Editor's Note: This article was updated Oct. 7, 2024, based on official results and due to post-race penalty assessment.
Brad McAllister set a new GT-2 qualifying track record earlier in the week at Road America during the 62nd SCCA® National Championship Runoffs® Presented by Sunoco in Wisconsin. That gave the Oregon Region member a first-ever Tire Rack Pole Award in the No. 24 Periodontal Associates/Hoosier Ford Mustang. It also meant he’d lead the GT-2 field to the green flag Sunday afternoon on the last Hagerty Race Day of the 2025 winner-take-all event.
Immediately, McAllister secured the front position as the throng moved toward Turn 1. Charlie Peter deftly positioned his Porsche in second, John Atwell secured third, and Jack Stanford closed the opening lap in fourth. Tony Ave had fifth, Brian Garcia moved from the 11th starting position to sixth, and Ray Mason stood seventh in the No. 82 Alloy Emoloyer Ford Mustang.
The front three drivers held station for the first half of the race. Behind them, however, lots of positions shifted. Mason moved to sixth after passing Garcia, and Jorge Nazario slid up to eighth in the No. 165 Taxmania Chevrolet Corvette. One lap later, Garcia dropped tires into the dust outside of Turn 5 after the Moraine Sweep, allowing Nazario to advance another position. And just past the halfway mark, Ave slid off track in Turn 3, promoting everyone up one position.
That’s when things got really interesting.
The front three positions had not changed to that point. On lap 10, Atwell had closed in on Peter and opted to make a move for second as they headed into Turn 3. The rear of Atwell’s Ford Mustang broke loose and contacted the right front of Peter’s car. They both ended up in the gravel trap, bringing out a full-course yellow and completely eliminating McAllister’s massive lead. Mason, Nazario, Garcia, and Frank Widmoser were all now within striking distance. Unperturbed, McAllister got a solid restart on lap 12 and sped off to what appeared to be his first Runoffs win in five attempts — it was not to be, however, as following the race, penalties were applied to several drivers, with McAllister receiving a five second penalty for accelerating prior to the acceleration zone on the front straight, ultimately placing him fourth in class.
Behind McAllister at the restart, Nazario made a bold move into Turn 1 to take a spot from Mason. Throughout the 13-lap contest, there were moments when Nazario looked to be barely holding on to the car as it carved through the 4.048-mile, 14-turn circuit often called America’s National Park of Speed. But he held it together over the final two laps to secure the runner-up finish — a finish that would end up turning into a race win after penalties were applied. Like McAllister, Nazario received a penalty based on the acceleration zone, but Nazario's was a reprimand with a point on his license, meaning his win would stick.
Beyond this being Nazario's very first Runoffs win, this was also his first trip to a Runoffs podium in 14 starts, making the commemorative bottle from Mazza Wines he sprayed on the podium that much sweeter.
“I’m ecstatic,” a smiling Nazario said of his result. “It’s been 10 years I’ve been at this. This is the first time I’ve gotten a podium ... I’m really happy.”
Mason kept his cool and secured what would ultimately turn into a second-place finish for his second victory podium appearance at the Runoffs in five starts.
“This is a dream come true. We’ve been fighting for this thing since last year,” Mason said. “At the restart, I didn’t use good race craft. I should’ve taken the inside line, and Jorge got around me. Good on him, but bad on me.”
Garcia finished third, McAllister was fourth after his penalty, Widmoser fifth, and Ave fought his way back to sixth. The Sunoco Hard Charger award went to Nazario.
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 GT-2 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, (9), Jorge Nazario, Puerto Rico Region, Chevrolet Corvette, 13.
2, (7), Ray Mason, Ohio Valley Region, Ford Mustang, 13.
3, (11), Brian Garcia, Chicago Region, Dodge Challenger, 13.
4, (1), Brad McAllister, Oregon Region, Ford Mustang, 13.
5, (8), Frank Widmoser, Texas Region, Ford Mustang, 13.
6, (5), Tony Ave, Central Carolinas Region, Nissan 350Z, 13.
7, (13), Ike Keeler, Western Michigan Region, Ford Mustang, 13.
8, (14), William Moore, Neohio Region, Chevrolet Camaro, 13.
9, (15), Kevin Rich, Lone Star Region, Ford Mustang, 13.
10, (3), Charlie Peter, Kansas City Region, Porsche 991.2 GT3 Cup, 9.
11, (2), John Atwell, Texas Region, Ford Mustang, 12.
DNF, (4), Jack Stanford, Atlanta Region, Ford Mustang, 3.
DNF, (16), Robert Kelley, Cal Club Region, Porsche 991.1 GT3 Cup, 3.
DNF, (6), Justin Elder, Land O'Lakes Region, Chevrolet Camaro, 0.
DNF, (12), Michael Quattlebaum, Houston Region, Chevrolet Corvette, 0.
DNS, (10), Tom Patton, Cincinnati Region, Sunbeam Tiger, 0.
Race Stats
Length of Race: 52.62 miles
Overall Time of Race: 32:39.751 (avg. 96.669 mph)
Margin of Victory: 02.345 seconds
Fastest Race Lap: 2:13.447 (109.203 mph)
Lap Leaders: #24-Laps 1-13
Sunoco Hard Charger: #165 Jorge Nazario
Photo by: Jeff Loewe
