The SCCA® National Championship Runoffs® Presented by Sunoco is one of the most important road races of the year. Over the last 60-plus years, thousands upon thousands of the world’s best have attempted to race for gold at this winner-take-all event. From Bobby Rahal to Graham Rahal, Jimmy Vasser, Scott Sharp, Skip Barber, Boris Said, Randy Pobst, Paul Newman, and more, the best drivers in the world know that the Runoffs is THE road racing event of the year.
And (assuming you’re qualified), you’re invited to race!
For those who qualified via the Hoosier Racing Tire SCCA Super Tour, U.S. Majors Tour®, or 2+2 route, hopefully you’ve already registered for the Sept. 29-Oct. 5, 2025, Runoffs taking place at Road America (and if you haven’t, get that done first, then click back to this article).
While driver registration is vital to Runoffs success, there’s more to know – like how to sign up for single-car paddock spots, when late registration fees kick in (in case you didn’t take our advice one sentence ago), and more.
Let’s see what’s coming down the pike.
Single Car Paddock Reservations: Aug. 20
Paddock registration for individual drivers opens on Aug. 20 at 12 p.m. CT.
Road America isn’t called America’s National Park of Speed for no reason, and because of the fantastic facility, you could also call it America’s “National Park of Paddock Spots” – the options of where to paddock are nearly endless. From the North Paddock to the Competition Paddock, West Paddock, South Paddock, and beyond, there’s a perfect spot for you. And if you don’t want to be that close to your neighbor, there’s plenty of free paddock spaces to be had elsewhere in the facility.
Paddock spot maps can be found here, with paddock size information located via this link.
Reserving a paddock spot is one thing – what can you expect once you arrive at the Runoffs to load in?
“Paddock load-in will begin on Sunday, Sept. 28, at 9:30 a.m.,” explains Mark Weber, who is part of the Runoffs paddock crew. “The track will organize rigs into prep shops and privateers, then we’ll take it from there. Once the prep shops have been loaded into their positions in the paddock, we’ll begin helping the individual racers.”
Drivers who have chosen a paddock spot in some of the more crowded areas should be prepared to scope out their paddock spot with the Runoffs parking crew before driving to the spot.
“There will be three checkpoints in the paddock, so we’ll direct you from one to the other to help get you into position with the least amount of disruption to those already at the facility,” Weber explains. “We’ll also have use of a forklift that can move trailers in and out of spots easier – those getting to the track on the third day of practice should really consider this option.”
Weber adds that you can arrive any time you’d like during the event – if you’re not participating in the practice days, you can still load in.
For those who haven’t been to the Runoffs before, Weber notes that people should be aware that your spot is your spot. “You can fit anything you want in your space, but you do need to stay between the lines,” Weber says. “If you plan to put five race cars in your spot, that’s perfectly acceptable, but don’t expect your neighbors to give an inch; likewise, you shouldn’t have to give an inch either. What that means is it’s essential for you to select the correct size spot for your rig – if you’re setup is 45 feet long, don’t choose a 40-foot paddock spot.”
If you get to the Runoffs and discover your space isn’t big enough, or you decide you’d like to swap spots, the paddock crew can move you to another spot if it’s available. Note, however, that spots with electricity are usually fully reserved by the time Runoffs load-in begins.
Finally, Weber adds that drivers and teams should ask questions once they’re at the facility if they’re at all unsure of what to do. “The paddock crew can help you,” he says, “that’s what they’re here to do.”
Runoffs Rundown
While we’re chatting about the Runoffs, let’s go over a few more important items:
Paddock Spot Pricing
Paved paddock spots cost $0.15/square foot, grass paddock spots are $0.05/square foot, and unreserved grass is free. Spaces with access to electricity (50A/20A or 30A) will include an additional surcharge of $50. Spaces with 20A service will include an additional surcharge of $30.
Where are Unreserved Free Paddock Spots Located?
Free paddock spots are located across the Sargento Bridge between stations 3 and 4.
Early Registration Deadline: Tuesday, Sept. 2, 11:59 p.m. CT
This is the early entry deadline. Runoffs driver registrations made after this date and time will be subject to a $500 fee.
Cancellation Deadline: Thursday, Sept. 18, 11:59 p.m. CT
With two weeks to go to qualifying, this is the deadline for receiving a full refund for those cancelling a race entry or test day.
Don’t Forget…
Know a worthy SCCA volunteer? Nominate them for the SCCA Worker of the Year Presented by Mazda award, which will be presented at the 2025 Runoffs on Friday, Oct. 3, during the All Participant Party. This award has the potential to be presented to someone from every worker specialty, including Data Acquisition, Emergency Services, Flagging & Communications, Grid/Pits, Race Administration, Registration, Scrutineer, Sound, Starter, Steward, and Timing & Scoring. Your nomination should include how this person excels in their particular specialty, along with their contributions specific to the 2025 season.
Worker of the Year nominations are due by Tuesday, Sept. 9. Click here to nominate someone for the SCCA Worker of the Year award Presented by Mazda.
SCCA’s Mechanic of the Year award highlights outstanding performances in the pit and paddock, and is chosen by the Club Racing Board (CRB) and the SCCA tech staff based on submissions received from the community. Nominations for the Mechanic of the Year award could include such information as the history of the team, why this person is vital to the team’s success, and perhaps an anecdote that illustrates this person’s dedication to the sport.
Nominations for the Mechanic of the Year award should be submitted by Oct. 21, with the presentation made during the 2026 SCCA National Convention in January. The Mechanic of the Year nomination form can be found here.
Runoffs Spectator Tickets
Know someone who wants to take in this year’s Runoffs action as a spectator? Admission tickets for the 2025 SCCA National Championship Runoffs Presented by Sunoco are already on sale. Road America is one of the best places in the world to watch a road race, and you can purchase spectator tickets in advance.
Remember: SCCA members get 20% off tickets.
Photo by Adam Brooks
