The final “regular season” Hoosier Racing Tire SCCA® Super Tour (HST) event of 2026 got rolling Saturday, Aug. 29, at Barber Motorsports Park to begin a two-day soirée co-hosted by SCCA’s Tennessee Valley Region and Alabama Region as part of the Summit Racing Equipment SCCA Road Racing program.
Morning conditions were warm but not overly oppressive as cars across seven run groups rolled out for 20-minute qualifying sessions in Leeds, AL, located just east of downtown Birmingham. After that it was time to go racing around the undulating 2.38-mile circuit with 17 turns. The first three run groups executed 35-minute contests, followed by 25-minute races for the remaining four run groups. Results unveiled the opening set of victory podium guests who received adulation and commemorative bottles of Mazza Vineyards sparkling wine.
Talkative Tom Makes SMX Debut
Practically every weekend over the course of three HST seasons has included fresh faces new to the Spec MX-5 (SMX) class. Barber is no different except one newbie this round has some cachet and is known well by HST fans.
It was a double-duty Saturday for Tom O’Gorman, the former Honda factory driver with four IMSA TCR class victories. He climbed into the No. 94 Mazda Motorsports/Lizard Brains Podcast MX-5 for some fun, then went back to his usual post as commentator for the HST online broadcast.
“Dang, that was fun,” O’Gorman exclaimed after Saturday morning qualifying. “The car is so friendly to drive. I felt confident to push hard after just a few corners out of pit lane. They’ve really built a great driving racecar. I can’t wait for more laps and some racing!”
According to Mazda Motorsports Business Development Manager Josh Smith, the automotive manufacturer is always looking for ways to further promote the SMX class. So on a whim, he reached out to O’Gorman.
“I sort of randomly cold called him out of the blue,” Smith said. “He seemed like a good fit and a good personality to represent the class, Mazda, and SCCA. He does a really good job on the race commentary and sings the praises of SMX and what he likes about it during Hoosier Super Tour broadcasts. So, we thought we’d give him a shot in the car.”
No surprise, O’Gorman was 1000 percent excited for this opportunity and said, “I’m genuinely fascinated to learn the nuisances of racing an SMX Mazda. I’m intrigued to be ‘in it for a minute’ and better understand what it is to race an SMX Mazda so I can talk about it better. But also I want to have a good showing because I’m still a competitive monster and I can’t help that.”
O’Gorman, who has earned seven Tire Rack SCCA Solo® Nats victories and made a few SCCA U.S. Majors Tour® podium appearances, joined the Club in 2008. Over nearly two decades, he has earned accolades as a competitor in various pro series, too. He has also lent his knowledge, voice and visage to SCCA National Championship Runoffs® coverage, and coached newcomers during many SCCA Track Night in America® Driven by Tire Rack engagements.
“I’ve never done this type of National-level Spec class racing before in this way,” O’Gorman admitted. “I didn’t know how intense it would be. I was excited to experience it.”
The Mazda platform is not new to O’Gorman. His early autocrosses were behind the steering wheel of NA and NB Miatas, and the first car he ever drove on a racetrack was a Spec Miata at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. As for previous Spec MX-5 experience at Barber, O’Gorman turned some laps five years ago in an earlier model.
“This is a too-good-to-be-true situation,” O’Gorman continued. “I never thought I’d end up being a broadcast commentator, and I never thought being a commentator would end up with me getting a ride back in racing.
“I’m super excited to be racing SMX this weekend,” O’Gorman added. “I wanted to cut it up with those drivers, stay clean, and be competitive. I wanted to put on a show because I think SMX has been a great show during every HST event, and it’s one of the classes I get excited to commentate about.”
Saturday’s 35-minute contest saw O’Gorman pull off track late in the race with car troubles. The winner ultimately was Enzo Vidmontiene in the No. 195 America Parts Mazda MX-5 machine. But Sunday is another day, so tune in to see how talker Tom does in round two.
Dropping in to Make Barber Happen
SCCA members from far and wide traveled to Alabama to be part of this very first HST at Barber. From the nearly 240 competitors are representatives from as far away as New Hampshire, Minnesota and California. Many of the nearly 180 volunteers helping out this weekend are also from around the country, including Grid volunteer Harrison DeWeese.
Coming south to BMP from Hopkinsville, KY, this weekend is a homecoming for DeWeese. He actually grew up in Odenville, AL, less than 30 minutes from the circuit. In 2018 he joined the U.S. Army and became a paratrooper. And while he grew up interested in racing, it wasn’t until he was in the military that the motorsport bug really bit.
