September 24, 2016

(Edited Sept. 25 to reflect a change in the final results)

LEXINGTON, Ohio (September 24, 2016) — The second day of racing ended Saturday at the 53rd SCCA National Championship Runoffs presented by Garmin VIRB with the B-Spec class, which became a display of complete dominance by David Daughtery, of Fortville, Indiana, in the No. 94 Carbotech/Honda/HPD/Hoosier/KTuners Honda Fit.

From the get-go, Tire Rack pole sitter Daughtery jumped to the lead with Chi Ho, of Orlando, Florida, tucked right behind in the No. 07 BFGoodrich/Oreca-gear.com/Ktuner Honda Fit. The two put some space immediately on the rest of the field as a few other competitors tangled at the second turn from the start.

Before the halfway point in the race, Daughtery had pulled away to what would become a 10-second lead at times. He was never pressured and never gave up the top spot, claiming his ninth Runoffs win and first in B-Spec.

“The car was awesome today,” Daughtery said. “Our goal was to go out like gangbusters right off the bat. I figured that would be my strong point because I’d be weaker toward the end.

“Mid-Ohio being Honda’s track, I wanted to come here with Honda to get my first win in a Honda,” Daughtery continued. “And I’m looking forward to next year, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, to doing the same thing.”

After Daughtery pulled away, Ho found himself falling back into the clutches of the chase pack consisting of John Phillips from Sealy, Texas, in the No. 43 PRP/Hoosier/Jacks Paint Place Honda Fit; John Heinricy, from Clarkston, Michigan, in the No. 35 Hoosier/Mobil/Hawk/Matick Chevy Chevrolet Sonic; and Ryan Hall, of New Haven, Connecticut, in the No. 03 IndianSummerRacing/AdvancedMonogram Mini Cooper. For several laps, those four had an exciting battle for the second podium position. Heinricy crossed the finish line in second place, but was relegated to third by the stewards for avoidable contact during the race.

“It was a lot of fun today,” Heinricy said. “There was a lot of racing going on in our pack. Ran as hard as I could pretty much the whole race.”

Ho, crossed the line in third place, but inherited second when Heinricy was demoted. It is his first podium finish in only a second appearance at the national championship.

“It’s an honor to run against these multiple Runoffs champions,” Ho said. “I just tried to be as consistent as possible, hit my marks every time, and hopefully give them a good fight at the end. Third place is good. It’s not the top of the podium, but I’m happy with it.”

Phillips crossed the line in fourth, but was moved to the last finishing position for contact during the race. Darren Seltzer, of Oviedo, Florida, inherited fourth in the No. 64 ORECA/BFGoodrich/KTuner Honda Fit, while Rob Piekarczyk’s No. 09 Red E Vodka/HPD/Kryderacing/OTC Honda Fit was elevated to fifth.

Taking the Sunoco Hard Charger award was Jason Huepenbecker, of Winter Park, Florida, in the No. 23 Dynasty Automotive Honda Fit, finishing 7th from his 10th-place grid position.

The 53rd SCCA National Championship Runoffs presented by Garmin VIRB, the Pinnacle of American Motorsports, crowns Sports Car Club of America’s Club Racing National Champions this year at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, from Friday, September 23 through Sunday, September 25.

While the live broadcast of all 28 National Championships is available live at SCCA.com, each race will be on demand in the coming weeks.

LEXINGTON, Ohio — Provisional results for Saturday’s SCCA B-Spec National Championship at the 53rd SCCA National Championship Runoffs presented by Garmin VIRB at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, with finish position, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car and laps complete.

1, (1), David Daughtery, Fortville, IN, Honda Fit, 22.
2, (2), Chi Ho, orlando , FL, Honda Fit, 22.
3, (4), John Heinricy, Clarkston, MI, Chevrolet Sonic, 22.
4, (6), Darren Seltzer, Oviedo, FL, Honda Fit, 22.
5, (7), Rob Piekarczyk, Brunswick, OH, Honda Fit, 22.
6, (8), Calvin Tam, Long Beach, CA, Honda Fit, 22.
7, (10), Jason Huepenbecker, Winter Park, FL, Honda Fit, 21.
8, (5), Ryan Hall, New Haven, CT, Mini Cooper, 12.
9, (3), John Phillips, Sealy, TX, Honda Fit, 22.
DNS, (9), Ted Sahley, Cleveland, OH, Mazda 2, .

Overall Time of Race: 40:08.415

Average Race Speed: 74.254 mph

Margin of Victory: 8.599 seconds

Fastest Race Lap: John Heinricy, 1:46.930 (80.967 mph)

Sunoco Hard Charger: #23 Jason Huepenbecker

Lap Leaders: Laps 1-22, #94 David Daughtery

Photo: David Daughtery took the B-Spec Runoffs win, his ninth national championship

Hermosa Beach, California-native Brian Linn earned his second SCCA National Championship Runoffs presented by Garmin VIRB win in as many years on Saturday at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Unlike 2015, he and back-to-back runner-up Jason Isley, of Coto De Caza, California, were pointed down the track and moving forward. Ron Bartell, of Madbury, New Hampshire, finished third in an emotional podium.

Linn drove his No. 21 Hoosier/Carbotech/Red Line Oil MG Midget to a slim 0.697-second win in 39:54.854, averaging 67.886 miles in the time-shortened race that was slowed by a five-lap full course caution.

At the 2015 Runoffs at Daytona International Raceway, Linn and Isley, along with A.J. Hulse made contact on Daytona’s fast tri-oval and slid across the finish line, with Linn taking the win. At Mid-Ohio, Linn skipped the theatrics and drove superbly for the victory.

“It feels great,” Linn said. “I came here, going to run two classes. SportsCar kind of put it out there that it may be too tall of a task for me, and I fell behind in F Production because of it. After that, I had to focus on my best chance, and that was H.

“The last lap, going down the backstraight, Jason closed up the gap a bunch, and he was coming. I went to the inside, and then we came through and I didn’t know it was the last lap. And my crew said ‘congratulations,’ and I saw the corner worker give me a thumbs up.

“Last year, I had the car that had the highest speed capability. It wasn’t as much driver there as it was car potential. Jason clearly had a handle on the infield there, better than I was driving. I screwed up on the last lap there but was fortunate to come back and get it. But this, no drama.”

Isley’s No. 99 TRD/Hoosier/RACER.com Toyota Yaris moved from the second row to the lead on the start, using the straight line speed of his front-wheel drive machine to slide around the outside.

“I figured I’d have the legs on the start, but I was deathly afraid that people in the back would have a head of steam and it would be a yard sale behind us. I just wanted to feel it out and see. Unfortunately, during qualifying, I didn’t make a practice start, so I had no idea where the brake point would be. So I figured I would wait for them to brake, and brake later, and it worked. But there was no point in leading from that race because I knew I was just going to heat the tires up and I wanted to save them for the end of the race. I wanted to show them that I could do it and I was hoping that we could get a small breakaway, but it just didn’t pan out.”

