Tuesday is the first of three qualifying days at Road America for the 60th anniversary SCCA® National Championship Runoffs® presented by Sunoco taking place Sept. 28-Oct. 6, 2024, at America’s National Park of Speed in Wisconsin. Each of the 26 car classes competing at this year’s National Championship will have 20-minute sessions on track Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday to set race grids and discover Tire Rack Pole Award winners.
Road America’s legendary 4.048-mile, 14-turn circuit is in play this year with the Carousel, Kink, and Canada Corner awaiting competitors after a 2023 track resurfacing that applied “fancy asphalt.” The last time SCCA’s Summit Racing Equipment Road Racing program brought the Runoffs party to Road America was in 2020. Before then, the top-notch venue was home to SCCA’s Runoffs from 2009 to 2013.
Results, an event schedule, facility map, and much more can be found at the 2024 Runoffs event webpage.
2024 Runoffs Homepage
Sunoco 260 Tuesday Ahead
For half a decade, the Runoffs’ first qualifying day has been made more intriguing thanks to Sunoco 260 Tuesday prizes. Drivers in each of the 26 classes whose best qualifying time comes closest to including .260 receive 15 gallons of Sunoco race fuel free for their car.
Sunoco’s 260 race fuel has been highly regarded for many years. Sunoco’s 260 GT is a street-legal (in most states), oxygenated, unleaded gasoline designed for high performance street cars, muscle cars, classics, street rods, motorcycles, and the like.
With a 100-octane rating, Sunoco 260 GT allows increased boost levels in supercharged or turbocharged applications as compared to lower octane “pump” gas. It’s engineered to not harm catalytic converters or oxygen sensors, and contains a comprehensive additive package for greater engine protection and reduced fuel system deposits. It’s also compatible with two-stroke synthetic and mineral-based engine oils, and safe for carbureted and fuel injected engines.
Sunoco has been powering victories on and off the track for more than 100 years, which is why Sunoco is trusted to fuel more than 50 series of racing, driving, and winning — including the SCCA National Championship Runoffs, SCCA Pro Racing, NHRA, and NASCAR. Sunoco will also help keep Tuesday’s event running by fueling volunteers and event staff with food and beverages at lunch.
Since 2001, Sunoco has also been the Official Fuel of SCCA. Visit SunocoRaceFuels.com to learn more.
Road America is Made for Spectators
Finishing fourth in a recent USA Today’s 10Best Reader’s Choice Award for Best Motorsports Race poll, the Runoffs is arguably the greatest, most exciting, and entertaining amateur road racing experience in all of North America.
Upcoming are three days of racing, with one car class after another rolling out on track. Spectators barely have a chance to catch their breath before the next set of racers charge around Road America’s course adorned in with fall foliage.
There’s no better way to enjoy all the Runoffs has to offer than to be trackside for the big event, and spectator ticket prices are very reasonable for a motorsports event of this size.
An all-race pass, which is good Oct. 4-6, is only $80 at the entry gate, and includes parking and paddock access. Single-day admission is only $35 for Friday, or $45 Saturday or Sunday. Anyone 16 years old and younger get in free at the gate with a paying adult, plus SCCA members get a 20% discount. Learn more at the Runoffs ticket webpage.
In the meantime, follow qualifying developments over the next three days at the Runoffs Live Timing/Scoring webpage. That’s where you’ll also find an audio-only qualifying broadcast, as well as current and archived Timing/Scoring data from all on-track sessions. That same audio presentation — featuring commentary from pro driver Tom O’Gorman, Road America announcer Eric Mueller, and Hoosier Racing Tire SCCA Super Tour broadcasters Larry “Lefty” MacLeod and Gregg Ginsberg — will be heard around Road America on the public address system as well.
All three Hagerty Race Days will include a multi-camera video broadcast, presented by Mazda, delivered directly to smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, or desktops and laptops around the globe. Catch all the Runoffs racing action anywhere with internet access as it happens live. Find the race action online Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in real time at SCCA.com or the SCCA Official YouTube channel, the link for which you’ll find below.
A four-man team familiar to fans will again anchor the race video broadcast, splitting duties across Hagerty Race Days. Greg Creamer and John Fippin will share play-by-play responsibilities, and color commentary will be added by MacLeod and O’Gorman. Heyward Wagner will add insight from grid and pit lane, as well as capture the emotion from competitors immediately after races. For those at Road America during race days, audio from the Apex Broadcast-produced presentation will air live around the circuit via the public address system.
On top of live race coverage, Hoosier Racing Tire SCCA Super Tour announcers Brian Bielanski and Gregg Ginsberg return in 2024 with the Inside the SCCA podcast presented by Goodyear, which offers additional insights from Road America prior to the first race of each day, as well as during lunch breaks.
