Air Race Classic Announces 2026 Winners

Forty-five teams consisting of 104 women pilots completed the 49th Air Race Classic from June 23-26, 2026, navigating a route from Alton, Illinois, to Mount Vernon, Illinois. According to race officials, teams faced various challenges regarding weather, decision-making, aircraft performance, and strategy before final scores were determined via GPS tracking data.

Competition Class:

• 1st Place: Team 9 – “Over The Moon!” – piloted by Alicia Sikes & Nancy Rohr in a 1998 Mooney M20J
• 2nd Place: Team 11 – “I think I can…” – piloted by Lara Gaerte & Brenda Thibodeau in a 1979 Cessna 182RG
• 3rd Place: Team 20 – “DC3-1” – piloted by Debi Dreyfuss &  Joy Halcott in a 2005 Cessna 182T
• 4th Place: Team 31 – “SHEnanigans” – piloted by Jeanné Willerth & Julia Rew in a 1999 Cessna 182S
• 5th Place: Team 8 – “OrcaHawks” – piloted by Elizabeth Menozzi & Bethany Carter in a 1962 Cessna 172C

Intercollegiate Class:

• 1st Place: Team 24 – “Liberty Belles I” – piloted by Sarah Schumann, Moriah Langford & Maddison Simkins, representing Liberty University in a 2024 Cessna 172S
• 2nd Place: Team 28 – “Boiler Up, Hangar Down” – piloted by Alexa Marsh & Annika Bobek, representing Purdue University in a 2021 Piper PA-28-181
• 3rd Place: Team 25 – “Liberty Belles III” – piloted by Chloe Leonard, Ashley Asselin & Ashley Legoas, representing Liberty University in a 2024 Cessna 172S
• 4th Place: Team 38 – “Whiskey Row Racers – Saguaro” – piloted by Yen Pham & Kaetlin Halseth, representing Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Prescott in a 2023 Cessna 172S
• 5th Place: Team 36 – “Whiskey Row Racers – Prickly Pear” – piloted by Sophie Grimm & Liana Curcio representing Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Prescott in a 2023 Cessna 172S

All 2026 Team scores and placements are available on the ARC website.

Air Race Classic 2027 June 22-25

Officials also announced the 2027 route, scheduled for June 22-25, 2027. The next race will stretch from Auburn, Alabama, to Nampa, Idaho. Planned intermediate stops include Murfreesboro, Tennessee; Indianola, Mississippi; Claremore, Oklahoma; Vernon, Texas; Tucumcari, New Mexico; St. Johns, Arizona; Page, Arizona; Mesquite, Nevada; and Yerington, Nevada. Full scoring details are available at airraceclassic.org.