https://www.americansolarchallenge.org/american-solar-challenge/2026-event/

10:15am-6:00pm:

Solar cars arrive staggered until close time

● Solar cars will remain on display for the public with team members available to answer questions; the National Park Service traveling exhibit and interpreters will also be available

Solar car arrival may be delayed due to weather, traffic, or other issues encountered in route

6:00-8:00 pm

● Teams will complete their evening charging and perform maintenance on their solar cars

● Solar cars will remain on display for the public with team members available to answer questions

Chicago — May 21, 2026 — The Innovators Educational Foundation’s 2026 Electrek American Solar Challenge (ASC) has been officially designated a Route 66 Centennial Projects.

The 2026 Electrek Formula Sun Grand Prix (FSGP) and the Electrek American Solar Challenge (ASC) will bring together collegiate teams from across the United States and around the world to design, build, and compete with their solar-powered vehicles in one of the most comprehensive STEM-based experiential learning programs in the country.

Students spend one to two years preparing their vehicles, culminating in a multi-stage competition that tests engineering, teamwork, and real-world problem-solving.

The program begins July 17 to 23, 2026, at Brainerd International Raceway, where teams will undergo an extensive technical inspection before competing in a three-day endurance track event, the Electrek Formula Sun Grand Prix. Teams that successfully demonstrate vehicle safety and performance will advance to the Electrek American Solar Challenge.

Following a public display day in Minneapolis on July 24, teams will embark on a more than 1,500-mile road journey from Minneapolis to Amarillo from July 25 through August 1. The route includes significant stretches of the historic Route 66, as well as the scenic Great River Road.

Along the way, teams will stop in communities including LaCrosse, Normal, Edwardsville, Rolla, Carthage, Tulsa, and Elk City, engaging with local communities, media, and route 66 enthusiasts.

“The designation of the American Solar Challenge as an official Route 66 Centennial Project highlights the powerful connection between innovation and heritage,” said Bill Thomas, Chair of the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership and Commissioner for the Route 66 Centennial Commission.

“As these student teams travel along historic stretches of Route 66, they are not only honoring its legacy but also demonstrating the future of transportation through clean energy and ingenuity.”

The American Solar Challenge is divided into stages with mandatory checkpoints and stage stops, where teams interact with the public and are evaluated on performance and progress. Participants must navigate real-world conditions—including terrain, traffic, and weather—while managing solar energy and battery storage. Winners are determined based on total miles completed and, for multi-occupant vehicles, additional factors such as passenger miles and practicality.

“We are thrilled for the solar cars and these university students to travel the iconic Route 66 since the first time the solar car event traveled the Mother Road 25 years ago,” said Gail Lueck, Event Director for the Electrek American Solar Challenge and Electrek Formula Sun Grand Prix and Operations Director and Board Member of the Innovators Educational Foundation.

“Having the Electrek American Solar Challenge 2026 officially recognized as part of the Route 66 Centennial is a great honor, and we look forward to celebrating with the communities along Route 66 as the solar cars make their way from Normal, IL to our finish in Amarillo, TX.”

The 2026 Electrek solar car events promise to showcase cutting-edge renewable energy technology while celebrating the enduring spirit of exploration and innovation that defines Route 66.

For more information, visit: https://route66centennial.org/index.php/celebrate/electrek-american-solar-challenge

City of Carthage