While SCCA has worked hard to deliver Runoffs action to fans around the globe on demand, there’s simply nothing like being at Road America for this experience. There’s still time to get here, and it’s highly advised you make the trip.
After a season of optional use during the Hoosier Racing Tire SCCA® Super Tour, all drivers will be required to use the Flagtronics electronic flagging system in their competition vehicles during the 2024 SCCA National Championship Runoffs® presented by Sunoco.
Flagtronics works by creating a digital communication network covering the track that passes information back and forth between each corner station, race control, and race vehicles.
Inside the car, the Flagtronics display lights up to show specific signals for local flags in each area controlled by Flagging & Communications workers at the corner stations, or full course conditions as decided by operating officials.
Up in race control, the information provided by the system will enable better incident response and cleanup.
“Flagtronics gives the officials a real-time comprehensive view of everything happening on track,” said Eric Prill, SCCA’s Vice President of Road Racing. “The system allows race control to see where each car is, and where each pace car or emergency vehicle is, which provides more information when critical decisions need to be made. All of this goes toward making for a safer environment while maximizing track time for the drivers.”
While the primary purpose of the electronic flagging is to back up and assist the standard flag conditions, it also may be used for a new procedure for responding to incidents during practice and qualifying.
“During non-race sessions, officials can opt to use a Virtual Safety Car (VSC) procedure to reduce clean-up time of incidents,” Prill noted.
Like a full course yellow, the VSC prohibits passing and requires all cars to slow down, but does not necessitate the “bunching up” of the field behind a safety car.
“By reducing the time needed to get the field under control, emergency crews will be able to respond to, and clear, incidents faster, maximizing green-flag time,” said Prill.
When the officials choose to use the VSC, all corner stations will be instructed to display a purple VSC sign. Simultaneously, a signal will be issued to the in-car Flagtronics units showing the purple condition, instructing drivers to slow to a prescribed speed limit.
Once displayed, drivers will have 10 seconds to slow their cars to 45 mph or less. When a vehicle violates the speed limit, race control will be notified, and those drivers may be subject to penalties.
When the racecourse is clear, each corner station will wave a blue flag as a “going back to green” warning to drivers before all VSC signs and flags are dropped and the in-car Flagtronics display goes from purple to green.
While it will be used during practice and qualifying sessions at the 2024 Runoffs, the VSC procedure will not be used during Runoffs races this year.
“VSC is a new procedure for SCCA, and we want to make sure it doesn’t impact a National Championship,” Prill added. “For this year’s event, we will stick with the traditional full course caution procedure with a safety car, if needed. However, we anticipate using VSC during races in the future once the drivers and officials have had more experience with it.”
Change is good for the soul and can reinvigorate passions. The 60th anniversary SCCA® National Championship Runoffs® presented by Sunoco embraces that concept this year with a change of venue, returning to Road America for the first time in four years after back-to-back engagements in 2022 and 2023 at VIRginia International Raceway.
Located in the beautiful Kettle Moraine region of Wisconsin between the quaint towns of Elkhart Lake and Plymouth, Road America’s lush and legendary 4.048-mile, 14-turn circuit hosts the 2024 Runoffs Sept. 28-Oct. 6 at what is often called America’s National Park of Speed. Established in 1955, Road America is a 640-acre, park-like grounds that offers amazing viewing opportunities, fantastic concessions, and high-speed excitement to hundreds of thousands of spectators each year.
Monday is the last “test” day on course, and up next is three days of qualifying. Each of 26 car classes will have 20-minute sessions on track beginning at 8 a.m. Central Time on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday to set race grids and reveal Tire Rack Pole Award winners. Qualifying is then followed by three Hagerty Race Days — Friday, Saturday, and Sunday — where an SCCA National Champion emerges following 13-lap or 40-minute battles around a challenging track with well-known features such as the Carousel, Kink, Canada Corner, and Hurry Downs.
The Runoffs, which caps the SCCA Summit Racing Equipment Road Racing program each year, has evolved into what is now commonly agreed to be the pinnacle of amateur American motorsports. Since 1964, SCCA has crowned National Champions through the winner-take-all, single race Runoffs format. For a rundown of on-track activities this year, click the button below to access the current event schedule.
2024 Runoffs Event Schedule
A Week of After-hours Activities
The Road America circuit will be open to everyone for walking beginning no earlier than 6 p.m. Central Time Monday evening, Sept. 30, after the last test session has ended. This provides an opportunity for drivers and fans alike to get a better perspective on the course, plus a little exercise does a body good with so many cheese curds and brats likely to be consumed in coming days.
