ASC is a test of teamwork, engineering skill, and endurance that stretches across thousands of miles of public roads.

[1] Originally called Sunrayce USA, the first race was organized and sponsored by General Motors in 1990 in an effort to promote automotive engineering and solar energy among college students.

At the time, GM had just won the inaugural World Solar Challenge in Australia in 1987; rather than continue actively racing, it instead opted to sponsor collegiate events.

The original, 1,800 mi (2,900 km) Sunrayce USA route started at Disney World in Orlando, Florida and ended at the General Motors Technical Center in Warren, Michigan.

The race route covered over 1,100 miles (1,800 km) starting in Arlington, TX and ending in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Manta won the race with an average speed of 37.23 mph (59.92 km/h), followed by the University of Minnesota's Aurora II just 18 minutes behind.

The route covered 2,494.9 mi (4,015.2 km), taking the teams from Austin, Texas in the United States to Calgary, Alberta in Canada.

Overall Standings The 2008 North American Solar Challenge took place on July 13–22, 2008, mostly along the 2005 route from Dallas, Texas to Calgary, Alberta.

The University of Michigan's Continuum won the race with a total elapsed time of 51 hours, 41 minutes, and 53 seconds, marking that school's fifth victory.

[15] Overall Standings The 2014 American Solar Challenge reverted to the familiar south–north race route starting in Austin, Texas, and finishing in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

[16] Overall Standings The 2016 American Solar Challenge ran from Brecksville, Ohio to Hot Springs, South Dakota from July 30 to August 6, 2016.

In second place was the Dunwoody College of Technology team in partnership with Zurich University of Applied Sciences.

ASC partnered with the National Park Service, and the route included stages and checkpoints at historic sights along the Oregon Trail.

Similar to the 2018 race, ASC partnered with the National Park Service, and the route traversed through historic sites and landmarks along the Oregon Trail.

The team from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology took first place in the single-occupant class with their champion vehicle from the previous race, Nimbus.