TOPEKA, Kan. (Oct. 1, 2019) -- McKeel Hagerty, CEO of Hagerty - the world’s leading provider of insurance, valuation and experiences to the enthusiast car hobby - has been selected to serve as Grand Marshal for the 2019 Sports Car Club of America® National Championship Runoffs® taking place Oct. 8-13 at Virginia International Raceway. This will be the first time McKeel has attended the Runoffs in person, and he plans to make the most of his visit by working on the Starter’s Stand, flagging a corner, riding in the pace car, and getting a behind the scenes glimpse at Timing & Scoring, Race Control and more.
“To a car guy, being the Grand Marshal for the Runoffs is a huge thrill,” McKeel said. ”These drivers are the real deal and I can’t wait to watch them put their cars and themselves to the test.”
Under McKeel’s guidance, Hagerty has grown from a small local insurance company into the largest provider of specialty insurance and hobby support to the enthusiast vehicle market. Hagerty has also become a leading automotive media company and the hub of Hagerty Driver’s Club, the biggest car club in America with more than a million members. McKeel has participated in numerous driving schools, track days and rallies. But his fondest car memory is restoring a 1967 Porsche 911 S that he and his dad found in a snowbank.
From the beginning, McKeel has felt a responsibility to support organizations and initiatives that help ensure that enthusiast vehicles and the driving lifestyle continue to thrive well into the future. The company’s youth programs have helped thousands of young drivers learn the nearly lost art of driving a manual transmission, and through a new partnership with Skip Barber Driving Academy, thousands more are upgrading their driving skills so they feel more confident and in control on the road. The company also supports the Historic Vehicle Association, which works on behalf of its nearly 600,000 members to protect and celebrate the automobile as a significant part of our culture, and the RPM Foundation, which provides restoration and preservation training programs for the next generation of automotive, motorcycle and marine craftsmen. Most recently, the company has doubled-down on its belief that cars are meant to be driven by acquiring MotorsportReg.com, which is used by millions of motorsports fans to find and register for motorsports events from track days and road rallies to vintage races and motocross.
Hagerty, the official insurance partner of SCCA, has created a special contingency opportunity for drivers and workers involved in the 2019 Runoffs. To enter, drivers must be registered for the contingency through Motorsportreg.com. Then they simply post to Instagram a picture of their race car with a Hagerty sticker and tag it with @Hagerty and #hagertyscottsdale2020. Runoffs workers only need to post a picture of themselves on Instagram with a Hagerty logo and tag it with @Hagerty, #hagertyscottsdale2020 and #SCCAWorkers. The winner, selected at random from Instagram posts, will receive a trip for two to the 2020 Scottsdale Auction Week in Arizona.
The 56th running of SCCA’s Runoffs will again crown national champions in 28 separate classes over three days of racing. Mike Cobb, SCCA’s President & CEO, noted that this will be the first time the Runoffs has visited VIR and conducted the National Championship on the 18-turn, 3.27-mile circuit found along the border of Virginia and North Carolina.
“It’s an honor to have a car enthusiast of McKeel’s caliber serving as Grand Marshal at this year’s Runoffs,” Cobb said. “We look forward to showing him how more than 1,000 SCCA members come together to pull off one of the largest and most exciting motorsport events of the year in the United States. I look forward to flagging a corner with him, providing a hands-on experience I hope he’ll never forget.”
Recognized as one of Car and Driver magazine’s top six road courses in the nation, VIR draws thousands of spectators each year for some of the best road racing in the country. Its uphill Esses and sharp elevation changes not only make it a fan and driver favorite, but VIR has also received international acclaim and rave reviews as one of the most exciting road courses in all of motorsports.
While racing is the heart of VIR, the expansive 1,300-acre property is so much more. America’s first true “motorsport resort,” it’s an entire vacation destination with a number of onsite hotel and lodging options. Within the property’s rolling hills and miles of lush forest, guests can enjoy unique amenities such as the exclusive Driver’s Club, dining options, karting, skid pad, and even shooting sports. Located near Danville and South Boston, Virginia, the circuit is within 45 minutes of 1,500 hotel rooms and 100 restaurants. Contact VIR at lodge@virnow.com or call (434) 822-7700 x101 for lodging assistance.
The Sports Car Club of America®, Inc., founded in 1944, is a 67,500-member motorsports organization that incorporates all facets of autocross, rally and road racing at both Club and professional levels. With headquarters in Topeka, Kansas, the SCCA annually sanctions over 2,000 events through its 116 Regions and subsidiary divisions. Much of the SCCA’s activities are made possible with support from the following Official Partners: Hagerty, the Official Insurance Partner of SCCA; Hawk Performance, the Official Brake Products of SCCA; Sunoco, the Official Fuel of SCCA; and Tire Rack, the Official Tire Retailer of SCCA. To learn more, please visit www.scca.com.
Photo: McKeel Hagerty
Photo courtesy of Hagerty
