“It wasn't quite that easy – we worked hard,” Franklin Futrelle said after winning his fourth SCCA National Championship title, this one coming in Formula Enterprises® 2 on the second of two Hagerty Race Days at the 62nd SCCA® National Championship Runoffs® Presented by Sunoco at Road America. The question he’d been asked related to his leading every lap of the race, setting the pace, and not faltering once during the 13-lap title bout, even through an early-race restart. “ Comprent Motor Sports, these guys worked way harder than they should have, and it paid off. It was a real team effort.”
Futrelle landing on the top step of the podium wasn’t a surprise to those who know his pedigree — his trophy case already contained three other Runoffs gold medals (two in Spec Racer® Ford Gen3 and one in Formula Mazda). He was also the Tire Rack Polesitter for this year’s race. Futrelle’s No. 7 Meco Inc/Kart King/Jet Food Stores FE2 led 10 other drivers, including Gian Buffomante starting second with Steve Whitston and Eric Wisniewski rounding out the second row.
Being a spec class, qualifying lap times were expected to be tight — and tight they were, with the span from pole to third being a mind-bending 0.076 second.
The green flag flew on a beautifully warm and tenderly breezy Sunday afternoon, the championship battle taking place on the second of two Hagerty Race Days — and Futrelle knew the assignment. Timing the start like a pro, Futrelle established a huge lead at the start, seemingly catching the rest of the field sleeping. His lead held strong through the first lap, although Buffomante and Wisniewski were quick to form a train in hopes of tracking down the leader, with Whitston leading the next grouping that included Adam Jennerjahn and Paul Schneider.
On lap three, the stranded car of Dean Opperman at Canada Corner triggered a brief full-course yellow, erasing Futrelle’s early advantage and forcing him to rebuild his lead on the restart. When the green flag waved, he did just that – charging cleanly through Turn 1 to regain control.
Behind him, the fight for second intensified, with Buffomante and Wisniewski going side-by-side and making light contact. Both continued, but the brush appeared to bend Buffomante’s front wing, causing him to slip down the order.
Another lap later, Futrelle still held the lead, but Wisniewski’s nose was glued to his gearbox as the duo pulled out a 4.5 second gap over Whitston, Whitney Strickland, and Jennerjahn. The following lap, Whitston spun exiting Turn 14, ending his bid for a podium finish.
With the pack settled in at the halfway point, Futrelle held a potentially tenuous 1.2 second lead over Wisniewski’s No. 25 REMAX Commercial Group/Hillenburg FE2. Jennerjahn trailed by more than six seconds in third, followed by Schneider and an increasingly distant Strickland. While each driver in that top four stayed within sight of the car ahead, none were close enough to mount a challenge.
Working lap 12, Schneider made the move on Jennerjahn into Turn 1, clawing his way onto the final step of the podium in his No. 73 MediSpaCharlotte/Comprent Mtrsprts FE2. Jennerjahn didn’t roll over, though, and on the final lap Schneider slid slightly wide in Canada Corner, handing a second chance to Jennerjahn as the two approached the front straight.
Speaking of that last lap, Futrelle’s last go-round ended with a 2.608 second margin of victory over Wisniewski, followed by Schneider nearly 10 seconds further back. Jennerjahn made the most of his second-chance battle with Schneider, but came up short of the podium by 0.156 second.
Futrelle’s race to gold wasn’t a runaway in his eyes. “Hitting the marks was my main thing,” he said before heading to victory circle with the other podium finishers to spray Mazza sparkling wine. “I knew there was going to be some ebb and flow. The guy behind me may run a better lap here and there, but I was just trying to stay consistent – try to win.”
“It feels good,” exclaimed 17-year-old runner-up Wisniewski after collecting his second consecutive silver medal in the class. “A lot of hard work went into this weekend and this whole week, and [it’s] just really nice to get a podium here.”
Schneider was ecstatic to be back on the podium — the first time since 2017. His impressive run from seventh also earned him the Sunoco Hard Charger award.
“Daddy's back on the podium, kids! It feels good to be back,” he exclaimed to the camera after climbing from his car. “We're way off the pace to start off the whole run here. To finally get back here feels so good!”
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 Formula Enterprises® 2 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, (1), Franklin Futrelle, Atlanta Region, SCCA Ent FE2, 13.
2, (4), Eric Wisniewski, Western Michigan Region, SCCA Ent FE2, 13.
3, (7), Paul Schneider, Central Carolinas Region, SCCA Ent FE2, 13.
4, (5), Adam Jennerjahn, Indianapolis Region, SCCA Ent FE2, 13.
5, (8), Whitney Strickland, Houston Region, SCCA Ent FE2, 13.
6, (3), Steve Whitston, Milwaukee Region, SCCA Ent FE2, 13.
7, (11), Sam Harrington, Washington DC Region, SCCA Ent FE2, 13.
8, (2), Gian Buffomante, Chicago Region, SCCA Ent FE2, 13.
9, (10), Robert Vanman, Texas Region, SCCA Ent FE2, 11.
DNF, (6), Dean Oppermann, Chicago Region, SCCA Ent FE2, 2.
DNS, (9), Tom Burt, Northwest Region, SCCA Ent FE2, 0.
Race Stats
Length of Race: 52.62 Miles
Overall Time of Race: 30:43.633 (avg. 102.757 mph)
Margin of Victory: 2.608 seconds
Fastest Race Lap: 2:13.339 (109.291 mph)
Lap Leaders: #7, Laps 1-13
Sunoco Hard Charger: #73 Paul Schneider
Photo by: Jay Bonvouloir
