Principia College Solar Car Summer Adventure
Cheer on the Principia College Solar Car team as they compete in the 2026 Electrek Formula Sun Grand Prix and the Electrek American Solar Challenge!
Read about the team: Principia College Students to Race Solar-Powered Vehicle Across America
This year’s road race route follows the Great River Road through the Midwest before joining stretches of historic Route 66 through Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. Learn more about the 2026 Electrek American Solar Challenge and see the detailed route and track the car.
Events include:
- Formula Sun Grand Prix: Tuesday, July 21–Thursday, July 23, Brainerd, MN
- Solar Car Team Display Day: Friday, July 24, Northrop Mall at University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
- American Solar Challenge: Saturday, July 25–Saturday, August 1, Minneapolis, MN, to Amarillo, TX
Spectator events along the route for Principia alumni & friends (RSVP requested):
Wednesday, July 22 – Electrek Formula Sun Grand Prix
Brainerd International Raceway
5523 Birchdale Rd
Brainerd, MN 56401
9 a.m.–5 p.m. – Track Race Continues
5 p.m. – Picnic Dinner at Track
Come early to watch the track race and then join us for a picnic dinner. Join College President Dr. Meggan Madden (C'93) to visit with team members and learn more about the race and the upcoming road race.
RSVP here.
Friday, July 24 – Display Day
Northrop Mall at University of Minnesota
84 Church St SE | Minneapolis, MN 55455
Closest Public Parking
Church St. Garage: 80 Church St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455
Noon–7 p.m. – Display Day
5–7 p.m. – Picnic Dinner on Site
Come to Display Day, where teams show their cars and share the details of solar car racing with the public. Join Principia alumni, friends, and College President Madden for a picnic dinner, where you can meet the team as they prepare for the big race! The team will depart Display Day at 7 p.m. to rest and prepare for the start of the race.
RSVP here.
Saturday, July 25 – Race Start
Lind Hall/Church Street Mall
University of Minnesota
Closest Public Parking
Church St. Garage: 80 Church St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455
8 a.m. – Donuts at the starting line
9 a.m. – Race Start
Join Principia College President Dr. Meggan Madden at the starting line to cheer on the Principia team as they get rolling. Gather with alumni and friends for donuts, juice, coffee, and to watch the start of the American Solar Challenge as teams roll out with staggered times.
RSVP here.
Saturday, July 25 – Checkpoint
La Crosse, WI
Summit Environmental School | 1800 Lakeshore Dr. | LaCrosse, WI 54603
Come see the Principia Solar Car and other solar race competitors arrive and depart during this 30-minute checkpoint and cheer them on to the next leg of the race. We anticipate that the Principia solar car will arrive between 12–2 p.m.
Email field@principia.edu let us know that you're coming and to receive an email or text for updates and instructions. Updates will be provided when the car is approximately 2 hours out from the Checkpoint.
Monday, July 27 – Checkpoint
Normal, IL
Illinois State University – Lot S81 | 198 N Adelaide St, Normal, IL 61761
Monday, July 27: 9 a.m.–Noon
Depending on race conditions and strategy, Principia's team will arrive in the morning between 9 a.m. to noon. This checkpoint has two optional loops, so we expect teams to be in the area for an extended amount of time.
Public Parking is available at Lot F62.
Email field@principia.edu let us know that you're coming and to receive an email or text for updates and instructions. Updates will be provided when the car is approximately 1 hour out from the checkpoint.
Monday, July 27 – Stage Stop
Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville (SIUE)
Lot E near Dunham Hall
Closest Public Parking (before 6 p.m.)
SIUE Visitor Parking Lot B: 1962 SIUE Codeblue, Edwardsville, IL 62025
5:30–7:30 p.m. – Picnic Dinner
Cheer on the Principia Solar Car as it comes through the St. Louis area! Cars will begin arriving at the staged stop around 2 p.m., with the race day ending at 6 p.m. Join us for a picnic dinner with the team and see the solar cars. We’ll celebrate our team with a picnic dinner for Principia alumni, friends, faculty, staff, and students. The team will leave by 8 p.m. to prepare for their next day of racing.