Isley gave the lead back to the No. 71 DJRace/West MI-Imports/Goodyear/RCRace Triumph Spitfire of Tire Rack polesitter Tom Feller, but the race was on from there. Feller led the first 12 laps officially, but both Linn and Isley led corners in that time frame.

Feller slipped back as the race progressed with a mechanical issue, eventually fading to sixth, as Bartell’s No. 4 Hoosier Tires MG Midget stayed in the mix. Bartell moved to second and challenged Linn before landing behind Isley at the checkered flag.

“It’s been a real rollercoaster week,” Bartell said. “We struggled in the early stages. We had some transmission trouble. We knew we were capable of setting some fast laps, but we were never able to finish the lap. When we finally got a gearbox under me, we almost put it on the pole. During the race, I tried my best. I swapped some positions with some of the guys, and I feel bad for Tom Feller. He certainly would have been in there, but without the full course caution, he would have been gone.

“I have a little bit of a heavy heart. I found out yesterday that my dad passed away. It was not unexpected, but it still hits you like a ton of bricks. So we strapped in a little bit with a heavy heart.”

Vesa Silegren hung just behind the lead pack for the full 20 laps, neither falling behind in the No. 60 Hoosier/Honda HPD/svtek.com Honda CRX nor having quite enough to challenge the leaders, finishing fourth. Dan Meller drove his No. 61 Core Consulting LLC Nissan 210 to fifth.

Johannes Krauss improved his No. 46 Hansa Reenen Volkswagen Scirocco 12 positions from the start of the race, finishing 20^th, to earn the Sunoco Hard Charger award.

While the live broadcast of all 28 National Championships is available live at SCCA.com, each race will be on demand in the coming weeks.

LEXINGTON, Ohio — Provisional results for Saturday’s SCCA H Production National Championship at the 53rd SCCA National Championship Runoffs presented by Garmin VIRB at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, with finish position, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car and laps complete.

1, (3), Brian Linn, Hermosa Beach, CA, MG Midget, 20.
2, (4), Jason Isley, Coto De Caza, CA, Toyota Yaris, 20.
3, (2), Ron Bartell, Madbury, NH, MG Midget, 20.
4, (5), Vesa Silegren, Chattanooga, TN, Honda CRX, 20.
5, (9), Dan Meller, Milwaukee, WI, Nissan 210, 20.
6, (1), Tom Feller, Holland, MI, Triumph Spitfire, 20.
7, (6), Matthew Brannon, Columbus, OH, Fiat X-1/9, 20.
8, (10), Eric Vickerman, Howell, MI, Austin-Healey Sprite, 20.
9, (7), Greg Gauper, Hubertus, WI, Honda Civic Si, 20.
10, (11), Michael Ogren, Northville, MI, Volkswagen Scirocco, 20.
11, (13), Jeffrey Parnell, Lake Forest, IL, Volkswagen Scirocco, 20.
12, (18), Gordon Jones, Tualatin, OR, BMW 1600, 20.
13, (17), Dayle Frame, Dewitt, MI, MG Midget, 20.
14, (20), Ron Copeland, Maumee, OH, Honda CRX Si, 20.
15, (24), Michael Miller, Walhalla, SC, Austin-Healey Sprite, 20.
16, (19), Michael Cummings, Martinez, CA, Austin-Healey Sprite, 20.
17, (25), Joe Camilleri, Etobicoke , ON, Volkswagen Scirocco, 20.
18, (28), Jason Stine, Broadview Heights, OH, Austin-Healey Sprite, 20.
19, (21), Marnie Brannon, Columbus, OH, Fiat X 1/9, 20.
20, (32), Johannes Krauss, Prattsville, NY, Volkswagen Scirocco, 20.
21, (33), Aldora Louw, Houston, TX, Fiat X-1/9, 19.
22, (26), Jack Schulz, Monett, MO, MG Midget, 18.
23, (16), Scott Hileman, Johnstown, OH, Volkswagen Rabbit, 17.
24, (27), Michael Sestili, Lakewood, OH, Honda Civic, 17.
25, (23), Jeremiah Reed, Cardington, OH, Volkswagen Rabbit, 16.
26, (12), William Trainer, Lake In The Hills, IL, Volkswagen Scirocco, 16.
27, (29), Michael MacQueen, University Park, MD, MG Midget, 15.
28, (31), Robert Horrell Jr, Memphis, TN, Honda CRX, 14.
29, (15), Steven Hussey, Capitola, CA, Honda CRX, 7.
30, (34), Jason LaManna, Ontario, NY, Volkswagen Rabbit, 5.
31, (22), Andrew Wright, Murfreesboro, TN, Triumph Spitfire, 3.
32, (30), James Hardesty, Xenia, OH, Honda Civic, 3.
33, (8), Chris Albin, Maryland Heights, MO, Volkswagen Golf, 2.
34, (14), Ralf Lindow, Bellevue, NE, Volkswagen Golf, 1.

Overall Time of Race: 39:54.854
Average Race Speed: 67.866 mph
Margin of Victory: 0.697 seconds
Fastest Race Lap: #4 Bartell, 1:40.425 (80.944 mph)
Sunoco Hard Charger: #46 Johannes Krauss
Lap Leaders: Laps 1-12, #71 Feller; Laps 13-20, #21 Linn

Kevin Roggenbuck Wins Formula 1000 National Championship in the SCCA Runoffs at Mid-Ohio

Kevin Roggenbuck, of Woodinville, Washington, ran in the lead pack from the drop of the green flag in his No. 12 Lake Union Sea Ray Firman RFR F1000 Kawasaki and survived a race several other top contenders didn’t to win Saturday’s Formula 1000 race in the SCCA National Championship Runoffs presented by Garmin VIRB at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Jeremy Hill, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, finished second in the No. 00 Hoosier Tire Photon VD07 Suzuki, and Nico Vardis, of Sylvan Lake, Michigan, recovered from a pair of spins to finish third in his No. 08 Hoosier JDR F1000 Kawasaki.

Roggenbuck jumped from fourth on the grid to third at the race start and moved to second a lap later when Tire Rack pole-sitter Alex Mayer crashed out exiting turn one. Mayer was uninjured in the incident.

“My goal was to be as consistent as I could because I knew some of the guys were going out on harder compound tires,” Roggenbuck said. “I was on the softer tires and I just had to hold it together. I was slipping and sliding around just trying to stay ahead of guys. I was pushing as hard as I could.”

Vardis passed Roggenbuck for second on lap six but gave the eventual race winner the position back, one lap later, when he spun in Mid-Ohio’s Carousel.

