October 11, 2019

Mark Snyder, of Southlake, Texas, and James Libecco, of Solon, Ohio, put an exclamation point on Friday’s Formula Enterprise Runoffs finale at VIRginia International Raceway (VIR), with Libecco literally winning by a nose over Snyder. Libecco sealed up his maiden SCCA Runoffs title in style with a photo finish, claiming the checkered by the closest margin of victory in SCCA National Championship Runoffs history (0.000-seconds).

Ray Mason, of Blacklick, Ohio, finished in a distant third to complete the podium.

“I’m elated and a little bit heartbroken at the same time knowing how it all came down in the end, but I couldn’t have predicted a better finish to our season,” Libecco said. “It was really good, clean racing and that’s what it’s come down to all season. Being able to race side-by-side with Mark, two inches apart from each other, on the ragged edge of braking, and come out clean every time, there’s not a lot of racers out there that will do that. This is an up-and-comer who has it.”

Starting from row two in fourth, Libecco, in the No. 98 Allied Dermatology Alliance Autosport SCCA FE Mazda, used a drafting move to slingshot to the outside of turn one, taking the early lead from polesitter Snyder. Snyder paid back the favor in lap two to reclaim the lead.

Following a four-lap shootout after an extended caution period, Snyder lost his nose cap, mirrors, wing and all the surrounding fiberglass after making incidental contact on the last lap with frontrunner Charles Russell Turner on the Oak Tree Curve. The incident sent Snyder airborne and Turner spinning, forcing Turner to retire the race after taking the lead on the restart.

As Snyder nursed a damaged front end, Libecco chased down the defending champion, sliding to the inside of Snyder’s No. 1 Snyder Brother’s Racing car. Racing through Hog Pen down the front straight with wheels nearly touching the pair crossed the finish line simultaneously, but it was Libecco’s fully intact nose that crossed the stripe first. Snyder finished second, but was later penalized one position.

“I was in the air, then I wasn’t but my car had nothing left on the front,” explained Snyder. “I knew since I didn’t have a nose that I needed to brake early. I went through Hog Pen completely sideways, and there was James right beside me. We were racing down to the finish line and I guess James pulled a Lightning McQueen on me, sticking his tongue out for the win. It was a great race and James has been a great competitor all season. James just gets really good starts. I’ll be working on that in the off season for sure.”

Falling to the back of the field on the start, Mason, in the No. 2 Alliance Autosport car, kept digging, making up lost ground lap after lap. Bunched up with several cars on the restart, Mason maintained his composure throughout the 15-lap finale, rounding out the podium in third. But with Snyder’s penalty later, Mason officially finished second in the race.

“I kept pushing, trying not to make mistakes, and here we are,” said Mason. “We caught that FE2 traffic after the yellow, that was a bit problematic because I had to go wide off course to miss cars. It all worked out in the end.”

Lee Rackley, of Clinton, North Carolina, took fourth with Matthew Cuttler, of Sterling, Illinois, rounding out the top five.

Libecco also earned the Sunoco Hard Charger, improving three positions from fourth on the grid to first.

The 56th SCCA® National Championship Runoffs®, the Pinnacle of American Motorsports, crowns Sports Car Club of America’s Road Racing National Champions this year at VIRginia International Raceway along the border of North Carolina and Virginia Friday, Oct. 11 through Sunday, Oct 13.

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 presented by Hoosier Racing Tire broadcast team, is also available at http://www.SCCA.com/live, as well as live timing and scoring for each National Championship race.

ALTON, Va. — Provisional results for Friday’s Formula Enterprises race at the 56th SCCA National Championship Runoffs from VIRginia International Raceway, with finish position, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car and laps completed.

1, (4), James Libecco, Solon, OH, SCCA Mazda FE, 15.

2, (1), Mark Snyder, Southlake, TX, SCCA Mazda FE, 15.

3, (5), Ray Mason, Blacklick, OH, SCCA Mazda FE, 15.

4, (7), Lee Rackley, Clinton, NC, SCCA Mazda FE, 15.

5, (6), Matthew Cutter, Sterling, IL, SCCA Mazda FE, 15.

6, (2), Charles Russell Turner, Montpelier, VA, SCCA Mazda FE, 14.

7, (8), Bailey Monette, Milton, GA, SCCA Mazda FE, 14.

8, (9), Samuel Harrington, Brooklyn Park, MD, SCCA Mazda FE, 14.

9, (3), Justin Huffman, Herndon, VA, SCCA Mazda FE, 12.

Time of Day Start: 5:06 PM

Number of Starters: 9

Length of Race: 49 Miles

Overall Time of Race: 35:45.528 (avg. 82.301 mph)

Margin of Victory: 0 seconds

Fastest Race Lap: 1:55.648 (101.792 mph)

Sunoco Hard Charger: #98 James Libecco

Photo: James Libecco leading the way to an FE win at the Runoffs

In a wild race with a wild finish, Rhett Barkau from Freeport, Illinois drove the Barkau Automotive/JH Barkau & Sons SCCA FE2 Mazda to the Formula Enterprises 2 (FE2) SCCA Championship Runoffs® win.

Barkau took an early lead and held a gap until lapped traffic bunched up the leaders and created a heated battle with close racing, some of the contact kind.

In the traffic, Southlake Texas’ Liam Snyder’s No. 28 Snyder Brothers Racing machine took a bump from Paul Schneider in the No. 73 but was still able to grab the lead by passing Barkau in “South Bend” — one of the fastest corners on track. Before Barkau could mount a response, the battle was halted by a full course caution.

The race restarted with four laps to go, and Snyder held off a charge from Barkau and pulled out a slight lead as just behind them Scott Rettich, driving the No. 17 Alliance Autosport/Red Line Oil SCCA FE2 Mazda, was hoping to stick his nose in the lead battle.

Snyder wouldn’t hold on for the win, but the race did come down to the final few corners of the last lap to be decided.

“I was behind him and I saw he was getting slick through a lot of the corners so I knew I had to just drive a safe race and wait for his one mess up where I could take advantage of him and that’s what happened,” said Barkau. “I drafted him down the back straight and went side-by-side through Roller Coaster and then I dived inside in 16, and at Hog Pen I pulled out in front.”

Although the race came down to that final corner, the mistake which cost him the win happened entering VIR’s famous Oak Tree Curve.

“There was a whole lot of sun in Oak Tree, I missed my apex and dropped one wheel off and had a horrible straightaway,” said Snyder.

Six-time SCCA Championship Runoffs® winner Rettich fought his way through the top five to put pressure on the leaders but struggled with his car’s handling the last few laps and wasn’t able to dice with them for the lead.

“I had an OK start and I was getting ready to run them down,” said Rettich, who worked his way to third before the caution came out. “I had a great restart and it just fell off the last couple of laps, did my best but not quite what we wanted.”

Sandy Satullo, from Hillsboro Beach Florida, finished fourth and Kelton Jago, from Alexandria, Virginia, finished fifth. The Sunoco Hard Charger was Bryan Scheible, who earned the award for driving his No. 15 MBS Racing SCCA Mazda FE2 from eighteenth to twelfth place.

ALTON, Va. — Provisional results for Friday’s Formula Enterprises 2 race at the 56th SCCA National Championship Runoffs from VIRginia International Raceway, with finish position, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car and laps cadompleted.

