Prototype 1 and 2 are very fast classes. Like, ridiculously fast. These race cars boast droolworthy bodywork, measure ground clearance in millimeters, run engines that sing a siren’s song, and have drivers that can make them dance. Good things await those racers who can put a Prototype car on the razor’s edge for every lap during the Sept. 28-Oct. 6, 2024, SCCA® National Championship Runoffs® presented by Sunoco at Road America. Those elite drivers will be battling for the coveted gold medal, a Championship jacket, and the chance to call themselves an SCCA National Champion.
Who will drive to that top step in P1 and P2? We have a few thoughts. Are our predictions right? In classes like these where anything can happen, we’re not going to bet the bank. But we are going to watch the races when they happen, because win or lose, these battles are always fantastic.
Who Will Win Prototype 1?
Spreading yourself thin at the Runoffs rarely spells success, but some drivers make it work. For years, Todd Vanacore has competed in Formula Enterprises® 2, Spec Racer® Ford Gen3, and Prototype 1, and has managed top 10 honors in multiple classes in the same year. He even won the P1 National Championship title last year and landed on the P1 podium in 2022 and 2020, and this year, he’s leading the Hoosier Racing Tire SCCA Super Tour points race. With that track record, it would be hard to bet against him to win P1 at this year’s Runoffs – but we’re going to.
Chip Romer won P1 at the Runoffs in 2022, finished third in 2021, and scored second in 2019. He’s also seen quite a bit of success during the Super Tour – although his Super Tour weekends never overlapped with Vanacore’s. His year’s been going well, and we think that momentum will keep up during the Runoffs, taking him all the way to the top step of the podium.
“The year has gone great,” Chip Romer says of his season, adding, “I am now racing with my son, Matt, which is something he and I will always cherish.”
Matt Romer, it should be added, is leading Chip in the Super Tour points, with the pair exchanging wins at Portland.
“I think this year is a tossup – anyone of the guys on the grid can win this thing,” Chip Romer says. “I think my son has a legitimate shot. He has proven to be a fierce competitor. He and I have had tremendous battles this year. I think Matt will be the wildcard this year.”
Indeed, Matt will likely be in the hunt, but before he can battle Dad for the lead, he’ll have to deal with 2020 P1 National Champ James French (who we anticipate finishing second this year), and two-time P1 National Champion Jim Devenport, our third-place pick who proved his prowess at Road America with a strong showing at this year’s WeatherTech Chicago Region® June Sprints®.
Back to Vanacore: While we didn’t pick him for the podium, we have no doubt he could ruin our predictions. Everyone should also keep an eye on John McAleer, Jason Miller, and Lee Alexander – they all have sights set on the podium, and they know how to get there.
Truth is, of this year’s P1 field, at least two-thirds of the drivers could win.
Podium Prediction: Prototype 1
1. Chip Romer, No. 29 Stella Artois 2014 Elan DP02 (1 National Championship)
2. James French, No. 46 Motorsports Enterprises Ltd. 2001 Swift 014/CSR (2 National Championships)
3. Jim Davenport, No. 23 Cranbrook Group Inc 2012 Elan DP02/Mazda (2 National Championships)
Who Will Win Prototype 2?
Tim Day Jr. has an enviable record in the Prototype category. Between P1 and P2 in his 11 Runoffs starts, he’s claimed three poles and landed on the podium seven times – a pair of those being P2 wins. His podium tally could have been one better, too, had he not fallen victim to torrential wet-weather conditions at VIRginia International Raceway in 2022. Even if it rains at this year’s Runoffs, we expect him to push to the front – which is why he’s our pick to win P2 at this year’s National Championship event.
Case in point, just look at this year’s June Sprints.
“At the June Sprints, Murphy's Law struck, and it seemed everything worked against us,” Day explains. “First, poor weather, then an unfortunate series or incidents in race one led to a DNF. In race two, we worked our way up from 11th place to second only to have the motor expire and another DNF. the DNF, it was some fun racing!”
Which racers will be Day’s top competitors? Turns out, the two others we see as podium contenders are ones Day has his eyes on, too.
“I believe Greg Gyann will be the toughest competitor,” Day says. “He won the Runoffs the last time it was at Road America. Gyann has his car sorted, and since the repave, he has consistently run below the long-standing P2 track record at Road America. Lucian Pancea is always fast on race day and is the reigning P2 Champion.
For dark horses in the race, Day sees two. “Bart Wolf in his Ligier JS51 and Mike Reupert, a two-time National Champion. Both drivers have spent a lot of time at Road America.”
We think Day should also check his mirrors for Raiden Nicol, a very fast teenager in a well prepped Radical.
Will the P1 race be exciting? Day thinks so, exclaiming: “Should be one hell of a race!”
Podium Prediction: Prototype 2
1. Tim Day Jr., No. 8 Goodyear/GDRE/Summit/Hawk/HRP 2006 Stohy WF1 (2 National Championships)
2. John Gyann, No. 47 Gycor International /Skipjack's Ligier JS51
3. Lucian Pancea, No. 99 Young RACING 2013 Stohr (1 National Championship)
Catch the Action Live
Qualifying at the National Championship Runoffs takes place Oct. 1-3, with Hagerty Race Days falling on Oct. 4-6. You can keep up on all of the action by clicking on the Runoffs homepage, where you’ll find the driver entry list, the event schedule, and more.
Races will be broadcast live on Oct. 1-3 on SCCA’s YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe to the page and ring that bell icon now to get notified when the race broadcasts begin.
Photos by Doug Berger (P1, top); Wedrick Campbell/First Place Visuals (P2, bottom)
