Qualifying Opens SCCA Runoffs’ Return to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
LEXINGTON, Ohio (September 19, 2016) – The opening day of qualifying has concluded for the 53rd SCCA National Championship Runoffs, presented by Garmin VIRB, at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. Drivers have now set a benchmark for lap times required in each of the 28 contested classes to grab a coveted Tire Rack Pole Award. But everyone still has three more days of qualifying to generate a best lap before racing starts Friday.
Prototype 1 got Monday cracking with the first 15-minute qualifying session. Temperatures sat in the low 60s and pockets of thick fog filled Central Ohio valleys off in the distance as James Devenport set the pace for others to chase in the class.
“Day one was pretty tough,” Devenport noted. “There was a lot of humidity, the track was super slippery and super greasy. Our times were way off from what we’ve done earlier in the week during testing.
“I’d never been to Mid-Ohio before until a regional race about a month ago,” Devenport continued. “But I love the track. I think it’s fabulous. And I really got an appreciation for the IndyCar drivers. How they do an hour-and-a-half around this track, I have no idea. This track is so physically demanding and challenging.”
The second group on track was a dual qualifying session featuring Formula Enterprises and Formula Mazda. Scott Rettich, the reigning FE champion, led that field on day one, and Jarret Voorhies was at the top in FM.
“This is my first Runoffs at Mid-Ohio,” Voorhies said. “The track was a little cold and a little slower this morning. It took some time to get the tires warm, but after a bit it was pretty decent. Pretty grippy.”
The Spec Racer Ford qualifying chart at the end of the first session read like a who’s who of contenders. Todd Harris was at the tip with a .088-second advantage on Scott Rettich, but Mike Miserendino and Cliff White where close behind. In fact, the top eight qualifiers are within a second of one another.
“The top four consists of the ‘cast of characters’ we thought it would be,” Harris said afterward. “Mike Miserendino is a national champion, ‘Boom Boom’ White is a national champion, and Scott Rettich is mega fast. It’s what we expected and we’ll just have to see as each of these qualifying sessions plays out if we can hold on to that pole position.”
A few hours after the SRF qualifying, the Spec Racer Ford Gen3 class took to the course. There, things switched up a bit with Miserendino leading the class of nearly 40 cars.
Some other drivers with previous Runoffs success showed well during the first day of qualifying, too. Returning champion Joe Kristensen established a gap over everyone else in GT-3 during early morning laps. GT-Lite stalwart Steve Sargis is again showing the way, but that’s no surprise considering he is a seven-time Runoffs winner. Kevin Boehm has set the pace in Super Touring Lite as the returning national champion. Then there’s four-time victor Tom Feller leading H Production after a seven-year hiatus from the Runoffs. And returning champion John Schmitt is leading the Super Touring Under class.
In Touring 2, reigning champ Kurt Rezzetano is almost a full second behind provisional pole sitter John Buttermore who is a two-time Touring 1 national champion. Then there’s defending E Production champion Greg Ira working hard to claim the Tire Rack Pole Award for his class, but is .098-second off the pace of current leader Joe Moser. And in B-Spec, former Runoffs winner David Daughtery is currently ahead of defending class champion John Heinricy.
Another interesting occurrence developed in American Sedan on Monday. Led by Tom Sloe, the fastest seven drivers all broke the existing class qualifying Runoffs record at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. The same has occurred in Formula Vee where returning champ Michael Varacins, who has a total of four Runoffs wins to his credit, leads the pack with the top four drivers outpacing the track’s previous Runoffs qualifying record for that type of car. And multi-time Runoffs winner Cliff Ebben in GT-1 is on pace to do the same.
The 2015 Kimberly Cup recipient and defending Formula 500 champ, Calvin Stewart, seems to be in fine form as he holds the top position in that class and also set the fastest Runoffs F5 qualifying lap in Mid-Ohio history. And six-time Runoffs winner Andrew Aquilante is ahead of all others in the GT-2 field, with the top four drivers besting the previous Runoffs qualifying record for the track.
Below are provisional pole sitters in each class from the first day of qualifying at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs, presented by Garmin VIRB, with Class: Name, Hometown, Car and Lap Time.
-American Sedan: Tom Sloe; Novelty, OH; Ford Mustang; 1:33.468
-B-Spec: David Daughtery; Fortville, IN; Honda Fit; 1:47.841
-E Production: Joe Moser, Wilmette, IL; Honda Prelude Si VTEC; 1:34.288
-F Production: Charles Campbell; Corry, PA; Mazda Miata; 1:36.742
-H Production: Tom Feller; Holland, MI; Triumph Spitfire; 1:42.057
-Formula 1000: Alex Mayer; Harleysville, PA; JDR 2014 Yamaha; 1:19.983
-Formula 500: Calvin Stewart; Novi, MI; Novakar Blade F600 1:29.431
-Formula Atlantic: Keith Grant; Germantown, TN; Swift 016a; 1:17.318
-Formula Continental: John LaRue; Muncie, IN; Citation Snipe FC; 1:21.962
-Formula Enterprise: Scott Rettich; Columbus, OH; SCCA Formula Enterprises; 1:29.165
-Formula F: Neil Verhagen; Mooresville, NC; Mygale SJ11 Honda; 1:30.334
-Formula Mazda: Jarret Voorhies; Cresson, TX; Formula Mazda; 1:28.952
-Formula Vee: Michael Varacins; Burlington, WI; Speed Sport AM-5; 1:38.595
-GT-1: Cliff Ebben; Freedom, WI; Ford Mustang; 1:23.606
-GT-2: Andrew Aquilante; Chester Springs, PA; Chevrolet Corvette; 1:26.124
-GT-3: Joe Kristensen; London, ON, Can.; Acura RSX; 1:32.584
-GT-Lite: Steve Sargis; Frankfort, IL; Triumph Spitfire; 1:36.154
-Prototype 1: James Devenport; Modesto, CA; Norma Auto Concept M20 FC; 1:20:235
-Prototype 2: Jeff Schafer; Las Vegas, NV; Stohr WF1 Hyabusa; 1:21.926
-Spec Miata: Justin Hille; Ypsilanti, MI; Mazda Miata; 1:40.847
-Spec Racer Ford 3: Mike Miserendino; Bakersfield, CA; SCCA Spec Racer Ford 3; 1:34.559
-Spec Racer Ford: Todd Harris; Portland, OR; Spec Racer Ford; 1:37.618
-Super Touring Lite: Kevin Boehm; Marysville, OH; Honda Civic Si; 1:36.461
-Super Touring Under: John Schmitt; Sunbury, OH; Honda Civic; 1:34.492
-Touring 1: Ross Murray; Marina Del Rey, CA; Dodge Viper;1:29.376
-Touring 2: John Buttermore; South Lyon, MI; Chevrolet Corvette Z06; 1:31.999
-Touring 3: Derek Kulach, Albuquerque, NM; Nissan 350Z Nismo; 1:37.085
-Touring 4: Jim Drago; Memphis, TN; Mazda MX-5; 1:41.822
Photo: Spec Racer Ford competitor Todd Harris leads the field in qualifying at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for the SCCA National Championship Runoffs presented by Garmin VIRB.
Credit: Mark Weber