“I was in Augusta, Georgia, stationed at Fort Gordon and was ‘in’ with a car group out there,” he said. “Somebody invited me to go do autocross with them at Atlanta Motor Speedway with Atlanta Region. I went and did it, then immediately got hooked on it. Ended up spending way too much money on car modifications right away.”
Since joining SCCA in 2021, DeWeese has volunteered at events up and down the East Coast. As a member of North Carolina Region, he has spent a lot of time helping at VIRginia International Raceway, of course, where Flagging & Communications is his favored specialty. But he has also filled many other roles while lending a hand at places like Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Mid-Ohio Sportscar Course, Daytona International Speedway and many others.
“When I’m there at a racetrack with all my best friends in the world and all the familiar faces; it makes the six-, seven-, eight-, nine-hour drives so much worth it,” DeWeese said. “The people make it worth it.”
Every single SCCA event around the country has countless members crafting an experience that ensures weekends run smoothly and safely. The Club also strives to create opportunities for anyone who loves having #funwithcars. Interested in learning more? Just walk up to an SCCA volunteer at any event and say “hello.” They’ll be happy to clue you in on how to get involved. A bunch more information can also be found by clicking here.
Saturday Race Winners
Below are provisional race winners from Saturday’s Hoosier Racing Tire SCCA Super Tour conducted at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama. Each entry includes Car Class: Driver Name, SCCA Region, and Car.
American Sedan®: Michael Kamalian, Atlanta Region, Ford Mustang
B-Spec: Gale Corley, Houston Region, Mazda 2
E Production: Don Tucker, Mid South Region, Mazda Miata
F Production: Steven Powers, Arizona Region, Mazda Miata
H Production: Steve Sargis, Blackhawk Valley Region, Triumph Spitfire
Formula Atlantic®: Larry Howard, Kansas City Region, Swift 016
Formula Continental®: Brandon Dixon, Alabama Region, Citation F2000
Formula Enterprises® 2: Steve Whitston, Milwaukee Region, SCCA Enterprises FE2 Mazda
Formula 600: Steven Jondal, Land O'Lakes Region, Red Devil JS14
Formula F: Theodore Burns, Milwaukee Region, Piper DF05
Formula Vee®: Steve Whitston, Milwaukee Region, Protoform P2
GT-1: Adam Romito, Wiregrass Region, Toyota Camry
GT-2: Tony Ave, Central Carolinas Region, Porsche 991.2
GT-X: Garry Crook, Gulf Coast Region, NORMA M30
Prototype: Todd Vanacore, Central Florida Region, Elan DP02
Prototype 2: Chris Young, Atlanta Region, Stohr WF1
Spec Miata: John Salerno, New England Region, Mazda Miata
Spec MX-5: Enzo Vidmontiene, Florida Region, Mazda MX-5
Spec Racer® Ford Gen3: Tyler Stephens, Northeast Oklahoma Region, SCCA Enterprises SRF3
Super Touring® Lite: Nick Leverone, New England Region, Mazda Miata
Super Touring® Under: Peter St. Pierre, Atlanta Region, Honda Civic Si
Touring 1: Wes Humphryes, Alabama Region, Mercedes-Benz GT4
Touring 2: Alec King, Buccaneer Region, BMW M2 CSR
Touring 3: Simon Foweather, Alabama Region, BMW 330ci
Touring 4: Robert Spence, Atlanta Region, Mazda MX-5
Last One Sunday from Barber
After launching in 2017, the 10th year of Hoosier Racing Tire SCCA® Super Tour racing comes to a close Sunday, Aug. 30, with a final day of “regular season” competition from Barber Motorsports Park.
The day begins with 15-minute qualifying sessions for all seven run groups, followed by 25-minute races for the first three run groups. Next comes 35-minute contests for the remaining four run groups.
The drama can be followed online and for free once again thanks to the HST broadcast produced by DriversEye Live. That video feed is found at SCCA’s YouTube page, with commentary again provided by Gregg Ginsberg and Tom O’Gorman. Sunday victory podium celebrations can also be viewed at the Summit Racing Equipment SCCA Road Racing Facebook page.
As always, live HST Timing & Scoring is also available throughout the weekend at scca.com/live.
Photo: Enzo Vidmontiene got it done Saturday at the Barber Hoosier Super Tour to claim victory in the Spec MX-5 class.
Photo by Jeff Loewe