Please note that cars, trucks, ATVs, side”by”side vehicles, scooters, and two”wheeled motorized vehicles are NOT permitted on course during the open walk period. Golf carts, team tuggers, pedal bicycles, and ADA Mobility Devices are allowed, but can only travel at a normal walking speed.
Around the same time, the “official” Road America Runoffs party scene begins with a Happy Hour reception for all participants be they volunteers, competitors, or team members. A beer truck will be positioned near Turn 5 for the gathering, which allows folks to enjoy a cold beverage after sauntering down the Moraine Sweep. It will also serve as a watering hole of solace for those coming to a realization that Turn 6 is a pretty solid uphill jog/hike.
Other gatherings for the week include Tuesday evening’s Worker Social Party at the RA Center located in the infield near Turn 13, and Wednesday’s Block Party and Charity Golf Cart Parade. Thursday brings even more fun with the Tire Rack Pole Award Presentation at victory circle and the 60th Anniversary Party at the RA Center.
For a glimpse at the complete social calendar for this year’s Runoffs, just check out the list of can’t-miss events posted at the bottom of the event schedule. And if you need help finding the RA Center or anything else at Road America, click the link below to access a number of different maps for guidance.
’24 Runoffs Maps
Tracking Runoffs Action All Week
The Runoffs at Road America is an experience not to be missed. The sounds, sights, and smells are best enjoyed in person, and spectator ticket prices are very reasonable for a motorsports event of this magnitude.
An all-race pass, which is good Oct. 4-6, is only $80 at the entry gate, and includes parking and paddock access. Single-day admission is only $35 for Friday, or $45 Saturday or Sunday. Anyone 16 years old and younger get in free at the gate with a paying adult, plus SCCA members get a 20% discount. Learn more at the Runoffs ticket webpage.
Developments over three days of qualifying can be followed online at the Runoffs Live Timing/Scoring webpage. That’s where you’ll also find an audio-only qualifying broadcast, as well as current and archived Timing/Scoring data from all on-track sessions. That same audio presentation — featuring commentary from pro driver Tom O’Gorman, Road America announcer Eric Mueller, and Hoosier Racing Tire SCCA Super Tour broadcasters Larry “Lefty” MacLeod and Gregg Ginsberg — will be heard around Road America on the public address system as well.
All three Hagerty Race Days will again include a multi-camera video broadcast, presented by Mazda, delivered directly to smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, or desktops and laptops around the globe. Catch all the Runoffs racing action anywhere with internet access as it happens live. Find the race action online Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in real time at SCCA.com and the SCCA Official YouTube channel, a link for which you’ll find below.
A four-man team familiar to fans will again anchor the race video broadcast, splitting duties across Hagerty Race Days. Greg Creamer and John Fippin will share play-by-play responsibilities, and color commentary will be added by MacLeod and O’Gorman. Heyward Wagner will add insight from grid and pit lane, as well as capture the emotion from competitors immediately after races. For those at Road America during race days, audio from the Apex Broadcast-produced presentation will air live around the circuit via the public address system.
On top of live race coverage, Hoosier Racing Tire SCCA Super Tour announcers Brian Bielanski and Gregg Ginsberg return in 2024 with the Inside the SCCA podcast presented by Goodyear, which offers additional insights from Road America prior to the first race of each day, as well as during lunch breaks.
Tune in so you don’t miss out.
SCCA Official YouTube Channel
Days of Note to Come
The Runoffs is a special, annual challenge all its own. Making things even more interesting are some special days of note during qualifying. First there’s Sunoco 260 Tuesday, where drivers can win 15 gallons of Sunoco race fuel for their car. Then it’s Hawk Brake-Through Performer Wednesday, where the single driver in each class who makes the most substantial improvement in qualifying position from Tuesday to Wednesday earns a set of Hawk brake pads for a race car, tow rig, or street car.
Qualifying then wraps up Thursday with Tire Rack Pole Day, after which polesitters receive a $500 gift certificate to spend at Tire Rack. After that, there are three Hagerty Race Days where 26 newly crowned Champions will stand atop the victory podium having earned the honor of spraying a bottle of Mazza Sparkling Wine, the Official Sparkling Wine of SCCA’s National Championship Runoffs.
Sunoco, Hawk, Tire Rack, and Hagerty do more than just support drivers. These fantastic partners also provide lunch for the several hundred SCCA volunteers who come out to make the Runoffs happen by staffing registration, grid, corners, timing, and everything else. Sincerely, a giant and heartfelt THANK YOU goes to all the volunteers and SCCA partners that support them.
