Editor's Note: This article was updated Oct. 5, 2024, based on official results and due to post-race penalty assessment.
Nathan Down, driving the No. 96 Downforce/Getem GD Racing Swift DB6/Honda, proved that discretion is the better part of valor, claiming the Formula F win during a chaotic final two corners at the 62nd SCCA® National Championship Runoffs® Presented by Sunoco at Wisconsin’s Road America.
Down, who spent most of the race battling for second, found himself fourth with three corners to go — then inherited the lead when incidents ahead eliminated the top three cars.
“Wow, just wow. I was not expecting that at all,” said Down in a jubilant victory celebration.
For much of the race, Tire Rack Pole Award winner Jonathan Kotyk led in his No. 5 Swift DB6/Ford, pulling out to nearly a 5-second lead.
Behind Kotyk, the battle for second was fierce between eventual winner Down and Demetrios Constantinidis in the No. 33 Constant Racing Van Diemen RF00/Honda. It got hotter when Calvin Kautz — who struggled with mechanical issues all week and qualified 15th in his No. 88 GMoore/Puckered Pickle/Hoosier Piper DF3D Honda — worked his way through the field to join that battle.
With five laps to go, a stalled car brought out a full-course caution, bunching the field and setting the stage for a three-lap shootout — the kind of tight racing Formula F is known for.
When the green flag flew on the restart, Kautz surged to the lead, starting the final lap ahead of Theodore Burns in the No. 81 Piper DF05/Honda and Kotyk in third. With three corners remaining, the leaders’ strategies came to a head.
“Those guys started tripping over each other again and I thought this is going to get messy,” said Down, who had a close view of the battle from 4th place. “I thought I’d play a small game and hold back a little bit and I’m so glad I did.”
With just two corners to go, leader Kautz spun on his own, handing the lead to Kotyk. On entry to the final corner, Burns and Kotyk collided and both cars spun off — parting the seas of chaos for Down to take the lead, and the win.
Behind Down, the new battle for the podium came down to a three-wide dash to the line for second, third and fourth.
Defending champion Tazio Stefanelli finished second in his No. 23 Two Dogg Spectrum/Honda, narrowly edging ahead of Michael Dowden’s No. 2 Piper RaceCars Piper DL7/Honda, Andrew Moran in the No. 75 Van Diemen RF99/Honda, who flanked him on either side as they crossed the line. A post-race penalty moved Dowden to last position, giving Moran the final step on the podium.
“I drove the car as hard as I could and tried to stay with the group because there was a high likelihood of something happening the last couple laps that would let me move up,” said Stefanelli.
Behind them, Robert Dietz finished fourth, and Brandon Lavender rounded out the top five, both in Van Diemen/Hondas.
Brandon Lavender — who started 12th and ended the race in 5th took home the Sunoco Hard Charger award for his drive through the field.
The 62nd SCCA® National Championship Runoffs® Presented by Sunoco is the pinnacle of American amateur motorsports and crowns Sports Car Club of America™ Champions as part of the Summit Racing Equipment SCCA Road Racing program. In 2025, two Hagerty Race Days at Wisconsin’s Road America decide 23 gold-medal winners.
Live, online video coverage of Runoffs races is available over both competition days at SCCA’s Official YouTube Channel. Live timing and scoring for each race is also available at SCCA.com/live.
Below are final results for Sunday's Formula F race at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs Presented by Sunoco; with finish position, starting position in parentheses, driver, SCCA Region, car, and laps completed.
1, (3), Nathan Down, Colorado Region, Swift DB6 Honda, 12.
2, (7), Tazio Stefanelli, Blackhawk Valley Region, Spectrum FF1600 Honda, 12.
3, (4), Andrew Moran, Cincinnati Region, Van Diemen RF99 Honda, 12.
4, (5), Robert Dietz, Neohio Region, Van Diemen RF00 Honda, 12.
5, (12), Brandon Lavender, Ohio Valley Region, Van Diemen RF95 Honda, 12.
6, (10), Jay Messenger, West Texas Region, Van Diemen RF02 Honda, 12.
7, (9), Eric Poulsen, Cal Club Region, Piper DL7 Honda, 12.
8, (15), Calvin Kautz, Chicago Region, Piper DF3D Honda, 12.
9, (2), Parker Gill, Glen Region, Piper DL7 Honda, 12.
10, (16), James Dietz, Neohio Region, Van Diemen RF03 Honda, 12.
11, (6), Demetrios Constantinidis, Chicago Region, Van Diemen RF00 Honda, 12.
12, (14), Robert Gross, Detroit Region, Piper DF05 Honda, 12.
13, (8), Theodore Burns, Milwaukee Region, Piper DF05 Honda, 11.
14, (1), Jonathan Kotyk, Buccaneer Region, Swift DB6 Ford, 11.
15, (13), Michael Dowden, Philadelphia Region, Piper DL7 Honda, 12.
DNF, (17), Roberto Reina, Milwaukee Region, Van Diemen RF98 Ford, 5.
DNF, (11), Russell J Ruedisueli, Detroit Region, Van Diemen RF00 Ford, 0.
Race Stats
Length of Race: 48.58 Miles miles
Overall Time of Race: 33:49.458 (avg. 86.168 mph)
Margin of Victory: 00.799 seconds
Fastest Race Lap: 2:25.541 (100.128 mph)
Lap Leaders: #33, Lap 1; #5, Laps 2-9; #88, Laps 10-11; #96, Lap 12
Sunoco Hard Charger: #98 Brandon Lavender
Photo by: Jeff Loewe
