Monterey, Calif. (July 10, 2013)
Sports Car Club of America, Inc. today announced the locations of the next three SCCA® National Championship Runoffs®, including a long-awaited trip to the west coast and return appearances to two historic venues. National Champions will be crowned at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in 2014, Daytona International Speedway in 2015 and Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in 2016.
The return to the west coast and Monterey’s Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca comes 50 years after the inaugural event at Riverside in 1964. The event alternated between Riverside and Daytona for six years. Once again, Daytona will follow a west coast event. Mid-Ohio was the Runoffs host from 1994-2005.
“Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Daytona, and Mid-Ohio are three of the premier race tracks in the country, if not the world,” SCCA President & CEO Jeff Dahnert said. “Each is a true test of our racers and all have unique qualities to help us crown our National Champions.”
The annual rotation, a break from recent tradition, came from lengthy discussion among members of the SCCA Board of Directors – as did the trip to the west coast.
“The future of the Runoffs has been a topic of discussion amongst the SCCA Board of Directors and the National Staff for well over a year,” Dahnert said. “We had two goals for the event moving forward – to move the event around the country geographically, and to continue to visit the country’s top tracks. We’ve accomplished both.”
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca becomes just the seventh track to host the Runoffs in the event’s 50-year history, and marks the first time a National Champion will be crowned west of the Rocky Mountains since 1968 at Riverside International Raceway, in Riverside, Calif.
"The SCCA Runoffs embodies the true essence of sports car racing," Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca CEO & General Manager Gill Campbell said. "This is a great platform for amateur road racers and we are proud to be a part of the crowning of a National Champion."
The road course at Daytona International Speedway is the home to the Rolex 24 at Daytona, and hosted the Runoffs previously in 1965, 1967 and 1969. The Runoffs will utilize the 12-turn, 3.56-mile infield and oval circuit that will show off both the handling and horsepower of many Club Racing machines.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve been able to crown SCCA National Champions at Daytona, and we’re looking forward to welcoming back the best amateur road racers in the country,” Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III said. “The mix of sports car and open-wheel classes from the SCCA will make for a unique and exciting event.”
Of the three venues, Mid-Ohio has the most recent Runoffs records. With 12 previous engagements, only Road Atlanta, with 24, has seen the Runoffs more.
“It's great to have the SCCA Runoffs back at Mid-Ohio as amateur racing helped build the history of this track,” Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course President Craig Rust said. “Over the past few years many of our fans have asked about the Runoffs returning so we know they will be excited to welcome them back in 2016.”
Dates have yet to be confirmed for the 2014 SCCA National Championship Runoffs or beyond. The 50th Runoffs will be held September 16-22, 2013 at Road America for the fifth consecutive year.
The 2014 event will hold special synergy, as Mazda serves as both the track’s title sponsor and the official car of the SCCA.
“Club Racing is the heart and soul of Mazda Motorsports,” Mazda Motorsports Director John Doonan said. “We are proud to help bring the biggest club racing event in the country to our home track for 2014. We’re thrilled that the SCCA will begin its second 50 years of Runoffs history at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.”
The SCCA National Championship Runoffs has crowned Club Racing National Champions in a winner-take-all, single race format since 1964. Through 24 separate races over three days, the 2013 edition will crown champions in 28 Runoffs-eligible classes.
Founded in 1944, Sports Car Club of America, Inc. is a 60,000-member motorsports organization that incorporates all facets of autocross, rally and road racing at both amateur and professional levels. It annually sanctions more than 2,000 events through its 115 regions and professional subsidiary. Landmark events and series for the Club include the SafeRacer SCCA National Racing Series, which includes the U.S. Majors Tour and BFGoodrich Tires SCCA Super Tour; the Club Racing National Championship Runoffs® at Road America; and The Tire Rack® SCCA Solo National Championships and ProSolo Championship at Lincoln, Neb. and the annual SCCA National Convention and Hall of Fame Induction. For more information, please visit www.scca.com, like SCCA on Facebook, or follow the club on Twitter @SCCAOfficial.
