2021 Runoffs: 100 Pictures Worth 1000 Words

A cotton candy painted sky starts the second Hagerty Race Day at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
photo by Andy Howe
Flagging is one of many volunteer roles. It requires patience, perseverance and commitment. Thank you, volunteers for going above and beyond to make The Runoffs special!
photo by Jon Krolewicz
Chris Bovis — GT-Lite — shows off his Tire Rack Pole Award to the crowd that gathered for the award presentation Thursday evening.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
Jeff Read — Formula Enterprises 2 driver – receives a last piece of advice before taking the track for his final qualifying attempt.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
Bobby Sak's first lap charge to the front of the SRF3 field made the difference in his bid for a repeat championship. We need to go watch the video to see where the mud came from though!
photo by Jay Bonvouloir
The reflection of Jesse Prather's E Production BMW Z3 reflects in the sunglasses of his wife, Jamie.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
The Runoffs is a family event, but that doesn't just mean spectators of all ages are welcome to watch. The Roma family all chipped in to ensure Tony's B-Spec car was set for competition.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
Bonnie Wannarka — Lone Star Region — reacts to being named the Pit & Grid Worker of the Year.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
Scott Twomey is all smiles as he soaks in a victory lap after winning the GT-Lite National Championship.
photo by Jay Bonvouloir
A pit road volunteer watches as the Touring 4 field comes down the front straight expecting a green flag — which was waived off for mispositioned cars.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
Preston Pardus emerges from his Spec Miata after winning his second consecutive title in the class, making him the first three-time winner of the highly contested class.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
We do, too! Thank you to the Yellow Shirts for keeping us safe and spending the week with us. You are awesome!
photo by Jon Krolewicz
Paula Hawthorne – Steward of the Course – records the numbers of the cars her team would like to meet with post-race to discuss on-track incidents.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
John Heinricy – Touring 4 Champion – gets choked up when Heyward Wagner asks him what it feels like to have his 16th Runoffs Championship.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
Andrew Aquilante throws his Touring 1 Ford Mustang over the Turn 1 curbs en route to his 11th Runoffs Championship.
photo by Jay Bonvouloir
H Production winner Steve Sargis showers 2nd place finisher – Chris Schaafsma – in Mazza Sparkling Wine to celebrate their podium finishes.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
Crew member Al Hostettler embraces Scott Rettich's Formula Enterprises 2 car following Rettich's race win, his seventh.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
The sun rises behind pit road to start the first day of racing on Friday.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
A father and son watch the Formula Vee race from the shade on the Tower Terrace stands.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
A mother's love. Andrew Abbott receives a hug from his mom, Patty, following his third-place finish in Formula Vee.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
Dan Bullis interviews Charlie Peter on the podium at Indianapolis Motor Speedway following Peter's second place finish in Touring 2.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
Preston Pardus waves at workers and spectators on the victory lap of his third SCCA National Championship in SM.
photo by Jay Bonvouloir
Friends shower Scott Twomey in water to celebrate his first National Championship following a win in GT-Lite.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
Izzy Introne watches — and records video — during father Steve's B-Spec race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
Annie Richardson — daughter of American Sedan driver Daniel Richardson — watches the racing action from one of Indianapolis Motor Speedway's many spectator mounds.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
KONI representative, Runoffs driver, fan, friend, SCCA member. New England Region's Alan Briere cheers on B Spec from the Turn 1 spectator mounds.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
Tim Kautz makes the turn off of pit road — over the bricks — in his Formula F as the historic surface reflects in his livery.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
It was Reed's first Runoffs, but surely not his last. Donnie and Stephanie Nuckles are an integral part of the Alliance Autosport crew, and their grandson spent the week taking in the sights and sounds with them — including celebrating Scott Rettich's Formula Enterprises 2 Championship.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
Chip Herr reacts to his second-place finish in Super Touring Under. This podium came in the same Audi A4 that Herr piloted in the Pirelli World Challenge series.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
A test-day incident could have ended Troy Ermish' bid for a GT-3 National Championship, but with hard work and support from other drivers and teams, the car was repaired and led the race, start to finish, starting from Tire Rack Pole.
photo by Jay Bonvouloir
David Sterling — Washington D.C. Region — displays the checkered flag to end the final test session at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
Sometimes, having to wait to race feels like prison.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
The SCCA Family, back home again on the Yard of Bricks before a track walk on Monday evening.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
The Indigos – a local Alternative Rock Funk band – entertained Runoffs participants during Monday evening's welcome party.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
Amy Aquilante is presented with the Hagerty Keepin' It Cool Award for her calm demeanor on and off the track, race after race.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
You can thank dad a million times, but have you put it on your car for all of the world to see? That's exactly what Mark McAllister did on the back of his F Production Mazda Miata.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
F Production National Champion Cliff Ira grabs his helmet in disbelief as he claims his second Runoffs win.
