The season finale is upon us for the WeatherTech championship and all other IMSA-sanctioned series. The 2026 IMSA season is concluding at Road Atlanta this week with the always-epic Petit LeMans.
I love Petit LeMans for so many reasons. Not only is Road Atlanta one of the most exciting tracks to host such an event at, but the fall weather—including cool, crisp mornings and warm afternoons—is a great setting for both racers and fans.
I’ll be at Road Atlanta for the Mazda MX-5 Cup series. The final rounds of the season culminate Friday with a $250,000 championship on the line! The points battle is nowhere near decided, with several drivers within shot of taking the title and that impressive prize purse.
The action continues after Friday with the main event, Petit LeMans, on Saturday. The 10-hour contest is an iconic race, which holds a special place in my mind. I have so many great memories of competing in it. Last year’s record crowd of over 110,000 fans is en route to being broken this year, judging by pre-event ticket sales.
If it’s your first time attending this amazing event, there are so many great places to spectate from, thanks to the rolling Georgia hills and challenging circuit layout. Some of my favorite places to watch the action include the section from turn five down through the esses, and, of course, the best passing opportunity on the track, diving into turn 10 after the long back straightaway.
And, if you’re looking to get up close and admire the sheer speed of the cars, turn one is always a spectacle, especially with mixed-class traffic, as they sort themselves out going over the blind crest toward turn three.
The unique opportunity to witness all of these vantage points are not only for the daytime, as this race concludes at night. The cars appear to pick up speed as the sun sets and headlights come on.
Whether you’re watching Petit LeMans trackside or on TV, this is certainly an event you won’t want to miss!