2010 Road America

2010 was the 47th edition of The Runoffs. Since 2009, the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) determined its National Amateur Class Champions with a thirteen-lap shootout at Road America. The SCCA’s contract with Road America would end in 2013. Starting the following year, The Runoffs would change venues on an annual basis. The plan was to alternate between the East and West coast tracks. The 2014 edition would be conducted at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, followed by Daytona International Speedway, the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The 55th running of the event will be held at Sonoma Raceway.

There were twenty-eight-classes competing at Road America for the National Championship. The twenty-eight race groups fall into one of nine different categories:

Production Category – There are three classes in the production category – E Production (EP), F Production (FP) and H Production (HP). These production-based vehicles are grouped according to their performance potential. Sports cars such as the Mazda Miata, Mazda RX-7, Mazda RX-8, Nissan 240Z, MG Midget, etc. are most often associated with this category. However, the rules also accommodate sedans such as the Honda Prelude, Datsun 510, Toyota Yaris, etc.
Grand Touring Category – Four classes are identified as Grand Touring – they include Grand Touring 1 (GT1), Grand Touring 2 (GT2), Grand Touring 3 (GT3) and Grand Touring-Lite (GTL). These vehicles are also grouped according to their performance potential. The quickest class, GT1, features cars such as the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Corvette while at the other end of the spectrum, GT-Lite includes the Mini Cooper and Honda Civic. These vehicles are allowed a more significant number of modifications than the production category. For example, they may be constructed with a tube-frame chassis.
Showroom Stock Category - Late model production vehicles compete in the Showroom Stock category. Similar to the other groups, these cars are classified based on their performance potential. The only modifications allowed are - a roll cage and safety equipment.
Touring Category – Three Touring categories, Touring 1 (T1), Touring 2 (T2) and Touring 3 (T3) was created by the SCCA to accommodate performance street cars with a minimum amount of modifications required to compete. Touring 1 includes the high powered and expensive vehicles such as the Chevrolet Corvette, Dodge Viper, Porsche 911, etc.
Super Touring Category – The Super Touring Category allows competitors to make modifications (the addition of wings, engine swaps, etc.) to late-model production vehicles such as the Mazda 6, Acura RSX, Honda Civic, Mazda Miata, etc. There are two classes – in this category: Super Touring Under (STU) and Super Touring Over (STO).
Sedan Category – There is only one group in the sedan category – American Sedan (AS). American Sedan includes the Chevrolet Camaro, Pontiac Firebird, Pontiac GTO, Ford Mustang and Cadillac CTS-V. Powered by a Ford 302-cu.in. or GM 305-cu.in. engine these cars are permitted to use modified suspensions and upgraded brake packages.
Spec Miata – This very popular class is for the Mazda Miata (SM). Miatas produced from 1990 to 2005 compete in this group. Rules are implemented to equalize the competitive advantage of some of the later model years.
Sports Racer Category – These are purpose-built closed wheel race cars. There are four classes within this group – C Sports Racer (CSR), D Sports Racer (DSR), Sports 2000 (S2) and Spec Racer Ford (SRF). S2, C and DSR include a variety of chassis’ that may be constructed by the competitor or a race car manufacturer. With the exception of Sports 2000, which must use a 2.0-liter Ford engine, there is also a wide range of engine options used by the teams. SRF is a spec class and teams are not allowed to make any modifications to the car.
Formula Category – These are also purpose-built race cars. This is the largest category and includes nine classes – Formula Atlantic (FA), Formula Continental (FC), Formula Mazda (FM), Formula Enterprise (FE), Formula 1000 (FB), Formula 500 (F5), Formula F (FF) and Formula Vee (FV). There are a variety of rules that govern these open-wheel cars.

This year’s event took place during the third week of September under mostly dry but cool conditions.

Competitors would complete in a thirteen-lap race around the fourteen-turn 4.048-mile road course at Road America to determine this year’s National Champions.