photo by Jay Bonvouloir
Steve Sargis leads the motley crew of H Production cars into Turn 1 for the start of their 40-minute National Championship race. Sargis went on to lead the remainder of the race in a class that has everything from a 1959 Austin Healey Sprite to a 2010 Honda Fit.
photo by Jay Bonvouloir
The Runoffs is a test of man and machine — and GT-2 Driver Justin Oakes from Houston Region brought along some notes to help him — a track map.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
This worker may be relaxed while blue-flagging at the end of the Hulman straight, but you can bet that the drivers seeing it in their windshield and a potential Runoffs champion in their mirror are not.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
Tim Kezman's headlights help him navigate the wet weather conditions in route to a GT-2 National Championship, his first.
photo by Rick Corwine
Sibling rivalry. This time to see who would get to pose with the trophy, maybe in the future to see who will take center position in their own kiss-the-bricks photo op.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
Once the car is on grid and ready to go, the crews get a rare moment to relax.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
Northwest Region's Steve Goldman getting ready to go in his GT-1 Corvette before the first qualifying session on Tuesday.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
Racing is about stories. Big stories like who wins, and small ones like those told by battle scars and tire marks.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
That's a wrap! A crewmember stops the camera while the driver — Tim Day Jr — reacts to winning the 2021 P2 Runoffs race.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
Crew. Family. Fans. SCCA Members. Greg Gyann's family serves many roles and cheers him on during his podium celebration.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
Dan Pardus — father of Spec Miata Champion Preston Pardus — sheds a tear as his son celebrates a third National Championship.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
Dean Curtis of the Northeast Pennsylvania Region gets last minute support from crew before heading out on track in his Formula Vee.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
This year's golf cart parade, benefiting Indianapolis’ Riley Children’s Foundation and Lemons of Love, engaged drivers, volunteers and the Yellow Shirts of IMS in a contest of creativity.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
John Heinricy takes his victory lap — his 16th at the Runoffs — in his Touring 4 Scion FR-S
photo by Jay Bonvouloir
Intense racing created more than a few full-course yellow flags at the 2021 Runoffs. Liz Gauper from Oklahoma Region, used her head — literally — to figure out a solution for her tired arms.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
The rear wing on the Van Diemen Formula Continental of Cal Club's Peter West makes a perfect frame for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Pagoda.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
Of course "yellow" is the color most associated with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway staff as they protect and direct fans and participants at Indy, but this mask gets to provide a splash of color and character to the job.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
SCCA members serving on pit road were there to direct, warn and encourage drivers and crew who made their way onto and off of the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
The lowering sun shadowed the front straightaway as Lee Alexander headed toward the Yard of Bricks to claim his second career National Championship, this time in Prototype 1.
photo by Jay Bonvouloir
Similar lines, yes, but FA offers creativity beneath the bodywork. Here, that creativity is ready to head onto IMS road race course for Wednesday qualifying.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
Richard Baldwin cleans the windshield of his family's motorhome while his daughters – Savannah (6) and Charlotte (5) – look on from inside.
photo by Ray Krolewicz
Two-time Indy 500 winner, two-time IndyCar champion and 31-time IndyCar race winner Al Unser Jr. came to the Runoffs to coach Formula Atlantic driver and Milwaukee region member Rob Radman.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
One-and-go on grid. FE2 driver Tom Burt, from Northwest Region, letting the grid workers he is ready to go for his Wednesday qualifying session.
photo by Jon Krolewicz
Vaughn Glace slips through Turn 1 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in pursuit of his first SCCA National Championship in Formula X.
photo by Jay Bonvouloir
A fresh engine goes into Joe Carr's E Production Mazda Miata during the qualifying days at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
photo by Andy Howe
Organized chaos. The SM drivers may be amateurs, but they're pros at navigating Turn 6A, one of the most challenging on the course.
photo by Jay Bonvouloir
FWD best for the rain? Danny Steyn disagrees, and showed the STL field how it's done as he navigated his (RWD) Miata to the win in pouring rain.
photo by Jay Bonvouloir
One photo. Forty-one cars. The Formula Vee field organizes their positions as they make the final turn before seeing the green flag and starting their 40-minute National Championship race.
photo by Jay Bonvouloir
Gather the troops. Morning worker meeting brings volunteers together for updates and info before they head out to work for the day.
photo by Ray Krolewicz
One more turn before victory. Kurt Rezzetano turns onto the banking and aims for the Yard of Bricks to secure his third Runoffs Championship.
photo by Jay Bonvouloir
David Daughtery leads the string of B-Spec cars as the lead pack navigates Turns 13 and 14. Daughtery held the lead to take his 11th SCCA National Championship.
photo by Jay Bonvouloir
Green flag! The Spec Racer Ford Gen 3 field charges under the waving flag to begin their National Championship race.