“When I was in second place my crew chief was telling me on the radio to ‘take it easy, be cool,’ and right then and there I went down too many gears coming into the Carousel and the rear end came around,” Vardis said. “When something happens like that your blood pressure goes up. Unfortunately, I was pushing it too hard and I spun again. I wish I would have had a cleaner run, but that’s OK, I got on the podium and I am pretty happy about that.”

Roggenbuck then inherited a lead he wouldn’t lose on lap 16 when race leader JR Obsorne slowed on course with mechanical issues and retired.

Once up front, Roggenbuck quickly felt the pressure of a fast-closing Hill, but a late-race full-course caution period brought the race to a close three laps early.

“Absolutely, I was planning on making a run on the lead,” said Hill, who set the fastest lap of the race. “I could tell he was starting to slip and slide. I started on the harder compound tires, so I knew I was going to be a sitting duck at the start, but then the race was coming to me. It was kind of working out, and with those couple of more laps, I think I would have had him.”

Roggenbuck’s National Championship came in his second Runoffs start and made up for a DNF after starting second in his debut at Daytona last year.

“There is no question there is a lot of luck in this game,” Roggenbuck said. “Last year I had some bad luck, this year I had some good luck, so I guess at some level I have to be very happy with that.”

Fourth place went to John LaBrie, of Draper, Utah, and Joel Haas, of Jupiter, Florida, finished fifth. Haas made it through a wheel-to-wheel contact incident on lap 17 with Peter Frost, whose damaged car stranded in the esses brought out the full course caution that led to the early end of the race.

LaBrie was awarded the Sunoco Hard Charger award for improving a race-high four positions from his eighth-place starting position in the No. 33 Bug & Weed Mart Phoenix F1K12 Suzuki.

While the live broadcast of all 28 National Championships is available live at SCCA.com, each race will be on demand in the coming weeks.

LEXINGTON, Ohio — Provisional results for Saturday’s Formula 1000 race at the 53rd SCCA National Championship Runoffs presented by Garmin VIRB at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, with finish position, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car and laps complete.

1, (4), Kevin Roggenbuck, Woodinville, WA, Firman RFR 1000 Kawasaki, 20.
2, (2), Jeremy Hill, Toronto, ON, Photon VD07 Suzuki, 20.
3, (5), Nicholas Vardis, Sylvan Lake, MI, JDR F1000 Suzuki, 20.
4, (8), John LaBrie, Draper, UT, Phoenix F1K12 Suzuki, 20.
5, (7), Joel Haas, Jupiter, FL, Piper DF-5 Kawasaki, 20.
6, (10), David O’Leary, Cranberry Twp, PA, Mygale SJ04 Suzuki, 19.
7, (9), Peter Frost, Douglasville, GA, Phoenix F-1000 Suzuki, 17.
8, (3), J R Osborne, Englewood, CO, Ralph Firman RFR F1000 Kawasaki, 16.
9, (6), Glenn Cooper, Roswell, GA, Stohr F1000 Kawasaki, 10.
10, (1), Alex Mayer, Harleysville, PA, JDR 2014 Suzuki, 1.

Length of Race: 45 miles
Overall Time of Race: 28:06.886
Average Speed: 96.376 mph
Margin of Victory: Race ended under caution
Fastest Race Lap: No. 00 Hill 1:21.015 (100.337 mph)
Lap Leaders: No. 83, laps 1 –15, No. 12, laps 16 -20
Sunoco Hard Charger: No. 33 John LaBrie

Seven-time Runoffs winner Steve Sargis grabbed the lead from the start of the GT-Lite race at the 53rd SCCA National Championship Runoffs presented by Garmin VIRB being held at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. But that’s not where Sargis finished. Instead, Peter Shadowen, of West Palm Beach, Florida, brought home his second Runoffs win and a SCCA Super Sweep.

Sargis, of Frankfort, Illinois, in the No. 18 Hoosier Triumph Spitfire found himself with a lead of nearly seven seconds on the 2.258-mile, 13-turn course in the 28-car field until lap 15 when he spun in the Keyhole. Passing by was a train of cars comprising of Shadowen in the No. 72 Road N Race Automotive Honda CRX, Kyle Disque in the No. 92 Hoosier/Toyota/71 Crowd Toyota Tercel, Michael Kamalian in the No. 99 RevolutionSpeed.com/Hoosier/Mazda Miata, and Christopher Bovis in the No. 78 CCW Wheels/Hoosier/Red Line Oil Honda CRX.

What transpired over the next dozen laps left the crowd, applauding, cheering and hooting at race’s end for the competitors. Lap after lap after lap, Shadowen held the front spot while pole sitter Disque, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Bovis, of Kansas City, Missouri; and Kamalian, of Marietta, Georgia, swapped positions constantly.

Everything was still up for grabs even on the very last lap. But as the group came around the final corner out of the Carousel, it was Shadowen who triumphed over his friends.

“This is awesome. I’ve never been to a Runoffs at Mid-Ohio. I was only hoping for a top 10 finish,” Shadowen said. “When Sargis parked it, then the pressure came on. Multiple cars where filling my mirrors. I was driving in my mirrors way more than I should’ve. It just seemed like there was always someone new there. At times I could even see someone on either side of my car.”

At the end of the skirmish, Disque sat second — which is his very first podium finish at the Runoffs.

“The Runoffs are awesome,” Disque said. “I came here with the goal of having a good weekend and a good race. I’m thrilled to finish second! This was definitely the most exciting race of my life.”

In third was Bovis, who fended off Kamalian on the closing lap.

“That was an amazing race. A lot of fun,” a grinning Bovis said. “We were quicker in some areas, but nowhere where I could get by. But we were all taking advantage of every opportunity we could. We all just had a fantastic time racing and putting on a good show.”

Kamalian finished fourth, and Troy Ermish, of Tracy, California, brought the No. 38 Rebello Racing Engines/LS Energy Nissan PL510 home in fifth.

Taking the Sunoco Hard Charger award was Ted Phenix, of Hawkesbury, Ontario, Canada, in the No. 49 GNA Alutech Inc MINI Cooper, finishing 17th from his 27th-place grid position.

While the live broadcast of all 28 National Championships is available live at SCCA.com, each race will be on demand in the coming weeks.

LEXINGTON, Ohio — Provisional results for Saturday’s SCCA GT-Lite National Championship at the 53rd SCCA National Championship Runoffs presented by Garmin VIRB at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, with finish position, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car and laps complete.

1, (4), Peter Shadowen, West Palm Beach, FL, Honda CRX, 23.

2, (1), Kyle Disque, Philadelphia, PA, Toyota Tercel, 23.

3, (5), Christopher Bovis, Kansas City, MO, Honda CRX, 23.

4, (7), Michael Kamalian, Marietta, GA, Mazda Miata, 23.

5, (6), Troy Ermish, Tracy, CA, Nissan PL510, 23.

6, (3), Wilson Wright, Stockbridge, MA, Nissan Sentra SE-R, 23.

