The SCCA Board of Directors has decided to simplify the qualification path for the 2017 SCCA National Championship Runoffs taking place in September at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

After receiving feedback from the membership, the BoD has opted to remove “points” criteria for Runoffs qualification as pertaining to the U.S. Majors Tour.  Instead, racers must simply compete in three U.S. Majors Tour weekends, but also now have the option of substituting two Regional race weekends for one U.S. Majors Tour event.  John Walsh, Chairman of the SCCA BoD, also said that each Hoosier Racing Tire Super Tour weekend still counts as one U.S. Majors Tour weekend.

“The Board felt it necessary to make it easier to understand what is required to receive an invitation to the Runoffs,” Walsh said.  “By making expectations simple and clear, competitors will know from the very beginning of the racing season what it takes to get to Club Racing’s premier championship event, the SCCA Runoffs, starting in 2017 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.”

The Divisional Championship path to the Runoffs remains unchanged, as well as the policy welcoming defending Runoffs winners.  It should be noted that while the road to the Runoffs has been simplified, firm qualifying rules will be in effect stipulating drivers be within a percentage of a class pole time at Indianapolis Motor Speedway next year.

A few SCCA racers have been selected to participate in the 11th annual Mazda Road to 24 Shootout. This post-season competition awards a $100,000 Mazda Motorsports scholarship to compete in the 2017 Battery Tender Mazda Global MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires. The 2016 Shootout takes place November 15-16 at NOLA Motorsports Park in Avondale, Louisiana.

Michael Carter is one of the Shootout finalists who has been behind the wheel of a race car for 13 of his 16 years. In 2015, Carter was granted a full SCCA competition license and won his first Spec Miata race at Roebling Road in only his fourth start. This year, Carter finished in the top five during his first SCCA U.S. Majors Tour weekend, and won all six regional races he entered at Roebling Road and Road Atlanta.

To cap off the 2016 season, Carter finished second at the 2016 SCCA National Championship Runoffs at Mid-Ohio in his first appearance, this after capturing his first SCCA U.S. Majors Tour podium finish earlier in the year at Mid-Ohio.

Learn more about Carter in the story titled “Meet the Contenders: Michael Carter” at the Mazdaspeed website.

Photo: Spec Miata racer Michael Carter