Cliff Ebben Ends 2016 SCCA Runoffs with GT-1 Victory

LEXINGTON, Ohio (September 25, 2016) – To close out the 2016 SCCA National Championship Runoffs presented by Garmin VIRB, the powerful GT-1 field filled the hills around Lexington, Ohio, with thunder emanating from the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Cliff Ebben, of Freedom, Wisconsin, claimed his fourth SCCA National Championship with the victory.

Ebben, in the No. 36 McMahon Group/Stumpf Ford/Lamers Ford Mustang was the Tire Rack pole sitter. After racing earlier this weekend in the SCCA Pro Racing sanctioned Trans Am Series event at VIRginia International Raceway, Ebben led the GT-1 field to the start Sunday afternoon at the Runoffs and was overtaken by defending Runoffs GT-1 champion Michael Lewis, of Escondido, California, in the No. 12 Goodyear/Peg's List.com Jaguar XKR.

Lewis and Ebben toured the 2.258-mile, 13-turn track nose-to-tail for the first half-dozen laps, with Ryan McManus, of Westfield Center, Ohio, in the No. 07 The McManus Agency/Goodyear Chevrolet Corvette falling nine-seconds back in third.  But beginning on lap eight, Ebben started poking the front of his car alongside Lewis.

Just before the race’s halfway point, Ebben managed a good run out of Turn 9 heading into Thunder Valley and got alongside Lewis.  The duo was side by side as they entered the left-hand bend at Turn 11 with Ebben on the outside.  The two touched, Lewis spun, and Ebben headed off to what would ultimately be his fourth GT-1 Runoffs championship.

“Everything went real smooth today,” Ebben said. “It’s been a while since I’ve won at the Runoffs.  It’s nice the weekend ended up well.  This win is as good as ever.”

After the spin, Lewis collected himself, but had fallen into the clutches of McManus in third.  Putting his head down, Lewis pulled away intent on chasing down Ebben.  But that wouldn’t be possible this day, and Lewis finished second.

“We made some changes and the car was better today, but it wasn’t ultimately enough,” Lewis said after the race.

After McManus lost contact with Lewis, he came under pressure from Dave Ruehlow, of Hartland, Wisconsin, in the No. 31 Ruehlow Racing Chevrolet Corvette.  Ruehlow’s car had come into its own during the second half of the race and he was able to overtake McManus on his way to a Sunoco Hard Charger award and third-place finish.

“I had a great time out there,” Ruehlow said about his first Runoffs podium.  “About 10 laps in, my car kind of came alive.  I got comfortable out there and started reeling McManus in.  I stayed on his bumper, we had some good racing, I got around him, and at the end I was just trying to keep my tires going.”

McManus finished fourth and fifth went to Todd Peterson, of Boulder, Colorado, in the No. 2 Peterson Machining Inc. Ford Mustang.

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 live at SCCA.com, each race will be on demand in the coming weeks.

LEXINGTON, Ohio -- Provisional results for Sunday’s SCCA GT-1 National Championship 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), Cliff Ebben, Freedom, WI, Ford Mustang, 23.

2, (2), Michael Lewis, Escondido, CA, Jaguar XKR, 23.

3, (4), Dave Ruehlow, Hartland, WI, Chevrolet Corvette, 23.

4, (3), Ryan McManus, Westfield Center, OH, Chevrolet Corvette, 23.

5, (5), Todd Peterson, Boulder, CO, Ford Mustang, 23.

6, (7), Jeffrey Hinkle, Destin, FL, Dodge Challenger SRT, 22.

7, (6), Kenneth Davis, Escondido, CA, Chevrolet Corvette, 10.

DNS, (8), Mark Boden, Winnetka, IL, Porsche 997 GT3 Cup, 0 .

Overall Time of Race: 32:55.554

Average Race Speed: 94.638 mph

Margin of Victory: 8.588 seconds

Fastest Race Lap: Michael Lewis, 1:22.866 (98.096 mph)

Sunoco Hard Charger: #31 Dave Ruehlow

Lap Leaders: Laps 1-10, #12 Michael Lewis; 11-23 #31 Cliff Ebben

Photo: Cliff Ebben was not to be beat Sunday as he took his fourth GT-1 SCCA Runoffs championship.

Credit: Jay Bonvouloir