7, (9), Jonathan Goodale, Conifer, CO, Mazda MX-5, 23.

8, (8), Joe Huffaker, Petaluma, CA, MINI Huffaker Mini, 23.

9, (11), Peter Zekert, Maryland Heights, MO, Nissan 200SX SE-R, 23.

10, (10), Charles Leonard, Palmetto, FL, Nissan 200SX SE-R, 23.

11, (16), William Pintaric Jr, Youngstown, OH, Nissan 200SX SE-R, 23.

12, (12), Roy Lopshire Jr, Blue Springs, MO, Toyota Tercel, 22.

13, (13), Joel Hipp, Norwalk, OH, MINI Cooper, 22.

14, (23), Lans Stout, Cornelius, OR, Nissan Sentra SE-R, 22.

15, (22), Christopher Kopley, Bridgeport, CT, MINI Cooper, 22.

16, (14), Mark Ward, Loxahatchee, FL, Toyota Paseo, 21.

17, (27), Ted Phenix, Hawkesbury, ON, MINI Cooper, 21.

18, (24), Andrew Nelson, Grimsby, ON, MINI Cooper, 21.

19, (28), Larry Svaton, Alvin, TX, Fiat X-1/9, 19.

20, (21), Bryan Floyd, Clarion, PA, Nissan 200SX, 18.

21, (17), Jonathan Spiegel, Aurora, CO, Honda CRX, 17.

22, (2), Steve Sargis, Frankfort, IL, Triumph Spitfire, 16.

23, (19), Graham Fuller, Martinsburg, WV, Honda CRX, 16.

24, (26), Rusty Bell, Galena, OH, Toyota Tercel, 15.

25, (15), Paul Mevoli DMD, Treasure Island, FL, Nissan Sentra, 13.

26, (25), Robert Bax, Cincinnati, OH, Nissan Sentra SER, 10.

27, (20), Bob Dowie, Chester, NY, Nissan 200SX SE-R, 3.

28, (18), Tom Tuttle, Windsor, CA, MG Midget, 3.

Overall Time of Race: 37:51.009

Average Race Speed: 82.326 mph

Margin of Victory: .209 seconds

Fastest Race Lap: Kyle Disque, 1:35.912 (84.753 mph)

Sunoco Hard Charger: #49 Ted Phenix

Lap Leaders: Laps 1-14, #18 Steve Sargis; 15-23, #72 Peter Shadowen

Photo: Peter Shadowen pounding his way to a GT-Lite Runoffs win and SCCA Super Sweep.

Kevin Boehm, of Marysville, Ohio, and Eric Kutil, of Columbus, Ohio, both climbed out of their Super Touring Lite cars after 23 laps around Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on Saturday at the SCCA Runoffs presented by Garmin VIRB having used up their brakes. But that didn’t slow the on-track action for the pair, with Boehm finishing 0.719-second ahead for his second consecutive National Championship. Cliff Ira, of Kansas City, Missouri, completed the podium.

That second championship didn’t come easy, though Boehm covered the 23 laps in 38:04.383, averaging 81.844 mph and turned the fastest lap of the race in 1:36.625 (84.127 mph).

Boehm’s No. 79 BFGoodrich/HPD/Hondata/Red Line Honda Civic Si left the field at the green flag from the Tire Rack pole position, and built a steady lead of over three seconds in the early stages of the race. Every tenth of that was necessary, as it turned out, when by lap 19, Kutil’s No. 82 Auto Assets Honda Civic Si was stuck to the bumper.

Boehm used his racing experience to deal with fading brakes late in the race, slowing into the Keyhole turn to get a good run out and down the back straight, then going just as fast as necessary to cool the brakes in the back part of the track.

Kutil tried several times to get by on the inside of the carousel — a notoriously difficult place to make a pass at Mid-Ohio. The two ran side by side on three different occasions, including coming to the white flag, but Boehm made sure to hold the inside line coming onto the short front straight, across the stripe, still in the lead.

“It’s really great to be up here on the top step again,” Boehm said. “When you’re at one of these events and the competitors are as good as they are here, it’s so rewarding to be able to pull it off. It’s such a long week, there’s so much that can go wrong. Even just putting it all together over the whole season to qualify just to be here is awesome. Congratulations to Eric and Cliff, they pushed me and the car to the limit. Definitely glad that people like that show up to the Runoffs, it’s not fun to just run away with it. Being forced to really look at every detail of the car and hit every mark, it’s really rewarding.”

Part of the Honda of America Racing Team, Kutil took a much different path to the Runoffs podium than most SCCA Club Racers. Just a year ago, Kutil attended his first track day — ever. Having enjoyed that, he decided to join his coworkers on the HART team, and got a racing license. With just about 365 days of experience in track activities, Kutil now has a silver medal.

“My brakes started getting pretty soft because I had some tiny rotors on there,” Kutil said. “I couldn’t brake where I wanted to, and the only corner I could maybe stick my nose was the Carousel. I may have given Kevin a couple of love bumps there, trying to get him out of the way. But it was a fun race. I didn’t want to dive bomb him and try to lock up or ruin both of our days, so I tried to play it safe and pass where it’s most possible.

“I don’t really have much experience, maybe video games when I was younger. I autocrossed when I was in college, and then last year I started doing track days and decided to buy a race car and try this out. I guess I had to learn pretty quick to keep up with these guys.”

With a third place finish on Saturday, Ira now has a complete set of podium finishes, following a win and a second in the last two years. Pushing hard, he had nothing for the top two places but was locked securely in third.

“I was digging as hard as I could, and usually when you’re behind you tend to dig a little bit deeper,” Ira said. “I did everything I could to try to catch up to these guys. I could see them. I tried to drive as smooth and as fast as I could, and usually my car is good on longer runs. It just didn’t have enough for them. Congratulations to Kevin and Eric, they drove a great race. I gave it all I had to not overdrive the car and be as smooth as I could. It’s good for us. It’s my second weekend here, ever, and I think we did as well as we could not spending a lot of time here. Love the track, love the facility, and had a lot of fun.”

Nick Leverone finished fourth in the No. 31 Flatout Motorsports/DrillMasters Mazda Miata, with Garret Dunn moving from 10^th to fifth at the checkered flag in the No. 136 Dunns Welding/King Motorsports Honda CRX Si. Eric Thompson was the big mover of the race, launching from 24^th to 12^th in the No. 187 Flatout Motorsports/Kevin Thompson Mazda Miata to win the Sunoco Hard Charger.

While the live broadcast of all 28 National Championships is available live at SCCA.com, each race will be on demand in the coming weeks.

LEXINGTON, Ohio — Provisional results for Saturday’s SCCA Super Touring Under National Championship at the 53rd SCCA National Championship Runoffs presented by Garmin VIRB at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, with finish position, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car and laps complete.