Seventeen American Sedan drivers charge into Road America’s turn-five for their National Championship race. The class’s defending title holder and pole-sitter, Tom Sloe, leads the group in the No. 1 Hoosier / Russell Automotive Ford Mustang. To Sloe’s left is the No. 24 WeatherTech Ford Mustang of four-time category champion Andy McDermid. Immediately behind the leaders is the Camaro of Eric Curran.

At last year’s Runoffs, Andy McDermid was the first American Sedan competitor to cross the finish. Unfortunately, the No. 24 Ford Mustang failed the post-race technical inspection and he was disqualified. This season, McDermid qualified on the outside of the front row. He passed the pole-sitter, Tom Sloe, on the opening and went flag-to-flag for the victory. McDermid won his fifth title by a margin of 14.966-seconds.

The 2012 SCCA Runoffs at Road America kicked off with a combined group of Touring 3 (T3) and Super Touring Under (STU) competitors. Sage Marie started on the T3 pole, but the fourth-place start was Kevin Fandozzi, who led the first seven-laps. On the eighth circuit, Fandozzi was passed by the No. 07 Honda S2000 of the second fastest qualifier, Chad Gillsinger. Gillsinger would stretch his lead and capture his first crown.

2010 marked the debut of Super Touring Under as a National class. The category was implemented to accommodate Improved Touring cars and vehicles that previously competed in the World Challenge and MX-5 series. Qualifying on the pole was the No. 81 Realtime Racing Acura TSX of Richard Cullen. Cullen would grab the gold medal, but only after sharing the race lead with the Audi A4 of Joel Weinberger.

Formula 500 provided spectators with an exciting race. The pole-sitter, Jason Knutson, led lap-1. On the following circuit, the No. 00 CTL Engineering Invader QC1 of Patrick Gallagher grabbed the lead. However, two laps later, Gallagher was passed by the No. 24 Red Devil of the third-place starter, Michael Mueller. Mueller held the top spot for just one circuit before Gallagher was back in first place. He held onto the position for the title.

Like the 2010 Formula 500 champion, Patrick Gallagher, Michael Mueller was competing in his second National Championship race. Mueller drove the No. 24 MJ Manufacturing Red Devil and qualified third fastest. He and Gallagher passed the pole-sitter, Jason Knutson, early in the contest. The pair traded the lead before Gallagher secured first place. Mueller finished second by a margin of 0.164-seconds.

Road America 2010 was Peter Shadowen’s fifth attempt at winning the Grand Touring Lites National Championship. His chances looked good after securing the pole in the No. 72 Road n Race / Goodyear Honda CRX. However, a strong challenge came from five-time champion James Dentici. The two drivers exchanged the top spot until lap-8, when Shadowen held down the position and won by a margin of 0.211-seconds.

As expected, there was a large and competitive field of Spec Miata entrants. Early in the event, the proceedings were dominated by the pole-winning No. 44 Mazda Miata of Steve Gorriaran and the second-place starter, Tony Coello. However, the title would be decided between Gorriaran and the fourth-fastest qualifier, Andrew Charbonneau, driving the No. 67 Miata. Charbonneau would take the lead on lap-9 and win.

Steve Gorriaran was competing in his seventh National Championship race and was last year’s Spec Miata gold medal winner. Gorriaran put the No. 44 Mazda Miata on the pole. Initially, he battled with the second-fastest qualifier, Tony Coello. However, the title would be decided between Gorriaran and fourth-place starter Andrew Charbonneau. Gorriaran would lose the top spot and finish second by 1.231-seconds.

Jon Brakke started his first Runoffs in 1983, driving a Chevrolet Corvair Yenko Stinger in the D Production class. In 2001, Brakke replaced the Yenko Stinger with the No. 89 Mazda Miata and joined the E Production group. He has since captured two National Championships. This season the reigning title holder qualified on the pole and battled with the Nissan 240Z of Greg Ira before earning another gold medal.

Lawrence Loshak won his first National title in 2006, driving an E Production Honda Prelude. Last season he switched to the D Sports Racing category in the No. 02 Suzuki-powered Stohr Wf1 and finished third at the Runoffs. This year, Loshak qualified on the outside of the front row. However, he moved into the lead on lap-1 with an outside pass in the first corner. Loshak went unchallenged for the remainder of the contest.