1, (2), Rhett Barkau, Freeport, IL, SCCA Mazda FE2, 15.
2, (1), Liam Snyder, Southlake, TX, SCCA Mazda FE2, 15.
3, (3), Scott Rettich, Columbus, OH, SCCA Mazda FE2, 15.
4, (4), S Sandy Satullo III, Hillsboro Beach, FL, SCCA Mazda FE2, 15.
5, (8), Kelton Jago, Alexandria, VA, SCCA Mazda FE2, 15.
6, (7), John Yeatman, Newcastle, CA, SCCA Mazda FE2, 15.
7, (11), Thomas W Burt, Woodway, WA, SCCA Mazda FE2, 15.
8, (9), Todd Vanacore, Ormond Beach, FL, SCCA Mazda FE2, 15.
9, (14), Alastair McEwan, Miami, FL, SCCA Mazda FE2, 15.
10, (12), Robert Vanman, Allen, TX, SCCA Mazda FE2, 15.
11, (16), Jim Devenport, Alamo, CA, SCCA Mazda FE2, 15.
12, (18), Bryan Scheible, Bowmansville, NY, SCCA Mazda FE2, 15.
13, (19), Keith McDonald, Ranson, WV, SCCA Mazda FE2, 15.
14, (5), Paul Schneider, Charlotte, NC, SCCA Mazda FE2, 14.
15, (6), Dean Oppermann, Plainfield, IL, SCCA Mazda FE2, 12.
16, (13), Eric Cruz, Barhamsville, VA, SCCA Mazda FE2, 11.
17, (17), Craig Haltom, Blountville, TN, SCCA Mazda FE2, 11.
18, (10), Thomas Green, Lake Mary, FL, SCCA Mazda FE2, 8.
19, (15), Jeff Beck, Ingleside, IL, SCCA Mazda FE2, 6.
20, (20), Mark Schneider, Hollywood, FL, SCCA Mazda FE2, 0.

Length of Race: 49 miles
Overall Time of Race: 35:20.647 (83.267 mph)
Margin of Victory: 0.483 seconds
Fastest Race Lap: #28 Liam Snyder 1:52.154 mph (104.963 mph)
Lap Leaders: #01 laps 1-6, 15 #28 laps 7-14
Sunoco Hard Charger: #15 Bryan Scheible

Jeff Dernehl, of Roswell, Georgia, sped past and outlasted the GT-3 field on Friday at VIRginia International Raceway (VIR) to claim a first hard-fought victory at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs. Chad Bacon, of Mooresville, North Carolina, and Stacy Wilson, of Englewood, Tennessee, crossed the finish line in order behind Dernehl under a full-course caution.

The GT-3 class cars are purpose built, tube-frame cars with high-strung, highly stressed motors. As Friday’s race would prove, the first step in winning the race is finishing it.

It opened with nine-time National Champion Mike Lewis battling Tony Ave, a Runoffs winner and multi-time Trans Am Champion in his own right, with Dernehl giving chase. Dernehl’s multi-colored No. 71 Roswell Outback Auto/Hoosier/RRE Mazda RX-7 moved around Ave on lap three under braking into Turn Two, then chased Lewis for an additional three laps before moving past him and into the lead down the front straight on lap six.

The action was just beginning, however.

Ave, after falling back to fourth which cooled his tires and motor, made another charge and moved into the lead on lap nine around Dernehl. On the same lap, one challenger was eliminated when Lewis pulled off course with a stuck throttle.

And it still hadn’t yet gotten crazy.

On lap 10, Dernehl spun carrying too much speed into Oak Tree Curve. That elevated Joe Kristensen to second behind Ave, with Dernehl recovering to give chase right behind. But after crossing the stripe to begin lap 11, Ave pulled off on the right side with a blown motor.

Kristensen cleared a stationary Ave by about 50 feet before his motor let go in spectacular fashion, leaving a trail of oil into the entry of Turn Two as his day ended early.

That moved Dernehl back into the lead, with Bacon and Wilson just behind, when the full course caution came out to clean up Kristensen’s oil and effectively ended the race.

The win was the first Championship for Dernehl in 13 Runoffs starts, and also clinched the season-long GT-3 Challenge presented by MPI, a series supported by Mazda, Max Papis Innovations, Penske Racing Shocks, AiM Sports and Hoosier Racing Tire. Dernehl officially led five of the 12 laps, including the all-important final stanza.

“This feels absolutely incredible,” Dernehl said. “I’ve dreamed of coming here to win this race. I’ve finished second a couple of times in absolutely heartbreaking fashion. There was always a little something that wasn’t right. This year, I didn’t spend a lot of time at the regular races. I really poured my heart and soul into developing the car and getting it faster. That paid off. The engine was an absolute rocket ship, the suspension has always been good, and it did the job.”

Bacon and Wilson were locked in a battle of their own for much of the race, originally for sixth place and further and further up the field as the race went on. Bacon earned his third career podium finish in the No. 18 CB Motorsports/TRD Toyota Celica, taking advantage of a small lap nine mistake by Wilson to move up one position just in time.

“This puts a stamp on one of the weirdest races I’ve ever been in,” Bacon said. “Me and Stacy were battling it out, just to see if we could get one of us to make a mistake. Lo and behold, I got around him … and I’m in second place. You could see cars all over the track. All of us were fighting to stay in the race. After all of the trouble I’ve had over the past couple of years, to be here is a phenomenal feat.”

Wilson earned his fifth Runoffs podium in the No. 47 Hoosier/Mazda/Wilson Racing Mazda RX-7 and his third in three starts, dating back to a win at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in 2016 and a bronze medal at Indianapolis in 2017.

“My car wasn’t the way it should have been,” Wilson said. “I was off the pace that I know I can run, but that’s what it was. That’s what I had and I just had to make the best of it and drive it as clean as I could. I was all over the race track, sliding off, and Chad got first hand vision of that.”

Paul Young finished fourth and Mike Henderson fifth in the race. Ken Nelson moved from 15^th on the grid to 7^th at the checkered flag to earn the Sunoco Hard Charger Award.

ALTON, Va. — Provisional results for Friday’s GT-3 race at the 56th SCCA National Championship Runoffs from VIRginia International Raceway, with finish position, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car and laps completed.

1, (3), Jeff Dernehl, Roswell, GA, Mazda RX-7, 12.

2, (7), Chad Bacon, Mooresville, NC, Toyota Celica, 12.

3, (6), Stacy Wilson, Englewood, TN, Mazda RX-7, 12.

4, (8), Paul Young, Commerce Township, MI, Ford Probe, 12.

5, (9), Mike Henderson, Alpine, CA, Mazda RX-7, 12.

6, (10), Rob Warkocki, Frankfort, IL, Mazda RX-7, 12.

7, (15), Ken Nelson, Novi, MI, Nissan 200SX, 12.

8, (14), Ray Stephenson, Miami, FL, Mazda RX-7, 12.

9, (16), Sam Moore, Kannapolis, NC, Volvo 142, 12.

10, (12), Richard Smith, Loxahatchee, FL, Mazda RX-7, 12.

11, (2), Tony Ave, Maiden, NC, Acura RSX, 10.

12, (5), Joe Kristensen, London, ONT, Honda Civic Si, 10.

13, (1), Michael Lewis, Poway, CA, Mazda RX-7, 8.

14, (4), Taz Harvey, Danville, CA, Mazda RX-7, 6.

15, (13), Christopher Howard, Holliston, MA, Mazda Miata, 4.

16, (11), Guy Laidig, Woodside, CA, Mazda RX-7, 3.

DNS, (17), William Davis, Salisbury, NC, Pontiac Sunfire GT, .

