You would think the “offseason” is a time to relax, but we all know better. There is no offseason. The time that passes between one racing season and the next is a busy time for everyone.
For NASA members, it’s time to refresh fluids and systems on the racecar, update any expired gear, keep your race tires warm and cozy inside and get ready for the new season. It’s time to get the trailer serviced and do a once over nut-and-bolt inspection on the car.
At the NASA National Office, the offseason is time for renewing contingencies, shoring up new series and classes, and putting out the welcome mat for our members in 2026. We’ve been putting the finishing touches on new events and regions and begun planning for a fantastic NASA Championships event at what is essentially the holy land of racing: Sebring International Raceway.
It’s a lot to keep track of for us, and even more for the NASA members. To help bring you up to speed, we have compiled as many of the new changes that we could think of to bring you “What’s New in NASA For 2026?” Scroll down for the inside scoop on the information you need.
Contingencies
The contingency portal on DriveNASA.com is now open, and filing for your benefits is easier than ever. Contingency programs for Hoosier Racing Tire, VP Racing and Hawk Performance are open for registration for 2026. Just log into your NASA profile and upload four photos that show the required decals. Maxxis will be opening soon, too.
For other class-specific contingency programs visit the NASA contingencies page on the website. Make racing as affordable as it can be by taking advantage of as many contingency programs as possible!
Event Parking Options
The NASA national IT department has been hard at work to build software that lets you to reserve specific areas in the paddock and spaces in garages. Developed initially for the NASA Championships, the new interactive parking reservation feature lets you reserve garages and paddock spaces in some instances.
It’s pretty simple. When you land on the specific event page, look for the red parking reservation button on the right. Click that to reserve your spot, which it holds open for you for 15 minutes. Then click back and register for the group you are entering, whether it’s HPDE, TT or racing, your parking spot reservation will be in the cart with your entry fees. Pretty neat.
Spec MX-5
One of the two newest national classes to compete in NASA, Spec MX-5 presents a way to get into a car that is more modern than Spec Miata, but still is underneath the Mazda Motorsports umbrella. Factory tech and parts support, and contingencies make this a rewarding class. Strict rules and unmatched parity truly make it a driver’s class.
With a 2.0 liter engine that makes about 170 horsepower, a six-speed transmission and 4:10:1 rear axle ratio, Spec MX-5 cars are about 5 seconds a lap faster than a Spec Miatas. With advanced OBDII circuitry, power steering, factory-tuned ECUs and antilock brakes, the Spec MX-5 is a more sophisticated platform. Fun and fast, it’s a great step up for Mazda drivers looking for something new without leaving the Mazda mother ship.
Corvette Cup
After a long rollout, Corvette Cup is fully launched, with spec tires and updated rules for 2026. The new Continental Extreme Contact Force tires will deliver durability and ample grip with a contingency package from Continental that will be announced soon.
Corvette Cup was designed to deliver the highest levels of performance available within the parameters of affordable spec-class racing. The class is sure to offer close, competitive racing on a level playing field of fast and powerful V8-powered sports cars. The eligible C5 and C6 Corvettes offer unmatched performance and handling all at a surprisingly affordable price point.
Windshield banners and decal packages for the series will be available at the NASA Racing Gear Store Operated by OG Racing within the next 30 days. We are hoping for a good turnout in regions throughout the nation and, of course, at the 2026 NASA Championships at Sebring International Raceway in September.
Helmet Rules
Safety is of utmost importance, and with the advent of new certifications from the Snell institute in 2025, NASA has instituted some new rules for helmet use.
For HPDE and Time Trial drivers, beginning Jan. 1, 2026, helmets will need to meet or exceed Snell 2010 (SA2010; M2010) or ECE 22.06 standards.
For racing, helmets must be approved by Snell and carry a sticker of Snell SA2015, EA2016, or newer. Helmets with an FIA certification of FIA 8860-2010, FIA 8859-2015 or newer are acceptable. According to the NASA CCR, “Ratings other than that of “SA” (Special Application), (e.g. M2015, M2020, or CMR2007), are not acceptable.”
This is a year’s worth of advance warning, but beginning Jan. 1, 2027 helmets must be approved by Snell and carry a sticker of Snell SA2020 or newer. Alternatively, helmets with an FIA certification of FIA 8859-2015, 8860-2018 or newer will be acceptable.
That year’s warning applies, unless you live in a state that has more stringent requirements, like New Jersey, for example. As of January 1, 2026, New Jersey regulations require all drivers in sanctioned motorsports events to wear a full-face helmet with a Snell SM or SA 2020/2025 rating. SA2015 helmets are no longer valid.
25 Hours at Ozarks
New track, new time of year, same grueling race. This year, the NASA 25 Hour has moved and is now the NASA 25 Hours at Ozarks. This year’s 25-hour race will take place June 25-28, 2026.