photo by Jeff Loewe
Leigh Fosberry, 40+ year motorsports photographer, stopped by the Runoffs and brought along her 1976 Indy 500 photo credential. The 1976 race was shortened by rain, so perhaps Leigh brought the end-of-week rain along with her "silver badge."
photo by Jon Krolewicz
James French now has two Runoffs Championships to his name, in two different classes. 2020's Prototype 1 Champion claimed the Formula Atlantic Championship in Indianapolis.
photo by Jay Bonvouloir
Michael Lewis' RX-7 throws flames as he downshifts for Turn 7 — a scene made more dramatic by Sunday's overcast skies.
photo by Jay Bonvouloir
Tire choice and orientation helped Thomas Herb drive his Porsche 991.2 GT3 Cup to the win in GT-1, a first for both driver and manufacturer.
photo by Jay Bonvouloir
When the yellow flags flew and ultimately ended the F500 race, Sven de Vries and Ryan Mayfield had been locked into an intense battle for laps.
photo by Jay Bonvouloir
What a ride! Zach Kaufman – along with wife Nicole – won a VIP Runoffs experience to honor Track Night in America's 50,000 entry. That prize included a ride around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course in a pace car.
photo by Andy Howe
With large display monitors in nearly every spectator area, there really isn't a bad seat in Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
photo by Andy Howe
It was a picture-perfect Formula Continental race for Simon Sikes who led from start to finish.
photo by Jay Bonvouloir
That was wild. Chris Schaafsma gives feedback on his second-place finish to friend and teammate Chuck Mathis.
photo by Andy Howe
It's time. Robert Vanman embraces the last moments of shade and takes in a pep talk before the Formula Enterprises 2 Runoffs race.
photo by Andy Howe
It's time to hang loose says Cherie Storms just before B-Spec hits the track for their Friday afternoon race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
photo by Andy Howe
Chip Romer knows how important it is to stay cool when racing. That's why he has a personal "air conditioning" system for the grid before the Prototype 1 race.
photo by Andy Howe
Even though it's his third National Championship, Danny Steyn still gives the gold medal a kiss as he waits for it to sink in that it's real.
photo by Andy Howe
It's all smiles for Lucian Pancea as he soaks in his second-place finish in Prototype 2.
photo by Andy Howe
Hunter Phelps-Barron takes the nickname of "Grasshopper" serously as he takes in some last-minute advice before taking to Indianapolis Motor Speedway's 15-turn road course.
photo by Andy Howe
Boyd Lear plays with his granddaughter in the family's garage area next to his GT-2 Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
photo by Andy Howe
Tim Day Jr. takes his crew for a victory lap to celebrate his Runoffs win.
photo by Jeff Loewe
Reassembly. The engine of Jamie Blust's GT-Lite Austin Healy Sprite gets put back together after an emergency paddock rebuild during qualifying days.
photo by Andy Howe
Joe Huffaker's GT-Lite Nissan Sentra sits in waiting in its garage before dawn on the last day of qualifying at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
photo by Andy Howe
Austin Bradshaw gives a thumbs up to signal that he's ready to go out for his third and final qualifying session in his E Production Mazda RX-7.
photo by Andy Howe
Richard Baldwin shows us his game face before heading out for final qualifying in his Touring 3 Nissan 350Z
photo by Andy Howe
Cliff Ira walks towards his team, family and friends in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway victory circle while celebrating his F Production National Championship.
photo by Rob Bodle
Charlie Valdez, Kyle Keenan and David Daughtery make Turn 6 of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course a three-wide turn during qualifying. No Mazdas or Minis were harmed in the making of this photo.
photo by Ray Krolewicz
While not the same class, Joe Moser celebrates an STU Championship in the car he drove to an STL win in 2020.
photo by Jeff Loewe
Walt Ruck (4) tests his fit in his dad's – Kevin Ruck – F Production Acura Integra before dad took over to pilot the car to a second-place finish.
photo by Ray Krolewicz
Mark Fosberry – New England Region – raises a hand to signal to corner workers that he'll need a tow out of the gravel trap at Turn 6.
photo by Ray Krolewicz
Scott Twomey crosses the yard of bricks under waiving checkered flags to claim the National Championship in GT-Lite.
photo by Jeff Loewe
It's back-to-back wins in Touring 3 for Philadelphia Region's Marshall Mast.
photo by Jeff Loewe
James Jost and Amy Aquilante battled through the duration of the American Sedan race with Jost emerging as Champion.
photo by Jeff Loewe
Jonathan Kotyk led the way in the rain to claim his third Formula F National Championship.
photo by Jeff Loewe
A restart played right into Scott Rettich's hands as he claimed his seventh SCCA National Championship with the Formula Enterprises 2 win.
photo by Rick Corwine