MONTEREY, Calif. (October 11, 2014) – Mike Anderson, of Anza, California, brought home his first SCCA National Championship Runoffs® title Saturday at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca after three runner-up finishes in four prior attempts. Houstonians Alan McCallum and Stuart Rettie finished second and third, respectively.
Anderson started the race on the Tire Rack pole, in his No. 42 HASA/Whiteflyer Formula Mazda, and was able to take home the win in the 20-lap race that averaged 83.084 mph at the 11-turn, 2.238-mile course, which was slowed by one full-course caution. But, the way in which he took the win was more complicated than that.
Following the full-course yellow, which started on lap 16 and lasted for two laps, the race was on for the win between Anderson and McCallum. Following the lap-18 restart, McCallum bided his time and got around Anderson on the next circuit. After McCallum took the white flag, it was Anderson’s turn to jump to the lead under braking for Turn Two also earning him the GoPro Hero Move of the Race.
“I knew I was going to have my hands full, from the start, with Darryl and Alan behind me,” Anderson said. “After that yellow flag came out, I knew we were going to have our work cut out for us. The restart was going to make our break our race. Alan did a great job of capitalizing on every opportunity he had to get by me.
“We were side-by-side, splitting traffic. It was an amazing race. I had a good run coming off the last corner and when I saw the white flag, I knew that the race would be decided in Turn Two. He did everything he could do to keep me behind him, but we were able to make it happen. In four previous attempts, I have been a runner-up three times. So, it is just amazing to win this.”
Until the yellow flag, McCallum, in his No. 19 Alan McCallum Racing Formula Mazda, was constantly hounding Anderson threatening to pounce at any mistake. What was initially the fight for second became the battle for the lead after then-leader and defending Champion Darryl Wills was black-flagged for being over the sound limit. It wasn’t until lap 19 that McCallum was able to jump into the lead, taking advantage of Wills being called to the pits.
“When the full course yellow came out, I was behind Mike ,” McCallum said. “I took some time to gather my thoughts and calm down a little bit to prepare for a battle. Mike got a little sideways through Turn Five, going up the hill, and I was able to get around him.
“Then, coming down the front straight, we got the white flag. Mike had a good draft on me and was able to get through the corner a little better than I did. In the braking zone for Turn Two, I tried to go as deep as I could but just couldn’t hold onto the position.”
Rettie, in his No. 21 Hillenburg Motorsports/Speed Connection Formula Mazda, took home his first Runoffs podium finish in his fourth attempt.
“I was rear-ended right at the start, which put me off a little bit,” Rettie said. “For most of the race I rode around in fifth or sixth. Luckily, for me the full course yellow came out, giving me a chance to close in on everyone. I counted about four or five cars ahead of me and was just able to make the last-lap pass stick at the top of the Corkscrew, for third.”
Finishing fourth was William Weaver, of Fresno, California, driving the No. 67 James Parker Insurance Associates Formula Mazda.
In the No. 2 Thanks Goodyear/Mazda Formula Mazda, Mel Kemper, of Toledo, Washington, completed the top five positions.
Brad Drew, of Trabuco Canyon, California, started the race in 14th and was able to finish seventh, at the controls of his No. 78 Life+Gear Lighting Formula Mazda. That performance earned him the Sunoco Hard Charger award.
The 51st SCCA National Championship Runoffs®, The Pinnacle of American Motorsports, will crown Sports Car Club of America’s Club Racing National Champions at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Friday, October 10 through Sunday, October 12. The live broadcast of all 27 National Championship races is available live at SCCA.com, along with live timing and notes. Each race will be on demand at a later date on SpeedcastTV.com.
MONTEREY, Calif. -- Provisional results for Saturday’s SCCA Formula Mazda National Championship at the 51st SCCA National Championship Runoffs at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, with finish position, starting position in parenthesis, driver, hometown, car and laps complete.
1, (1), Mike Anderson, Anza, CA, Star Formula Mazda, 20. 2, (3), Alan McCallum, Houston, TX, Star Formula Mazda, 20. 3, (5), Stuart Rettie, Houston, TX, Star Formula Mazda, 20. 4, (6), William Weaver, Fresno, CA, Star Formula Mazda, 20. 5, (8), Mel Kemper, Toledo, WA, Star Formula Mazda, 19. 6, (11), Kevin Rogers, Clarksburg, CA, Star Formula Mazda, 19. 7, (14), Brad Drew, Trabuco Canyon, CA, Star Formula Mazda, 19. 8, (12), Ritchie Hollingsworth, Fair Oaks, CA, Star Formula Mazda, 19. 9, (9), Woody Yerxa, Colusa, CA, Star Formula Mazda, 19. 10, (15), James Malone, Willcox, AZ, Star Formula Mazda, 19. 11, (13), Dan Erickson, Chandler, AZ, Star Formula Mazda, 16. 12, (2), Darryl Wills, Houston, TX, Star Formula Mazda, 13. 13, (4), Bruce Lawrence, Sanford, NC, Star Formula Mazda, 13. 14, (7), Larry Mason, Burbank, CA, Star Formula Mazda, 0. 15, (10), Doug Nelson, Tucson, AZ, Star Formula Mazda, 0.
Overall Time of Race: 32:19.435 Average Race Speed: 83.084 mph Margin of Victory: 0.293-second Fastest Race Lap: Mike Anderson, 1:29.201 (90.322 mph) Sunoco Hard Charger: #78 Brad Drew Lap Leaders: Laps 1-13, Darryl Wills; Lap 14-18, 20, Mike Anderson; Lap 19, Alan McCallum
2014 SCCA National Championship Runoffs
