This year during the SCCA National Championship Runoffs, over 200 people saw the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course from an unprecedented vantage point. The first ever SCCA Runoffs 5K and Checkered Flag Dash were held Saturday evening following on-track action for the day. Runoffs drivers, crew, volunteers, spectators and local residents all came out to participate in the event, which benefited Maxton's Fight and Cleveland Clinic Children's hospital in support of Childhood Cancer Awareness month.
As the sun descended on a beautiful evening in central Ohio, 5-year-old cancer survivor Max Prill waved the green flag and sent the runners on their way. After weaving through paddock roads, the course entered the race track and then completed one full lap around Mid-Ohio.
“After driving around the track all week, I found it strange to take a different line on foot!” proclaimed four-time H Production National Champion Tom Feller. “The run gave me more appreciation for just how much elevation change there is and how much camber is built into some of the turns on the track. As is always the case, walking or running the track before an event is worth the time. You can see so much more when you’re not at full speed in a car.”
Local runner Bryan Prack, of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, won the inaugural event in 18:24 with Emily Hammonds taking first overall female honors.
In addition to the 200 participants in the event, there was a large amount of support shown from motorsports based companies, and over $6,000 worth of merchandise was donated as door prizes. In no particular order, the sponsoring companies for the event included Garmin, Hoosier Racing Tire, Goodyear Racing, Alliance Autosport, Carbotech, Summit Racing Equipment, Stupid Fast Tires, Swiftwick, High Voltage Indoor Karting, Honda Performance Development, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, and Sports Car Club of America.
"I really want to thank all of our runners, volunteers and sponsors for making this event a huge success," said 5K race director Jason Stine. “The amount of support we had from the racing community was amazing, and it really made the inaugural year of this event special.”
As there was an outpouring of positive feedback for the inaugural event, plans for the second annual SCCA Runoffs 5K are already underway. Stay tuned to SCCA.com for details.
Photo: 5-year-old cancer survivor Max Prill waves the green flag to start the SCCA Runoffs 5K
