ALTON, Va. (October 13, 2019) – Anthony Seaber entered the 2019 SCCA National Championship Runoffs at VIRginia International Raceway (VIR) as a rookie and started the Formula Mazda race on Sunday afternoon in pouring rain. For 15 laps, the rain kept falling harder but Seaber, of Hillsborough, North Carolina, kept getting better and left with a gold medal and a 33.590-second win. Robert Noell, of Kure Beach, North Carolina, and Owen McAllister, of Mooresville, North Carolina, completed the podium in difficult conditions.

Seaber started the race second in the No. 09 Bob Wheless/VIPER Formula Mazda and was following the spray from the tires of Bryce Cornet. Coming out of Turn Five on the eighth lap of the race, Tire Rack Pole Award winner Cornet finally turned sideways and slid across the pavement, recovering but leaving the door open for Seaber.

“I’ve been chasing this for a very long time,” Seaber said. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been to the Runoffs. I’m very happy to be back. I focused on this for the entire year to be able to get up here on the podium and win. I could not be happier.”

Once in front with clear vision, Seaber marched away from the field for the victory in his first Runoffs appearance since 2002. The caution-free race covered the 49 miles in 35:30.824, averaging 82.869 mph.

“I actually ran off the track because I had no idea where the track was at one point in time,” Seaber said. “I think we were only a couple of feet off at times, but I had no idea, I couldn’t even see his car. Visibility was a big deal. I was in a position where I knew I had a good car, so I wanted to fill his mirrors and pressure, pressure, pressure, and it worked.”

Cornet, the defending class champion, couldn’t seem to find any amount of grip – even compared to the others in the class. His No. 65 machine was twitchy even in a straight line and was a sitting duck as he tried to put the power down.

Noell drove his No. 3 First Pencil/Karl Burke Racing Formula Mazda around Cornet and into second place on lap 12 after cutting through a substantial gap. Noell had moved around Nathan Ratton on the start and was all alone through the race with no chance to challenge Seaber.

“I’m really happy to be up here,” Noell said. “I knew he was going to be tough, especially here in the rain. I’ve never been in conditions this bad. With five laps to go, it just kept getting more and more rain. I’m lucky to be here, because I almost lost it several times.”

McAllister started fifth and moved around Cornet to third with one lap to go. The 14-year-old driver is among the youngest to ever finish on the Runoffs podium. He also earned the Sunoco Hard Charger award after starting fifth.

“It was really getting bad out there, especially toward the end,” McAllister said. “The rain just kept coming and coming, and it progressively got worse throughout the session. The visibility was horrible. I was hydroplaning on the straightaways. It was not easy conditions, but it all worked out well.”

Cornet finished fourth, followed by William Snyder in fifth.

The 56th SCCA® National Championship Runoffs®, the Pinnacle of American Motorsports, crowns Sports Car Club of America’s Road Racing National Champions this year at VIRginia International Raceway along the border of North Carolina and Virginia Friday, Oct. 11 through Sunday, Oct 13.

ALTON, Va. -- Provisional results for Sunday’s Formula Mazda race at the 56th SCCA National Championship Runoffs from VIRginia International Raceway, with finish position, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car and laps completed.

1, (2), Anthony Seaber, Hillsborough, NC, Star Formula Mazda, 15.

2, (4), Robert Noell, Kure Beach, NC, Star Formula Mazda, 15.

3, (5), Owen McAllister, Mooresville, NC, Star Formula Mazda, 15.

4, (1), Bryce Cornet, Norman, OK, Star Formula Mazda, 15.

5, (7), William Snyder, Southlake, TX, Star Formula Mazda, 15.

6, (3), Nathan Ratton, Rockwall, TX, Star Formula Mazda, 13.

7, (8), James Stewart, Cresson, TX, Star Formula Mazda, 8.

8, (6), Stephen Thomas, Fort Worth, TX, Star Formula Mazda, 7.

Length of Race: 49 miles

Overall Time of Race: 35:30.824 (82.869 mph)

Margin of Victory: 33.590 seconds

Fastest Race Lap: #65 Bryce Cornet 2:15.816 mph (86.676 mph)

Lap Leaders: #65 laps 1-7; #09 laps 8-15

Sunoco Hard Charger: Owen McAllister

Image: Anthony Seaber, Formula Mazda in the rain

Credit: Jay Bonvouloir