Length of Race: 39 miles

Overall Time of Race: 27:22.603 (86.000 mph)

Margin of Victory: 1.229 seconds

Fastest Race Lap: #4 Ave 1:59.045 mph (98.887 mph)

Lap Leaders: #32 laps 1-5; #71 laps 6-8; #4 laps 9-10; #71 laps 11-12

Sunoco Hard Charger: Ken Nelson

Image: Jeff Dernehl, GT-3 Champion

Over the years, American Sedan (AS) has produced some unexpected occurrences and amazing moments during SCCA’s National Championship. Tire Rack Pole Award winner Gregory Eaton, of Woodbridge, Virginia, didn’t want any surprises this year, and his wish was granted as he drove his No. 28 Eaton Racing and Development Ford Mustang to a flag-to-flag victory, claiming his first Runoffs victory at VIRginia International Raceway on Friday.

“I don’t know if I drew it up like that, but I sure as heck was hoping for it,” Eaton said after completing the 15-lap race around VIR’s 18-turn, 3.27-mile circuit. “It’s unbelievable. I’ve been coming here to VIR for a long time, and each year I get a little faster.”

Behind Eaton, however, things were interesting as several competitors did their best to claim the last two podium spots. Daniel Richardson, in the No. 15 Hoosier/GentiumTech/AutoGear/ProSys Chevrolet Camaro, started second but pulled off course on the first lap after his car appeared to have an issue. Andrew McDermid, in the No. 24 WeatherTech/Felice Engines/Hoosier Ford Mustang, slotted into second followed by the No. 56 Hoosier/Mobil1/Hawk Chevrolet Camaro of John Heinricy, the No. 14 Iron Works/Yanek Custom Gun Ford Mustang GT of James Jost, the No. 57 TAR/Hoosier/Hawk Pontiac Firebird of Amy Aquilante, the No. 34 Hoerr Racing/Hoosier/Roux/PAGID Ford Mustang of Bryan Long, and Stephen Ott in the No. 07 ORSW Racing/Protex By Bardahl Ford Mustang.

By lap three, Aquilante dropped back and Jost moved up to chase Heinricy. Soon after, Jost was by Heinricy and had his eyes set on McDermid who had dropped two seconds behind Eaton. Three laps later, McDermid had fallen back and was gobbled up by both Jost and Heinricy.

A full-course yellow bunched up the field and while Jost had a good restart when the green flag flew again, Eaton stayed strong and reestablished a gap. As laps dwindled, Heinricy got right up behind Jost and actually poked by to take second for a moment. But Heinricy spun soon afterwards, which allowed Jost, who also set a new AS track lap record at VIR, to secure the runner-up spot, his first Runoffs podium finish.

“I just kept driving,” Jost said about the battles out on track that led to his first Runoffs podium appearance. “I just keep going. I never expected to be here. It was awesome.”

Heinricy was able to get his car out of the grass without losing a position and came home third. Ott and Long both ended up getting around McDermid to finish fourth and fifth respectively, and the Sunoco Hard Charger award went to the No. 97 Ford Mustang of Jason Smith who started eleventh and finished seventh.

ALTON, Va. — Provisional results for Friday’s American Sedan race at the 56th SCCA National Championship Runoffs from VIRginia International Raceway, with finish position, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car and laps completed.

1, (1), Gregory Eaton, Woodbridge, VA, Ford Mustang, 15.

2, (4), James Jost, Allentown, PA, Ford Mustang GT, 15.

3, (5), John Heinricy, Clarkston, MI, Chevrolet Camaro, 15.

4, (10), Stephen Ott, Quakertown, PA, Ford Mustang, 15.

5, (6), Bryan Long, Peoria, IL, Ford Mustang, 15.

6, (8), Beth Aquilante, Collingswood, NJ, Pontiac Firebird, 15.

7, (11), Jason Smith, Troy, NY, Ford Mustang, 15.

8, (17), Kevin Fandozzi, St Joseph, MI, Chevrolet Camaro SS, 15.

9, (12), Ted Warning, Allons, TN, Chevrolet Camaro, 15.

10, (3), Andrew McDermid, Howell, MI, Ford Mustang, 15.

11, (9), Andrew Gardner, Walnut Creek, CA, Ford Mustang SMG, 15.

12, (14), Jim Wheeler, Lenexa, KS, Pontiac Firebird, 15.

13, (16), Andy Schniedermeyer, Florissant, MO, Chevrolet Camaro, 15.

14, (13), Christopher Qualls, Yorba Linda, CA, Ford Mustang Cobra, 11.

15, (7), Amy Aquilante, Phoenixville, PA, Pontiac Firebird, 4.

16, (15), Kelly Lubash, Stamford, CT, Chevrolet Camaro, 4.

17, (2), Daniel Richardson, Derwood, MD, Chevrolet Camaro, 0.

Length of Race: 49 miles

Overall Time of Race: 37:06.263 (avg. 79.317 mph)

Margin of Victory: 05.079 seconds

Fastest Race Lap: 2:03.900 (95.012 mph)

Lap Leaders: #28 laps 1-15

Sunoco Hard Charger: #97 Jason Smith

Photo: Gregory Eaton on his way to an American Sedan Runoffs victory

Danny Steyn spun but still led every lap of his 2019 SCCA Championship Runoffs® race to win his second consecutive Super Touring Lite national title, and a 2019 Super Sweep.

This is the second year in a row in which Steyn, from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, led every lap in the Nelson/OPM/G-Loc Brakes Mazda MX-5 on the way to the win.

“We knew this was going to be a strategy race,” said Steyn, “during qualifying everybody was making very similar lap times but we were doing them so differently if you looked at the trap speed.”

Steyn’s car didn’t have the top speed of the Hondas, requiring him to optimize the sections of track his Mazda performed better in.

“In the end I think the reason I won was, for some reason, my car was carrying a lot of speed through Hog Pen,” said Steyn, mentioning the tricky final corner named after the building performing pig-housing duties which sat near the corner for much of VIR’s early years. “Through hog pen I could gap them.”

Once Steyn built the gap on second place and worked on managing his tires, a momentary lack of focus caused a spin which could have hurt his chances at the win.

“When your managing the gap, you’re not focusing and your brain goes in different directions, “said Steyn, “I went into Oak Tree a little hot and it got away from me, the rear end stepped out and I parked the car.”

Steyn was able to make it back on track without losing the lead, aided in that effort by the battle building for second place.

On the first lap Chris Haldeman, from McKinney, Texas, in the No. 40 Mazda Miata and Cliff Ira in the No. 36 Acura Integra had a “rubbing is racing” moment in the aptly named “NASCAR” corner. Both drivers continued but Ira’s slide cost the Kansas City, Missouri driver a bit of time and allowed Haldeman to slip away, leaving Ira agitated.

“Your brain is going about a million miles an hour and my brother Greg who has a lot of experience settled me down on the radio,” Ira said, “I got focused and I started ripping.”

The brotherly teamwork was a fitting moment in an event dedicated to their late father Gordon Ira Jr., who finished on the podium of the 1970 G-Production SCCA Championship Runoffs®.

To get to second, Ira had to fight his way up to and by Haldeman, who spent much of the race in second place. Haldeman, who showed up at the Runoffs without a car, ended up borrowing the Mazda of David Palfenier, who was not able to make it to the event.

“As the race wore on it goes like every race does; you drive absolutely as hard as you can, you give it everything you have, and everything that your car and chassis has,” said Haldeman, “the car performed flawlessly and I’d really like to thank David and that entire team for making it possible for me to even drive in this class.”

