The green flag dropped on the 2026 SCCA® National Convention on Thursday, Jan. 15, setting the tone for a week focused on leveling up (which, as luck would have it, is this year’s SCCA National Convention theme). As tradition has dictated since the Club’s founding in 1944, the opening lap of the Convention began with the Annual Meeting, where members gathered to take stock of the road behind and the course ahead. Among the key items on the agenda was a presentation on the state of the Club, outlining how SCCA continues to build speed, strength, and stability for the future.

With the pace established, the SCCA National Convention shifted gears to recognition as the Club celebrated those who pushed SCCA Road Racing to the front of the pack in the year prior, honoring the individuals and teams who elevated their performance.

Hosted by SCCA President and CEO Mike Cobb alongside Vice President of Road Racing Eric Prill, the live online presentation celebrated excellence across the paddock.

Awards presented included the Mechanic of the Year, the David Morrell Award, the Jim Fitzgerald Rookie of the Year Award, the John McGill Award, the Kimberly Cup, and the President’s Cup – each recognizing competitors who set a high standard for the entire field.

Mechanic of the Year

“The SCCA Mechanic of the Year is chosen by the Club Racing Board and SCCA tech staff based on submissions received from the community,” Prill explained during the live presentation. “The recipient must demonstrate a strong commitment to their craft and to the drivers they support. This year’s recipient will receive a commemorative crystal trophy as well as $500 to put toward their tools of the trade.”

A member from the age of 2, the 2025 Mechanic of the Year recipient spent his childhood traveling to races and gaining valuable professional and life skills.

“Being an outstanding race team mechanic takes hard work, attention to detail and, of course, top skills,” Prill said, before announcing that the 2025 SCCA Mechanic of the Year award went to Comprent Motor Sports’ Matt Kloepfer of Atlanta Region.

Several quotes from the nomination letters were then read, which included: “Despite all the work he puts in, and I’m sure he is tired at times, he is always pleasant and willing to help,” and, “Extremely hard working and always wants what is best for the sport as a whole. He makes the lives around him easier and better.”

David Morrell Memorial Award

“The David Morrell Award is presented annually to recognize an active Steward who has exhibited outstanding performance and dedication to the sport and its highest principles,” Cobb said. “The recipient is selected by the Chairman of the Stewards and the Executive Stewards. This year we present the award to the 45th recipient who will join a group of outstanding Stewards who previously received the award including last year’s recipient, Kathy Barnes, and recent honorees Paul Gauzens and Bev Heilicher.”

The 2025 David Morrell Memorial Award was presented to Cal Club Region’s Barbara Knox.

Joining the Club in 1994, Knox, alongside her husband Chuck, began her journey in Flagging & Communications, eventually becoming Assistant Chief of Flagging and Chief of Comms at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs®.

“In the early 2000s, she joined the Stewards program, serving as Chief Steward at many races before being named Executive Steward of her Division in 2007,” Cobb noted. “In her tenure as Executive Steward, she has also served as an SOM at the Runoffs, review courts, and special projects, including updating the Stewards manual. Outside of her Stewarding, she serves as the Registration Chief for the Grand Prix of Long Beach.”

Jim Fitzgerald Rookie of the Year

First presented in 1987, past Jim Fitzgerald Rookie of the Year award recipients include Eric Curran, Trent Hindman, Connor Zillisch, Morgan Burkhard, and last year’s recipient, Ethan Lampe. The recipient of this award is selected by the Club Racing Board based on nominations submitted by the Executive Stewards and is presented to the SCCA Road Racing driver showing the greatest promise as evidenced by their driving performance during their first season of National competition.

Adding his name to that illustrious list of recipients is 17-year-old Washington DC Region member Brendan Cronin.

“Like many young racers, this year’s recipient started in karts and iRacing before graduating from the Allen Berg Racing school in 2023 and obtaining his Regional license,” said Prill. “He competed in six Northeast Division weekends driving in Formula Vee® in 2024 before moving to Formula Continental® for his first season of National competition in the U.S. Majors Tour® and ultimately the National Championship Runoffs®.”

At the 2025 Runoffs, Cronin qualified second and was surrounded by three past SCCA National Champions. In the race, he showed he belonged, battling racers with considerably more experience as they weaved through the Formula F field in the multi-class race. His second-place finish clearly illustrated his skill and determination.

John McGill Award

The John McGill Award is presented annually in recognition for significant contributions to the SCCA Road Racing program. The winner is chosen by the Club Racing Board (CRB) and the head of the SCCA Road Racing department. Past recipients include the award’s namesake, Hall of Famer John McGill, as well as Sue Roethel, Kelley Huxtable, Dennis Dean, Glen Thielke, Frank Schwartz, Bill Skibbe, and last year’s recipients, Mark and Ceci Smith, and more.

