Brad Gross, of Grapevine, Texas, won a closely-contested battle for the Mid-States Conference in GT-2. In only his second season of racing, Gross methodically worked his way toward the front of the field throughout the year. That culminated in a win at High Plains Raceway in his final outing of the season.

“It is absolutely fantastic!” Gross said. “This is my second year of SCCA competition. I only ran 3 races the first year, including the race during SCCA Competition School. Things really clicked this year as I improved driving and No. 13 never failed me! I can only hope to defend it next year!”

Gross said he did have some struggles to overcome, but that the enjoyment of being at the track far outweighed any of it.

“The most difficult part of the season was waiting for the next race!” Gross said. “Seriously though, the season was made difficult by all of the international business travel along with long domestic trips. Racing has been our getaway from reality. Our only vacations this year have been ‘race-cations’ and we have thoroughly enjoyed them. It has brought my wife, who doubles as my crew chief, and me closer together, and that’s hard to put a price on!

“Everything came together this year. I learned an important lesson, to finish first you must first finish. So true. Sometimes the better part of valor is to back off and let the equipment have a chance to breathe.”

Gross pointed out two important moments throughout the season – one at Hallett Motor Racing Circuit and the other at High Plains.

“The Saturday Hallett ‘Torrential Downpour Race in a stock car with no wipers/defoggers’ was a gut-check,” Gross said. “I was very uncomfortable doing it, but I knew that I had to do well there to get ahead in the points. It wasn’t so much of a race of technique as it was a survival test of keeping the car on track and not doing anything unwise. We ended up with a podium, third place, which was a huge boost!

“Then, winning at High Plains Raceway was the turning point, giving me enough points to put me in the lead for the championship.”

Gross made sure to call out those people that made his year so successful and fun.

“The first person I have to thank is Dani, my wife/crew chief,” Gross said. “This was her first year to do this. She put the headset on and has been a big part of my success!

“Also, thanks to Pinnacle Autosports, and Gregg Rodgers, for the fantastic prep work they performed on the car before every race. Without this prep, my wife and I would not have been able to crew by ourselves. Last, but not least, thank you to my parents for their support and my father-in-law for coming to all my races and cheering me on.”

Eric Prill, of Topeka, Kansas, was a perfect eight-for-eight in the Mid-States Majors that he entered. In addition to winning those races, Prill took the win after sitting on the pole for each race. His streak of wins included wins at Hallett Motor Racing Circuit, Kansas Speedway, High Plains Raceway and Pueblo Motorsports Park.

This was Prill’s fourth Majors title, dating back to the pilot season in 2012.

“It’s a great accomplishment to win a Majors conference championship, especially when you have great competition,” Prill said. “This year, I raced against some very good racers in the conference and they really push you to be on your ‘A’ game. Guys like National Champion Kevin Ruck, Sam Henry and Bill Hingston. It’s my fourth-straight Mid-States Majors Championship and it’s the first one that I swept all eight races I ran, so I guess this one has to be the best!”

While everything seemed to be clicking on all cylinders, Prill did have some struggles to overcome throughout the season.

“The middle of the season was a killer,” Prill said. “I went out of conference and ran Mid-Ohio, so I did four events in eight weeks. I lost a bearing in the middle of that swing, which meant an engine rebuild. That was too a tough stretch - too much time away from home between racing and work commitments.”

For Prill, the turning point of the season was averting disaster during one of the Colorado race weekends.

“I dodged a major bullet at High Plains Raceway,” Prill said. “I had low oil pressure from the outset. I checked for bearing material in the oil filter, and it looked okay so I thought it might be a stuck pressure relief valve. I ran the weekend with much lower pressure than I’d have liked and the engine made it through. Afterward, I pulled it apart and found that I had lost a main bearing. Luckily, the rest of the engine was fine!”

Prill was sure to thank everyone who made the 2015 racing season a possibility.

“I can’t go out and have fun if I don’t have the support of my family, so huge thanks to my wife and son,” Prill said. “Jesse Prather Motorsports, Mazdaspeed, Hoosier Tire, Carbotech, Electromotive and Summit Racing all offer great support to make it all happen!”

Henry Donohoo, of Arvada, Colorado, finished second in the championship hunt in 2014, but made an effort not to have the same result befall him this season. By scoring five wins throughout the season, Donohoo made his championship dreams come true.

“This year meant a lot to me,” Donohoo said. “I take pride in competing in the Majors and look forward to it every year. Finishing second in 2014 helped me to prepare myself and the car better for the 2015 season. It’s challenging to get everything ready to go each weekend. I love challenges!”

Not often does racing go off as planned, however Donohoo said his season was relatively drama free.

“This year, with better planning, was pretty easy,” Donohoo said. “Thankfully no mechanical issues popped up like last year. The car ran great and my support was always there to help.”

Donohoo said his turning point came away from the track, after reflecting on a freshly completed race weekend.

“The turning point, for me, was on my drive home to Denver after the Majors race at the Kansas Speedway,” Donohoo said. “Being Father’s Day weekend, and spending that time with my dad and son at the track, it didn't even cross my mind. In the middle of the night driving through Kansas it hit me. One more good weekend and I can clinch this. Great feeling.”

