Winning SCCA Runoffs Return For Ross Murray With Flag-To-Flag Touring 1 Victory

LEXINGTON, Ohio (September 25, 2016) – Ross Murray, of Marina Del Ray, California, made a triumphant return to the SCCA Runoffs after a 14 year absence this week and promptly went out and scored a flag-to-flag victory Sunday in the Touring 1 (T1) National Championship race at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs presented by Garmin VIRB at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Driving the No. 91 New Zealand Seafoods/Hoosier/CPM Dodge Viper Competition Coupe, Murray took the lead from the Tire Rack pole at the drop of the green flag and was never seriously challenged in the 23-lap T1 final.

Murray crossed the finish line more than 10 seconds ahead of John M. Buttermore, of South Lyon, Michigan, in the No. 52 Hoosier/Carbotech/StopTech Chevrolet Corvette. Pratt Cole, of Salt Lake City, Utah, raced from ninth on the grid to a third-place finish in the No. 88 Western Metals Transport/Hoosier Ford Mustang.

“It was pretty good,” Murray said. “These guys really leaned on me heavy when we were all bunched together. They’re always a threat, everyone is a threat, and I was trying to be cautious enough that if they would get by me I would still have some car left, some speed to keep in it. It was an exciting part of the race running with those guys, but once I got three or four laps on them it was all good.”

Murray last appeared in the Runoffs in 2002 here at Mid-Ohio where he also won his first National Championship in 1998, a victory from the pole in American Sedan.

“Well, to be honest, I sort of went away for the NASA thing,” Murray said. “The car I bought to run there was really too modified to go back to my old days in American Sedan, which I would have loved to do, but the car was more of a fit for T1. That’s how I ended up here.

“I am pleased that I am back. It’s amazing how many people can still remember me from 14 years ago. It really is a great community of dedicated racers and officials. You kind of wonder why you left now – at the time it seemed like a good idea – and choosing to come back definitely seems like a good idea now.”

After starting fourth, Buttermore ran no lower than third in the race and joined Scotty B. White, of Auburn, Washington, in giving Murray his stiffest challenge in the first half of the race. Buttermore moved to second for good on lap 15 when White slowed briefly exiting the Mid-Ohio Keyhole.

“I got a good run on him through the Keyhole,” Buttermore said. “We were coming out, and when you come out right behind someone you expect them to hit the gas and accelerate. I am not sure what problem he had, his car didn’t accelerate, but mine did! So I got into the back of him and just slid to the side. Luckily I was able to keep the pace up but it was all I could do to even keep Ross in sight. He drove a great race.”

Kris Olson, of Shingle Springs, California, finished fourth in his No. 49 Driving Ambition Acura NSX while Scotty B. White, who ran as high as second halfway through the race, crossed the line in fifth in his No. 0 BFGoodrich/Knight Transport LLC/Hawk Dodge Viper.

Pratt’s six-place improvement to third earned him the race’s Sunoco Hard Charger Award.

“I am so surprised to be here, I can’t believe it,” Pratt said. “I came from ninth place, I didn’t think this Ford had a prayer but here we are. Every time I caught somebody I found a way by, and that’s not easy to do around this track, so I am pretty happy, pretty juiced. I am the most surprised guy here, trust me.”

The 53rd SCCA National Championship Runoffs presented by Garmin VIRB, the Pinnacle of American Motorsports, crowns Sports Car Club of America’s Club Racing National Champions this year at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, from Friday, September 23 through Sunday, September 25.

While the live broadcast of all 28 National Championships is available at SCCA.com, each race will be on demand in the coming weeks.

LEXINGTON, Ohio -- Provisional results for Sunday’s Touring 1 (T1) race at the 53rd SCCA National Championship Runoffs presented by Garmin VIRB at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, with finish position, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car and laps complete.

1, (1), Ross Murray, Marina Del Rey, CA, Dodge Viper, 23.
2, (4), John M Buttermore, South Lyon, MI, Chevrolet Corvette, 23.
3, (9), Pratt Cole, Salt Lake City, UT, Ford Mustang, 23.
4, (8), Kristofer Olson, Shingle Springs, CA, Acura NSX Turbo World Challenge, 23.
5, (3), Scotty B White, Auburn, WA, Dodge Viper, 23.
6, (6), Mark Boden, Winnetka, IL, BMW M3 Coupe, 23.
7, (7), David Sanders, Malvern, PA, Chevrolet Corvette Z06, 23.
8, (13), Joseph Aquilante, Chester Springs, PA, Chevrolet Corvette, 23.
9, (14), Michael Pettiford, Louisville, CO, Chevrolet Z06, 23.
10, (10), Mike Henderson, El Cajon, CA, Dodge Viper ACR-X, 23.
11, (11), Buz McCall, Boca Raton, FL, Porsche Cayman, 23.
12, (15), Andrew Entwistle, Katonah, NY, Ford Mustang, 23.
13, (12), Ronald Hugate, Highlands Ranch, CO, Ford Mustang Boss 302, 21.
14, (5), Tim Myers, Atlanta, GA, Dodge Viper ACR-X, 8.
15, (2), Andrew Aquilante, Chester Springs, PA, Chevrolet Corvette, 5.
DNS, (16), Eric Thompson, Aberdeen, NJ, Toyota Celica

Length of Race: 52 miles
Overall Time of Race: 39:31.461
Average Speed: 78.838 mph
Margin of Victory: 10.149 seconds
Fastest Race Lap: No. 91 Murray 1:29.309 (91.019 mph)
Lap Leaders: No. 91, laps 1 – 23
Sunoco Hard Charger: No. 88 Pratt Cole

Image: Ross Murray returned to the SCCA Runoffs after a 14-year absence and won his second career National Championship with a flag-to-flag victory Sunday in the Touring 1 (T1) class at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs presented by Garmin VIRB at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Credit: Shawn Lumley