TOPEKA, Kan. (Nov. 13, 2015) – Five additional dates have been confirmed for the 2016 SCCA U.S. Major Tour schedule. The additions will complete the six-event schedules for the Mid-States, Northeast and Northern Conferences.
The Mid-States Conference gets two additional events added to the calendar. Competition in the Conference will open at NOLA Motorsports Park, Feb. 27-28, for the third-consecutive year. The 2016 edition of the event, held just outside of New Orleans, will serve as a dual-conference meet with the Southeast Conference like it was in 2015. In addition, MSR Houston will host its inaugural Majors event, April 30-May 1. This event will serve as the third event on the Mid-States schedule.
In the Northern Conference, the WeatherTech Chicago Region SCCA June Sprints at Road America will count toward the championship chase. This will be the fourth-consecutive season that the nationally-renowned event will be a stopping point on the way to the end of the Northern Conference trail. The event will run June 17-19.
The Northeast Conference slate of events was finalized with the addition of a pair of race weekends. Pittsburgh International Race Complex, in Wampum, Pennsylvania, is on the schedule for the second-straight year, moving to May 14-15. New Jersey Motorsports Park, in Millville, New Jersey, will serve at the penultimate event, July 22-24.
With the addition of these five events, the only outstanding item on the 2016 calendar is the information regarding the April event in the Western Conference, which will be announced as it becomes available. For 2016, four of the five Conferences will have six events, with the Southeast Conference counting five race weekends toward its championship.
2016 SCCA U.S. Majors Tour Schedule of Events
Northeast Conference
April 15-17 - VIRginia International Raceway, Alton, Va. (With Southeast)
April 29-May 1 - Summit Point Raceway, Summit Point, W. Va.
May 14-15 – Pittsburgh International Race Complex, Wampum, Pa.
June 24-26 - Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, N.Y.
July 22-24 – New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, N.J.
Aug. 13-14 – Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, Pa.
Southeast Conference
Jan. 8-10 – Homestead Miami Speedway, Homestead, Fla.
Jan. 15-17 - Sebring International Raceway, Sebring, Fla.
Feb. 27-28 – NOLA Motorsports Park, Avondale, La. (With Mid-States)
March 18-20 - Road Atlanta, Braselton, Ga.
April 15-17 - VIRginia International Raceway, Alton, Va. (With Northeast)
Northern Conference
April 30-May 1 - Blackhawk Farms, S. Beloit, Ill.
June 3-5 - Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio
June 17-19 – Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis.
July 9-10 - GingerMan Raceway, South Haven, Mich.
July 30-31 - Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis.
Aug. 13-14 – Grattan Raceway, Belding, Mich.
Mid-States Conference
Feb. 27-28 – NOLA Motorsports Park, Avondale, La. (With Southeast)
April 9-10 - Hallett Motor Racing Circuit, Jennings, Okla.
April 30-May 1 – MSR-Houston, Angleton, Texas
May 14-15 - Gateway Motorsports Park, Madison, Ill.
May 28-29 – Pueblo Motorsports Park, Pueblo, Colo.
July 2-3 - High Plains Raceway, Deer Trail, Colo.
Western Conference
Jan. 29-31 - Auto Club Speedway, Fontana, Calif.
Feb. 20-21 – Willow Springs Int'l Raceway, Rosamond, Calif.
April TBD - TBD
April 29-May 1 - Buttonwillow Raceway Park, Buttonwillow, Calif.
May 28-30 - Pacific Raceway, Kent, Wash.
July 2-3 - Portland International Raceway, Portland, Ore.
Majors Conference Staff for 2016
Additionally, there have been some staffing changes for the Northeast and Southeast Conference. Earl Hurlbut, who served as the series chief steward for both conferences in 2015, has decided to step down. Steve Pence and Ken Blackburn will take over the reins as Race Director (formerly Series Chief Steward) in the Northeast and Southeast Conferences, respectively.
“We’re excited to announce the addition of Steve and Ken to our U.S. Majors Tour team,” SCCA Sr. Manager of Club Racing Deanna Flanagan said. “On behalf of the entire Club Racing staff, and everyone that worked with him throughout the 2015 season, I would like to thank Earl for his hard work and dedication and look forward to seeing him at events in the future.”
2016 SCCA U.S. Majors Tour Series Staff
Northeast Conference: Steve Pence (Race Director), Gayle Lorenz (Series Administrator), Bill Etherington (Series Tech Chief)
Northern Conference: Costa Dunias (Race Director), Tony Brown (Series Administrator), Dave Kettler (Series Tech Chief)
Mid-States Conference: Ken Patterson (Race Director), Neil Cox (Series Administrator), Frank Diringer (Series Tech Chief)
Western Conference: R.J. Gordy (Race Director), Ceci Smith (Series Administrator), Chuck Knox (Series Tech Chief)
Series Registration Garmin VIRB Drawing
In another reminder to drivers, the Dec. 1 early deadline for Majors car number reservations is fast approaching. Those racers with series registrations in by the deadline will have their name entered into a drawing for a brand new Garmin VIRB action camera. One camera per conference will be awarded to a lucky driver. Make sure you don’t miss your chance to get in on the action.
For additional news on the SCCA U.S. Majors Tour, including an updated schedule of events and number reservation forms, visit SCCA.com/Majors.
Image: A line of cars climb the iconic front-straight hill at Road America.
Credit: SCCA
