TOPEKA, Kan. -- With 616 entrants in a Sports Car Club of America doubleheader Memorial Day weekend featuring both the Tire Rack SCCA ProSolo and Tire Rack SCCA Solo National Tour, the second-annual Spring Nationals at the Lincoln (Neb.) Airpark is more than a tune-up for this fall’s National Championships – it’s a crown jewel in it’s own right.

Both events take place on the Nebraska concrete at the site of September’s Tire Rack Solo National Championships. While the courses will naturally change, the event is a test of the machines, the grip level, and the tires.

The event is also a chance for some competitors to get face time on a worldwide television show. Mobil 1 The Grid, a motorsports television show that airs in 170 countries and covers personalities along with behind-the-scenes activities in all forms of motorsports, including Formula 1, the American Le Mans Series and NASCAR, will be on hand to film a segment for the show that will air later in the year.

The weekend begins with a run at the Gumout Super Challenge title during Friday and Saturday’s Tire Rack SCCA ProSolo event. Qualifying for Saturday afternoon’s challenges (which include the Ladies Challenge and Bonus Challenge for those who don’t make the feature) could be more intense than usual, considering a number of competitors are in town for the double weekend. Mineral Wells winner Andrew Hahn is on the entry list, as are runner-ups Erik Strelnieks (at Mineral Wells) and Mike Simanyi (at El Toro). All in all, an experienced field means this weekend’s winner will have to earn the crown.

On Sunday, the ProSolo course switches to the Tire Rack Solo National Tour, where 370 entries are currently registered. The Memorial Day event hosts a plethora of National Champs, including Tommy Saunders, who has 12 titles – tied for second best all-time, and Jeff Kiesel, who is currently on a six-year active streak of Championships.

Sunday will also feature the Gumout Collegiate Shootout for Formula SAE-participating college students. This weekend, students from the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, and the University of Nebraska will be participating for the best time behind the wheel of the Gumout/Black Magic/BFGoodrich Tires “Use Your Motorhead” Project Volkswagen Golf and bragging rights for their school.

Temperatures are expected to reach into the 90s throughout the weekend, heating up the surface to match the on-track action.

More information on the Spring Nationals, the Tire Rack ProSolo and National Tour programs, and the SCCA is available at www.scca.com. More information about Mobil 1 The Grid is available at www.grid1.tv.