The Production category in SCCA® Road Racing competition is traditionally the link from the “old school” SCCA classes to the present and, coincidentally (or because of that), it provides outstanding racing. A mix of car builds and driver skill, Prod can be as intense as it gets. Which is exactly the type of racing we’re expecting in H, F, and E Production at the Sept. 28-Oct. 4, 2026, Mission Foods SCCA® National Championship Runoffs®.
Hitting Road America right as Wisconsin’s fall colors come in, if last year’s racing was any indication, these three Prod classes will wow spectators around all 14 turns of the 4.048-mile circuit. Want proof, just watch last year’s H Production race where one driver took it to the limit – and beyond.
Before we get to our predictions for who will win in the three Production classes (and then ask you who you think will win), we have some links you’ll want to keep on hand.
First is the Runoffs homepage, where you’ll find everything there is to know about the event. There’s also the driver’s entry list and event schedule, so you can discover who is racing, and when they’ll be on track. The spectator tickets link is usefeul for those who want to view the action on site, and SCCA’s YouTube channel link is also below, where Runoffs qualifying and Hagerty Race Days will be streamed live:
- Runoffs homepage
Now, check out who we think will win, then vote for your picks. Once you’ve voted, scroll back up and hit the “See previous responses” link. If you don’t like the results, refresh the “Who Will Win?” article and vote again!
E Production
Our current rule for predictions: if Tony Ave is entered, he’s planning on winning, and if you pick someone else, it better be for a darn good reason. That’s especially true in E Production, where Ave leads the Hoosier Racing Tire SCCA Super Tour points and has put together a spectacular season in his MX-5.
In this case, though, we may have a good reason. Tyler Ladd has already won back-to-back Runoffs in the class, so it’s impossible to ignore him. The BMW Z3 he drives? Six straight Runoffs wins. Still, if we’re going to bet against Ladd and that BMW, it’s only because Ave plays to win. Wow, this is a toss-up.
Jon Brakke was on pole last year with his Z3; Tim Shreyer’s BMW 325i has made its way to the pointy end of the grid, too. Both deserve consideration for running up front.
But all streaks must end eventually – we think. So, Tony Ave gets the nod (and the pressure of our pick) with Ladd in second (but we won’t be surprised if it’s Ladd back on top of the box). For third, we’ll go with Shreyer – at least for now.
F Production
A visit to the unofficial internet home of Production racing says it all: F Prod might bring the best race of the weekend. A poll on ProdRacing.com currently shows nine drivers with votes to win, and we don’t think everyone is voting for themselves.
Where to start? The adjustments in year two of what we used to know as GT-Lite cars is a complicating factor; the list of former National Champions (Chris Bovis, Peter Shadowen, Michael Lewis, Cliff Ira, Ken Kannard, Mason Workman, Craig Chima, Graham Fuller, Peter Shadowen) adds another.
Only three can visit the podium, and only one can win. Let’s take a stab at this.
We’re leaning toward the full production-based cars over the course of the long race distance, so we can break it down from there.
Workman won two years back in his Miata and leads the Hoosier Super Tour this year; plus, with a 15-year-old racer son (we talked about him in this “Who Will Win?” article), he may need to grab his wins while he still can. It’s hard to count out an Acura Integra in the Runoffs at Road America, so take a hard look at Kannard and last year’s Tire Rack Polesitter David Strittmatter. The Miata of Stephen Simonds wouldn’t be a shock, and the Lotus Super Seven of Chima has risen to the occasion multiple times.
Just because we’re leaning to the production-based builds doesn’t mean we’re entirely sold. How have Bovis and Shadowen managed with the class transition? That could upend everything. I mean, the changeover didn’t seem to keep Bovis off the top step of the F Prod podium last year.
For now, we think it’ll be a podium of Mason Workman followed by Chima and Kannard. But keep an eye on this race from wherever you are.
H Production
Picking an H Production winner feels like taking an internet quiz, and a few questions can get you to the answer.
Looking for the quiet, classic, boring answer with a proven car and driver who has pulled off the feat 10 times in a car that is an SCCA icon?
How about a modern interpretation of the class in a car that towers above the rest, quite literally, in the hands of a multi-generation National Champion?
Want the thrill of boom or bust, podium, or mechanical gremlin, will it hold together long enough to go the distance, just like old school H Prod racing?
We can provide you an answer for each. You’re not wrong if you select 10-time National Champ Steve Sargis in his Triumph Spitfire, seven-time Runoffs gold medalist Jesse Prather in the Mazda2, or two-time National Champ Chris Schaafsma and the VW mafia in his Volkswagen GLI. In our predictions, we also considered Matt Brannon and his Fiat X1/9.
Ultimately, we’re going with Steve Sargis, Prather, and Schaafsma, in that order. We won’t be surprised if that shuffles; we also won’t be shocked if it’s entirely off the mark. We’ll find out at the end of 13 laps.
Photo by Jeff Loewe