Central Florida region member Mark McCaughey qualified on the outside of the front row for the Showroom Stock C National Championship race. His best results to date were sixth-place finishes in the last three years. The driver of the No. 24 Hoosier Tire-sponsored Toyota Celica GTS passed the pole-sitter, Joel Lipperini, on the second circuit. Despite pressure from Lipperini, McCaughey held the lead to the checker.

The start of the Formula F race was exciting, but it ended with very little drama. After the pole-sitter, Reid Hazelton went off-course on the first lap, the leading title contenders were Timothy Kautz and Jeremy Treadway. Treadway, who started fourth in the No. 12 Stoneridge Swift DB6, led the first six circuits. But once the third fast qualifier, Kautz in the No. 88 Piper, moved to the front, there was no stopping him.

Leading the field of twenty-four Touring 2 competitors into Road America’s corner five is the second fastest qualifier, Marty Grand. The pole-sitter, Andy Wolverton, was passed by Grand and Jason Ott on the opening lap. Grand was in first-place until the No. 4 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution developed a brake issue that allowed Ott to grab the top spot. But Grand moved back out front on lap-8 and won his first National Championship.

The Formula Enterprises (FE) category was introduced by the SCCA in 2002 and reached National status in 2008. The cars are a Van Diemen DP06 powered by a four-cylinder 2.0-liter Mazda MZR engine. This year’s Runoffs attracted sixteen competitors. Qualifying on the pole was Scott Rettich in the No. 17 Van Diemen DP06. Rettich lost the lead to Matthew Mair on lap-2 but retook the position for his first gold medal.

From 2001 to 2008, Formula Atlantic driver David Wilcox competed in a dated Swift DB4 and, although the age of the vehicle, collected a couple of podium results at Runoffs. At this year’s National Championship, he was driving the No. 70 Swan Racing Swift 014.a, which Mirl Swan used to win last season’s title. Wilcox qualified on the outside of the front row but passed the race leader, Keith Grant, on the final lap for the crown.

The Formula B category was combined with the Formula Atlantic class. Formula B drew twelve entries; the quickest among them was veteran Tom Schwietz, who started on the pole. Next to Schwietz was former Formula Ford competitor Brandon Dixon. Dixon drove the No. 7 Citation Engineering Citation F1000. He grabbed the lead on the opening lap and maintained a pace that allowed him to earn his first National Championship.

In a competitive class like Showroom Stock B, you wouldn’t expect the winner to come from the fifth starting position, but it happened. Ed Zabinski qualified fifth fastest in the No. 97 Dead Horse Racing Ford Mustang. Zabinski advanced to fourth on lap-2 and made steady progress during the contest. On the seventh circuit, he was in third-place but passed the leaders in turn two for the top spot and gold medal.

The opening lap for the 2010 H Production National Championship race at Road America. The pole-sitter, Steve Sargis, leads the field into corner eight in the No. 18 SBS Batteries / Goodyear Tire Triumph Spitfire. Behind Sargis is the other front-row starter Michael Moser driving the No. 64 ETE Reman / Core Honda CRX. Chasing the fastest qualifiers are the Honda of Greg Gauper and Dan Meller in a Datsun 510.

With thirteen Runoff podium finishes on his racing resume, of which four are victories, it is always difficult to bet against Steve Sargis, mainly when the event is being held on his home track. As expected, Sargis put the No. 18 SBS Batteries / Goodyear Tire Triumph on the H Production pole. He would go unchallenged and win his fifth National Championship by a margin of 40.197-seconds.

Two heavy hitters were on the front row for the GT1 contest. On the pole was the reigning class champion, Cliff Ebben, in the No. 36 Lamers Racing Ford Mustang. Starting beside Ebben was the No. 12 Goodyear / Redline Jaguar XKR driven by Michael Lewis, who had four gold medals in his collection. Lewis grabbed the lead on lap-1 and despite pressure from Ebben, he went flag-to-flag for his fifth title.

