As North America’s oldest road course, Sebring International Raceway is a historic track that every racer must drive. Built on the bones of a World War II bomber base, the Florida track challenges amateurs and factory drivers alike.
The storied track will host the 2026 NASA National Championships powered by Hoosier, September 24-27. Competitors will race the same 3.7-mile “12-hour” circuit as the sport’s legends such as Mario Andretti and A.J. Foyt.
Since Sebring International opened over 75 years ago, every generation of racer will attest that the road course is rough, demanding and rewarding. No matter what region home is, Sebring is worth the haul for racers looking to add their name to the record books.
History
Sebring International Raceway has a unique place in military and racing history. Hendricks Field was a Depression-era military base that was completed just weeks after Pearl Harbor. It was the first U.S. Army training school for the B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomber. At the peak, 120 B-17s were assigned to the base and more than 10,000 pilots and crew members trained at the base. The original Hendricks Field flagpole still stands on the property.
Five years after opening, the base closed and was declared surplus in 1946. The City of Sebring took over to operate it as Sebring Air Terminal and as chance would have it, Russian-American aeronautical engineer Alec Ulmann discovered the abandoned airfield while scouting the site for surplus aircraft operations.
A sportscar fan, Ulmann saw the crisscrossed runways and envisioned a track at the airfield in Central Florida. The first race took place on New Year’s Eve 1950, a six-hour endurance race that drew 30 cars.
Ulmann had attended the 24 Hours of Le Mans that same year and was determined to build an American version. The first 12 Hours of Sebring was held in 1952, and the rest is racing history. The 12 Hours of Sebring remains a premier endurance race, held each spring and doubles Highlands County’s population. The infield parties in Green Park during the event are next level.
Getting There
For racers and family traveling by plane to the NASA National Championships should consider flying into Orlando International (MCO), Tampa International (TPA) or Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL). All three airports are about a two-hour drive to Sebring International Raceway, so the choice of airports will come down to flight schedules and pricing.
Regardless of what airport you pick, expect traffic until you escape the city. From there, the journey will be on two-lane highways until you reach Sebring.
Stay There
For a true Sebring International Raceway experience, NASA racers will want to book a room at the Seven Sebring Race Hotel. Located at famed Turn 7 on the airport grounds, the 123-room motorsports-themed hotel was recently remodeled.
“How many racetracks have a hotel where you can stay and overlook the raceway,” said Casey Hartt, tourism director for Visit Sebring. “They have a really great trackside bar, and I know with the racing enthusiasts that’s a really big hangout.”
The hotel has two restaurants, the Sunrise at Seven, which offers a buffet-style breakfast and APEX at Seven, which serves lunch and dinner. But the biggest draw for racers is the proximity, with the hotel just feet from the racing surface and an easy walk.
For racers looking for a break from the track, there are several chain hotels within a 10- to 15-minute drive including Holiday Inn Express, Residence Inn, La Quinta and Ramada Inn. The area has several charming hotels including the Inn on the Lakes, which features boutique-style, designer rooms with lake views. The hotel features Chicanes Restaurant & Bar, an on-site restaurant that is popular with the racing community.
Competitors looking to step back into old Florida should consider the Hotel Jacaranda in nearby Avon Park. Opened in 1926, the hotel features high ceilings and grand staircases and is within walking distance of downtown. Babe Ruth, Clark Gable and Al Capone are among the celebrities that stayed there.
Hartt said the region has a wide assortment of homes available for rent through Airbnb or Vrbo, with many teams opting to stay on the lake. “They may not be able to spend a ton of time there, but they like to wake up and have a cup of coffee overlooking the lake or have a barbecue on a day off,” Hartt said.
Eating There
Beyond the track, the region serves up plenty of great dining options. For a large team, the Cowpoke’s Water Hole on U.S. 27 is a great spot. The old Florida-style roadhouse’s menu includes steak and comfort food with a casual bar. One weekends, the restaurant will do live music or karaoke, making it a popular location for racers.
For a potential celebrity citing, Don Jose Mexican Restaurant is always worth a visit. When actor and racer Patrick Dempsey is in town, he’s known to dine at the restaurant overlooking Lake Jackson. The restaurant is great for large groups, but reservations are recommended.
It’s worth a trip to visit Sebring’s historic downtown Circle area, which received a major makeover through the HGTV’s “Home Town Takeover.” The effort has attracted new bars and restaurants, and among them is The 301, a combined brewery, distillery and eatery. Another spot in the area worth a visit is the Gavaghan’s Irish Pub, serving up the Irish pub staples including Guinness stew and bangers and mash.
For breakfast options, locals will point you to the Sebring Diner U.S Highway 27 or Dee’s Place, which is popular for its large breakfast portions. A favorite breakfast spot for Hartt is Sophie’s Café in Sebring. The Cuban café is known for its pastries and coffee.
Driving There
The eastern edition of the NASA National Championships was last held at Sebring in 2017. To preview the track, NASA John Lindsey wrote:
Sebring’s airstrip origins show through on the southern portions of the track surface. The surface itself is asphalt and concrete, with some rough patches where the old concrete blocks have been sealed together, but still are slightly pitched from the ravages of time, weather and horsepower. Make sure you can soften your dampers if needed, and I would strongly recommend a thorough “nutting and bolting” prior to arrival and after every few sessions, so nothing falls off the car. It is a bumpy track, which some racers view as part of its charm.
With that said, the track is a hoot to drive with hairpins, sweepers, and some big speeds down the back straight into the nearly impossible-to-master Turn 17. Turn 1 is also a hang-onto-your shorts adventure because the entry is a bit blind and perspective is tough to attain for your first few laps.
You can really feel some ghosts riding shotgun as you blast along the storied raceway, dreaming of chasing down Steve McQueen or Mario Andretti during the glory days of the 1960s.
Local Services
Racers have plenty of support to keep their car running during the National Championships. For common replacement items, the area has all the major auto parts stores (AutoZone, Carquest and O’Reilly). There are tires services on and off the track, some which offer after-hours services by appointment. There are also some outfits over at the airport that can do welding.
Sebring has spent more than 75 years humbling drivers and rewarding the ones who respect it. See what camp you fall into this fall at the NASA National Championships.