Even with the fierce competition, each podium finisher echoed the praise of the class.

“STL is turning out to be a really beautiful class,” said Steyn, “Everybody is lending a hand to everybody and I feel privileged to be part of a group of racers who do that. We are one big family.”

Greg Maloy, SCCA Runoffs® rookie, finished fourth and Max Gee, 2017 SCCA Super Touring U Champion finished fifth. The Sunoco Hard Charger was Brian Hooper who drove his #42 Meineke Car Care of Greensboro Acura Integra from thirty-fourth starting position to twenty-third place at the finish.

ALTON, Va. — Provisional results for Friday’s Super Touring Lite race at the 56th SCCA National Championship Runoffs from VIRginia International Raceway, with finish position, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car and laps completed.

1, (1), Danny Steyn, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Mazda MX-5, 15.
2, (2), Cliff Ira, Kansas City, MO, Acura Integra GSR, 15.
3, (3), Chris Haldeman, McKinney, TX, Mazda Miata STL), 15.
4, (6), Bob Beede, Northampton, MA, Honda Civic Si, 15.
5, (4), Greg Maloy, Ypsilanti, MI, Honda CRX, 15.
6, (7), Max Gee, Mansfield, OH, Honda Prelude, 15.
7, (11), Mike Taylor, Cumming, GA, Honda Civic, 15.
8, (12), Chuck Hines, Cameron, NC, Mazda MX-5, 15.
9, (13), Robert Garrison, Knoxville, TN, Mazda RX-7, 15.
10, (19), Eric Thompson, Aberdeen, NJ, Toyota Celica GT-S, 15.
11, (14), Jon Sewell, Tallahassee, FL, Acura Integra, 15.
12, (16), Marcos Vento, San Juan, PR, Toyota Celica, 15.
13, (5), Darin Treakle, Marshall, VA, Honda Civic Si, 15.
14, (21), Michael Sperber, Asheboro, NC, Ford Focus ZX3, 15.
15, (20), Christopher Childs, Purcellville, VA, Mazda Miata, 15.
16, (22), Brian FitzGerald, Geneva, NY, Honda Civic Si, 15.
17, (18), Stephen Wheeler, Geneva, NY, Honda Civic Si, 15.
18, (25), Peter Keane, Cocoa Beach, FL, Honda Civic Si, 15.
19, (17), Alan Cross, Alpharetta, GA, Mazda RX-8, 15.
20, (24), Bernie Naegele, Geneva, NY, Acura Integra GSR, 15.
21, (8), John Schmitt, Sunbury, OH, Honda Prelude, 14.
22, (23), Ken Haughwout, Canton, GA, Honda Civic HB, 14.
23, (34), Brian Hooper, Greensboro, NC, Acura Integra, 14.
24, (26), Gale Corley, Willis, TX, Mazda Miata, 14.
25, (29), Greg Abel, Tomball, TX, Mazda Miata, 14.
26, (28), David McPherson, Ravenel, SC, Mazda Miata, 14.
27, (35), Hugh McHaffie, Walpole, MA, subaru BRX, 14.
28, (36), Dan Harding, Dover, OH, Mazda RX-7, 14.
29, (32), William Keeling, Houston, TX, Mazda Miata, 14.
30, (30), Whitfield Gregg, Bellevue, WA, Mazda Miata, 14.
31, (33), Joe Stadelmann, Milton, MA, Mazda Miata, 14.
32, (10), Craig McHaffie, Walpole, MA, Mazda MX-5, 10.
33, (15), Steve Eckerich, Fletcher, NC, Mazda RX-7, 8.
34, (31), Joe Schubert, Monterey, CA, Mazda Miata, 3.
35, (27), Christopher Deen, Wilmington, NC, Nissan Sentra SE-R, 1.
DNS, (9), Garret Dunn, Commerce Township, MI, Honda CRX Si, .

Length of Race: 49 miles
Overall Time of Race: 32:12.046 (91.395 mph)
Margin of Victory: 2.721 seconds
Fastest Race Lap: #36 Ira 2:07.273 mph (92.494 mph)
Lap Leaders: #9 laps 1-15
Sunoco Hard Charger: #42 Brian Hooper

Clint McMahan, of Covington, Georgia, drove away from the Formula 500 field on Friday at VIRginia International Raceway (VIR) on his way to a 30.163-second SCCA National Championship Runoffs victory and a second career title. Calvin Stewart, of Novi, Michigan, and Eric McRee, of Lapeer, Michigan, finished on the podium after swapping positions twice in the last lap.

McMahan started from the Tire Rack pole, set a new track record with a lap of 1:57.884 (100.126 mph) and led all 15 laps on his way to a gold medal. His No. 34 Satellite Racing/Jim Murphy Corpion FDS 007/Suzuki covered the 15 laps on the 3.27-mile track in 29:31.207, averaging 99.695 mph in the caution-free race.

“Coming from the Road to Indy in 2016, I learned what competition really was,” McMahan said. “Those guys refer to it as ‘inch perfect.’ My first experience with my engineer there, he slammed his hand on the table and told me I was six inches off the apex. I thought, hey, that’s pretty good. He slammed his hand down and repeated himself and I realized he was not nearly as enthusiastic about it as I was. So you learn to be inch perfect every time. You have to capitalize anywhere that you can.”

Stewart started second in his No. 07 SabbathTruth.com/Hoosier Novakar Blade F600/Suzuki as McMahan pulled away from the field. His pressure came from McRee, who hounded Stewart step for step for the final six laps of the race. McRee’s No. 46 John E. Green/Fastrack Motorsports Novakar J10/Suzuki moved around Stewart going into the ‘rollercoaster’ complex of Turns 14 and 15 coming to the white flag signaling one lap to go. Stewart stayed in the draft and was on the brakes hard into Turn Two, moving back in front and holding off Mcree on the final circuit.

The podium is the third of Stewart’s Runoffs career.

“It was a tough race,” Stewart said. “We had a rough week, this was the third motor that we put in and number three wasn’t as good as one or two. All in all, we had a little bit more on the top end, and Eric had me in a lot of the low speed, especially at the end. I saw him coming and knew if I didn’t get by then, it wasn’t going to happen.”

McRee finished third for his first Runoffs medal.

“We had a good battle going,” McRee said. “We were pretty much matched on pace for the longest time, then he got a little gap. I guess his tires started going away a little bit toward the end and it was like a dog chasing a rabbit. I was going after him. I had a legitimate chance to get him again on the last lap, but unfortunately a lapped car got in between us in the esses and that was the gap he needed.”

Aaron Ellis moved around David Lapham on the final lap to take fourth, with Lapham crossing the stripe in fifth. Tim Friest earned the Sunoco Hard Charger award, improving four positions from his place on the grid to finish 11th.

ALTON, Va. — Provisional results for Friday’s Formula 500 race at the 56th SCCA National Championship Runoffs from VIRginia International Raceway, with finish position, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car and laps completed.

