The pinnacle of amateur motorsports held at the best racetracks across America, the SCCA® National Championship Runoffs® is an annual gathering of the nation’s top Club racers to determine who is that year’s best of the best. For 60 years, the Runoffs has drawn talented racers from all walks of life to lay it on the line for one week of practice and qualifying, followed by winner-take-all races to crown SCCA’s next National Champions. In 2023, the Runoffs will take place Sept. 23-Oct. 3 at VIRginia International Raceway in Alton, VA, but unlike year’s prior, the race format will pack even more excitement into an already spectacular competition week.
With the 2023 Runoffs just five months away, SCCA has released the preliminary schedule for the weeklong event at VIRginia International Raceway. The event is currently slated to include three days of testing (from Sept. 23-25) and three days of qualifying sessions (taking place Sept. 26-28). These will be followed by three days of racing (Sept. 29-Oct. 1).
Check out the preliminary 2023 Runoffs schedule by clicking here.
The SCCA Club Racing Board, in collaboration with SCCA Staff, however, is considering modifications to the qualifying day format. A virtual town hall to discuss potential adjustments will be held May 16, with an opportunity to gather feedback from the community before determining whether any changes will be implemented for the 2023 Runoffs.
Furthermore, in response to participant feedback from the 2022 Runoffs relating to some of the smaller-subscribed classes, the Prototype 1 (P1) and Prototype 2 (P2) classes will run a combined race group if each class fails to have 15 cars appear during Runoffs qualifying. If P1 and P2 each achieve the 15-entry threshold, the two classes will run separate races, with those races being back-to-back on Friday, Sept. 29.
New for 2023, the Runoffs will include a special demonstration class, as permitted by the General Competition Rules (GCR), with the event acting as the championship season finale for the Spec MX-5 Challenge, often referred to as “SMX.” Frequently seen at SCCA Road Racing weekends, SMX will feature a single qualifying session, with two races during the Runoffs weekend. SMX will not be recognized as an SCCA National Championship race.
“At its core, the Runoffs serves to crown SCCA’s National Champions, but the event is far more than that,” said Deanna Flanagan, SCCA’s Director of Road Racing. “The Runoffs is a showcase for SCCA’s racing program at the highest level. It’s also an opportunity for Club members and spectators to travel to the event, and for those who can’t make it in person to enjoy the professional live video stream presented for free online. It’s important to the Club to do everything possible to provide high-level, exciting racing for all to watch, while also delivering the National Championship experience, which is why this year’s Runoffs will showcase Spec MX-5 Challenge races.
“SMX is a growing segment, with the class likely becoming part of the National SCCA Road Racing program at some point in the future,” Flanagan continued. “The inclusion of SMX in the 2023 Runoffs schedule is a fantastic addition that will provide another showcase of great SCCA racing at the event.”
The Club Racing Board virtual town hall to discuss Runoffs qualifying days will take place on May 16, 2023, at 6 pm CDT/7 pm EDT. Advance registration for the town hall is required, so click the link below to register today.
Register for the CRB Runoffs Format Town Hall
Photo by Jay Bonvouloir