RSVP here.
Tuesday, July 28 – Stage Stop Departure & Race through Alton and St. Louis
Join us for donuts and to cheer on our team as they depart SIUE, pass through Alton, and come around St. Louis!
Starting Line – Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville (SIUE) | Lot E Near Dunham Hall
8 a.m. – Donuts at the starting line for Principia alumni & friends
9 a.m. – Staged Stop Departure
Join us in sending off the team as they leave Edwardsville to tackle the second stage of the American Solar Challenge. Meet us early to enjoy donuts and cheer on the team as they depart.
RSVP here.
Alton Cheering Spot at National Great Rivers Museum Parking Area
8:30 a.m. – Donuts with Principia Alumni & Friends
9:15-9:30 a.m. – Cheer from the Confluence Trail
National Great Rivers Museum Parking Area
1 Locks and Dam Way | Alton, IL 62002
We'll meet in the Great Rivers Museum Parking Lot to enjoy donuts, and then walk up the Confluence Trail to a viewing area where we can cheer for the Principia Solar Car team as they begin the second stage of racing in the American Solar Challenge. The team is anticipated to race by around 9:15/9:30 a.m.
RSVP here.
West Saint Louis Cheering Spot at First Church of Christ, Scientist, Clarkson Valley
2989 Clarkson Road | Chesterfield, MO | 63017
10 a.m. – Donuts with Principia Alumni & Friends
10:30 a.m. – Cheer roadside as the Principia team passes
We'll meet First Church of Christ, Scientist, Clarkson Valley to enjoy donuts and watch the Principia Solar Car and competitors roll in the American Solar Challenge.
RSVP here.
Tuesday, July 28 – Cheer on the team
Cuba, MO
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. (estimated time)
Christian Science Society Crawford County
306 W Washington | Cuba, MO 65565
Join Principia alumni and friends to cheer on the team as the pass by the Christian Science Society in Cuba, MO. Exact arrival time will depend on race conditions and strategy.
Email field@principia.edu let us know that you're coming and to receive an email or text for updates and instructions. Updates will be provided when the car is approximately 2 hours out from the Cuba.
Tuesday, July 28
Rolla, MO – Checkpoint
12:30–5 p.m. (exact arrival time TBD)
Missouri S&T | Gale Bullman Building | 705 W 10th St | Rolla, MO 65401
This checkpoint will be open from 12:30-5 p.m., and cars arriving before 3 p.m. will depart in 1 minute intervals starting at 3:30 p.m. Cars arriving after 3 p.m. must remain in the checkpoint for 30 minutes before resuming the race. Timing is conditional on route conditions and strategy decisions.
Email field@principia.edu let us know that you're coming and to receive an email or text for updates and instructions. Updates will be provided when the car is approximately 2 hours out from the checkpoint.
Tuesday, July 28, evening or Wednesday, July 29, morning
Lebanon, MO – Cheering Spot
Exact arrival time TBD
Boswell Park | 51 Drury Ln | Lebanon, MO 65536
Cheer the Principia team with alumni and friends as they pass through Lebanon, MO, near CedarS Camps! Timing will depend on departure from the nearest checkpointand on race timing and strategy.
Email field@principia.edu let us know that you're coming and to receive an email or text for updates and instructions. Updates will be provided when the car is approximately 2 hours out from the cheering spot in Lebanon.
Wednesday, July 29 – Stage Stop
Carthage, MO
5:30 p.m. – Picnic Dinner
Central Park Pavilion | 305 W Chestnut St | Carthage, MO 64836
Come see the car and the team at a staged stop in historic Carthage, MO, on Route 66. Join us for a picnic dinner with the team and see the solar cars. We’ll celebrate our team with a picnic dinner for Principia alumni and. The cars will charge and be on display across the street at Memorial Hall.
Email field@principia.edu let us know that you're coming and to receive an email or text for updates and instructions.