1, (1), Kevin Boehm, Marysville, OH, Honda Civic Si, 23.
2, (3), Eric Kutil, Columbus, OH, Honda Civic Si, 23.
3, (2), Cliff Ira, Kansas City, MO, Acura Integra GS-R, 23.
4, (4), Nick Leverone, North Smithfield, RI, Mazda Miata, 23.
5, (10), Garret Dunn, Commerce Township, MI, Honda CRX Si, 23.
6, (6), Andrew Salzano, Marysville, OH, Honda Civic, 23.
7, (7), Darin Treakle, Broad Run, VA, Honda Civic Si, 23.
8, (11), Bob Beede, Northampton, MA, Honda Civic Coupe, 23.
9, (14), Brian Laughlin, Tulsa, OK, Mazda Miata, 23.
10, (16), Mike Taylor, Cumming, GA, Honda Civic, 23.
11, (18), Clint Boisdeau, Los Angeles, CA, Honda Civic, 23.
12, (24), Eric Thompson, Aberdeen, NJ, Mazda Miata, 23.
13, (17), Ken Kannard, Sebring, FL, Mazda Miata, 23.
14, (15), Greg Amy, Middletown, CT, Honda CivicSI, 23.
15, (19), John Hainsworth, Marlton, NJ, Mazda RX-7, 23.
16, (23), Joseph Ebben, Mequon, WI, Acura RSX Type S, 23.
17, (8), Kevin Ruck, Pearsall, TX, Honda Civic, 23.
18, (22), Steven Sancricca, Grand Blanc, MI, Honda CRX, 23.
19, (25), Bernard Naegele, Geneva, NY, Acura Integra GS-R, 22.
20, (20), Thomas Smith, Evesham, NJ, Mazda RX-7, 22.
21, (26), Thomas Lamb, Kalamazoo, MI, Honda CRX Si, 22.
22, (28), Brian Mangan, Wellington, FL, Mazda RX7, 22.
23, (30), Mark Utecht, Stacy, MN, Honda Civic, 22.
24, (34), David Palfenier, Hinkley, IL, Mazda Miata, 22.
25, (29), Lee Graser, Andersonville, TN, Mazda MX5, 22.
26, (31), Scott Bettinger, Haysville, KS, Mazda Miata, 21.
27, (9), Myles Gilsinger, Marysville, OH, Honda Civic Si, 18.
28, (12), Jeromey Mizer, Millersburg, OH, Honda Civic Si, 16.
29, (27), Kirk Knestis, Syracuse, NY, Acura Integra, 13.
30, (21), Oscar Jackson, Chino, CA, Scion FR-S, 8.
31, (5), John Schmitt, Sunbury, OH, Honda Prelude, 6.
DNS, (13), Andrie Hartanto, Concord, CA, Acura Integra, .
DNS, (32), Hugh McHaffie, Walpole, MA, Honda S2000, .
DNS, (33), Craig McHaffie, Walpole, MA, Mazda MX-5, .

Overall Time of Race: 38:04.383
Average Race Speed: 81.844 mph
Margin of Victory: 0.719 seconds
Fastest Race Lap: #79 Boehm, 1:36.625 (84.127 mph)
Sunoco Hard Charger: #187 Eric Thompson
Lap Leaders: Lap 1-23, #79 Boehm

Justin Hille, of Ypsilanti, Michigan, took the lead at the start from the Tire Rack pole and led every lap to win Saturday’s Spec Miata race at the SCCA National Champion Runoffs presented by Garmin VIRB at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Driving his No. 48 Hilltrux/Roush/V2/East Street Mazda Miata, Hille earned his first National Championship in his second Runoffs appearance after a 10th place Spec Miata finish last year in his Daytona debut.

Michael Carter, of Savannah, Georgia, finished second in the No. 08 Rossini Racing Products Mazda Miata while Elivan Goulart, of Shelton, Connecticut, finished third in the No. 70 S.A.C. Racing/SCDA1.com/Hoosier Mazda Miata.

Hille led a four-car breakaway throughout the race that included Carter, Goulart and Jim Drago in the No. 2 East Street Racing/Mazdaracers.com Mazda Miata.

Carter and Drago each took a shot at passing for the lead in the race’s closing laps, but in the end Hille held on to lead Carter across the finish line by .379 of a second.

“My car was falling off in the last five or six laps and I was doing everything I could to hang on to it,” Hille said. “I knew Michael was going to try and make a move somewhere. He got a perfect run near the end, set it up perfectly and I think we were side-by-side for a second on the straight. We made a little contact but it was still good, clean racing.”

Making his Runoffs debut, Carter ran third in the lead group of four for the majority of the race. He slipped through for second when Drago pulled alongside Hille on the back straight to challenge for the lead on lap 15.

“When Drago pulled to the inside to try for the lead I thought that I had a chance because I knew I wasn’t going to be able to clear Justin,” Carter said. “I was able to run in under braking, got behind Justin’s bumper and pushed him by, and I cleared Drago under braking. That was about it and I knew it was going to be a good race from there between me and Justin.”

Carter made his own back-straight move on Hille on the last lap of the race.

“I had been planning that move for the last seven laps,” Carter said. “I was just trying to get the best run I could possibly get out of the Keyhole. It was pretty much a perfect run, I was on Justin’s bumper and went to the outside in the esses. We were about even going into turn four, but I guess I got in the marbles outside the groove, and that was about it. That was my only chance.”

Elivan came out on top of a tussle with Drago with two laps to go when the two came together in the Mid-Ohio esses.

“My car was phenomenal under braking but unfortunately we were a little down on power,” Goulart said. “I was able to make that up under braking but Drago was a bit stouter down the straight. Once I got by him for third my goal was to keep him behind me. At the end, we both turned in for the corner, made slight contact, but we were able to keep it going, keep it on the track and we made it through for a podium finish.”

Drago finished fourth while Alex Bolanos charged from 13th on the grid to finish fifth in his No. 57 Autotechnik/G-Loc/Apex Alignment Mazda Miata.

Kyle Webb won the Sunoco Hard Charger award for improving a race-high 12 positions to finish 12th in his No. 99 Nova Brown Notforgotten/ESR Mazda Miata.

While the live broadcast of all 28 National Championships is available live at SCCA.com, each race will be on demand in the coming weeks.

LEXINGTON, Ohio — Provisional results for Saturday’s Spec Miata race at the 53rd SCCA National Championship Runoffs presented by Garmin VIRB at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, with finish position, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car and laps complete.

