SONOMA, Calif. (Oct. 18, 2018) -- From the Runoffs to the Hoosier Racing Tire Super Tour, U.S. Majors Tour to regional weekends, SCCA road racing events are made possible thanks to the tremendous effort of SCCA workers.  And each year a handful of workers are recognized for their enormous contribution.  Those individuals are bestowed with Worker of the Year honors, presented by Mazda.​

“More than 200 road racing events, both national and regional, are conducted by the SCCA each year across the United States,” said Michael Cobb, SCCA President & CEO. “Such a Herculean task simply couldn’t be achieved without the thousands of incredibly helpful and highly-skilled volunteers who are part of this Club. Worker of the Year awards recognize a handful of these dedicated volunteers. To the winners and everyone who helped pull off SCCA events in 2018, I wholeheartedly say ‘thank you’ for your passion and participation.”

Award recipients have shown dedication throughout the season to their Specialty, events, Region, competitors, fellow workers and the SCCA; exhibited strong skills, good leadership, and a willingness to go above and beyond what is expected; and provide excellent customer service to everyone encountered.  SCCA members submitted Worker of the Year nominations, and winners were then selected by the SCCA National staff with input from Division leadership.

The Flagging & Communications Worker of the Year is Bonnie Aarseth of the Oregon Region. Professional, calm, heart of a teacher, sweet, funny and friendly are just some of the words used to describe her.  A longtime Club member, she has trained many new workers across the country and continues to provide mentorship and counsel.

Two members of SCCA’s Chicago Region, Bev Heilicher and John Sutton, were honored with Worker of the Year awards. Heilicher was named Steward Worker of the Year because she travels extensively to work events hosted by different regions in different divisions.  This allows her to not only share her knowledge and experience but also learn new ways of doing things.  She has been the Chief Steward of many events, including the June Sprints.  She has been the face of the Competitor Services Center at the Runoffs for years and is always the first to arrive to make sure the Stewards’ offices are prepared for the event.  She is one of the most committed SCCA members, works tirelessly behind the scenes and strives for excellence in event execution.
Meanwhile, Sutton was honored as Starter Worker of the Year as he has recruited a large group of starters over the years and provided on-the-job training. He is a leader and mentor, committed to providing encouragement to all and exemplifies the SCCA standard of excellence.

Lee Stanley, of the Buccaneer Region, is the Grid/Pit Worker of the Year. He serves as the Divisional Administrator for Pit & Grid in the Southeast Division and has been the Chief of Pit Lane for the Runoffs since 2015.  For Stanley, a weekend at the race track is an escape from regular life and allows him to just focus on what’s in front of him.  He enjoys the face-to-face interaction with drivers and teams and his fellow workers, and has certainly been a valued member of the Club.

Sharon West, of Land O’ Lakes Region, earned the Registration Worker of the Year award. An SCCA member for over 35 years, she worked her way to a National license in 2012 and has since served as Chief for many events in the Central Division.  Her willingness to learn and seek out new information has made her an invaluable asset to the specialty.

Timing & Scoring Worker of the Year went to Carol Reber of the Washington D.C. Region. Not only does she work tirelessly for T&S, but she also provides help and support to many other specialties and competitors.   For years, Reber has been a regular member of the Runoffs T&S Team and thoroughly plans and prepares months leading up to the event.  Last year, on her own, she stepped up to assist the Hoosier Racing Tire SCCA Super Tour, traveling to events across the country. She is generous, kind, funny and an important part of SCCA.

Scrutineer Worker of the Year was received by Ann Bowling of the Arkansas Region. She has traveled all over the country working in tech at regional races, Conference Majors and Hoosier Super Tour events. Bowling always greets everyone with a Member Services attitude, is eager to learn, help and do whatever the specialty needs to deliver great tech service.  Described as energetic and smart, she quickly adapts to new assignments and her technical versatility makes her an essential part of race weekends.

The Emergency Services Worker of the Year is Steven Hobbs of the Cal Club Region. A mechanic by trade, he cares for the Region’s emergency services fleet. He works every Region event, serves on the Region Board and spends his spare time recruiting new members.  He is quick to jump in and help, always has a positive attitude and supportive of everyone’s ideas. He has a can-do attitude and embodies SCCA’s new Welcoming Environment statement which supports the Club’s mission of fueling a safe, fun and exciting motorsports experience for automotive enthusiasts.
Race Administration Worker of the Year is Mark Senior of the North Carolina Region. Cool, calm and collected, he is a quiet, hard-working guy capable of adapting to handle any situation. He is efficient, easy to work with, has a great can-do attitude and is a great example of how to execute Race Administration duties.