This season’s C Sports Racing category has been dominated by Steve Forrer and Jacek Mucha. It seemed appropriate that these two drivers would start on the front row at Road America. Forrer was driving the No. 84 Hoosier Tire-sponsored Ralt RT41 that qualified on the pole. However, Mucha led the first two laps before being passed by Forrer. Forrer was in first place for the remainder of the contest and won his third crown.

The Sports 2000 and C Sports Racing classes were combined into a single race group. The Sports 2000 category boasted three title contenders – the father and son team of John and Corey Fergus driving a pair of Carbir CS2 and the No. 17 JRE SR71F of Matt Direnzo. Direnzo qualified second, splitting the Fergus duo. He dropped to third-place early in the race but grabbed the lead on lap-8 and was first to the checkered flag.

The Touring 1 contest was expected to be a title battle between the pole-winning No. 55 Level 5 Motorsports Ferrari 430 Challenge of Scott Tucker and eleven-time National Champion John Heinricy driving the No. 35 Phoenix Performance Chevrolet Corvette C6. However, Heinricy’s Corvette suffered a driveline failure on the starting line, which left the path clear for Tucker to win his second national title.

Only five Super Touring Over competitors were registered to compete in the National Championships. The class was combined with Touring 1. Qualifying on the pole was David Pintaric in the No. 40 Hoosier Dodge Viper. However, the third-place starter, Joe Koenig, led the first six laps. But the contest was shortened to seven laps by a major accident in Touring 1. On the final circuit, Pintaric made a pass for the gold medal.

Formula Vee is always a crowd-pleaser and the field of thirty-six starters would not disappoint. The lead of the race would change four times between three drivers. The pole-sitter, Michael Varacins, two-time class champion, Roger Siebenaler and third-place starter Rick Shields would all take turns at the top of the lap chart. On the final lap, Shields in the No. 17 VDF VDF-2 won the drag race to the finish line.

James Goughary has three National GT2 Championships to his credit and added fourth on Sunday at Road America. Goughary started the thirteen-lap contest on the outside of the front in the No. 46 Redline Oil / Hoosier Tire Nissan 350Z. But the pole-sitter, Mark Boden, led the first ten circuits. In corner six, Boden spun off that fateful lap allowing Goughary to grab the lead and victory.

A field of eighteen Formula Mazda competitors took the green flag for the start of their National Championship contest. The four fastest qualifiers were within one second. A significant accident shorted the race to just nine laps. During the event, there were two different leaders. Juan Marchand received the checker first; however, his car failed the post-race technical inspection giving the win to Darryl Wills.

A field of twenty-five F Production competitors head to Road America’s turn three during their National Championship race. The pole-sitter, Steve Sargis, leads the pack in the No. 18 SBS Batteries / Goodyear Tire Triumph Spitfire 1500. Behind Sargis is the No. 73 Engineered Performance Acura Integra of third fastest qualifier Kevin Ruck. Chasing the leaders are the Mazda Miata of Eric Prill, Rick Harris and Brian Linn.

Recently crowned H Production champion Steve Sargis qualified on the F Production pole and was looking for his second gold medal of the weekend. Sargis was looking good until lap-8 when the No. 18 Triumph Spitfire 1500 retired with a mechanical issue. Waiting in the wings was the No. 73 Engineered Performance Acura Integra of Kevin Ruck. Ruck maintained the lead and won by a margin of 0.930-seconds.

Twelve of this year’s National Champions qualified on the outside of the front row and the Formula Continental category would follow this trend by bringing to total to thirteen. As expected, the four-time class champion, Niki Coello, qualified on the pole. However, the second-place starter, Brian Tomasi, driving the No. 96 Hoosier Tires Van Diemen RF08, would battle with Revere Greist and capture the title.

Despite poor participation during the season, eighteen GT3 drivers competed at this year’s Runoffs. Qualifying on the pole was Mike Henderson, who led for the first six laps before he had contact with a slower car. The second fastest qualifier, Michael Cyphert, moved into the top spot when Henderson pitted. On the eleven circuit, the third-place starter, Robert Warkocki, in the No. 78 Mazda RX-7, grabbed the lead and victory.