1, (1), Clint McMahan, Covington, GA, Scorpion FDS 007 Suzuki, 15.
2, (2), Calvin Stewart, Novi, MI, Novakar Blade F600 Suzuki, 15.
3, (3), Eric McRee, Lapeer, MI, Novakar J10 Suzuki, 15.
4, (5), Aaron Ellis, Farmington, MN, Ellis Motorsports AE13 Suzuki, 15.
5, (4), David Lapham, Waterford, MI, Novakar J10 Suzuki, 15.
6, (9), Jeremy Morales, Glen Head, NY, Scorpion S1 Suzuki, 15.
7, (7), Jeff DeLong, Atlanta, GA, KBS Mk V Suzuki, 15.
8, (10), Jay Beckley, Marlton, NJ, Quadrini Racing Invader QC1 Rotax, 14.
9, (8), H Cory McLeod, Charlotte, NC, Red Devil Red Devil Rotax, 14.
10, (13), Jack Walbran, Saint Louis, MO, Scorpion S1 Suzuki, 14.
11, (15), Timothy Friest, Leavenworth, KS, KBS Mk VII Rotax, 13.
12, (12), F Russell Strate Jr., Alden, NY, Scorpion S1 Rotax, 8.
13, (6), James Weida, West Lafayette, IN, Scorpion S1 Rotax, 3.
14, (11), Robert Gray, Yorktown Heights, NY, Quadrini Racing Invader QC1 Rotax, 2.
15, (14), Chuck McAbee, Sykesville, MD, Quadrini Racing Invader QC1 Rotax, 1.

Length of Race: 49 miles
Overall Time of Race: 29:31.207 (99.695 mph)
Margin of Victory: 30.163 seconds
Fastest Race Lap: #34 McMahan 1:57.572 mph (100.126 mph)
Lap Leaders: #34 laps 1-15
Sunoco Hard Charger: Timothy Friest

In arguably the most competitive class at the 56^th SCCA National Championship Runoffs with the second-largest field size of any class made up of 54 qualifiers from all around the country, the Spec Racer Ford Gen3 (SRF3) national championship was decided by 17 thousandths of a second with a three-wide battle to the checkered at VIRginia International Raceway (VIR) on Friday.

When the dust settled Roberson Clay Russell, of Spartanburg, North Carolina, held on to take the checkered over Denny Stripling, of McKinney, Texas, in second. Brian Schofield, of Lakeland, Florida, finished in a close third. The podium finishers were only separated by .127-second.

“I’m feeling pretty good right now,” said Russell. “Today was by no means an easy win. These guys beside me raced me hard, but clean, and that’s what Spec Racer Ford is all about. On those final laps, my adrenaline kicked in and I knew I had to just finish this race, and what a spectacular finish it was.”

Right from the drop of the green flag, the entire SRF3 field were vying for position. Drivers plunged two, three and four-wide into the narrow turn one until a train of cars were following pole-sitter and race leader Schofield. Dicing for position, Russell took the lead on lap three over Schofield, but the defending national champion couldn’t shake the hungry No. 61 PM Racing machine of Schofield. Glued nose to tail through the 3.27-mile, 17-turn road circuit, a piece of paper couldn’t fit between the battling duo.

“Today was a typical Spec Racer Ford race,” explained Schofield. “Congratulations to Clay. I know he’s had a rough week. It’s great to be here and I love VIR. I love being up here, just wish I were on the top step. We will try again next year.”

Russell finally got a break from the pressuring Schofield when a caution period grouped up the field. On the restart, Russell in the No. 31 Angry Llama/Comprent pulled the largest gap of the race, but not for long. Tweaking his wrist on Thursday during a qualifying incident, Russell’s injury started to affect his driving, allowing Schofield and a train of six more drivers to catch up.

Chipping away from his fifth-place starting position, Stripling followed the SRF3 motto, “Survive to five, then fight!” On the penultimate lap, Stripling inserted himself into the battle between Russell and Schofield.

The trio attacked the back straight three-wide. Schofield sandwiched between Stripling (on the outside) and Russell (on the inside), lifted, allowing Stripling and Russell to battle for position through Roller Coaster and Hog Pen.

Stripling saw his opportunity to pounce and his No. 4 Southeast Spec Racer/Lightspeed took the lead exciting Hog Pen. Barreling down the front straight, Russell whipped to Stripling’s inside with Schofield in close pursuit. Giving it everything he had, Russell crossed the stripe in first, claiming his second consecutive SRF3 national title of his career. Russell is the only competitor since SRF3’s inception in 2015 to earn repeat victories.

“My car was spectacular in the Hog Pen,” said Stripling. “I really watched Clay and Brian set the pace for most of the race. It was clearly strategic. We were running about a half second off pace. I hit my marks and caught back up with Clay and Brian. Then I saw an opening and thought — let’s take this three wide. I got a spectacular run and had to even lift so I didn’t hit the back of Clay, and that’s what made the difference today from first to second. I had an absolute blast out there with these guys today.”

Tray Ayres placed fourth while Charles Russell Turner rounded out the top five. Bobby Sak set a new SRF3 track record with a time of 2:04.755 (former record set in 2018 by Todd Lamb with a 2:05.114).

David Anzalone earned the Sunoco Hard Charger, improving 14 positions from 39th on the grid to 25th at the finish.

ALTON, Va. — Provisional results for Friday’s CLASS race at the 56th SCCA National Championship Runoffs from VIRginia International Raceway, with finish position, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car and laps completed.
1, (2), Robeson Clay Russell, Spartanburg, SC, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

2, (5), Denny Stripling, McKinney, TX, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

3, (1), Brian Schofield, Lakeland, FL, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

4, (6), Tray Ayres, Gainesville, GA, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

5, (3), Charles Russell Turner, Montpelier, VA, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

6, (8), John Black, Olympic Valley, CA, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

7, (10), Dave Ogburn III, San Angelo, TX, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

8, (11), Richard Stephens, Bixby, OK, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

9, (13), Cliff White, Huntsville, AL, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

10, (12), Scott Rettich, Columbus, OH, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

11, (4), Bobby Sak, West Bloomfield, MI, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

12, (21), Alan Olson, Centreville, VA, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

13, (22), Max King, Franklinville, NJ, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

14, (19), David Dickerson, Wall, NJ, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

15, (7), S.Sandy Satullo III, Hillsboro Beach, FL, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

16, (23), James Libecco, Solon, OH, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

17, (14), Todd Vanacore, Ormond Beach, FL, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

18, (18), Matthew Harper, Cornelius, NC, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

19, (32), Justin Weir, Charleston, SC, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

20, (25), Justin Claucherty, Jackson, MI, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

21, (34), Thomas Weir, Charleston, SC, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

22, (33), Thomas W Burt, Woodway, WA, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

23, (26), Darryl Wills, Houston, TX, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

24, (27), Dan McBreen, Atlanta, GA, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

25, (39), David Anzalone, Glen Head, NY, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

26, (29), Chris Current, Silver Spring, MD, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

27, (24), Michael Greene, Gainesville, GA, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

28, (31), Chuck Newman, Lagrange, GA, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

29, (37), Brian Cates, Gainesville, VA, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

30, (38), Allen Massey, Nags Head, NC, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

31, (44), Kurt Breitinger, Martinez, GA, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

32, (35), Matt Gray, Chaska, MN, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

33, (30), John Hall, Vienna, VA, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

34, (46), Roy Hillenburg, Friendswood, TX, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

35, (42), Mark Fickenscher, Painesville, OH, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

36, (45), Bryan Yates, Clemmons, NC, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

37, (47), Wade White, Vail, CO, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

38, (41), Bob Gardner, Savannah, GA, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

39, (17), Derek Kulach, Albuquerque, NM, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

40, (51), Darrel Stein, Allentown, PA, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

41, (43), Jason Pintar, Flemington, NJ, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

42, (49), Greg Miller, Lancaster, OH, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

43, (36), Thomas A Panaggio, Tampa, FL, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

44, (52), J Mark Wendling, Wharton, NJ, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

45, (50), Thomas Kirchman, Framingham, MA, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

46, (53), Steve Owens, Hudson, NH, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

47, (54), David De Bolt, Cumberland, IN, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 15.

