TOPEKA, Kan. (Sept. 5, 2015) – A total of 140 new SCCA U.S. Majors Tour Conference Champions have been decided across 28 classes in five geographically-based conferences. This marked the first year of the expanded SafeRacer Club Racing Program, filling the demand for increased events on the east coast.

While the growth of the program is a positive step for the Club Racing program, what is most important is the inclusion of 28 additional deserving SCCA Majors Conference Champions across the five conferences that represent the entire lower 48.

Based on number and variety of championship titles won in 2015, Scott Rettich, of Columbus, Ohio, was the big winner this past season. Rettich landed a total of three Majors Conference Championships in three different classes, and three different conferences, all at the controls of SCCA Enterprises-constructed cars. Rettich wrapped up the Spec Racer Ford crown in the Southeast Conference, then moved on to win the SRF Gen3 battle in the Northeast. He concluded the season by taking home the Formula Enterprises title in the Northern Conference.

Tim Kezman, of Franksville, Wisconsin, tied Rettich for the total number of championships won throughout the season, however Kezman’s titles were spread over two different classes within two conferences. In Southeast Conference competition, Kezman wrapped up the Touring 2 title. As part of the Northern Conference, Kezman was the season-long winner in both T2 and GT-2 classes.

Five drivers managed to fight off championship challengers to win two Conference crowns in 2015. Chuck Moran, of Oakton, Virginia, was the Formula Continental winner in the Southeast and Northeast Conferences while Michael Scornavacchi, of Matthews, North Carolina, was the Touring 4 champion in the same conferences. Jack Walbran, of St. Louis, Missouri, took home the Formula 500 winner’s hardware in the Southeast and Mid-States Conferences.

Completing the list of dual-title winners were Michael Pettiford, of Louisville, Colorado, and Matt Reynolds, of Fair Oaks, Texas. Pettiford struck gold in the Touring 1 and Touring 2 classes in the Mid-States Conference while Reynolds did the same in E Production and Spec Miata in the same Conference.

While winning the multiple championships in one season is impressive, holding one title for years on end is also difficult. In its third full season of competition, the SCCA Majors has produced a group of nine drivers that have won at least one title each season. Jim Wheeler, of Lenexa, Kansas, has completed the defense of his American Sedan title in the Mid-States Conference for three years. Aside from winning multiple championships this season, Moran has also shown he can find is way to the top year after year. This was his third consecutive FC title in the Eastern or Northeast Conference. Like Moran, Reynolds is also a three-time champ, but in E Production.

David Fershtand, of Ft. Worth, Texas, has a stranglehold on the GT-1 class in the Mid-States Conference following his third-consecutive class win, while John Bower, of Granada Hills, California, has proved to be the top dog in the GT-Lite class in the Western Conference. Also in the Western Conference, David Ferguson, of Paso Robles, California, has been the at the top of his game in the inactive S2000, and current Prototype 2, classes for the past three seasons.

Eric Prill, of Topeka, Kansas, completed the three-peat in of the Mid-States Conference F Production class. Alex Mayer, of Harleysville, Pennsylvania, Rettich and Kirk Kindsfater, Eaton, Colorado, all completed the triple.

Seven drivers fended off the all challengers to complete a successful two-time defense of their championship titles. These drivers represented four of the five conferences. The Western Conference only saw one successful title defense, that of Bower. Each of the other 27 classes featured new blood at the top of the standings.

The Mid-States Conference had three repeat class winners, including Pettiford (Touring 1), Chuck Hearn (Formula Vee) and Jonathan Goodale (GTL).

Two drivers in the Northern Conference were able to convert their season-long performances into a second consecutive Majors title. Richard Walke (Super Touring Lite) and Gregory Gauper (H Production) earned the title of two-time defending champions.

Preston Calvert (T2), was the lone representative from the Northeast Conference while Jacek Mucha (P1) was up to the test in the Southeast Conference.

The complete standings for the 2015 SCCA U.S. Majors Tour season can be seen here.

TOPEKA, Kan. – 2015 SCCA U.S. Majors Tour Conference Champions, part of the Safe Racer Club Racing Program. Champions are grouped by class with name, conference, car and accumulated points, (tiebreakers explained).

