Nestled in the rural Ohio hills of Mansfield and Richland Counties, the area around Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course could hardly be more different from Daytona Beach. And considering there could be 700 competitors making the journey to the championship ship event in September, it's best to start planning the logistics of your trip now. Like, right now!

The nearest towns to Mid-Ohio are Lexington, Bellville, and Mansfield –Mansfield being the largest by far. Ashland is a few miles farther up the road. Rooms in Lexington and Bellville are going fast for the Sept. 19-25, 2016, Runoffs week. At this time, only the Mid-Ohio Inn in Bellville is showing any available rooms, and those are listed at $140 per night.

Mansfield has many hotels, ranging from $50 per night for the Rodeway Inn, up to $148 per night for the La Quinta, and that's a 10-mile drive to the track. Offerings get even better the farther you go from the track. Ashland, Ohio, has many affordable hotels, but it's a 30-mile drive to the track.

For more thoughts on Runoffs planning, visit Racer.com.

For up to date 2016 Runoffs presented by Garmin VIRB event information, click here.