and humidity of summer. While it looks like an interesting course, sweating my way through that July weekend doesn't sound like fun to me. As for the MPH (Hastings) race, I told you last year that it was an iffy race with that light an entry. I suspect Nebraska had a BIG loss and didn't want to chance it again. Each SCCA region is a non-profit organization that must live or die on the events it sanctions, so races are an important decision.

As for the letter to the Comp Board, I'm glad this one was successful. I usually bat about 50% in making these requests. I didn't specifically mention the VQ35DE, but Z33s with the DE get an awesome weight break, as it goes down to 3,100# as minimum weight! With the lower operating costs, less heat buildup and great durability, the DE may arguably be the better choice for road racing.

You might consider making the Runoffs a goal this year. Just keep in mind Spec Miata is intensely competitive at Road America and you may need to race in a qualification race to even make the main Runoffs race!

 

After weighing the pros and cons, I've decided to forgo racing in St. Louis in April. While Worldwide Technology Raceway is a fun roval track, my gut says it's important to keep the Colorado Auto Show at the forefront this year.

 

Yesterday I finished all the requirements for my SCCA competition license for 2026-27. By my count, I've held one for 39 years now; not counting the two years I competed in the Eastern Motor Racing Association (EMRA) time trial series in the 80's. Car preparation for the Z car continue, and the weight break it was given this year allowed me to take out much of the inner door panel and door bar on the DS. Estimating about a 15# loss out of that side of the car, but the door itself has lost a lot of torsional rigidity and I'm now relying on the double side roll cage bars for protection. I may have to re-corner weight the T3 car for the upcoming season.

Beyond the decision to prioritize the Colorado Auto Show over the St. Louis Majors, there's also the question of gas prices soaring above $4/gallon for regular unleaded. My Titan KC LWB gets about 7 MPG when towing; less if there's a cross wind. Even with its oversized 34-gallon tank, I have to fill up often. If the war with Iran continues on, the cost of a simple cross-country tow will continue to soar as well. I wonder how much this will impact SCCA (and other sanctioning bodies) racing this year?

 

yea definitely sucks, I get like 8 mpg towing my enclosed 28' as well. Between that and the fuel burned on track for a weekend its a factor. Hopefully it gets sorted out soon but I dont expect prices to drop as quick as those rose.

 

What do you tow with? My first gen '08 Titan KC LWB has been a good tow vehicle and I'm spending some time and money this year to freshen up the paint. What I don't spend on traveling to races will go back into the rig or racecar. And you're right, whenever this war ends, I expect that gas prices will take months to return to where they were. Need to get race gas (100 octane) soon and I'm holding my breath on that.