1, (1), Justin Hille, Ypsilanti, MI, Mazda Miata, 23.
2, (2), Michael Carter, Savannah, GA, Mazda Miata, 23.
3, (7), Elivan Goulart, Shelton, CT, Mazda Miata, 23.
4, (3), Jim Drago, Memphis, TN, Mazda Miata, 23.
5, (13), Alex Bolanos, Hialeah, FL, Mazda Miata, 23.
6, (10), Michael Gagliardo, Chicago, IL, Mazda Miata, 23.
7, (5), Adam Roberts, Hilliard, OH, Mazda Miata, 23.
8, (11), Andrew Carbonell, Miami, FL, Mazda Miata, 23.
9, (6), Jordan Smart, Ypsilanti, MI, Mazda Miata, 23.
10, (4), Max Nufer, Wildwood, MO, Mazda Miata, 23.
11, (15), Dean Busk, Chandler, AZ, Mazda Miata, 23.
12, (24), Kyle Webb, Centerville, OH, Mazda Miata, 23.
13, (22), Jonathan Davis, Seven Hills, OH, Mazda Miata, 23.
14, (18), Voytek Burdzy, Algonquin, IL, Mazda Miata, 23.
15, (9), Michael Novak, Highland, MI, Mazda Miata, 23.
16, (23), Frank Todaro, Dublin, OH, Mazda Miata, 23.
17, (26), Spencer Rutherford, Nicholasvillle, KY, Mazda Miata, 23.
18, (17), Cory Collum, Cape Coral, FL, Mazda Miata, 23.
19, (20), Daniel Setili, Bloomfield Hills, MI, Mazda Miata, 23.
20, (16), Jason Kohler, White Lake, MI, Mazda Miata, 23.
21, (27), Alex Piku, Grosse Pointe, MI, Mazda Miata, 23.
22, (32), John Carter, Tampa, FL, Mazda Miata, 23.
23, (34), Jeffrey Luckritz, Saint Joseph, MI, Mazda Miata, 23.
24, (30), Anthony Geraci, Glen Head, NY, Mazda Miata, 23.
25, (31), Charles Campbell, Corry, PA, Mazda Miata, 23.
26, (14), Nick Leverone, North Smithfield, RI, Mazda Miata, 23.
27, (33), B Clark Cambern, Dewitt, MI, Mazda Miata, 23.
28, (29), Jesse Prather, Topeka, KS, Mazda Miata, 23.
29, (28), Jesse Schmidt, Fitzwilliam, NH, Mazda Miata, 23.
30, (39), James Randall, Watertown, MN, Mazda Miata, 23.
31, (36), Christopher Ciufo, Livonia, NY, Mazda Miata, 23.
32, (35), Eric Matoy, Leonard, MI, Mazda Miata, 23.
33, (21), Joshua Bilicki, Richfield, WI, Mazda Miata, 23.
34, (42), Domenico Leuci, Binghamton, NY, Mazda Miata, 23.
35, (41), Michael Lattanzio, Aliquippa, PA, Mazda Miata, 23.
36, (38), Richard Astacio, Stamford, CT, Mazda Miata, 23.
37, (44), James Henson, Mansfield, OH, Mazda Miata, 22.
38, (8), Erik Stearns, Van Buren, OH, Mazda Miata, 21.
39, (43), Brandon Fetch, Waldwick, NJ, Mazda Miata, 21.
40, (37), David Ciufo, Livonia, NY, Mazda Miata, 17.
41, (40), Eric Pratt, Rockford, IL, Mazda Miata, 13.
42, (12), Selin Rollan, Miami, FL, Mazda Miata, 6.
43, (19), Steven Powers, Mesa, AZ, Mazda Miata, 3.
44, (45), Daniel Harding, Dover, OH, Mazda Miata, 2.
DNS, (25), Matthew Reynolds, Boerne, TX, Mazda Miata

Length of Race: 52 miles
Overall Time of Race: 39:30.544
Average Speed: 78.869 mph
Margin of Victory: .379 of a second
Fastest Race Lap: No. 08 Carter 1:40.764 (80.672 mph)
Lap Leaders: No. 48, laps 1 — 23
Sunoco Hard Charger: No. 99 Kyle Webb

Formula Mazda’s Matthew Machiko Grabs First Runoffs Win and Super Sweep

No matter what, there were going to be three new faces on the Formula Mazda podium at the 53rd SCCA National Championship Runoffs presented by Garmin VIRB being held on the 13-turn, 2.258-mile Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Of the entire field, not one driver had ever finished in the top three previously, and many had never competed before at the Runoffs.

But one driver, Matthew Machiko from Wexford, Pennsylvania, in the No. 21 Nathan Contracting/Frontier car went one step beyond earning his first Runoffs win. He went so far as to clean up with an SCCA Super Sweep awarded to drivers that win a U.S. Majors Tour Conference Championship, win one of nine key National races, win a National Championship at the Runoffs and win the national points standings — all in a single class. He also earns an invite to the Mazda Shootout.

“It was a lot of fun today. The car was perfect,” Machiko said. “Wow. We worked so hard for this.”

Under partly cloudy skies, Tire Rack pole sitter Jacob Loomis, of Corinth, Texas, in the No. 68 Epic Electric/Texas Autosportsled Formula Mazda led the field to the green, but immediately slotted into second behind Machiko. But after a handful laps, Loomis pulled in to the pits and gifted second to the No. 5 Madhatter Golf/Helicon Farm car of Paul Ravaris from Aledo, Texas — who then pulled into the pits shortly after Loomis. Turns out the cool, damp morning air was making some cars “louder” than earlier in the week, and sound violation black flags were issued to both Loomis and Ravaris. But Machiko stormed on without issue.

“I actually had this violation happen to me at Summit Point during the first race of the year,” Machiko noted. “I knew we needed a new muffler this week to make sure we were baffled enough, and we made sure the exhaust was turned away from the sound monitor.”

After the shuffle, the No. 8 Entwistle Racing/Division Furtive Formula Mazda of John Entwistle from Katonah, New York, ended up in second, which is where he finished for his first-ever Runoffs podium.

“Surprising,” was the word Entwistle used to sum up his Runoffs week at Mid-Ohio. “This feels great, man. I’m super amped.”

In third came Bradley Yake, of Fort Worth, Texas, in the No. 24 Madhatter Golf Formula Mazda. His first podium finish at the Runoffs, Yake was flabbergasted by the result.

“I was really surprised when I pulled in the pits after the race to learn I was third,” Yake said. “I had a really bad start. I couldn’t see the flagman when everyone went, so I went right to the back of the field. So for the beginning of the race, I was just trying to get my position back.”

Finishing fourth was the No. 28 of William Snyder from Southlake, Texas, and fifth went to No. 38 Nicholas Malone, of Fate, Texas, in the Epic Electric/Madhatter Golf/WS Formula Mazda.

Taking the Sunoco Hard Charger award was Bradley Yake, finishing third from his sixth grid position.

While the live broadcast of all 28 National Championships is available live at SCCA.com, each race will be on demand in the coming weeks.

LEXINGTON, Ohio — Provisional results for Saturday’s SCCA Formula Mazda National Championship at the 53rd SCCA National Championship Runoffs presented by Garmin VIRB at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, with finish position, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car and laps complete.