48, (15), John Greene, Gainesville, GA, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 10.

49, (16), Richard Baldwin, Covington, LA, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 10.

50, (9), Raffaele Sammut, Locust Valley, NY, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 5.

51, (20), Bruce Myers, Portsmouth, NH, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 5.

52, (40), Charles Devier, Anderson, SC, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 5.

53, (28), Joseph Sammut, Locust Valley, NY, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 4.

54, (48), Steven Minkon, Schwenksville, PA, SCCA Spec Racer Ford Gen 3, 0.

Length of Race: 49 miles
Overall Time of Race: 37:27.543 (avg. 78.566 mph)
Margin of Victory: 00.017 seconds
Fastest Race Lap: 2:04.755 (94.361 mph)
Lap Leaders: #61 laps 1-2, #31 laps 3-15
Sunoco Hard Charger: #133 David Anzalone

Photo: SRF3 battled to the finish at the Runoffs

One of the fastest car classes in Sports Car Club of America® competition, the Prototype 1 (P1) field was led to the start Friday morning by Tire Rack Pole Award winner Todd Slusher, of Las Vegas, Nevada. Slusher, driving the No. 62 Hempsun Farms Elan DP02 Mazda, immediately grabbed the lead with teammate Chip Romer, of Lake Havasu City, Arizona, in tow. For the rest of the field, that was the last they saw of Slusher and Romer as the duo went on for a one-two finish at VIRginia International Raceway (VIR) during the 56th annual SCCA® National Championship Runoffs®.

Slusher, who has only driven at VIR a handful of times before, had a car that came off the hauler fast. The team made no adjustments during three days of qualifying, other than to change tires. For Slusher, this is his first Runoffs victory in four attempts. During the 15-lap race on VIR’s 18-turn, 3.27-mile circuit, he also managed to set a new P1 track lap record. And while everything may have looked easy for Slusher to fans watching trackside, a win at the Runoffs is rarely a total cakewalk.

“I just tried to focus on driving the track,” Slusher said after the race. “I had one moment when the backend came out on me a little bit right before the Esses and I got a little fishtail going in the dirt. That was toward three-quarters of the race and that’s when I knew that the tires where going away a little bit.”

Romer, in the No. 29 Stella Artois Elan DP02 Mazda, finished second about 13 seconds behind his teammate. This was Romer’s first podium finish at the Runoffs in three attempts.

“As a team, we just had a plan to finish one-two, somehow” said Romer, who drove the race without an in-car radio. “Our plan was one-two, and we executed.”

The race for third was where the action was really at during the P1 event. Jim Devenport, in the No. 23 Norma Cranbrook Group Inc. M20FC Honda, jumped to third place and held that spot for the first half of the race. However, the No. 19 HalifaxPlantation.com Elan DP02 Mazda of Todd Vanacore was right on his tail, followed by the No. 94 RAACE Elan DP02 Mazda of Darryl Shoff, the No. 33 The Door Company Stohr WF1 Suzuki of Greg Bell, the No. 6 Kohler/Hoosier/Millenium/Redpaw WynnFurst Kohler of Jason Miller, and the No. 88 CAS Group Elan DP02 Mazda of John Mcaleer.

With about five laps left, Devenport’s car faded and Vanacore took over the third spot. But behind him, Miller was on a mission, moving past other competitors and closing in for the final podium spot. On the very last lap, Miller got a good run off Oak Tree Curve and passed Vanacore going into the Roller Coaster corners and went on to claim a hard-fought finish in third, and claimed the Sunoco Hard Charger award for coming up from his seventh starting position. Vanacore took fourth and Devenport fifth.

“I didn’t see the white flag. I didn’t know it was the last lap,” Miller said, admitting he didn’t plan the last-lap move. “The bottom line is, I race hard regardless of the end. It’s what I do. It’s just my thinking.”

ALTON, Va. — Provisional results for Friday’s Prototype 1 race at the 56th SCCA National Championship Runoffs from VIRginia International Raceway, with finish position, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car and laps completed.

1, (1), Todd Slusher, Las Vegas, NV, Elan DP02 Mazda, 15.

2, (2), Chip Romer, Lake Havasu City, AZ, Elan DP02 Mazda, 15.

3, (7), Jason Miller, Elkhart Lake, WI, WynnFurst Kohler, 15.

4, (3), Todd Vanacore, Ormond Beach, FL, Elan DP02 Mazda, 15.

5, (6), Jim Devenport, Alamo, CA, Norma M20FC Honda, 15.

6, (9), Greg Bell, Ottawa, ON, Stohr WF1 Suzuki, 15.

7, (4), Darryl Shoff, Reading, PA, Elan DP02 Mazda, 15.

8, (8), Jean-Luc Liverato, Woodstock, GA, Elan DP02 Mazda, 15.

9, (10), Garry Crook, Pensacola, FL, Elan DP02 Mazda, 15.

10, (12), Doug Piner, Wilmington, NC, West WR1000 Suzuki, 14.

11, (11), Glenn Cooper, Roswell, GA, LSR2 P1 Suzuki, 8.

12, (5), John Mcaleer, Roswell, GA, Elan DP02 Mazda, 6.

13, (13), Jim Downing, Atlanta, GA, Elan DP02 Mazda, 3.

14, (14), Keith Carter, Calabogie, ON, Stohr WF1 BMW, 0.

Length of Race: 49 miles

Overall Time of Race: 26:09.427 (avg. 112.512 mph)

Margin of Victory: 13.200 seconds

Fastest Race Lap: 1:43.498 (113.741)

Lap Leaders: #62 laps 1-15

Sunoco Hard Charger: #6 Jason Miller

Photo: Todd Slusher took the Prototype 1 win at the 2019 Runoffs

Kip Van Steenburg, from New Smyrna, Florida, captured his second E Production SCCA Championship Runoffs® win at the wheel of the No. 4 German Excellence Porsche 944 by holding off podium finishers John Hainsworth and a hard-charging Jesse Prather.

Prather, from Topeka, KS, jumped to a lead in the No. 34 JPM/Hoosier/Carbotech BMW Z3 on the start but his advantage was cut down when Greg Amy spun the fire-engulfed No. 33 Honda Civic to a stop in turn one, bringing out a full-course caution.

On the lap-five restart Van Steenburg went hard after Prather and got ahead on the exit of turn one but then missed a shift, handing the lead back to Prather.

“I went to grab the gear and completely missed,” Van Steenburg said, who knew the mistake could make the rest of the race very tough. “When Jesse gets in front of you, you think, ‘I’ll see if he makes a mistake,’ and it’s usually not going to happen.

Rare as it may be, Van Steenburg didn’t have to wait long for the mistake from Prather, who pushed a little too hard on tires cooled from the full course yellow and slid off track in Turn 10.

“The mistake he made is exactly the same as I made in qualifying,” Van Steenburg said. “I was watching in slow motion exactly what I had done.”

From there, the eventual winner took a focus-forward approach and managed the tires on his heavier Porsche to maintain the gap over Hainsworth.

Hainsworth, driving the No. 95 Maximum Attack/Hoosier/Carbotech Mazda RX-7 found himself in unexpected company while driving to second place in a week which saw plenty of adversity, including losing an engine on the test day and having transmission problems in qualifying.