The NASA 25 Hours of Thunderhill is the longest closed-course endurance race in North America. Begun in 1998 as the Timex 12 Hours of Thunderhill, the race expanded to 25 hours in 2003, and has since evolved to become known as one of the most grueling endurance races in the nation, attracting amateur and professional sports car drivers from around the world.
If you would like to get in a practice run at Ozarks, NASA MidAmerica is hosting an 11-hour race at OIR. The race will be six hours on Saturday and five hours on Sunday. Use it to develop drivers for the 25 or simply as a fun endurance race for you and your team! There will be a full test day and a night practice. Register now to get in on the fun.
Ozarks International Raceway in Gravois Mills, Mo., will be the site of the event. Registration is open. Register to take your place on grid for the toughest race in North America now!
National Team Racing Endurance Challenge Series Calendar
We are a week or two away from announcing the 2026 calendar and rules for NASA’s Team Racing Endurance Challenge series, so keep it in mind for this racing season.
If you want to put together a team of your buddies to share in the joy and expense of racing, TREC is the place. TREC is a cool series where you don’t need anything other than a car that meets safety specs and a great attitude to have fun. No previous racing experience, no competition license, and no medical exam are required.
We’ll announce the nationwide schedule and the rules in the next couple of weeks. Keep an eye on Speed News for the updates!
12 Hours of Thunderhill
Part of the TREC national calendar will include the 12 Hours of Thunderhill in 2026! Home to the original 25 Hours of Thunderhill, the NASA NorCal Region has announced it will host a 12-hour Team Racing Endurance Challenge event at Thunderhill Raceway Saturday, September 19, 2026.
The race will run during daylight hours, so there will be no need for lighting on the cars and probably only nominal lighting for crews. Free reservations for the event open January 2 with the entry fee due by March 31.
Entry fees will be $1,995 if paid by March 31. You can reserve your space starting January 2 at no cost, starting January 2, and take advantage of the early bird rate when you pay by March 31. After that date, entry fees will rise to $2,195.
NASA Championships at Sebring International Raceway
One criterion for selecting a venue for the NASA Championships is to visit “bucket list” tracks people where people dream of racing. This year, the NASA Championships is headed to Sebring International Raceway, one of the most historic racetracks in the world and also one of the earliest sites for sports car racing in the United States.
Sebring. One word says it all.
Racing here is like racing through the pages of history. You will be competing on the same strips of jarring concrete that the greats have raced on. Andretti, Clark, Hill, Foyt, Shelby, Miles, McCluggage, Gurney, Haywood.
Mark your calendars for Sept. 24-27, 2026 for the NASA Championships. Keep an eye on Speed News for the dates that registration will open this epic event.
NASA Northwest
The fourth quarter of 2025 was especially exciting because we announced the formation of the NASA Northwest Region. With events scheduled at all four tracks in Oregon and Washington, and two crossover events with NASA NorCal at Sonoma and one at Thunderhill, the 2026 NASA Northwest schedule has something for everyone.
Get in early to join the fun at Oregon Raceway Park and Portland International Raceway in Oregon, and Pacific Raceways and The Ridge Motorsports Park in Washington. This is going to be the start of something big!
Time Trial Street
Introduced at the 2025 NASA Championships, Time Trial Street, a new initiative to make Time Trial competition more accessible for street-driven cars.
One look at the TT grid in your home region should tell you virtually all TT cars are pretty much full-boogey racecars. Time Trial Street is designed for those who drive their cars to and from the track, not trailer them.
The program’s structure is elegantly simple. It is not a separate class, but a “class within a class.”
Competitors register for their normal Time Trial group (e.g., TT5, TT2, etc.) and, if they meet the “Street” criteria, they will also be eligible for the TT Street Program awards. This means a driver could theoretically win the overall TT class and the TT Street designation in the same weekend.
To be eligible for the TT Street Program, a car must meet two requirements:
- Be equipped with 200+ treadwear tires.
- Hold a valid, current street vehicle registration.
Initially, contingency programs will remain tied to the primary TT classes, with the TT Street Program focused on trophies and recognition. NASA plans to explore dedicated contingency packages for the program in 2026 and beyond.
Drivers wishing to participate in the inaugural TT Street program can do so by simply adding the word “Street” to the comments section of their online registration.
For more information on the NASA Time Trial program, visit the Time Trial home page.
Racing and Time Trial
Of course, it wouldn’t be the offseason without the accompanying rule changes to the racing classes, and this year is no different. No need to pore over the rule books to find what has changed. Check out the highlights of your class listed below. If you don’t see your class listed, there were no rule changes of note for this season.
944 Spec
After the switch to the Hoosier RCES last year, 944 Spec will remain largely as-is for 2026. The biggest change is that Bilstein shocks are now permitted in addition to the Koni shocks. The Bilstein part numbers are shown below.
Front 34-001042
Rear: 24-001618, 24-020527
Camaro-Mustang Challenge
Camaro-Mustang Challenge has removed a clause about penalty appeals and the process for them. There also have been some things removed from the CMC rules because they are already covered in the NASA CCR.
