One way to get through difficult times is to look forward to something great in the future, which is why the Sports Car Club of America® (SCCA®) has unveiled the event schedule for the 2020 SCCA National Championship Runoffs® taking place Oct. 3-11 at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
While the SCCA Road Racing Department understands many competitors have questions regarding Runoffs qualifying criteria adjustments in the wake of coronavirus schedule interruptions, an exact determination obviously cannot be made on that matter until the COVID-19 situation settles a bit in the United States and realistic analysis can take place. But rest assured, SCCA Runoffs Test Days on Road America’s beautiful 4.048-mile, 14-turn circuit are still scheduled to take place Oct. 3-5 and precede three days of qualifying that begin Tuesday, Oct. 6.
Each of the 26 car classes will have 22-minute sessions on track each qualifying day. Tire Rack Pole Award winners will be named the evening of Thursday, Oct. 8 before three days of racing commence. On-track action is slated to begin around 8 a.m. local time each race day, and events will be 13 laps or 40 minutes -- whichever elapses first.
“For the 2020 Runoffs, we have again built some flexibility into the qualifying schedule,” said Deanna Flanagan, SCCA Director of Road Racing. “We will utilize a ‘followed-by’ schedule during qualifying which helps us keep the day on schedule. We have one unassigned qualifying session each day that will allow us to split a larger combined qualifying group, giving each class at least one day to qualify by themselves while still keeping car classes running in the same timeframe as their scheduled National Championship race the following days.”
A total of 25 separate races will be conducted over three Runoffs competition days. Events slated for Friday, Oct. 9 are Touring 1, Formula 500, Touring 3, GT-3, Spec Miata, Prototype 2, F Production, Super Touring® Under and Formula Atlantic®. Saturday, Oct. 10 features American Sedan®, Formula F, B-Spec, GT-1, Spec Racer Ford Gen3, E Production, Touring 2 and Formula Continental®/Formula X. The Runoffs will then conclude Sunday, Oct. 11 with Touring 4, Super Touring® Lite, H Production, GT-2, Formula Enterprises 2, GT-Lite, Prototype 1 and Formula Vee. A detailed schedule can be reviewed at the 2020 Runoffs event webpage.
Of course, there will be a lot more going on at the 57th Runoffs. Track walk/ride sessions are tentatively planned for late afternoon on Sunday, Oct. 4 and Monday, Oct. 5. On the evening of Wednesday, Oct. 7, the popular Block Party extravaganza is back. Then the evening of Thursday, Oct. 8 is when the annual All Participant Party & Dinner will take place where Tire Rack Pole Award winners and the Workers of the Year presented by Mazda celebration occurs. There will also be additional Worker Party events held Friday, Oct. 9 and Saturday, Oct. 10 at the Road America Center. Additional activities during the week will be announced at a later date.
Previously, the Runoffs called Road America “home” from 2009 to 2013, noted SCCA Vice President/COO Eric Prill. Since the last Road America Runoffs, the facility has continued to develop in multiple ways.
“Some memorable events in Sports Car Club of America history have occurred at Road America, and I’m sure SCCA racers are certainly looking forward to returning this October for the Runoffs after what many will remember as a tough year for motorsports,” Prill said. “Road America is a track that requires a blend of car performance, skill and courage. Plus, additions since SCCA last conducted a Runoffs at the venue include a new Paddock Shop, new restroom and shower locations, and new trail allowing access to fantastic spectating from The Kink to Canada Corner. These enrichments will certainly enhance the participant, worker and fan experience at the 2020 Runoffs.”
The Runoffs, which caps the Summit Racing Equipment SCCA Road Racing program each year, has evolved into what is now commonly agreed to be the pinnacle of American motorsports. Since 1964, the SCCA has crowned National Champions through the winner-take-all, single-race Runoffs format.
For more information on the 57th Runoffs at Road America, visit https://www.scca.com/runoffs.
