The 57th Annual SCCA Runoffs Takes Center Stage at Road America

Road racing champions will be crowned next week at Road America as drivers from around the country participate in the 57th running of the pinnacle amateur road-racing event in the U.S., the Sports Car Club of America  (SCCA) National Championship Runoffs October 9-11. The event determines the best drivers of the season within each of the 26 classes of competition and this year nearly 600 entries are expected, making the Runoffs the largest annual amateur road-racing event in the world.

For those who are unfamiliar with the Runoffs, it is an iconic winner-take-all championship for SCCA’s Club racers and is open to any of the club’s competition drivers who qualified for the event. Although contingency prize money is up for grabs, in reality, to win the SCCA National Championship Runoffs is a chance for bragging rights in the highly competitive world of sports car racing. For many drivers, winning the Runoffs is the peak of their racing career, but for some, it is a steppingstone to a profession behind the wheel. Some notable past Runoffs winners include Skip Barber, Paul Newman, Bobby Rahal, Graham Rahal, Roger Penske and Jimmy Vasser.

The fan-friendly paddock will be loaded with local racers fielding a huge variety of cars including American muscle Corvettes and Mustangs; open-wheel formula cars; historic Triumphs and Austin Healeys; even Toyotas, Mazdas and BMWs. A lap around Road America’s 4.048-mile circuit offers the ultimate for any sports car racer including 14 turns, three high-speed straights and 170′ of elevation changes. For many of the competitors, it’s an opportunity to earn a championship where their racing heroes did the same.

Tickets are available at www.roadamerica.com and fans are encouraged to purchase tickets early and print them at home to enjoy contactless entry at the gate. Gates open at 7 a.m. daily and races run rain or shine. Kids 16 and under are free with a paying adult. Parking, paddock access and grandstand seating are also free with ticket purchase.

As with previous events in 2020, everyone is encouraged to follow safe practices, such as social distancing (maintaining six feet from others), frequent hand washing, or using one of the many new sanitizer stations located throughout the facility and wearing cloth face coverings when indoors and in areas where social distancing is difficult to maintain.

For more information visit www.roadamerica.com or call 800/365-7223.