SONOMA, California (October 21, 2018) – Collin Jackson led every lap of the GT-3 race to take home his fifth national championship at the 55th SCCA® National Championship Runoffs® at Sonoma Raceway in California.
Jackson, of Langley, British Columbia, started second in the No. 53 Specialty Engineering/Goodyear Nissan 240-SX, qualifying just 0.135 seconds behind Michael Lewis. What shaped up to be a close competition between two very familiar and experienced adversaries didn’t disappoint. Jackson wasted no time getting to the front by passing polesitter Lewis in Turn 2 on the first lap. In doing so, he also earned the Sunoco Hard Charger award.
“We were good in different areas. I was really good going down the hill, but Lewis was really good in the brake zones,” explains Jackson. My car was set up on the edge and it was hard keeping it on the bubble.”
Jackson led the whole race, but it wasn’t an easy victory. Lewis hounded him for the entirety of the contest, at times just a car length or two behind. Jackson responded when challenged, gapping Lewis seemingly at will. Tires were going off by the last lap when Jackson broke traction under power, giving Lewis an opportunity. Lewis pushed Jackson hard all the way to the checkered flag, finishing just 0.052 seconds behind in a photo finish.
“I knew that it was a good car and that we’d be strong, but I hadn’t driven one for about 20 years,” said Lewis. “I took a guess at what was the best thing to do and it turns out I probably left a little too much at the end.”
After a DNF in GT-Lite, Taz Harvey and his No. 88 Dublin Mazda/Hoosier Mazda RX-7 took home third in a redemption race. He was unable to match the pace of Jackson and Lewis, but drove a clean race unchallenged from behind while fourth place was contested throughout most of the race.
“It was a lot of competition, and that's what we come here for. It was a lot of fun, and I can't wait until next year in Virginia,” Harvey said. “It was a heartbreaker in the GTL race, especially for the crew because those guys do so much for me. This will keep them going through the winter, I think. It was great.”
Gary Bockman crossed the finish in fourth in the No. 09 Bockman & Son Mazda RX-3. Fifth place went to Jose Rodriguez in the No. 59 Mountain View Vacation Rental P R Mazda RX-7.
The 55th SCCA® National Championship Runoffs®, the Pinnacle of American Motorsports, crowns Sports Car Club of America’s Road Racing National Champions this year at Sonoma Raceway in California Friday, Oct. 19 through Sunday, Oct 21.
Live, online video coverage of Runoffs races, presented by Mazda, is available throughout the three days of competition at SCCA.com/live. An audio race call, supplied by the Super Tour Radio broadcast team, is also available at www.SCCA.com/live , as well as live timing and scoring for each National Championship race.
SONOMA, Calif. -- Provisional results for Sunday’s GT-3 race at the 55th SCCA National Championship Runoffs from Sonoma Raceway, with finish position, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car and laps completed.
1, (2), Collin Jackson, Langley, BC, Nissan 240-SX, 20.
2, (1), Michael Lewis, Poway, CA, Mazda RX-7, 20.
3, (3), Taz Harvey, Danville, CA, Mazda RX-7, 20.
4, (5), Gary Bockman, Camas, WA, Mazda RX-3, 20.
5, (4), Jose Rodriguez, San Leandro, CA, Mazda RX-7, 20.
6, (10), Doug Sherwood, Longmont, CO, Mazda RX-7, 19.
7, (8), Guy Laidig, Woodside, CA, Mazda RX-7, 14.
8, (7), Larry Hansen, Redding, CA, Nissan 350Z, 13.
9, (6), Jeff Scoville, Corvallis, OR, Nissan 240-SX, 0.
DNS, (9), Michael Heintzman, San Jose, CA, Mazda Miata, .
Length of Race: 50 Miles
Overall Time of Race: 34:50.605 (avg. 86.788 mph)
Margin of Victory: 00.052 seconds
Fastest Race Lap: 1:42.634 (88.392 mph)
Lap Leaders: #53 laps 1-20
Sunoco Hard Charger: #53 Collin Jackson
Photo: Collin Jackson holds off Michael Lewis to win the GT-3 Runoffs at Sonoma Raceway.
Photo Credit: Jay Bonvouloir