Ford cars are now permitted to use the Ford Performance engine block No. M-6010-Boss302. There was also a slight change to the provision that permits exhaust heat shielding to enhance driver comfort, “that does not violate any other rule with in this ruleset.”
One-piece aluminum spacers are still included in the 18-pound minimum wheel weight, whether they are welded on or not. Detachable wheel weights are no longer counted toward the minimum weight. One last change, the maximum price of allowable nonremote reservoir shocks has increased to $1,300 a pair.
German Touring Series
In a big twist for German Touring Series, the rules now say, “Competitors with other marquee cars or German cars with non-German swapped engines interested in racing in GTS Classes may apply with the Regional GTS Leader and /or National GTS Director to request an exemption to the above list for regional participation only. That exemption will not apply for the National Championship Events. Upon issuance of exemption, a signed allowance must be attached to the logbook. Regional Leaders may adjust or modify the compliance requirements for non-German marquee cars.”
One change to the “sporting regulations” of GTS, if you will, is that, “contact is defined as non-incidental damage to the primary or secondary vehicles.”
We won’t list all the details here, because there are many and they are best described in the rulebook, but some tires have been “assessed bonuses as listed below for GTS 1-3.”
In addition, “Tires must be declared before the first qualifying session and used throughout the entire event. The only exception to this rule is a rain tire, but do consult the rulebook for the details.
Honda Challenge
Honda Challenge 2 no longer enjoys unrestricted camshafts and intake manifolds. There are some other changes best explained in the rule book.
Another new rule is that electronic throttle bodies must have a 1:1 ratio, i.e.: 100% TPS = 100% throttle at all rpm. With regard to dyno pulls, the “competitor is responsible for ensuring the maximum horsepower is not exceeded in any gear.”
The rule allowing swapping of alternate single-barrel carburetors has been scrapped, as has the rule on swapping vacuum-advance distributors for electronic advance distributors. Time and technology have moved on, it seems.
Competitors now also can add or remove power steering pumps, hoses, motors, control units, and mounting brackets, including aftermarket brackets. Power steering retrofits are now unrestricted.
Spec3
If you are racing in Spec3 in 2026, and more people are, make sure your decals are right! Manufacturer stickers from Koni, Hawk, & RRT Racing must be displayed on left and right each side of vehicle. Stickers shall be a minimum of 2” in height and contrasting color.
For the oil lines and pump, the nut securing the engine oil pump may be affixed through the use of welding or safety wire.
In a change to the sunroof-delete methods, the sunroof cassette mechanism may be removed so long as the sunroof panel is secured. Glass roof tops are still prohibited. The sunroof opening in the roof may be covered with sheet metal or alternatively welded closed.
For suspension, either the Eibach or H&R roll bar kits named in the rule book are permitted and may be interchanged. Oh, and the spare tire mount now may be removed.
Spec Iron
There are not many changes in Spec Iron, but one of them is that maximum track width has increased by half an inch, from 74.5 inches to 75 inches.
According to the rulebook, “Track width and wheelbase are measured with driver. Track width is measured at the outside edge of the tires. The track width measurement will be taken at a point three inches from the ground by using two metal plates similar to the Longacre #7950 toe plates. The measurement used for compliance will be the average of the front of the tire and rear of the tire width measurements at the three inch height after accounting for the width of the plates. The plates will be placed flush against the tire and not perpendicular to the ground for the measurements.”
For tires, the “Hoosier RCES tires sized 275/35/18 are required during dry weather competition sessions. Hoosier W2 rain tires sized 275/35/18 are permitted during wet weather competition sessions. Race Director will determine what sessions are deemed wet weather sessions.”
Spec Miata
The big news for Spec Miata has been out since September. The Hoosier RCES in 205-50-15 is the dry tire and the SMW is the rain tire.
The rules for air intake systems now make note of an electronic air flow meter for 1.6 cars, which is not available yet. This is best understood by reading section 13.2.4.2 in the Spec Miata rules.
There is a new section, 13.5.7 that allows for welding and grinding of the intermediate pipe when done for the purpose of repair only. The rule applies to 1990-1997 cars only. See the rulebook for exact parameters.
A new rule for CV axle components was added in section 14.3.1. It states, and we quote, “All internal CV axle components must be a ferrous material. Dimensions are unrestricted.”
Super Touring and Time Trial
Of course, Super Touring being Super Touring, there are new additions to the “mod factors” section. This particular section of the ST rules is highly detailed, so it’s best to consult all of section 6.5 of the ST rules for the new mod factors, which apply to ST1 through ST4.
In addition, to keep pace with changes in the tire market, there are some rule changes as they relate to tires in all ST classes. Almost invariably, new tires mean new mod factors.
There are new rules for ABS in ST5 and ST6 section 6.1.7. Consult the rulebook for full explanations.
Good luck in 2026. We’ll see you out there!
