The expansive paddock at Road America is buzzing with activity as the Sports Car Club of America™ ramps up for the 62nd SCCA® National Championship Runoffs® Presented by Sunoco, taking place Sept. 29 through Oct. 5, 2025, in Wisconsin at what many consider America’s National Park of Speed.
Wednesday is the final day of testing for cars and drivers around the legendary 4.048-mile, 14-turn circuit snuggled in the rolling Kettle Moraine hills between the charming towns of Plymouth and Elkhart Lake. The excitement then ratchets up a notch the following two days during qualifying, which sets starting grids for Hagerty Race Days taking place Saturday and Sunday. By Sunday evening, 23 newly crowned Summit Racing Equipment SCCA Road Racing Champions will be wearing new gold medals.
Everything you need to know about this year’s National Championship event can be learned online at the Runoffs event page. Entry lists, maps, schedule of events, and more can all be found at that site, which the convenient button located below will transport you to with a simple click.
Coming Up: Qualifying Goodness
Runoffs qualifying over the next two days is a nailbiter all its own. Thankfully, coverage of SCCA’s Runoffs includes qualifying. Live timing/scoring, as well as an audio presentation, can be found at SCCA.com/live. Gregg Ginsberg and Dan Bullis will be seated behind microphones to cover qualifying developments, which can also be heard at SCCA’s Official YouTube Channel.
For several years now, longtime SCCA partners Sunoco and Hawk Performance have added to the excitement of qualifying as drivers seek to claim Tire Rack Pole Award honors. The first day of qualifying is dubbed “Sunoco 260 Thursday.” That’s where drivers in each of 23 competition classes whose best qualifying time comes closest to including .260 will earn 15 gallons of Sunoco race fuel free for their car.
Friday’s qualifying is Hawk “Brake-Through Performer” day. One driver from each competition class who makes the biggest improvement in qualifying position from Thursday to Friday receives a free set of Hawk brake pads for street cars, race cars, or tow vehicles. Winners, however, must have posted a qualifying time Thursday to be eligible for this reward.
Qualifying is made even more fun thanks to SCCA’s valued partners. That includes Tire Rack, the Official Tire Retailer of SCCA for 30 years; and Hawk Performance, the Official Brake Products of SCCA since 2003. Thanks also go to Sunoco, the Official Fuel of SCCA since 2001.
Party Plans Wednesday and Thursday
On-track action is only one portion of festivities that make up any Runoffs gathering. The nightly parties are equally responsible for making SCCA’s National Championship one of the greatest motorsport events to attend.
For example, a circuit walk commences at 6 p.m. Wednesday (Oct. 1) at “pit out” and travels its way to the Turn 5 Tailgate Party at the bottom of the Moraine Sweep. That’s where you’ll find free drinks, brats, burgers, friends, and music – all of which is a perfectly good excuse not to hike up the hill to Turn 6 and beyond.
Certainly, everyone on the premises is welcome to stroll the entire course traversed by some of the greatest road racers of all time. However, wear comfortable shoes because cars, trucks, ATVs, side‐by‐side vehicles, scooters, and two‐wheeled motorized vehicles are NOT permitted. Golf carts, team tuggers, pedal bicycles, and ADA Mobility Devices are allowed, but can only travel at a normal walking speed.
Thursday at 6 p.m. brings about a “Rock the Block Party” centered around Road America’s Victory Circle in the paddock. The New England Region and Inside the SCCA podcast have teamed up to dole out brats, grilled cheese, and beers from Wisconsin. Chris Taylor Racing in conjunction with Cross Thread and Goodyear will be serving up the same. The Prod Party will have Mexican food, and SCCA Women on Track is putting down some pulled pork.
But that’s not all. SCCA’s National Staff will ladle out chili, Mazda Motorsports looks to hold a cornhole competition alongside beer, and SCCA’s Central Division has dessert covered with ice cream and cake. SCCA’s Tech Team will hold some games, and don’t forget the Oddball draw/race going down in the pedestrian tunnel.
The SCCA Gear tent, located next to Rock the Block Party confines and filled with tons of branded swag, will be open until 8 p.m. Thursday night, too. That’ll be the perfect opportunity for volunteers to redeem their $15 gift certificate on some cool stuff.
Make Your Way to Road America
The SCCA National Championship Runoffs Presented by Sunoco at Road America is an experience that shouldn’t be missed. The sights, sounds and smells are best enjoyed in person, and spectator ticket prices are very reasonable for a motorsports event of this magnitude.
A three-day pass, which is good Oct. 3-5, is only $80 at the entry gate and includes parking and paddock access. Single-day admission is a steal at $30 for Friday, or $45 for Saturday or Sunday. Anyone 16 years old and younger get in free with a paying adult. SCCA members get a 20% discount on passes, which you can learn more about at the Runoffs ticket webpage.
Photo: Cars rolling out on track during the Runoffs test day at Road America
Photo by Andy Howe