“I got two national champs in front of me, two national champs behind me,” said Hainsworth, “which one of these doesn’t belong?”

The South Jersey Region member proved he did belong, dogging Van Steenburg the rest of the race.

“I was trying to stay on his draft on his bumper waiting for a mistake that never happened,” said Hainsworth.

Meanwhile, Tire Rack polesitter and early leader Prather was putting on a ferocious drive to claw his way back from his spin and get back to the podium. After a few moments to let the dirt escape his car Prather started fighting and set a new track record for E-Production in the process, with a lap of 2:01.631 (96.785 mph).

“I just put my head down and pushed for all the car had,” said Prather, “it was more like qualifying laps than race speed, but you have nothing to lose at that point,” said Prather. “I’m disappointed because the week went so well but all in all you come to the Runoffs and get on the podium it couldn’t be better,”

Finishing fourth was Matt Reynolds of Fair Oaks, TX in the No. 71 Reynolds Brothers/Hoosier/JMP/Mazda/Gloc Mazda Miata followed by Greg Ira from Fort Lauderdale, FL driving the Datsun Garage/Futofab Nissan 260Z in fifth.

(Edit after final results audit) The Sunoco Hard Charger of the race was Darryl Pritchett, of Daytona Beach, FL, who drove the No. 92 Angry Sheep Motorsports/G-Loc BMW Z3 2.5L a from 25th starting position to 16th place.

ALTON, Va. — Provisional results for Friday’s E Production race at the 56th SCCA National Championship Runoffs from VIRginia International Raceway, with finish position, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car and laps completed.

1, (2), Kip Van Steenburg, New Smyrna Beach, FL, Porsche 944 S2, 15.
2, (4), John Hainsworth, Marlton, NJ, Mazda RX-7, 15.
3, (1), Jesse Prather, Topeka, KS, BMW Z3 2.5L, 15.
4, (3), Matt Reynolds, Fair Oaks, TX, Mazda Miata, 15.
5, (5), Greg Ira, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Nissan 260Z, 15.
6, (8), Rick Kavitski, Freeland, PA, Mazda Miata, 15.
7, (9), Aaron Downey, Rossmoor, CA, Mazda RX-3, 15.
8, (10), Joe Moser, Wilmette, IL, Mazda MX-5, 15.
9, (6), Peter Norton, Pelham, NC, Caterham 7 America, 15.
10, (14), Steve Rose, Mebane, NC, Mazda RX-7, 15.
11, (15), Don Girven, Scottsville, NY, Mazda RX-3, 15.
12, (19), Miner Wilcox, Wingina, VA, Caterham 7 America, 15.
13, (21), Joe Carr, Petaluma, CA, Mazda Miata, 15.
14, (17), Don Tucker, Memphis, TN, Mazda Miata, 15.
15, (20), Steve Smyczek, New Berlin, WI, Mazda RX-8, 15.
16, (22), Charles Vaccaro, Patterson, NY, Mazda RX-7, 15.
17, (25), Darryl Pritchett, Daytona Beach, FL, BMW Z3 2.5L, 14.
18, (12), James Rogerson, Angleton, TX, BMW Z3 2.8L, 14.
19, (26), Donald Walsh, Orrtanna, PA, Mazda RX-7, 14.
20, (7), Kevin Leigh, Harrisonburg, VA, BMW Z3 2.5L, 13.
21, (24), Anthony Black, Irwin, PA, Acura Integra Type-R, 12.
22, (13), Jeff Young, Raleigh, NC, Triumph TR8, 10.
23, (27), Anthony Parker, New Ipswich, NH, Mazda RX-7, 10.
24, (18), Greg Amy, Middletown, CT, Honda Civic Si, 1.
DNS, (11), Robert Garrison, Knoxville, TN, Mazda Miata, .
DNS, (16), Heikki Silegren, Stouffville, ON, Nissan 240Z, .
DNS, (23), Dan Rolfe, Weyers Cave, VA, Nissan 240SX S13, .
DNS, (28), Michael Cooke, Burgaw, NC, Mazda RX-7, .
DNS, (29), Dwight K Cooke JR, Greensboro, NC, Triumph TR4, .

Length of Race: 49 miles

Overall Time of Race: 38:45.223 (75.941 mph)

Margin of Victory: 1.209 seconds

Fastest Race Lap: #134 Prather 2:01.631 mph (96.785 mph)

Lap Leaders: #34 laps 1-5; #4 laps 6-15

Sunoco Hard Charger: Joe Carr

Image: Kip Van Steenburg, EP National Championship

Nick Leverone, of Mednon, Massachusetts, opened the 56^th SCCA National Championship Runoffs at VIRginia International Raceway (VIR) on Friday with a Touring 4 (T4) victory, the first of his career. Tyler Quance, of Cypress, Texas, and Stephen Blethen, of Allanstown, New Hampshire, completed the podium.

Leverone started second and watched 15-time and class defending National Champion John Heinricy take an early lead, but by lap eight of the 15-lap race had closed to the back of last year’s winner. On lap 10, Leverone and Heinricy were side by side for the lead through turns two through five, but it took a run down VIR’s long back straight and into Turn 14 before Leverone claimed the lead.

Once in front, Leverone’s No. 186 Flatout Motorsports Inc Subaru BRZ began to pull away. He completed the 15 laps in 33:05.327, averaging 88.943 mph around the 3.27-mile circuit and setting a new track record with the race’s fastest lap in 2:10.959 (89.891 mph).

The win was the first Runoffs podium for Leverone in 11 starts.

“It feels unbelievable,” Leverone said. “I was in the car on the last lap and I was choking up because I couldn’t believe I was going to win the National Championship. It’s just great. The field this weekend in T4, how much closer could it get? This class is unbelievable. There were 10 of us, all within a second.”

Quance started ninth in the field of 25 but began a steady climb toward the front in his No. 68 Drake Motorsports/Miata Graveyard Mazda MX-5 almost immediately. He picked up three positions on the opening lap, and was into fourth by lap six. His final two positions came on the same lap, clearing Blethen in the battle for third and shooting around Heinricy, who had begun to slow on track with mechanical issues in his Tire Rack polesitting No. 35 Toyota 86.

Alone in second but several car lengths back to Leverone, Quance crossed the finish line second in his first Runoffs appearance.

“I had an odd number starting position, so I was on the inside,” Quance said. “I tried to capitalize on the position I was in and be aggressive to stick with the top guys as best I could. After that I tried to run consistent laps and take advantage of opportunities and close the gaps. It feels awesome. I didn’t expect to be here, especially qualifying ninth.”

Blethen was right behind Leverone early, but a broken sway bar slowed his pace through the corners. That struggle slowed his No. 50 RST Performance/KONI/Precision Mazda RX-8’s lap time by at least a full second per lap, leaving him a sitting duck as Quance came marching through. Heinricy’s concurrent issues gave him a second chance, and he capitalized for a third-place finish.

“I’m super pumped to be here,” Blethen said. “I didn’t know what to expect coming here with a top notch T4 field. During the race, I was right with the top guys and I was doing a little lifting because I wanted to work with Nick. I’m New England proud, and I wanted us two to be on the podium. Then I broke a sway bar and it all went out the window. With two laps to the end, I thought I had a third. But John picked it back up and passed me where I didn’t think he would. We had a fight, it was awesome.”

