AMERICAN RALLY ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES 2026 SCHEDULE
- Scott McKee
- 4 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Eight-round National Championship Headlines Roster of 23 Events Across 13 States
Rally Colorado becomes latest addition to ARA National Championship
Full calendar includes four championships—National, East, Central, and West Regions—eight National events with concurrent Super Regionals, four standalone Super Regionals, six standalone Regionals, and five Rally Sprints
BURLINGTON, Vt., Oct. 19, 2025 – With the 2025 American Rally Association (ARA) National Championship Presented by Kubota now in the record books, ARA—the largest rally organization in the United States and the country’s only national championship for the sport of stage rally—today announced its full schedule for 2026.
ARA’s 2026 National Championship will again feature eight events, starting with Sno*Drift Rally (Atlanta, Mich., Feb. 6-7), and concluding with the Lake Superior Performance Rally (Marquette, Mich., Oct. 9-10). In between, Rally Colorado (Rangely, Colo., July 18-19) will become the ARA’s newest National, round five on the National Championship. For 2026, Oregon Trail Rally is temporarily transitioning to a Super Regional as the event’s organizing committee rebuilds with the intent of a return to the National Championship in 2027.
“Across every aspect, American Rally is gathering momentum,” said Preston Osborn, ARA series manager. “For 2026, we’re excited to honor tradition with some long-standing favorites on our calendar, and to continue the diversification of the series by welcoming Rally Colorado to the National Championship.”
Other national tour stops include yearly favorites: Rally in the 100 Acre Wood (Salem & Potosi, Mo., Mar. 13-14), Olympus Rally (Shelton, Wash., Apr. 17-19), Southern Ohio Forest Rally (Chilicothe & Portsmouth, Ohio, June 11-13), Ojibwe Forests Rally (Detoit Lakes, Itasca & Park Rapids, Minn., Aug. 27-29), and Overmountain Rally Tennesee (Newport, Tenn., Sep. 18-19).
In addition to the National Championship, ARA’s calendar includes three regional championships—East, Central, and West—each including Super Regionals held in conjuction with National events, standalone Super Regionals, and standalone Regionals (West and Central only).
ARA will also continue to partner with the Rally Ready Driving School, based in Dale, Texas, outside of Austin, sanctioning their four-event Rally Sprint series, known as the Rally Ranch Sprint Series. A fifth ARA Rally Sprint, the Mike Nagle, will take place in the Pacific Northwest on a date to be determined in November.
ARA operates four event formats:
Nationals – Premier events, two or three days with more than 100 stage miles and more than two hours of high speed competition. These events attract large fields and pay points towards the National Championship.
Super Regionals – Highest level regional events with a similar competition format to Nationals. Usually a test bed for potential future National events. Award points towards one of three Regional Championships (East, Central, or West) and worth more than a standard Regional event.
Regionals – Typically single-day events with simpler logistics to make them more accessible to grassroots competitors. Award points toward one of the three Regional Championships.
Rally Sprints – Single-day, single-stage events that offer a taste of stage rally competition in a compact, lower-stress environment where competitors can build skill and confidence.
“One year ago, we established Rally Forward as the promoter of the ARA with the mission to preserve, protect and promote the sport of stage rally in America, putting it on a stable and sustainable footing for the future,” said Lance Smith, founder of Rally Forward, President & CEO of Vermont Sports Car and American Rally stalwart. “After year one, I’m pleased to say that we’re moving in the right direction and making solid progress. We’re grateful to the event organizers, teams and volunteers for their hard work and partnership, and we’re excited to share even more good news in the near future.”
2026 American Rally Association National Calendar
February 6-7 - Sno*Drift Rally
March 13-14 - Rally in the 100 Acre Wood
April 17-18 - Olympus Rally
June 11-13 - Southern Ohio Forest Rally
July 18-19 – Rally Colorado
August 27-29 - Ojibwe Forests Rally
September 18-19 - Overmountain Rally Tennessee
October 9-10 - Lake Superior Performance Rally
2026 American Rally Association East Region Calendar
February 6-7 - Sno*Drift Rally (Super Regional)
June 11-13 - Southern Ohio Forest Rally (Super Regional)
July 9-11- Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally (Super Regional)
July 25-26 - Boone Forest Rally (Super Regional)
September 18-19 - Overmountain Rally Tennessee (Super Regional)
2026 American Rally Association Central Region Calendar
December 6, 2025 – Nemadji Forest Rally
March 13-14 - Rally in the 100 Acre Wood (Super Regional)
May 16 - Headwaters Rally
July 11 - Missouri Ozark Rally
August 27-29 - Ojibwe Forests Rally (Super Regional)
October 9-10 - Lake Superior Performance Rally (Super Regional)
November 7 - Show-Me Rally (Super Regional)
2026 American Rally Association West Region Calendar
December 6, 2025 - Ridge Rally
March 27-28 - Prescott Rally
April 17-19 - Olympus Rally (Super Regional)
May 16-17 - Oregon Trail Rally (Super Regional)
July 18-19 - Rally Colorado (Super Regional)
October 3 - Tour de Forest Rally
About ARA: The American Rally Association (ARA) is the largest rally organization in the United States and promotes the country’s only cohesive, nationwide competition for the sport of stage rally: The ARA National Championship Presented by Kubota.
Synonymous with extreme-sports-stars-turned-rally-champions—such as Ken Block, Travis Pastrana and Brandon Semenuk—American Rally is sanctioned by USAC and promoted by Rally Forward LLC, which was founded in 2024 by rally legend Lance Smith and is dedicated to advancing the sport of stage rally in America. Smith is the founder and CEO of Vermont SportsCar.
American Rally provides a direct link to pure automotive adventure: a top-speed race against the clock on real roads specifically chosen to challenge production-based cars and world-class drivers on diverse surfaces that include snow, sand, gravel, dirt and tarmac. To learn more about the ARA and its partners, go to www.AmericanRallyAssociation.org
Media Contact:
Scott McKee