SONOMA, California (October 20, 2018) – Lance Spiering, of Beaverton, Oregon, inherited the Formula 500 National Championship on Saturday evening after finishing second place on track when the first competitor to cross the finish line was found to have a non-compliant car in post-race technical inspection.

On the track, David Lapham kept his No. 2 Hoosier Novakar J10/Suzuki on the rear of Tire Rack polesitter Jeff Jorgenson’s No. 64 CTD Motorsports Novakar J10/Rotax in the opening laps, running nose to tail and catching the rear of the Formula F field in the combined-class race on lap six. Lapham took the lead at the start of lap seven and surrendered it back to Jorgenson in Turn 12 on lap nine.

That lead swapped two more times in the following lap, and the pair weaved through traffic together for the next four laps.

Lapham used the Formula F traffic to his advantage on lap 15, making the pass for the lead coming down the hill through Turn 11 and heading for the Turn 12 hairpin. The first-time champion timed the traffic perfectly, and it became the pass for the win when Jorgenson contacted a Formula F machine in the hairpin, prematurely ending his day.

Lapham crossed the finish line first, but his Suzuki motor was found to be out of compliance and was moved to the end of the time sheets.

Chasing the pair but never quite in range on the track was Spiering, who was well back of the lead duel but comfortably in front of anyone else to land his first career SCCA podium in the No. 29 Quadrini Racing Invader QC1/Rotax. That podium later became his first gold medal on the official results.

“It’s only my third podium, so it was enjoyable,” Spiering said. “I knew I wouldn’t have the pace to keep up with Jeff and Dave, and as soon as the tires came in those guys took off. There was no way I could keep up with them, so it was a matter of keeping it on track and putting my head down.”

Russell Strate earned his highest career Runoffs finish with a third-place on the track, which was elevated to second in the No. 9 Hoosier/Mitchell Racing Services Scorpion S1/Rotax, using an appropriate saying he learned 43 years ago from SCCA Hall of Famer Bob Bondurant.

“I have to admit, I kind of blew my start,” Strate said. “David, Jeff and Lance got away and my race was trying to keep up with them. It was ‘SCCA’ – smooth, consistent, concentrate and alert. That’s what got me to here.”

Jack Walbran was elevated to third place in the No. 67 Mitchell Racing Services Scorpion S1/Rotax, his first Runoffs podium in 25 starts.

The 55th SCCA® National Championship Runoffs®, the Pinnacle of American Motorsports, crowns Sports Car Club of America’s Road Racing National Champions this year at Sonoma Raceway in California Friday, Oct. 19 through Sunday, Oct 21.

Live, online video coverage of Runoffs races, presented by Mazda, is available throughout the three days of competition at SCCA.com/live. An audio race call, supplied by the Super Tour Radio broadcast team, is also available at www.SCCA.com/live , as well as live timing and scoring for each National Championship race.

1, (3), Lance Spiering, Beaverton, OR, Quadrini Racing Invader QC1 Rotax, 19.
2, (4), F Russell Strate Jr., Alden, NY, Scorpion S1 Rotax, 19.
3, (5), John W Walbran, Saint Louis, MO, Scorpion S1 Rotax, 18.
4, (1), Jeff Jorgenson, San Francisco, CA, Novakar J10 Rotax, 15.
5, (2), David Lapham, Irvington, NY, Novakar J10 Suzuki, 20.

Length of Race: 50 Miles
Overall Time of Race: 34:40.682 (avg. 82.842 mph)
Margin of Victory: 1 lap
Fastest Race Lap: 1:42.491 (88.515 mph)
Lap Leaders: #64 laps 1-5, 9, 11-14; #2 laps 6-8, 10, 15-20
Sunoco Hard Charger: #29 Lance Spiering

SONOMA, California (October 21, 2018) – Collin Jackson led every lap of the GT-3 race to take home his fifth national championship at the 55th SCCA® National Championship Runoffs® at Sonoma Raceway in California.

Jackson, of Langley, British Columbia, started second in the No. 53 Specialty Engineering/Goodyear Nissan 240-SX, qualifying just 0.135 seconds behind Michael Lewis. What shaped up to be a close competition between two very familiar and experienced adversaries didn’t disappoint. Jackson wasted no time getting to the front by passing polesitter Lewis in Turn 2 on the first lap. In doing so, he also earned the Sunoco Hard Charger award.

“We were good in different areas. I was really good going down the hill, but Lewis was really good in the brake zones,” explains Jackson. My car was set up on the edge and it was hard keeping it on the bubble.”

