Gregory Eaton found redemption at this year's 62nd SCCA® National Championship Runoffs® Presented by Sunoco at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. After leading last year's American Sedan® (AS) race from flag to flag before being disqualified, the four-time champion returned to claim a clean victory — and with it, an SCCA Super Sweep, awarded to drivers who win a U.S. Majors Tour® Conference Championship, a Hoosier Racing Tire SCCA® Super Tour® Nationwide Points Championship, and a Runoffs® title in the same class. It’s a rare achievement.
But before any laurels could be awarded, there was still a race to run. Eight-time National Champion Andy McDermid started from the Tire Rack Pole in his No. 24 Ford Mustang, with Eaton alongside on the front row in the No. 21 Eaton Racing and Development Ford Mustang. Defending champion Daniel Richardson lined up third in the No. 22 Hoosier/AutoGear/Carbotech/Anze Chevrolet Camaro, with Thomas J. Ellis fourth in the No. 51 Steeda Ford Mustang.
At the start, McDermid took the lead heading into Turn 1, but Eaton wasn't about to yield so easily, diving up the inside through the fast corner and trading a little paint with the polesitter. McDermid ran wide on exit, dropping to third behind Richardson.
With Eaton now out front, the chase was on. Exiting Road America's treacherous Turn 5, McDermid blasted past Richardson on the climb up the hill to Turn 6 and set his sets on Eaton. But in lap two, McDermid slowed and pulled off track with a mechanical issue — a common problem in the AS class.
McDermid's retirement left Eaton comfortably in front, leading Richardson by several seconds. By mid-race, Eaton was managing his tires and brakes, maintaining a four-second gap over Richardson, with Ellis another four seconds back. The order held steady until the final lap, when Dylan Licklider’s No. 89 Ford Mustang mounted a late charge for the last podium spot. Ellis drove defensively through the Carousel, the Kink, Canada Corner, and the Billy Mitchell Bend to fend off the attack — securing the bronze medal at the line.
At the checker, it was Eaton — of Washington DC Region — taking both the championship and the Super Sweep, finishing 6.32 seconds ahead of Richardson, with Ellis another 5.215 seconds back in third. Licklider finished fourth and the No. 11 Mustang of Roger Eagleton rounded out the top five.
"I knew the three other cars around me," Eaton said after the race. "They all had better legs than me and I was hoping that somebody would make a mistake. I had a little window there to get inside Andy. I know we made a little contact, but it looked like he was able to get back to my bumper and then I don't know what happened to him. Then I was really trying to not focus on that rear view mirror. For me it was, just don't do anything stupid again."
Bringing home his second podium finish in as many years, Richardson was emotional in Victory Circle.
"I made a mistake in practice and ended up in the wall on the outside of the Kink,” he said. “We thought we were done, but the crew jumped in and literally patched the car back together with straps and stuff. They turned it into a Frankenstein! They did an amazing job and I can't be happier to have even finished the race, much less to be on the podium. "
For his part, Ellis was simply thrilled to be on the podium, exclaiming, "It's my first time, and it's a good feeling, so I'm excited. It's not as good as winning, but I just had nothing for these guys and the car started fading so bad at the end of the race. But as long as I'm in third, I'm on the podium. I'm happy."
The Sunoco Hard Charger award for most positions gained in the race went to Eagleton, who gained four positions during the race — climbing from ninth on grid to finish fifth.
The 62nd SCCA® National Championship Runoffs® Presented by Sunoco is the pinnacle of American amateur motorsports and crowns Sports Car Club of America™ Champions as part of the Summit Racing Equipment SCCA Road Racing program. In 2025, two Hagerty Race Days at Wisconsin’s Road America decide 23 gold-medal winners.
Live, online video coverage of Runoffs races is available over both competition days at SCCA’s Official YouTube Channel. Live timing and scoring for each race is also available at SCCA.com/live.
Below are final results for Sunday's American Sedan race at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs Presented by Sunoco; with finish position, starting position in parentheses, driver, SCCA Region, car, and laps completed.
1, (2), Gregory Eaton, Washington DC Region, Ford Mustang, 13.
2, (3), Daniel Richardson, Washington DC Region, Chevrolet Camaro, 13.
3, (4), Thomas J Ellis, Florida Region, Ford Mustange, 13.
4, (5), Dylan Licklider, Blue Mountain Region, Ford Mustang GT, 13.
5, (9), Roger Eagleton, San Francisco Region, Ford Mustang GT, 12.
6, (7), Michael Kamalian, Atlanta Region, Ford Mustang GT, 12.
7, (11), Kelly Lubash, New England Region, Chevrolet Camaro, 12.
DNF, (10), Andy Schniedermeyer, St Louis Region, Chevrolet Camaro, 3.
DNF, (1), Andrew McDermid, Detroit Region, Ford Mustang, 1.
DNF, (8), Kyle Gilbert, Blackhawk Valley Region, Chevrolet Camaro, 1.
DNS, (6), James Jost, Philadelphia Region, Ford Mustang GT, 0.
Race Stats
Length of Race: 52.62 miles
Overall Time of Race: 33:36.398 (avg. 93.953 mph)
Margin of Victory: 6.320 seconds
Fastest Race Lap: 2:29.232 (97.652 mph)
Lap Leaders: #21, Laps 1-13;
Sunoco Hard Charger: #11 Roger Eagleton
Photo by: Jay Bonvouloir