American Sedan
Jim Wheeler, Mid-States Conference, Pontiac TransAm, 192
Daniel Richardson, Northeastern Conference, Chevrolet Camaro, 171
Andrew McDermid, Northern Conference, Ford Mustang, 196
Tom Ellis, Southeastern Conference, Ford Mustang, 121
Christopher Qualls, Western Conference, Ford Mustang, 150
B-Spec
John Phillips, Mid-States Conference, Toyota Yaris, 192
Brian Audet, Northeastern Conference, MINI Cooper, 167
David Daughtery, Northern Conference, Honda Fit, 112
Mac Korince, Southeastern Conference, MINI Cooper, 135
Eric Boucher, Western Conference, Mazda2, 189
E Production
Matt Reynolds, Mid-States Conference, Mazda Miata, 200
Chris Dryden, Northeastern Conference, BMW Z3, 171
Joe Moser, Northern Conference, Honda Prelude, 192
Greg Ira, Southeastern Conference, Datsun 240Z, 103
Anthony Jimerson, Western Conference, Mazda RX-7
Formula 500
John W. “Jack” Walbran, Mid-States Conference, Novakar J10, 200
David Lapham, Northeastern Conference, Invader QC-1, 156
James Weida, Northern Conference, Scorpion W1, 146
John W. “Jack” Walbran, Southeastern Conference, Novakar J10, 170
H. Joseph Rozelle, Western Conference, Novakar J10, 25
Formula Atlantic
Tyler Hunter, Mid-States Conference, Swift 014a, 184
Garth Rickards, Northeastern Conference, Swift 016/Mazda, 100
James Smart, Northern Conference, Swift 014a, 126
Conner Kearby, Southeastern Conference, Swift 016/Mazda, 146
Edward Lever, Western Conference, Pro Star Mazda, 146
Formula 1000
James Michael, Mid-States Conference, Stohr F1000, 136
J.R. Osborne, Northeastern Conference, Firman F1000, 178
Tyler Thielmann, Northern Conference, JDR-012, 200
Alex Mayer, Southeastern Conference, JDR, 134, (Has most wins)
John Labrie, Western Conference, Phoenix Race Works F1K12, 188
Formula Continental
Brandon Dixon tied with Travis Parker, Mid-States Conference, 50, (Equal number of points and race wins)
Charles Moran, Northeastern Conference, Van Diemen RF99, 139
Jim Victor, Northern Conference, Firman, 124
Charles Moran, Southeastern Conference, Van Diemen RF99, 177
Robert Armington, Western Conference, Van Diemen RF00, 173
Formula Enterprises
Henry Donohoo, Mid-States Conference, SCCA Formula Enterprise, 125
Joseph Sammut, Northeastern Conference, SCCA Enterprise, 181
Scott Rettich, Northern Conference, SCCA Enterprise, 175
Thomas Green, Southeastern Conference, SCCA Enterprise, 138
Jeff Read, Western Conference, SCCA Enterprise, 181
Formula F
Max Mallinen, Mid-States Conference, Spectrum 014/Honda, 150
William Atherholt, Northeastern Conference, Swift DB-1, 81
Timothy Kautz, Northern Conference, Piper DF3D/Honda, 200
Thomas McGregor, Southeastern Conference, Spectrum 014/Honda, 163
Daniel Swanbeck, Western Conference, Piper DF-5, 156
Formula Mazda
Larry Howard, Mid-States Conference, Formula Mazda, 154
Robert Noell, Northeastern Conference, Formula Mazda, 50
Joseph Burton-Harris, Northern Conference, Formula Mazda, 50
Doug Peterson, Southeastern Conference, Formula Mazda, 123
Michael Ottis, Western Conference, Formula Mazda, 196
F Production
Eric Prill, Mid-States Conference, Mazda Miata, 200
Charlie Campbell, Northeastern Conference, Mazda Miata, 196
Michael Froh, Northern Conference, Mazda Miata, 172
Ken Kannard, Southeastern Conference, Mazda Miata, 196
Joe Huffaker, Western Conference, MG Midget, 196
Formula Vee
Charles Hearn, Mid-States Conference, Vortech, 148
Richard Shields, Northeastern Conference, VDF-2, 147
Andrew Whitston, Northern Conference, Protoform P2, 161
Laura Hayes, Southeastern Conference, Protoform P2, 161
Dennis Andrade, Western Conference, Vortech, 186
GT-1
David Fershtand, Mid-States Conference, Chevrolet Corvette, 96
Jack Busch, Northeastern Conference, Ford Mustang, 125
Michael Lewis, Northern Conference, Jaguar XKR, 150
Simon Gregg, Southeastern Conference, Chevrolet Corvette, 184
Kenneth Davis, Western Conference, Chevrolet Corvette, 109
GT-2
Brad Gross, Mid-States Conference, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 114
Robert Lentz, Sr., Northeastern Conference, Nissan 300ZX, 129
Tim Kezman, Northern Conference, Porsche 997, 162
Randall Kinsland, Southeastern Conference, Chevrolet Corvette, 151