Thursday July 30 – Stage Start
Carthage, MO
8:30 a.m. – Donuts with Principia Alumni & Friends at the starting line
9 a.m. – Staggered Starts depending on Race Position
Boots Court Motel | 107 S Garrison Ave | Carthage, MO 64836
The cars will depart from the Boots Court Motel, a legendary stop on Route 66. We’ll cheer on our Principia Solar Car Team as they launch out on the final leg of the American Solar Challenge. Meet us early to enjoy donuts near the cars at Memorial Hall. We'll walk down to Boots Court and assemble near the start line as teams depart.
Thursday, July 30 – Cheering Spot
Vinita, OK
Center Theater on 66
124 S Wilson St | Vinita, OK 74301
10:30-11:30 a.m. (estimated arrival time)
“Pop-on-by" for some popcorn and join us in front of Center Theater on Route 66 to cheer on the car as they drive through Vinita, OK! We anticipate that the cars will arrive between 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Email field@principia.edu let us know that you're coming and to receive an email or text for updates and instructions. Updates will be provided when the car is approximately 45 minutes out from Vinita.
Thursday, July 30 – Checkpoint
Tulsa, OK
12:30–1:30 p.m. (exact arrival time TBD)
Route 66 Historical Village | 3770 Southwest Blvd | Tulsa, OK 74107
Public Parking is across Route 66 from the Historical Village, on S. Yukon and W. 37th St.
We anticipate that the Principia team will arrive between 12:30–1:30. This checkpoint will be open from 12:30-5 p.m., and cars arriving before 3 p.m. will depart in 1-minute intervals starting at 3:15 p.m. The team may choose to participate in optional loops near the checkpoint. Cars arriving after 3 p.m. must remain in the checkpoint for 30 minutes before resuming the race. Timing is conditional on route conditions and strategy decisions.
Email field@principia.edu let us know that you're coming and receive an email or text for updates and instructions. Updates will be provided when the car is approximately 1 hour out from the Checkpoint.
Friday, July 31 – Stage Stop
Elk City, OK
11:15–6 p.m. (exact arrival time TBD)
National Route 66 Museum and Transportation Museum | 2717 W 3rd St. | Elk City, OK 73644
Come see the car and the team at a staged stop at the National Route 66 Museum in Elk City, Oklahoma. The cars will charge and be on display near the Museum, and Principia Alumni and friends will celebrate with a nearby dinner or picnic.
Email field@principia.edu let us know that you're coming and to receive an email or text for updates and instructions. We can send an update on Thursday, July 30 with the ETA for Elk City.
Saturday, August 1 – Stage Start
Elk City, OK
9 a.m. – Staggered Start
National Route 66 Museum and Transportation Museum
2717 W 3rd St. | Elk City, OK 73644
The cars will depart from the National Route 66 Museum on Route 66. We’ll cheer on our Principia Solar Car Team as they launch out on the last day of the American Solar Challenge. Meet us early to enjoy donuts near the cars. We’ll assemble at the start line as teams depart.
Email field@principia.edu let us know that you're coming and to receive an email or text for updates and instructions.
Saturday, August 1 – Race Finish
Amarillo, TX
12:30–5 p.m. (exact arrival time TBD)
7:30 p.m. Awards Ceremony
Arts in the Sunset | 3701 Plains Blvd | Amarillo, TX 7912
Teams are expected to arrive at the finish starting at 12:30 p.m. Cheer on the Principia team as they cross the finish line and complete the 1,550 mile journey to Amarillo. The solar cars will remain on display until 5 p.m. The Awards Ceremony is open to the public and free to attend. The ceremony will be held at the AJ Swope Performance Plaza at Arts in the Sunset. Public Parking available on site.
Email field@principia.edu let us know that you're coming and to receive an email or text for updates and instructions.
For questions and more information, email field@principia.edu.
Follow along with the car and learn more about the Electrek American Solar Challenge here.
Let Your Support Shine!
Make a gift today and fuel student innovation, teamwork, and adventure—one sun-powered mile at a time.