TOPEKA, Kan. (March 28, 2016) – With the Tire Rack Dixie Championship Tour now in the rearview mirror, it’s time to focus on the start of the 2016 Tire Rack SCCA Match Tour program. For the first time, the season begins this year with a visit to Qualcomm Stadium, April 1-3, for the 2016 Tire Rack Oceanside Showdown in San Diego.
Howard Duncan, SCCA Senior Director of Solo and Rally, said the event entry cap of 200 competitors has not yet been reached. So there is still space for drivers to come play in what is looking to be a beautiful weekend in Southern California.
In another first since its creation, no major rules changes were made this year to the Tire Rack SCCA Match Tour program. However, there has been one addition made to the 82 classes in which drivers can compete. The new STP class was created as a place for mildly prepared Pony cars to compete on street tires.
Match Tour Showdowns are three events in one package. The event is broken into four sessions. Session 1 and Session 2 are on Saturday and consist of a traditional three-run autocross. The best run from each session is added together to determine class rankings, with runs being timed to 1/1000th of a second and two-second penalties assessed for knocking down a cone. Class trophies are then distributed Saturday during the evening’s social event.
Session 3 on Sunday is another three runs to determine the qualifiers for the Top Dog and Under Dog Challenges. The top eight on index per heat qualify for the Top Dog Challenge, and those placing in positions 9-16 on index per heat qualify for the Under Dog Challenge. Everyone else is eligible for the drawing to be in the Lucky Dog Challenge. Then the Challenges take place in Session 4 of the event.
The 2016 Showdown schedule is as follows:
- Tire Rack Oceanside Showdown; April 1 - April 3, Qualcomm Stadium; San Diego, CA
- Tire Rack Thunder Valley Showdown; May 13 - May 15. Bristol Motor Speedway; Bristol, TN
- Tire Rack Heartland Showdown; June 10 - June 12, Heartland Park Topeka; Topeka, KS
- Tire Rack Iron City Showdown; June 17 - June 19, Hoover Metropolitan Stadium; Hoover, AL
- Tire Rack Heavy Metal Showdown; July 15 - July 17, Pittsburgh International Race Complex; Wampum, PA
For additional information on Tire Rack SCCA Solo, visit www.scca.com/solo.
Image: Competitor traversing a Tire Rack SCCA Match Tour course. The 2016 Match Tour season begins April 1-3 at the Tire Rack Oceanside Showdown in San Diego.
Credit: Rupert Berrington