Erich Joiner, Western Conference, Porsche 997 GT3 Cup, 159
GT-3
Alan Marshall, Mid-States Conference, Mazda RX-7, 164
Christopher Howard, Northeastern Conference, Mazda Miata, 120
Joe Kristensen, Northern Conference, Acura RSX, 150
Ray Stephenson, Southeastern Conference, Mazda RX-7, 138
Collin Jackson, Western Conference, Nissan 240SX, 150
GT-Lite
Jonathan Goodale, Mid-States Conference, Mazda MX-5, 117
Kyle Disque, Northeastern Conference, Toyota Tercel, 184
Joel Hipp, Northern Conference, Austin Mini, 132
Peter Shadowen, Southeastern Conference, 139
John Bower, Western Conference, Nissan Sentra, 120
H Production
Chris Albin, Mid-States Conference, Volkswagen GTI/Golf, 142
Johannes Krauss, Northeastern Conference, Volkswagen Scirocco, 125
Gregory Gauper, Northern Conference, Honda Civic, 200
Will Perry, Southeastern Conference, Honda CRX, 150
Jason Isley, Western Conference, Toyota Yaris, 200
Prototype 1
Kirk Kindsfater, Mid-States Conference, Speads RS11, 200
David Dickerson, Northeastern Conference, Radical SR3, 89
John Gyann, Northern Conference, Stohr WF1, 119
Jacek Mucha, Southeastern Conference, JMS 016 cp/Mazda, 180
James Devenport, Western Conference, Norma M20FC, 146
Prototype 2
Bruce Gurney, Mid-States Conference, Carbir S2000, 142
Dennis Hanratty, Jr., Northeastern Conference, West WR-1000, 196
Greg Gyann, Northern Conference, Stohr WF1, 192
Sherman Chao, Southeastern Conference, Stohr WF1, 160
David Ferguson, Western Conference, Van Diemen RFS-03/Mazda, 176
Spec Miata
Matt Reynolds, Mid-States Conference, Mazda Miata, 171
Tyler Kicera, Northeastern Conference, Mazda Miata, 178
Justin Hille, Northern Conference, Mazda Miata, 188
Danny Steyn, Southeastern Conference, Mazda Miata, 163
Marco Gallaher, Western Conference, Mazda Miata, 164
Spec Racer Ford
Grayson Strathman, Mid-States Conference, SRF, 196
Bruce Myers, Northeastern Conference, SRF, 145
Adam Gottlieb, Northern Conference, SRF, 196
Scott Rettich, Southeastern Conference, SRF, 184
Paul Raby, Western Conference, SRF, 137
Spec Racer Ford Gen3
Richard Stephens, Mid-States Conference, SRF3, 155
Joseph Sammut, Northeastern Conference, SRF3, 145
Scott Rettich, Northern Conference, SRF3, 189
Kerry Jacobsen, Southeastern Conference, SRF3, 181
Mike Miserendino, Western Conference, SRF3, 192
Super Touring Lite
Cliff Ira, Mid-States Conference, Acura Integra GSR, 75
Robert Beede, Northeastern Conference, Honda Civic Si, 169
Richard Walke, Northern Conference, Mazda RX-7, 170
Nick Leverone, Southeastern Conference, Mazda Miata, 150
Paul Whiting, Western Conference, Honda CRX, 186
Super Touring Under
Anthony Simmers, Mid-States Conference, Volkswagen GTI, 166
John Schmitt, Northeastern Conference, Honda Civic, 146
Ian Girvan, Northern Conference, Acura Integra GSR, 134
Michael Flynn, Southeastern Conference, BMW E46, 119
Michele Abbate, Western Conference, Scion FR-S, 176
Touring 1
Michael Pettiford, Mid-States Conference, Chevrolet Corvette, 167
David Sanders, Northeastern Conference, Chevrolet Corvette, 180
John Buttermore, Northern Conference, Chevrolet Corvette, 142
George Winkler, Southeastern Conference, Ford Mustang Boss 302S, 107
Marc Hoover, Western Conference, Mazda MX-5, 196
Touring 2
Michael Pettiford, Mid-States Conference, Pontiac Solstice GXP, 188
Preston Calvert, Northeastern Conference, Ford Mustang GT, 163
Tim Kezman, Northern Conference, Porsche 911, 177
Tim Kezman, Southeastern Conference, Porsche 911, 169
Russell Peterson, Western Conference, Ford Shelby GT, 182
Touring 3
Robert Schader, Mid-States Conference, Nissan 350Z, 200
Chad Gilsinger, Northeastern Conference, Acura TL, 196
J. Womack, Northern Conference, BMW Z4 M Coupe, 200
Tom Brady, Southeastern Conference, BMW M3, 117
Tom Wickersham, Western Conference, Ford Mustang, 130
Touring 4
James Place, Mid-States Conference, Acura GRS, 176
Michael Scornavacchi, Northeastern Conference, Ford Mustang, 171
Voytek Burdzy, Northern Conference, Mazda MX-5, 184
Michael Scornavacchi, Southeastern Conference, Ford Mustang, 150
Tom Wickersham, Western Conference, Mazda MX-5, 171

Image: Jim Wheeler completed his second American Sedan Mid-States Conference title defense.
Credit: Mark Weber