Jackson led the whole race, but it wasn’t an easy victory. Lewis hounded him for the entirety of the contest, at times just a car length or two behind. Jackson responded when challenged, gapping Lewis seemingly at will. Tires were going off by the last lap when Jackson broke traction under power, giving Lewis an opportunity. Lewis pushed Jackson hard all the way to the checkered flag, finishing just 0.052 seconds behind in a photo finish.

“I knew that it was a good car and that we’d be strong, but I hadn’t driven one for about 20 years,” said Lewis. “I took a guess at what was the best thing to do and it turns out I probably left a little too much at the end.”

After a DNF in GT-Lite, Taz Harvey and his No. 88 Dublin Mazda/Hoosier Mazda RX-7 took home third in a redemption race. He was unable to match the pace of Jackson and Lewis, but drove a clean race unchallenged from behind while fourth place was contested throughout most of the race.

Gary Bockman crossed the finish in fourth in the No. 09 Bockman & Son Mazda RX-3. Fifth place went to Jose Rodriguez in the No. 59 Mountain View Vacation Rental P R Mazda RX-7.

The 55th SCCA® National Championship Runoffs®, the Pinnacle of American Motorsports, crowns Sports Car Club of America’s Road Racing National Champions this year at Sonoma Raceway in California Friday, Oct. 19 through Sunday, Oct 21.
Live, online video coverage of Runoffs races, presented by Mazda, is available throughout the three days of competition at SCCA.com/live. An audio race call, supplied by the Super Tour Radio broadcast team, is also available at www.SCCA.com/live , as well as live timing and scoring for each National Championship race.

SONOMA, Calif. -- Provisional results for Sunday’s GT-3 race at the 55th SCCA National Championship Runoffs from Sonoma Raceway, with finish position, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car and laps completed.
1, (2), Collin Jackson, Langley, BC, Nissan 240-SX, 20.
2, (1), Michael Lewis, Poway, CA, Mazda RX-7, 20.
3, (3), Taz Harvey, Danville, CA, Mazda RX-7, 20.
4, (5), Gary Bockman, Camas, WA, Mazda RX-3, 20.
5, (4), Jose Rodriguez, San Leandro, CA, Mazda RX-7, 20.
6, (10), Doug Sherwood, Longmont, CO, Mazda RX-7, 19.
7, (8), Guy Laidig, Woodside, CA, Mazda RX-7, 14.
8, (7), Larry Hansen, Redding, CA, Nissan 350Z, 13.
9, (6), Jeff Scoville, Corvallis, OR, Nissan 240-SX, 0.
DNS, (9), Michael Heintzman, San Jose, CA, Mazda Miata,  .

Length of Race: 50 Miles
Overall Time of Race: 34:50.605 (avg. 86.788 mph)
Margin of Victory: 00.052 seconds
Fastest Race Lap: 1:42.634 (88.392 mph)
Lap Leaders: #53 laps 1-20
Sunoco Hard Charger: #53 Collin Jackson

SONOMA, California (October 21, 2018) – Mirl Swan from Brownsburg, Indiana, took the lead on the start, held off the field on two restarts and drove his No. 66 Swan Motorsports/Hoosier Swift 016a Mazda to the Formula Atlantic (FA) win – his third SCCA® National Championship Runoffs® victory.

“I focused on getting a really good start, and it was a really good start,” Swan said about the lead he built up before a full-course yellow brought the field back to his mirrors.

Swan had engine trouble early in the week and it looked like the racing gods might be conspiring against him each time the full course yellow came out, but the eventual winner wasn’t upset at all.

“I was actually really happy because this was the most physically demanding racetrack I’ve ever raced on,” Swan said. “I could use the break.”

Antony Opheim, driving the No. 31 Ralt RT41 Toyota finished second, but not after a hard-fought battle with Graham Rankin which saw the pair swap second place a few times.

“I could get underneath him, but he would pull on me,” Opheim said. “I was able to tuck under him into (Turn) 10 and it was a drag race. I’m glad both of our brakes stuck because that could have been ugly for both of us.”

Opheim would stay ahead of Rankin’s No. 21 G+C Swift 014a for the rest of the race.

“Graham showed me around the track a few months ago,” Opheim said. “Maybe he’s regretting it now.”

Rankin started in the sixth spot and earned the Sunoco Hard Charger Award for his run to the podium.

“We didn’t get the best qualifying this week but managed to get going and pick people off, Rankin said, “We kept it clean and had a lot of fun today.”