A second-generation member, the 2025 John McGill Award was presented to Jason Stine of Ohio Valley Region

“His experience growing up around H Production and racing in the class meant he appreciated the community that existed, but he also saw opportunities to grow that community, build camaraderie and support growth in the class,” Prill explained. “ put the call out for supporters and created a nationwide points championship in 2021, including all Regional, Majors, and Runoffs events. In 2022, he organized the first Mike Cummings H Production Invitational – a mid-season spotlight festival event for H Prod racers of all levels, without the pressure of a National Championship. Finally, he created the H Production Hall of Fame in 2025 to recognize the most impactful members of the community over the last 70 years and preserve the class’s history for generations to come.”

Kimberly Cup

Named after Jim Kimberly, former President and Governor of SCCA, the Kimberly Cup is awarded to the SCCA driver showing the most improvement in the last year, as selected by the Club Racing Board. Recipients include notables such as Mark Donohue, Roger Penske, Richard and Keith Grant, Amy Aquilante, Steve Introne, and last year’s recipient, Tyler Ladd.

“This year’s recipient had a true racing community upbringing,” said Prill. “Starting off as a mechanic for a Houston-area based prep shop, our driver wrenched on Spec Miatas until he could change transmissions in his sleep. His first opportunity to drive wheel-to-wheel came in the fall of 2011 as payment for changing a head gasket at an endurance race, and it was quickly evident that he was a natural.”

He soon obtained his SCCA Competition License and proceeded to race any and every car he was given access to. That journey eventually led him to B-Spec, although getting behind that wheel was hardly a direct route.

“He may have come for the cars, but he stayed involved for the people,” Prill added. “And when one relationship at the track spilled over into his personal life, it led to a marriage proposal at the annual Houston Region banquet in 2015. Marrying into a racing family had its perks, too. It came with access to a membership racetrack, a racecar, and no need to ask your spouse for permission to go race.”

The 2025 Kimberly Cup award goes to the 2025 B-Spec National Champion Eric Yagel of Houston and Indianapolis Regions

President’s Cup

Originally presented by U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower and now presented by current and past SCCA presidents, the President’s Cup recognizes the driver demonstrating ability, competitiveness, and success at the National Championship Runoffs.

This year’s recipient was South Jersey Region’s Alex Scaler.

Past recipients of this award include the likes of Roger Penske, Skip Barber, Bobby Rahal, Paul Newman, Dave Weitzenhof, John Heinricy, Michael Varacins, Jesse Prather, and last year’s winner, Ethan Goulart. Needless to say, the award puts Scaler in rarified air.

SCCA President and CEO Mike Cobb read the letter Scaler will receive as part of the award:

“Congratulations on winning the 2025 Sports Car Club of America President’s Cup – the highest honor for an SCCA Runoffs driver.

Some President’s Cup recipients exhibit dominant performances, while others triumph in the most dramatic fashion. Your Runoffs performance in 2025 was a combination of both, working with a fellow competitor to build a gap over the rest of the field and then emerging on top of a thrilling final lap. But the race in 2025 doesn’t tell your whole story.

As a teenager, you announced your arrival to SCCA with the Formula Vee pole at the 2016 Runoffs. In the years to follow, you recorded several fastest race laps and a pair of podium finishes, including a runner-up finish to Andrew Whitston in 2023 at VIR. But it wasn’t until your 11th Runoffs that you finally broke through for the Championship.

Starting third in the #79 ASC/Autowerks/Hoosier entry of your own design, you and Andrew again emerged as the lead tandem by the race’s mid-point, working together to gap the rest of the field. As the white flag flew, you had a 1.7-second lead, but a three-time champion chasing behind. Your thrilling side-by-side race for the lead through Canada Corner and Billy Mitchell Bend, and then final draft up the front straightaway to edge in front by 42 thousandths of a second, solidified your first gold medal.

It was a championship drive worthy of the highest recognition within Sports Car Club of America.

Every name on the President’s Cup tells a story of tremendous achievement. The list of names is legendary, within the SCCA and into the broader motorsports world. Your name is now on that list.”

Photo caption: SCCA's Deanna Flanagan, Mike Cobb, and Eric Prill raise a glass to toast this year's big winners (clockwise from top right) Barbara Knox, Matt Kloepfer, Eric Yagel, Jason Stine, Brendan Cronin, and Alex Scaler.