July 26, 2026
Mercer County Offroad Park delivered an outstanding day of Iowa Region SCCA RallyCross competition, with a fast and technical course that rewarded precision just as much as outright speed. Drivers navigated sweeping corners, changing grip levels, and had plenty of opportunities to test their luck against the orange cones.
The weather turned out to be one of the day’s biggest threats and blessing. A thick haze remained over the course for much of the event, and competitors couldn’t have been happier about it. Every time the sun did manage to break through, temperatures climbed instantly, reminding everyone just how hot a July RallyCross can become. The overcast skies kept drivers, workers, and spectators comfortable enough to enjoy a full day of racing.
At Mercer County, the cones are far from innocent bystanders. They absorbed hit after hit throughout the day, with many competitors picking up one-, two-, and three-cone penalties while searching for the fastest line. One ambitious driver in Prepared AWD even collected seven cones in a single run, proving that sometimes finding the limit means taking a few markers along for the ride. Several class battles were decided as much by avoiding penalties as by outright speed.
Stock FWD featured an entertaining mix of cars. Madeline A. guided a 2005 Pontiac G6 to the class win, showing that a midsize sedan could hustle through the dirt just as well as the sport compacts. Joe Z. and Zach Z. retired their 2002 Acura RSX early, giving Madeline an easy the victory.
Stock All Wheel Drive
Old-school Subaru met modern Subaru in Stock AWD. Eli B. drove a 1995 Subaru SVX to the class win over Colin V. in a 2017 Subaru Impreza. Colin posted several strong runs as the day progressed, but a handful of cone penalties prevented him from closing the gap. The unique six-cylinder SVX proved it still has plenty of RallyCross life left.
Prepared All Wheel Drive
Prepared AWD was an all-Subaru affair featuring an impressive variety of platforms. Hugh H. piloted his 1996 Subaru SVX to the class victory with a combination of speed and consistency. David L. kept the pressure on in his 2005 Subaru Forester, while Josh N. took the wheel of Hugh’s SVX and Drew H. campaigned a 2005 Subaru Outback.
This class produced some of the day’s biggest cone counts. Multiple runs included several penalties, and one memorable pass collected seven cones, showing just how unforgiving the Mercer County layout could be when drivers pushed for every last second.
Modified Front Wheel Drive
Modified FWD showcased one of the day’s most interesting collections of cars. Shane B. dominated the class in his lightweight 1991 Honda CRX, stringing together fast, clean runs throughout the day. Anthony W. also drove Shane’s 1991 Honda CRX and had the speed to challenge but was slowed by several cone penalties, including runs with four and two cones.
The Endres family added plenty of character to the class. Chris E. and Cooper E. drove a bright yellow Fiat 500L. Unfortunatey, the heat of the day and an important upcoming race forced an really retirement on the day for the Fiat.
Modified AWD featured one of the closest and most exciting battles of the day. Aaron B. steered his 1995 Subaru Wagon to the class win over Dave E. in a 2004 Subaru WRX, with Eric L. close behind in a 2005 Subaru Impreza WRX.
The final margins don’t tell the whole story. Eric recorded the fastest single raw run of the class, but Aaron’s remarkably consistent string of runs—and limiting himself to only a few cone penalties—earned the overall victory. Eric lost his battle with the cones early but continued improving throughout the day and finished just 2.709 seconds behind Dave, making the fight for second one of the closest contests of the event.
A Great Day in the Dirt
By the end of the event, every car wore a fresh coat of Mercer County dust, the course workers had reset countless cones, and competitors left with plenty of stories to tell. Whether it was the unlikely Pontiac G6 taking Stock FWD honors, vintage Subaru SVXs proving they’re still competitive, or an all-Subaru showdown in Modified AWD, there was no shortage of exciting competition.
A huge thank you goes to the everbody for handling registration, timing, course work, and cone replacement throughout the day. Their efforts kept the event running smoothly despite the constant action on course.
Mercer County Offroad Park proved why it’s one of Iowa Region’s favorite RallyCross venues. Great competition, close battles, a fantastic variety of cars, and welcome cloud cover that kept the extreme July heat at bay made for another memorable Iowa Region SCCA RallyCross. We look forward to seeing everyone back in the dirt at the next event!