Dwight rider, in the No. 10 Ralt RT41 Toyota, finished fourth, and Paul Ravaris, driving the No. 5 Madhatter Golf/CR3 Capital Elan Pro Formula Mazda, came home in fifth.

The 55th SCCA® National Championship Runoffs®, the Pinnacle of American Motorsports, crowns Sports Car Club of America’s Road Racing National Champions this year at Sonoma Raceway in California Friday, Oct. 19 through Sunday, Oct 21.

1, (1), Mirl Swan, Brownsburg, IN, Swift 016a Mazda, 20.
2, (3), Antony Opheim, Garfield, WA, Ralt RT41 Toyota, 20.
3, (6), Graham Rankin, Livermore, CA, Swift 014a Toyota, 20.
4, (7), Dwight Rider, Aurora, CO, Ralt RT41 Toyota, 20.
5, (5), Paul Ravaris, Aledo, TX, Elan Pro Formula Mazda, 20.
6, (4), Edd Ozard, Auburn, CA, Swift DB4 Toyota, 12.
7, (2), Spencer Brockman, Westport, CT, Swift 014a Mazda, 5.

SONOMA, California (October 19, 2018) – Troy Ermish, of Tracy, California, won from pole in the GT-Lite (GTL) class during the 55th SCCA® National Championship Runoffs® at Sonoma Raceway.

Joe Harlan, in the No. 80 Top Tech Motorsports/Nissan/Hoosier Nissan 240-SX, battled through a spin and late-race challenge from Jonathan Goodale to bring home his vessel in second place. Though Harlan has engineered for other drivers at Sonoma, he drove his first laps in June. He describes Sonoma as, “the hardest track I’ve ever driven. My game was to take it easy and keep my tires and brakes under me.”

In trying to pass Peter Zekert in Turn 4, Harlan realized he didn’t have the room needed. “Peter’s a really good friend and I really didn’t want to turn him around, so I spun the car.” Harlan managed to stay ahead of Jonathan Goodale without losing any positions and close the race out in second place after Zekert retired.
Jonathan Goodale didn’t make it easy for Harlan, challenging him for the remainder of the race. Goodale, piloting the No. 4 MazdaSpeed/Hoosier/Hawk/Summit Mazda MX-5, eventually finished half-a-second behind Harlan for third place, his second Runoffs podium. To get to Sonoma, Goodale battled through an entire summer of mechanical setbacks, most of which were resolved through the help of fellow competitors. “It’s been a comedy of errors, but that’s what this is. It’s you and your friends doing the best you can.”

SONOMA, Calif. (Oct. 20, 2018) -- A very competitive class, GT-2 did not disappoint Saturday during the SCCA® National Championship Runoffs® at Sonoma Raceway in California.  After 20 laps around the 12-turn, 2.52-mile circuit, Spencer Trenery reached the checkered flag before everyone else to claim his very first victory at the Runoffs on his birthday.

Trenery, of Berkeley, California, started the race on pole in his No. 5 Fantasy Junction Chevrolet Camaro.  Alongside him was multi-time Runoffs champion Andrew Aquilante in the No. 33 Phoenix/Hoosier/Hawk Ford Mustang.  Trenery, who has been running at Sonoma Raceway for more than 20 years, had a plan for the start before the race -- but things don’t always go as planned.

“He aced the start and drove it in super hard and deep into turn two,” Trenery said about Aquilante grabbing the lead early. “Rather than fight him, I just decided to get in behind.”

Trenery pressured Aquilante hard the first third of the race.  On lap seven, he was able to push through in Turn 11 to take the lead. Aquilante fell back and, on lap 13, pulled into the pits and retired from the race.

With Aquilante out, the runner-up battle got heated between Brad McAllister, in the No. 24 Periodontal Associates Ford Mustang, and Michael McAleenan, in the No. 2 Smith Alling/Lowe Group Racing BMW M3 racecar.  McAleenan was holding off a charging McAllister when he spun with only a couple laps remaining, handing the second-place finish to McAllister -- his first Runoffs podium.

“I made a couple attempts to get around Michael in traffic,” McAllister said. “It was going to be pretty tough to catch him.  But he spun in turn 11 and I was right there to capitalize. So, I got a little lucky on that one.”

The fight for third was equally exciting as Preston Calvert, in the No. 77 Calvert Dynamics/Phoenix Chevrolet Corvette, worked hard to hold off Mark Boden’s No. 46 Fall-Line Motorsports Porsche 997.1 GT3 Cup car.  It was tough, but Calvert succeeded.