1, (2), Matthew Machiko, Wexford, PA, Star Formula Mazda, 23.

2, (4), John Entwistle, Katonah, NY, Star Formula Mazda, 23.

3, (6), Bradley Yake, Fort Worth, TX, Star Formula Mazda, 23.

4, (7), William Snyder, Southlake, TX, Star Formula Mazda, 23.

5, (8), Nicholas Malone, Fate, TX, Star Formula Mazda, 22.

6, (1), Jacob Loomis, Corinth, TX, Star Formula Mazda, 10.

7, (5), Paul Ravaris, Aledo, TX, Star Formula Mazda, 10.

8, (3), Jarret Voorhies, Cresson, TX, Star Formula Mazda, 1.

Overall Time of Race: 35:01.573

Average Race Speed: 88.963 mph

Margin of Victory: 14.442 seconds

Fastest Race Lap: Jacob Loomis, 1:27.922 (92.455 mph)

Sunoco Hard Charger: #24 Bradley Yake

Lap Leaders: Laps 1-23, #21 Matthew Machiko

Photo: Matthew Machiko claimed his first Formula Mazda Runoff win and an SCCA Super Sweep title.

Todd Harris drove 2,400 miles from his Portland, Oregon home to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for the SCCA National Championship Runoffs presented by Garmin VIRB. The last 2.258-miles were the most nerve-wracking, but after near misses dating back to 2005, the long-time Spec Racer Ford stalwart can claim a National Championship. Mike Miserendino, from Bakersfield, California, and Scott Rettich, from Columbus, Ohio, pushed Harris to the checkered flag.

Though there were five cars in tight formation, a back-and-forth battle looked to be firmly in Harris’ hand with two corners to go when the lead pack caught traffic. Harris was able to navigate the lapped cars, bringing his No. 42 Pro Drive Racing/Flat Out Racing Spec Racer Ford across the finish just 0.287-second ahead of Miserendino and 0.337-second ahead of Rettich.

Harris averaged 80.302 mph for the distance, leading nine laps during the 23 laps of green flag racing.

“It was a thrill,” Harris said. “I’ve been working really hard to win one of these National Championships. It feels great to feel what both Scott and Mikey feel. I’ve been wanting this National Championship for a long time. I’m 49, so at least I got it in before I turn 50.”

Though he started second, Harris bobbled the start and fell out of the top five, swallowed up by the field. Miserendino’s No. 11 MBI Racing Spec Racer Ford led the way in a pack that was 10 deep early in identical cars.

“I did race here in ’96 and ’97, and I hadn’t been back until this year,” the newly crowned Champion explained. “We did one Majors race, and then we came here. This has been a tough track for me to learn, honestly. There’s a lot of nuance to it. So I felt pretty good on the front row, and then I blew it right at the start. That’s the only time in my 25-year career it didn’t go into gear at the right moment. They were just filing past. It might have helped, I just had to put my head down and race.”

Miserendino made a run at the title, leading from the beginning and moving to the front in alternating laps with his West Coast friend and rival once Harris caught the lead pack. In total, the four-time champion led 14 laps of the race across the finish line — just not the most important one.

“That was vintage Spec Racer Ford racing, back and forth,” Miserendino said. “Todd was faster in some places, I was faster in some places, and we just went back and forth. We both wanted to lead, it’s the Runoffs, and you never know what’s going to happen. You never know when you’re going to catch lapped traffic at the wrong spot, or a full course yellow, or something. You want to lead one lap, and that’s the last one. I didn’t quite get there today, but had a fantastic run. It was a lot of fun. I race Todd a bunch back home, and it felt like that. I’m happy to be on the pole, happy to be on the podium. I came up a little short, but another Runoffs podium — I’m happy with that.”

While Harris and Miserendino were the only two drivers who led laps, Rettich’s No. 17 Alliance Autosport/PDIarm.com Spec Racer and Matt Harper’s No. 77 Spec Racer Ford were in the mirrors the entire time, meaning each had to pick a part of the track to try to advance, while knowing that any mistake could cost two positions.

“There were spots that we were a little quicker, and then there was more lapped traffic than I ever thought possible,” Harris said. “I thought, were they just feeding cars out? Right down to the last lap, I had to go by three of these guys, and you could almost hear Mike and Scott cackling that I had to deal with this. It was rough.”

Miserendino was also aware of that strategy.

“This place is really tough to pass,” Miserendino said. “If you get a run out of Turn One, you can get them in the keyhole, but really the passing opportunity is down the straightaway. Todd was just a little bit better than me coming out of the Keyhole, and that was the difference today.”

Rettich’s podium was bittersweet, following a Formula Enterprises National Championship early in the week on his home track.

“The race was a ton of fun,” Rettich said. “Everybody raced clean. It was an awesome race. It didn’t turn out quite the way I wanted it to, but one year it will be my year.

“You can never be disappointed with the podium in a class as strong as SRF. Obviously, I wanted to win with my home track. We had an excellent car, it just didn’t work out that way. The opportunity was there, I was getting pretty close, but I just wasn’t able to make any moves there on the last lap.”

Harper crossed the stripe in fourth in his second Runoffs visit. Byron Mead, whose No. 01 Mead Construction SRF hung with the lead pack until encountering traffic in the final circuits, finished fifth.

Mark Peyser drove his No. 04 Shick SRF from 23^rd to 16^th at the finish, improving seven positions to earn the Sunoco Hard Charger award.

While the live broadcast of all 28 National Championships is available live at SCCA.com, each race will be on demand in the coming weeks.

LEXINGTON, Ohio — Provisional results for Saturday’s SCCA Spec Racer Ford National Championship at the 53rd SCCA National Championship Runoffs presented by Garmin VIRB at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, with finish position, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car and laps complete.