Like many amateur racers, Donohoo had some very important people to thank.

“I would like to thank Mazda of Lakewood, Drone Motorsport, Sundance Window Tint and Alpine Air for all their help,” Donohoo said. “Couldn't have done it without you.”

James Michael, of Fort Worth, Texas, ran the most events of any other driver in the class in 2015. While he was unable to make the start at the NOLA Motorsports Park doubleheader, he finished races at Hallett Motor Racing Circuit, Kansas Speedway and Pueblo Motorsports Park. To put it lightly, Michael was happy about his Majors conference title.

“Winning the Majors Championship is fantastic!” Michael said. “I’m there on the track because I love auto racing, the cars, the people, the action and the excitement. So, to be a part of it and to participate is really special. Winning the Majors ranks as one of the all-time highs of my racing experience - the action on the track is what I enjoyed the most.”

To make the accomplishment even sweeter, Michael did have to overcome some rather large obstacles during the season.

“The most difficult part of the season was at the beginning,” Michael said. “I spent all winter getting the car ready then in the first race, at NOLA, the bolts connecting my driveshaft to the differential all broke and I didn’t race. So, more work before I could be on track racing. Then at the next race, at Hallett, I lost a front wing in qualifying. Then the following race after that, at Kansas Speedway, I lost the front wing again. I got really good at repairing front wings and noses, that’s for sure!”

It wasn’t until late in the season that Michael had a strong feeling that he could win the conference championship.

“After racing at Kansas Speedway, I realized I could win the championship depending on the competition at the last race in Pueblo, Colorado,” Michael said. “I had to make that last race, and finish in a reasonable position, to clinch the championship. Pueblo was a neat track but I needed more wing in the car, with the thin air at 5,000 feet, but at least I was on the podium twice in third to wrap up the championship.”

Michael made sure to highlight some of the people that made his championship season possible.

“I would like to thank my brother, David, for coming out to help me at Kansas and at the Runoffs,” Michael said. “I also want to thank Joni and Mary for putting up with me all race season.

“A special thanks goes out to Dauntless Racing/Stohr cars for getting Stohr parts in a timely manner, including a new front wing. Thanks, also, to George Dean race engines, Bill Smith, Mike Sauce, for a good piece of advice at the Runoffs, and Berlousche Engineering, my sponsor. Also, how could I forget the master and genius Archie Hodges - thanks for the encouragement and help Archie! Finally thanks to the SCCA, and all the corner workers and other volunteers, who put on a great series and memorable Runoffs.”

JR Smart, of Madison, Wisconsin, finished at the top of the championship heap in the Mid-States Conference Formula Atlantic fight. Smart got there off the strength of six race finishes, all of which were on the second step of the podium. Smart is a long-time racer with many accolades to his credit, but Smart said this most recent accomplishment really meant something.

“It’s a pretty big deal,” Smart said. “Kudos to SCCA for developing the format.”

The season may have seemed like an easy one, but Smart and his team needed to overcome some early-season gremlins.

“We experienced some challenges with the car during January, in Florida, this season,” Smart said. “But, we were able to rebound nicely as the year progressed.”

Smart made sure to thank some important folks for their help in his races at Blackhawk Farms Majors, the June Sprints and Cat Nationals.

“A huge shout out to the Pabst Racing Services crew!” Smart said. “Augie and the boys are the best in the business! Also a special thanks to SCCA, Elite Engines, Hoosier Tires and the tireless efforts of all of the workers, no matter the specialty. We couldn’t do this without you!”

Richard Stephens, of Bixby, Oklahoma, took home the Spec Racer Ford Gen3 Mid-States Conference championship by finishing the season with six straight podium finishes, including double wins at Hallett Motor Racing Circuit. Based on the competition in the class, Stephens said he was very pleased with the result.

“I really like the new Majors Championship format,” Stephens said. “It brings in more competitors for larger fields and better racing. In the past, I have run several other classes in SCCA and I ended up back in Spec Racer Ford because of the depth of the fields. Winning the championship in one of the largest classes makes me very proud of my accomplishments this year.”

While Stephens was on top of his game during the final six races of the season, the new Gen3 chassis did take some getting used to.

“The new generation 3 engine package has really made this car fun,” Stephens said. “Early in the season, I was struggling a little with getting the car to feel the way that I liked. Once we nailed the setup, we only made minor tweaks to the car the rest of the year.”

The turning point for Stephens came during the doubleheader at Hallett. Conditions for these races were not ideal, but Stephens made the most of it, cashing in big time.

“My big turning point this season was after winning a rain race [at Hallett],” Stephens said. “I really started believing in myself and really knowing that I had the speed. I was honored to finally start beating the guys that I have seen at the front of the field for years.”

Racing commands many resources. As such, Stephens made a point to thank some folks without whom he could not have captured the year-long title.

“The biggest factor that lead to my success this year was my prep shop, Dalrymple Racing Services, and my team drivers,” Stephens said. “Tom Dalrymple has been around SRFs a long time and really understands how to set the cars up. The other racers with Dalrymple are excellent drivers, and we all support each other. We all share data and video and discuss lines and race strategy.

“Last, but not least, I couldn't do this without the support of my wife and kids. Thanks everyone for a great season!”