SCCA RallyCross Event Near Booneville Aims to Boost Owsley County Tourism

Backroads of Appalachia organizer Waterford has a straightforward pitch for Owsley County: 50 drivers descending on the Appalachian Overland Triangle on April 11 represent something the county has rarely seen at scale, and every one of them needs fuel, food and, for many, a place to sleep.

The AOT Rally-X Spring Challenge, sanctioned by the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA), is set for Saturday, April 11, 2026, at the Appalachian Overland Triangle on 2843 Little Sturgeon Creek Road in the Old Landing area outside Booneville. Backroads of Appalachia (BOA), the nonprofit that built and operates the AOT site, is co-organizing the event with the SCCA, which counts more than 65,000 members and operates as the nation's largest amateur motorsports club.

RallyCross runs individual cars through dirt and grass courses laid out with traffic cones, with competitors scored on elapsed time. The format deliberately avoids a high barrier to entry: everyday vehicles that meet basic safety standards qualify. No purpose-built race machine is required, which broadens the pool of potential competitors and keeps the event accessible to first-timers.

The April 11 field is capped at 50 drivers. Registration is open through the SCCA's event page and MotorsportReg, with SCCA members receiving a discounted entry fee off the standard rate. The registration deadline falls roughly the day before competition. Primitive camping is available onsite at the AOT, which gives out-of-county competitors and spectators a reason to stay the night rather than driving home, adding lodging value to Owsley County's bottom line.

"Events like RallyCross are about more than racing," Waterford said. "They bring new people into our communities, introduce them to the region, and create opportunities for local businesses to benefit from increased traffic."

That opportunity extends well beyond April. The SCCA has already placed the Great Lakes RallyCross Divisional Challenge on the Owsley County calendar for June 19-21, 2026, a multi-day national-series event that will draw a significantly larger and more competitive field than a regional round. The April 11 competition serves in part as a trial run for that bigger stage and for the businesses, campgrounds and roads that will need to absorb it.

The AOT sits on more than 200 acres just off Kentucky 30, featuring a 1.4-mile off-road course and a 60,000-square-foot facility that BOA has developed with federal and state grant support, including investment tied to the Appalachian Regional Commission. Competitors, spectators and anyone interested in volunteering for the April 11 event can find registration details and logistics on the SCCA's event listing and the Backroads of Appalachia events calendar. The site address is 2843 Little Sturgeon Creek Road, Old Landing area, near Booneville.