“When Mark’s tires started to come in, he really started to pressure me,” Calvert said after the race. “I race with Mark a lot, and he’s a tremendous racecar driver. It’s very hard to keep him behind you.”

Boden secured the fourth finishing position, and Sean Wheeler, in the No. 6 TC Design Motorsports BMW M3, finished fifth. The Sunoco Hard Charger award went to Danny Malfatti in the No. 55 Malfatti Motor Sports Chevrolet Impala who started 21st and finished in 14th position.

SONOMA, Calif. (Oct. 21, 2018) -- Race drivers are trained to keep their eyes “up,” always looking ahead down the track. But Marshall Mast, of Narvon, Pennsylvania, admittedly spent nearly 75 percent of the Touring 3 (T3) race focused on rearview mirrors as he made his way to victory and his first Sports Car Club of America® National Championship during the 2018 Runoffs at Sonoma Raceway in California.

Mast, who is also a semi-truck driver for the Phoenix Performance race team, qualified on pole and moved to the lead Sunday morning in his No. 31 Phoenix/Hoosier/Hawk/Ford Ford Mustang GT.  Mark Drennan, in the No. 10 TFB Performance/WRR BMW SpecE46, fell in behind Mast, and the No. 1 Fiesta Auto Group/Hoosier/G-Loc Nissan 350Z of Derek Kulach secured third.

“I just gave it my all,” Mast said bout his 20-lap race on the 12-turn, 2.52-mile circuit.  “That was awesome.  That was crazy. It’s surreal right now.”

Drennan, who won the Runoffs Spec Miata race Saturday, claimed the runner-up T3 spot.

While Mast and Drennan were sorting out first and second, a great battle for the final T3 podium spot developed behind them. Kulach had been caught by Olivier Henrichot in the No. 77 Rhom Innovations/Hard Motorsports BMW SpecE46. But Henrichot faded and was passed by Eddie Nakato in the No. 28 AR Auto Service/Adrenaline Racing BMW SpecE46 racecar. He then got by Kulach as the two worked through traffic in the waning laps to earn his first-ever Runoffs podium appearance.

“It was a bit of a longshot for us. We knew we didn’t have the outright pace to be out front,” Nakato said. “The key was to stay clean and stay in the race, and it did pay off.”

Kulach was able to bring his car home in fourth, and Henrichot was fifth.

The Sunoco Hard Charger award went to William Hendrix, in the No. 101 Aponte Rios Racing Nissan 350Z, who started 14th and finished in the 10th position.

Oregon was well represented at this year’s Runoffs, with drivers in many classes and a strong contingent of workers supporting the event. With just 2% of the total membership of SCCA, Oregon drivers earned 7% of Runoffs podium positions! 

Bonnie Aarseth has been working race control at the Runoffs for years, and this year she was honored with SCCA’s prestigious F&C Worker of the Year award for her service.

Two Oregon drivers earned championships this year - Lance Spiering in Formula 500 and Collin Jackson in GT-3. It was Spiering’s first championship and Jackson’s fifth in five Runoffs appearances.

Three Oregon drivers earned silver medals. Tony Opheim in Formula Atlantic, Joe Harlan in GT-Lite and Brad McAllister in GT-2. Eddie Nakato brought home a third-place finish in Touring 3.

In the hard-fought Spec Miata class, Ken Sutherland earned the pole position, although he suffered a hit during the race and finished ninth. Oregon driver Jason Rawlins finished 7th and Jon Davies finished 46th. Oregon’s RE, Tim Ferrick, finished 24th

In Touring 2, Scotty B White finished 13th and Denis Nowak finished 17th. In Touring 3, Olivier Henrichot finished fifth, Scotty B White finished sixth, and Lansing Stout Jr. finished in the 17th spot.

In GT-3, Gary Bockman finished fourth, Larry Hansen finished 8th,  and Jeff Scoville finished 9th.

In GT-lite, Bill Okell finished 5th, and Paul Bunbury finished 9th. Lans Stout finished 16th.

Lynne Griffiths finished fifth in American Sedan.

In Touring 4 Derrick Ambrose earned ninth place, while Ali Naimi placed 10th.

Darren Dilley finished fifth in E Production.  Bill Okell finished tenth and Ian Green finished fifteenth in F Production. Gordon Jones finished eleventh in H Production.

Steve Fogg finished tenth, Andre Perra finished twenty-first, Glenn Woloski finished 24th, and Rick Wright, Jr. finished 29th in SRF3. JR Osborne finished 6th in Prototype 2.  Mel Kemper finished 13th in Formula Mazda. Ron Bonham finished 25th in Formula Vee.