Owen Schefer moved into fourth on the final lap, while Heinricy hung on for fifth place. Brent Simonson earned the Sunoco Hard Charger, improving 11 positions from 17^th on the grid to sixth at the finish.

ALTON, Va. — Provisional results for Friday’s Touring 4 race at the 56th SCCA National Championship Runoffs from VIRginia International Raceway, with finish position, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car and laps completed.

1, (2), Nick Leverone, Mendon, MA, Subaru BRZ, 15.

2, (9), Tyler Quance, Cypress, TX, Mazda MX-5, 15.

3, (3), Stephen Blethen, Allanstown, NH, Mazda RX-8, 15.

4, (4), Owen Schefer, Warrenton, VA, Mazda RX-8, 15.

5, (1), John Heinricy, Clarkston, MI, Toyota 86, 15.

6, (17), Brent Simonson, Millersville, MD, Mazda RX-8, 15.

7, (7), Raymond Blethen, Londonderry, NH, Mazda RX-8, 15.

8, (12), Kevin Fryer, Bloomington, IL, Mazda MX-5, 15.

9, (10), Steve Bertok, Lexington, SC, Mazda MX-5, 15.

10, (6), Tommy Boileau, Colorado Springs, CO, Acura RSX Type-S, 15.

11, (14), Felix Borodaty, Hallandale Beach, FL, Toyota 86, 15.

12, (16), Brian Nelson, Broadway, NC, Mazda MX-5, 15.

13, (13), Bryan Horowitz, Miami, FL, Scion FR-S, 15.

14, (20), Ron Munnerlyn, Bennettsville, SC, Mazda MX-5, 15.

15, (22), Tim Mullen, Boston, MA, Mazda RX-8, 15.

16, (18), Derrick Ambrose, Brush Prairie, WA, Mazda 3, 15.

17, (21), Sergio Zlobin, Austin, TX, Mazda RX-8, 15.

18, (23), Jonathon Collins McLendon, Raleigh, NC, Mazda MX-5, 15.

19, (19), Steve Strickland, Marion, VA, Mazda MX-5, 15.

20, (25), Christopher Collins, Germantown, MD, Mazda MX-5, 14.

21, (24), Mike Burke, Asheville, NC, Mazda MX-5, 13.

22, (8), Jared Lendrum, Queensbury, NY, Subaru BRZ, 9.

23, (11), Brian Reilly, Norwalk, CT, Mazda RX-8, 6.

24, (15), Morgan Mehler, Belville, NC, Mazda MX-5, 6.

25, (5), Thomas Fowler, Gainesville, GA, Mazda RX-8, 1.

Length of Race: 49 miles

Overall Time of Race: 33:05.327 (88.943 mph)

Margin of Victory: 4.349 seconds

Fastest Race Lap: #186 Leverone 2:10.959 mph (89.891 mph)

Lap Leaders: #35 laps 1-9; #186 laps 10-15

Sunoco Hard Charger: Brent Simonson

Image: Nick Leverone, T4 National Championship

From the Runoffs to the Hoosier Racing Tire Super Tour, U.S. Majors Tour to regional weekends, SCCA® road racing events are made possible thanks to the tremendous effort of SCCA workers. And each year a handful of workers are recognized for their enormous contribution. Those individuals are bestowed with Worker of the Year honors, presented by Mazda.

“When you combine both national and regional activities, more than 200 road racing events are conducted across the United States by the Sports Car Club of America each year,” said Michael Cobb, SCCA President & CEO. “That colossal mission just couldn’t be achieved without the thousands of highly skilled and incredibly helpful volunteers who are part of this Club. Worker of the Year awards identify a handful of these devoted volunteers. To the winners and absolutely everyone who helped pull off 2019 SCCA events, I can’t say ‘thank you’ enough for your passion and involvement.”

Award recipients have shown dedication throughout the season to their Specialty, events, Region, competitors, fellow workers and the SCCA; exhibited strong skills, good leadership, and a willingness to go above and beyond what is expected; and provide excellent customer service to everyone encountered. SCCA members submitted Worker of the Year nominations, and winners were then selected by the SCCA National staff with input from Division leadership.

The Flagging and Communications Worker of the Year is North Carolina Region’s Heather Clark. During her service to the SCCA Clark has served on the Region board, been Flag Chief and Assistant Chief for the last three years, and her experience and attitude has earned her the respect of fellow workers and drivers as she took on the role of a teacher and leader.

Cal Club’s Tracy Roper is the Grid & Pits Worker of the Year. Roper, who attended her first Runoffs® only a couple of years ago, has left a deep impression on the Club by never missing a race with her local region, being one of the first to arrive and always looking for more responsibility and things to learn.

Elizabeth Thiel, of Finger Lakes Region, has taken “plays well with others” to new heights in earning the Worker of the Year award for Race Administration. Theil presents a positive, professional attitude with track management, workers, drivers and partners as she handles the routine and not-so-routine events which pop up on race weekends for regions, the SCCA U.S. Majors Tour and Hoosier Racing Tire SCCA Super Tour.

A 29-year SCCA member, New England Region’s Terry Roberts is the Registration Worker of the Year, an honor earned by being a wonderful ambassador to the SCCA at and away from the track in her years of service. At the track, Roberts has worked all over the East Coast in both Northeast and Southeast Divisions, and she has been a staple at the Runoffs® for more than a decade. Off track, Roberts’ can-do attitude has been flexed by coordinating annual meetings and serving as the Divisional Administrator.

The 2019 Scrutineering Worker of the Year is the “contagiously warm” Bernie Novak of San Francisco Region. Novak has participated in SCCA events as a scrutineer since 2011 and is known for her planning and coordination while interacting with drivers and fellow workers with a smile. Outside of her specialty, Novak has also gotten her competition license and participated in the Tire Rack Time Trials National Tour powered by Hagerty in a continuing quest to spread her enthusiasm on and off track.

Larry Kurkowski holds many specialty licenses, but it’s his time in the start stand which has earned this Florida Region member the SCCA Starter of the Year. On the way to the honor, this 36-year SCCA member has worked events from Florida to Minnesota and served on the Runoffs start team since 2008 as Assistant Chief and then Chief Starter.

The humility, grace, thoughtfulness and patience of Washington D.C. Region member Steve Pence has earned him the title of Steward Worker of the Year. Pence, who now splits his stewarding time between SCCA and FIA, has spent time in the SCCA as a driver, instructor, flagger, steward and Majors and Hoosier Super Tour Race Director. In each of those positions, Pence has garnered respect through transparent and sincere communication.

Steel Cities Region member Jeff Hutzelman is the Timing & Scoring Worker of the Year. Hutzelman strives to serve the SCCA wherever and whenever needed, working frequently out of division and at the Runoffs® setting examples for others with his dedication. It is Hutzelman’s delivery of excellence which leads him and the rest of the Worker of the Year group as shining examples of the SCCA spirit.

The Sports Car Club of America®, Inc., founded in 1944, is a 67,500-member motorsports organization that incorporates all facets of autocross, rally and road racing at both Club and professional levels. With headquarters in Topeka, Kansas, the SCCA annually sanctions over 2,000 events through its 115 Regions and subsidiary divisions. Much of the SCCA’s activities are made possible with support from the following Official Partners: Hagerty, the Official Insurance Partner of SCCA; Hawk Performance, the Official Brake Products of SCCA; Sunoco, the Official Fuel of SCCA; and Tire Rack, the Official Tire Retailer of SCCA. To learn more, please visit http://www.scca.com.