CLASS	GOLD	SILVER	BRONZE
GT1	Michael Lewis / Jaguar XKR	Cliff Ebben / Mustang	Amy Ruman / Corvette
GT2	Jim Goughary / Nissan 350Z	Mark Boden / Porsche 996	David Cormier / Porsche 996
GT3	Robert Warkocki / Mazda RX-7	Mike Henderson / Mazda RX-7	Michael Cyphert / Toyota
GTL	Peter Shadowen / Honda CRX	Jim Dentici / Honda CRX	Kent Prather / Mazda Miata
E Production	Jon Brakke / Mazda Miata	Greg Ira / Nissan 240Z	Aaron Downey / Mazda RX-3
F Production	Kevin Ruck / Acura Integra	Rick Harris / Mazda Miata	Bill Wessel / Datsun SPL 311
H Production	Steve Sargis / Triumph	Mike Moser / Honda CRX	Chris Albin / VW GTI
Formula Atlantic	David Wilcox / Swift 014.a	Keith Grant / Swift 014.a	Michael Mallinen / Swift 014.a
Formula 1000	Brandon Dixon / Citation	Thomas Schwietz / Citation	Niki Coello / RFR009
Formula Continental	Brian Tomasi / Van Diemen	Revere Greist / Van Diemen	Nicholas Coello / Firman RFR
Formula E	Scott Rettich / Van Diemen	Matthew Mair / Van Diemen	Patrick Gallagher / Van Diemen
Formula Mazda	Darryl Wills / Formula Mazda	Mike Anderson / Formula Mazda	Jason Vinkemulder / Formula Mazda
Formula F	Tim Kautz / Piper DF3D	Jeremy Treadway / Swift DB6	Scott Rubenzer / Citation 95FF
Formula 500	Patrick Gallagher / Invader QC1	Michael Mueller / Red Devil	David Lapham / Invader QC1
Formula Vee	Rick Shields / VDF VDF-2	Roger Siebenaler / Mysterian M2	Brandon Peterson / Vortech 09
C Sports Racer	Steve Forrer / Ralt RT-41	Dudley Fleck / Elan DP02	James French / Swift 014.a
D Sports Racer	Lawrence Loshak / Stohr WF1	Chris Farrell / Stohr WF1	Michael Scully / Stohr WF-1
Sports 2000	Matthew Direnzo / JRE SR71F	Corey Fergus / Carbir CS2	John Fergus / Carbir CS2
Spec Racer Ford	Brian Schofield / SRF	Scott Rettich / Spec Racer	Mike Miserendino / SRF
American Sedan	Andy McDermid / Ford Mustang	Jeffrey Werth / Camaro	Michael Lavigne / Ford Mustang
Spec Miata	Andrew Charbonneau / Miata	Steve Gorriaran / Mazda Miata	Tony Coello / Mazda Miata
Showroom Stock B	Edward Zabinski / Ford Mustang	Lee Niffenegger / Honda Civic	Toby Grahovec / BMW Z4
Showroom Stock C	Mark McCaughey / Toyota Celica	Joel Lipperini / Acura Integra	Charlie James / Hyundai Tiburon
Super Touring Over	David Pintaric / Dodge Viper	Joe Koenig / BMW M3	Jerry Onks / Corvette
Super Touring Under	Richard Cullen / Acura TSX	Joel Weinberger / Audi A4	Phil Parlato / BMW 325i
Touring 1	Scott Tucker / Ferrari 430	John Buttermore / Dodge Viper	Chris Ingle / Corvette
Touring 2	Marty Grand / Mitsubishi	Cooper MacNeil / BMW M3	Mark Boden / BMW M3
Touring 3	Chad Gilsinger / Honda S2000	Kevin Fandozzi / Cobalt SS	Sage Marie / Honda S2000

Copyright Notice:

All content (photographs and text) appearing on this website are the exclusive property of © www.zoompics.com and are protected under International copyright laws. The subject matter on this website may not be reproduced, copied, stored or manipulated.