There was no “stop” to qualifying excitement Wednesday at the 60th running of SCCA’s National Championship Runoffs® during Hawk “Brake-Through Performer” day. Competitors displaying the greatest qualifying position improvement within each of the 24 different car classes get a set of Hawk brake pads for race cars, tow rigs, or street cars.
However, track conditions for a portion of the day were not conducive for improvement of qualifying spots. So, in the spirit of fun and inclusion, Hawk Brake-Through Performer winners in some groups were selected via a random raffle from those drivers who took to the circuit during sessions where a clear improvement was not evident. In all other classes, the Brake-Through Performer is the driver who gained the most qualifying positions, as is normally the case.
In Hawk’s opinion, those out on course Wednesday in “iffy” conditions are all Brake-Through Performers. And while their grid positions may not have improved, they could very well be better positioned for a breakthrough performance on race days if weather becomes a factor.
For more than 25 years, championship winning drivers and teams have demanded Hawk Performance motorsports brake pads. The company leverages its experience on the track, and technology used in aerospace and the military, to make first-class products in the USA.
Hawk’s advanced technology is also available for daily cars, trucks, and SUVs thanks to Hawk Performance street products. With the LTS compound for SUVs and Jeeps, Super-Duty pads for tow vehicles, and brake fluids for both the street and the racetrack, Hawk has every braking need covered.
The Official Brake Products of SCCA® since 2003, Hawk also stopped hundreds of Runoffs volunteers from hunger pains as the generous “Lunch Brake” provider of food and drink Wednesday.
Learn more about the Hawk Performance advantage by visiting HawkPerformance.com. And don’t forget to give Hawk a “like” on Facebook and Instagram.
Hawk “Brake-Through” Winners at ’23 VIR Runoffs
The following list contains Hawk “Brake-Through Performers” from Wednesday, Sept. 27. Winners can retrieve their reward by visiting Brandy Wiggans at the Contingency Table in Tech. Please pick up certificates before Thursday evening if at all possible.
Each entry below includes the car class, driver’s name, hometown, SCCA Region, car make/model, and the number of grid positions gained from Tuesday to Wednesday – or a noted raffle draw. In case of some ties, the award goes to the driver further up grid.
- American Sedan: Amy Aquilante; Phoenixville, PA; Philadelphia Region, Pontiac Firebird (raffle)
- B-Spec: David Daughtery; McCordsville, IN; Indianapolis Region, Ford Fiesta (16)
- E Production: Austin Bradshaw; Dundee, OR; Oregon Region, Mazda RX-7 (raffle)
- F Production: Doug Weaver; Chatham, ON; Detroit Region, Mazda Miata (2)
- H Production: Frank Schwartz; Davisburg, MI; Detroit Region, Mini Cooper (3)
- Formula 600: Keith Joslyn; Grand Island, NY; Western New York Region, Scorpion S1 (raffle)
- Formula Continental: Dean Kiriluk; Orchard Lake, MI; Detroit Region, Van Diemen RF01 (1)
- Formula Enterprises 2: Justin Huffman; Herndon, VA; Washington DC Region, SCCA Mazda FE2 (7)
- Formula F: Robert Gross; Washington Twp, MI; Detroit Region, Piper DL7 Honda (raffle)
- Formula Vee: Gerard Owen Callaghan; Bedford, MA; New England Region, SM 01 (15)
- GT-1: Michael Lewis; Poway, CA; Cal Club, Jaguar XKR (raffle)
- GT-2: Scotty B White; Auburn, WA; Northwest Region, Dodge Viper Comp Coupe (raffle)
- GT-3: Michael Lewis; Poway, CA; Cal Club, Mazda RX-7 (3)
- GT-Lite: Kenneth Berdine; Arnoldsburg, WV; Ohio Valley Region, MG Midget (2)
- Prototype 1: Todd Vanacore; Ormond Beach, FL; Central Florida Region, Elan DP02 Mazda (2)
- Prototype 2: Tony Ave; Maiden, NC; Central Carolinas Region, Stohr WF1 Suzuki (1)
- Spec Miata: Elivan Goulart; Shelton, CT; New England Region, Mazda Miata (33)
- Spec Racer Ford Gen3: S Sandy Satullo III; Hillsboro Beach, FL; Neohio Region, SCCA SRF Gen3 (6)
- Super Touring Lite: Nathan Pring; Pittsboro, NC; North Carolina Region, Ford Mustang (raffle)
- Super Touring Under: Johan Schwartz; Huntersville, NC; North Carolina Region, Porsche 944 (1)
- Touring 1: Paolo Salvatore; San Antonio, TX; Houston Region, Ford Mustang FP350S (raffle)
- Touring 2: David Sanders; Malvern, PA; Philadelphia Region, Chevrolet Corvette C5 Z06 (1)
- Touring 3: Rob Hines; Arlington, VA; Washing DC Region, Nissan 350Z Nismo (2)
- Touring 4: Raymond Blethen; Londonderry, NH; New England Region, Mazda RX-8 (5)
No Stopping More Qualifying Action Thursday
The third and final day of Runoffs qualifying from VIR continues Thursday, Sept. 28, during Tire Rack Pole Day. Each of the 23 car classes competing at this year’s National Championship has one final 20-minute qualifying session on track. After that, race grids will be set, and we’ll know the year’s Tire Rack Pole Award winners.
Keep track of qualifying developments live, online at the Runoffs Live Timing/Scoring webpage where you’ll find an audio-only broadcast, as well as current and archived Timing/Scoring data for all on-track sessions. That same audio broadcast will be heard around VIR on the public address system.
On Hagerty Race Days – which are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Sept. 29-Oct. 1 – a multi-camera video broadcast presented by Mazda will be delivered directly to smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, or desktops and laptops around the globe. Catch all the Runoffs racing action anywhere with internet access as it happens live. Check out the real time feed at SCCA.com, or at the SCCA Inc. Facebook page and the SCCA Official YouTube channel.
A four-man team familiar to fans will anchor the video broadcast, and split duties across Hagerty Race Days. Greg Creamer and John Fippin will share play-by-play responsibilities, and color commentary will be added by Larry “Lefty” MacLeod and Tom O’Gorman. Heyward Wagner will add insight from grid and pit lane, as well as capture the emotion from competitors immediately after races. For those attending the VIR Runoffs in person, audio from the broadcast will air live around the circuit via the public address system.
Qualifying results, an event schedule, VIR Runoffs facility map, and much more can be found at the VIR Runoffs Event webpage. And don’t forget that Brian Bielanski and Gregg Ginsberg will be joined in 2023 by driver Laurin Brallier for a return of the Runoffs “Inside the SCCA" video podcast presented by Goodyear. On Hagerty Race Days, the trio will get things cranking with a live “Breakfast at the Runoffs” video presentation starting around 7 a.m. Eastern Time before cars head on course. Their coverage then picks up again during daily lunch breaks with the “Halftime Show.” Those presentations will later be archived at The Racing Network YouTube page.
Photo by Jon Krolewicz/SCCA Staff