1, (2), Todd Harris, Portland, OR, SCCA Spec Racer Ford, 23.
2, (1), Mike Miserendino, Bakersfield, CA, SCCA Spec Racer Ford, 23.
3, (3), Scott Rettich, Columbus, OH, SCCA Spec Racer Ford, 23.
4, (8), Matthew Harper, Charlotte, NC, SCCA Spec Racer Ford, 23.
5, (6), Byron Mead, Melbourne, FL, SCCA Spec Racer Ford, 23.
6, (7), Max Koff, Ann Arbor, MI, SCCA Spec Racer Ford, 23.
7, (4), Cliff White, Huntsville, AL, SCCA Spec Racer Ford, 23.
8, (9), Quinten Nelson, Newark, OH, SCCA Spec Racer Ford, 23.
9, (10), Jacob Pipal, Oakdale, CA, SCCA Spec Racer Ford, 23.
10, (5), Daniel McBreen, Atlanta, GA, SCCA Spec Racer Ford, 23.
11, (11), Josh Oberdick, Perrysburg, OH, SCCA Spec Racer Ford, 23.
12, (13), Whitney Strickland, Houston, TX, SCCA Spec Racer Ford, 23.
13, (14), Joseph Wolf, East Nassau, NY, SCCA Spec Racer Ford, 23.
14, (20), Neil Killey, Cranberry Twp, PA, SCCA Spec Racer Ford, 23.
15, (18), Benjamin Brinn, Lafayette, IN, SCCA Spec Racer Ford, 23.
16, (23), Mark Peyser, Easton, CT, SCCA Spec Racer Ford, 23.
17, (16), Scott Schweitzer, Lake Orion, MI, SCCA Spec Racer Ford, 23.
18, (17), Bill Watts, Harvard, MA, SCCA Spec Racer Ford, 23.
19, (26), Jim Tibor, Cortland, OH, SCCA Spec Racer Ford, 23.
20, (19), Vincent Balch, San Diego, CA, SCCA Spec Racer Ford, 23.
21, (25), Donald White, Howell, MI, SCCA Spec Racer Ford, 22.
22, (21), Scott Cypher, Niagara Falls, NY, SCCA Spec Racer Ford, 22.
23, (27), Jim Tibor Jr, Silver Plume, CO, SCCA Spec Racer Ford, 22.
24, (22), William Mercurio, Kensington, MD, SCCA Spec Racer Ford, 21.
25, (24), Thomas Kirchman, Framingham, MA, SCCA Spec Racer Ford, 20.
26, (12), Richard Baldwin, Covington, LA, SCCA Spec Racer Ford, 5.
27, (15), Craig Blackwell, Carmel, IN, SCCA Spec Racer Ford, 4.

Overall Time of Race: 38:48.252
Average Race Speed: 80.302 mph
Margin of Victory: 0.287 seconds
Fastest Race Lap: #42 Harris, 1:37.621 (83.269 mph)
Sunoco Hard Charger: #04 Mark Peyser
Lap Leaders: Lap 1-7, #11 Miserendino; Laps 8-9, #42 Harris; Laps 10-11, #11 Miserendino; Laps 12-14, #42 Harris; Lap 15, #11 Miserendino; Lap 16, #42 Harris; Laps 17-20, #11 Miserendino; Laps 21-23, #42 Harris.

Derek Kulach, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, jumped from third to the lead in the first turn of the Touring 3 (T3) National Championship race Friday morning at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and went on to score the 100th victory for Datsun/Nissan in the history of the SCCA National Champion Runoffs presented by Garmin VIRB.

Driving the No. 00 Fiesta Auto Group/Nissan/BFG/Glock Nissan 350Z, Kulach was never seriously challenged despite a tight train of top-five T3 competitors that did their best to catch the leader throughout the 23-lap race.

Chad Gilsinger, of Marysville, Ohio, finished second in the No. 07 BFGoodrich/HPD/H&R/SPC/RV6/BRM Acura TL, and Lansing Stout, of Corvallis, Oregon, finished third in the No. 54 Nissan/NISMO/Hoosier Nissan 350Z.

Kulach’s history-making victory was his first in SCCA Runoffs competition.

“It was mainly just put your head down and drive and don’t think,” Kulach said. “I am my own worst enemy when it comes to making mistakes, and I knew I just had to focus on the task at hand and drive the race I know I could drive. I had a car that was just completely setup for 23 laps. That is a long race here but I knew we had a car that could take us to this victory.”

Gilsinger was locked in a tight battle with Stout and Tire Rack pole winner Chuck Hurley for positons second, third and fourth in the middle part of the race. Gilsinger finally passed Stout for second in the Mid-Ohio Carousel with just under 10 laps to go and quickly went to work on chasing down the leader.

“You always think there is a chance,” said Gilsinger, who scored his fifth-straight and ninth-career Runoffs podium. “I was definitely pushing as hard as I could. I thought that maybe I could do it, I started to catch up a little bit, but then my tires went off a little bit. It was just really difficult to keep the tires under it at the end. Luckily, I was able to break a gap to third, so I really didn’t have to worry about that, but with about five or six laps to go I knew I didn’t have a chance of catching the leader. I just focused on staying on track and bringing it home in second.”

Traveling all the way from Oregon, Stout hit the podium in his first SCCA Runoffs appearance.

“First Runoffs, first time in Ohio and I love this track and I love this facility,” Stout said. “I had a great time and felt very comfortable here. I tried to keep the Acura behind me but that thing was fast, Gilsinger is a very good driver and obviously he knows this track really well. He definitely had the corner speed on me, touched me a couple of times and he slipped to the inside of me when I made my only mistake of the race.”

Hurley finished fourth in the No. 95 Grip Racing BMW 330Ci, and Bob Schader was fifth in the No. 8 Hoosier/Boulder Nissan/Mobil 1 Nissan 350Z. The two came together in the Mid-Ohio esses five laps from the finish but each managed to continue, with Hurley taking the checkered flag as his right rear tire was going down.

Gilsinger won the Sunoco Hard Charger for improving a race-high three positions after starting fifth.

While the live broadcast of all 28 National Championships is available live at SCCA.com, each race will be on demand in the coming weeks.

LEXINGTON, Ohio — Provisional results for Saturday’s Touring 3 (T3) race at the 53rd SCCA National Championship Runoffs presented by Garmin VIRB at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, with finish position, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car and laps complete.

1, (3), Derek Kulach, Albuquerque, NM, Nissan 350Z Nismo, 23.
2, (5), Chad Gilsinger, Marysville, OH, Acura TL, 23.
3, (2), Lansing Stout, Corvallis, OR, Nissan 350Z Track, 23.
4, (1), Charles Hurley, Monroe, WA, BMW 330Ci Coupe, 23.
5, (4), Robert Schader, Lafayette, CO, Nissan 350Z Nismo, 23.
6, (6), Scotty B White, Auburn, WA, BMW 330i/Ci, 23.
7, (7), Tom Wickersham, San Ramon, CA, Mazda RX-8, 23.
8, (9), John Baker, Portland, OR, Nissan 350Z Track, 23.
9, (8), C. Jason Vein, Hobe Sound, FL, BMW 330Ci, 23.
10, (10), David Muramoto, Aurora, CO, Nissan 350Z Track, 22.

Length of Race: 52 miles
Overall Time of Race: 38:23.197
Average Speed: 81.175 mph
Margin of Victory: 3.805 seconds
Fastest Race Lap: No. 8 Schader 1:37.371 (83.483 mph)
Lap Leaders: No. 00, laps 1 — 23
Sunoco Hard Charger: No. 07 Chad Gilsinger

Image: Derek Kulach’s Touring 3 (T3) class win in the SCCA National Championship Runoffs presented by Garmin VIRB at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on Saturday was a record-extending 100th victory for the Datsun/Nissan brand in Runoffs history.