2015 Daytona International Speedway

In 2014, the Sports Car Club of America decided to move the premier event – The Runoffs – to a new venue each year. Before to this, the club signed multi-year contracts with racetracks to host the annual event. In the first year of this new concept, the National Championships were held at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca which was followed by Daytona International Speedway in 2015. Daytona had hosted the Runoffs in 1965, 1967 and 1969.

There are National Championships for twenty-eight different classes. These classes fall into one of eight different categories:

Production Category – There are three classes in the production category – E Production (EP), F Production (FP) and H Production (HP). These production-based vehicles are grouped according to their performance potential. Sports cars such as the Mazda Miata, Mazda RX-7, Mazda RX-8, Nissan 240Z, MG Midget, etc. are most often associated with this category. However, the rules also accommodate sedans such as the Honda Prelude, Datsun 510, Toyota Yaris, etc.
Grand Touring Category – Four classes, are identified as Grand Touring – they include Grand Touring (GT1), Grand Touring (GT2), Grand Touring (GT3) and Grand Touring-Lite (GTL). These vehicles are also grouped according to their performance potential. The quickest class, GT1 features car such as the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Corvette while at the other end of the spectrum, GT-Lite includes the Mini Cooper and Honda Civic. These vehicles are allowed a larger number of modifications than the production category. For example, they may be constructed with a tube-frame chassis.
Touring Category – Four Touring categories, Touring 1 (T1), Touring 2 (T2), Touring 3 (T3) and Touring 4 (T4) was created by the SCCA to accommodate performance street cars with a minimum amount of modifications required to compete. Touring 1 includes the high powered and expensive vehicles such as the Chevrolet Corvette, Dodge Viper, Porsche 911, etc. Also included in this group, is B-Spec which is the club’s slowest class. Modifications to these economy vehicles -Honda Fit, Mini Cooper, Mazda 2 - are mainly for safety purposes.
Super Touring Category – The Super Touring Category allows competitors to make modifications (the addition of wings, engine swaps, etc.) to late-model production vehicles such as the Mazda 6, Acura RSX, Honda Civic, Mazda Miata, etc. Within this category, there are two classes – Super Touring Under (STU) and Super Touring Lite (STL) for cars with an engine displacement of less than 2-liters.
Sedan Category – There is only one group in the sedan category – American Sedan (AS). American Sedan includes the Chevrolet Camaro, Pontiac Firebird, Pontiac GTO, Ford Mustang and Cadillac CTS-V. Powered by a Ford 302-cu.in or GM 305-cu.in. engine these cars are permitted to utilize modified suspensions and upgraded brake packages.
Spec Miata – This very popular class is for the Mazda Miata (SM). Miatas produced from 1990 to 2005 compete in this group. Rules are implemented to equalize the competitive advantage of some of the later model years.
Prototype Category – These are purpose-built closed wheel race cars. There are four classes within this group – Prototype 1 (P1), Prototype 2 (P2), Spec Racer Ford (SRF) and Spec Racer Ford Generation 3 (SRF3). Prototype 1 and 2 include a variety of chassis’ which may be constructed by the competitor or a race car manufacturer. There also a wide range of engine options used by the teams. SRF and SRF3 are spec classes and are not allowed any modifications.
Formula Category – These are also purpose-built race cars. This is the largest category and includes eight classes – Formula Atlantic (FA), Formula Continental (FC), Formula Mazda (FM), Formula Enterprise (FE), Formula 1000 (FB), Formula 500 (F5), Formula F (FF) and Formula Vee (FV). There are a variety of rules that govern these open wheel cars.

The event was held during the last week of September and teams and fans enjoyed sunny conditions with very warm temperatures. The only inclement weather was just before Friday evening’s Spec Miata race when a light rain fell.

Racing at Daytona International Speedway means that many SCCA competitors had to learn how to draft NASCAR style – partnering with other drivers and knowing when to make a pass. The practice and qualifying sessions were an opportunity for many drivers to learn this skill. The outcome of many races at this year’s Runoffs was determined by a driver’s ability to carry-out the perfect slingshot pass.

Kevin Boehm waited until the last day of qualifying to grab the STL pole position in the No. 79 Honda Civic Si. Boehm led the race until lap-12 when he was passed by the second fastest qualifier, Cliff Ira in an Acura Integra GS-R. It appeared that Ira would score his second consecutive National title until he missed a shift at the ‘Bus Stop’ on the last lap. Boehm went by Ira to capture his first National Championship.

The Prototype 1 pole belonged to Jim Downing. Downing entered the first Runoffs in 1964 at Riverside, California driving a Formula Junior. But it was second place starter, Gianpaolo Ciancimino who led Downing and the third fastest qualifier, Jason Miller into corner one. Ciancimino pulled away in his Young Racing prepared Stohr WF1 as Downing and Miller encountered problems. He won his first title by 16.755-seconds.

With one E Production win at the Runoffs to his credit, Greg Ira was looking for a second on his home track. By the end of qualifying, Ira and his Datsun 240Z were the second quickest – 0.39-seconds behind the pole-sitter, Kip Van Steenburg. At the start, Ira dropped to third behind, Joe Moser. Moser retired on lap-7 which gave Ira the runner-up spot, however, on the last circuit, Van Steenburg’s retired giving the victory to Ira.

Local, Kip Van Steenburg came prepared to win his first E Production title. Van Steenburg driving the German Excellence Porsche 944 S2 grabbed the pole position on the first day of qualifying. At the start, he shot into the lead and pulled away from the field – turning the race’s fastest lap in the process. However, it all came to an end on lap-13 of 14 when the Porsche’s brakes failed and Van Steenburg was forced to retire.

A small field of just ten entrants took the Starter’s flag for the Formula Atlantic race. However, only eight drivers made it through corner one. On the pole in a Swift 014.a was Tyler Hunter. After five caution laps, Hunter was passed for the lead by Dudley Fleck and lost another position to Michael Mallinen. On lap-8, Hunter started his charge and caught Fleck and Mallinen to capture the Formula Atlantic title.

Another local, Kerry Jacobsen from nearby Deland used his track knowledge of Daytona to capture the Tire Rack pole position and victory in the Spec Racer Ford Gen3 class at the 2015 Runoffs. Driving the Tactical Machining/Comprent Spec Racer Ford Gen3, Jacobson battled with Tray Ayers and Cliff White for the championship – Ayers led over half the contest. At the checkered flag, Jacobson beat Ayers by just 0.055-seconds.

Andy McDermid earned his seventh American Sedan championship at Daytona. The first lap of the race was led by the pole-sitter, Tom Sloe but McDermid passed him on lap-2 at the International Horseshoe turn and never looked back. McDermid also claimed the Super Sweep award by taking the American Sedan National point standings, a U.S. Majors Tour Conference title for his class and winning the Runoffs.

The Formula 1000 event was shortened from the scheduled fourteen laps to just eight after the car of Kevin Roggenbuck caught fire and caused the race to be red flagged. The incident occurred on lap-1 and because the event was time-certain, there were only eight laps of competition. Pole-sitter, J.R. Osborne in an RFR 1000 led flag-to-flag for his fifth and last National Championship as he would be retiring after this event.

Early in the contest, eventual winner and six-time National Champion, Jim Dentici leads the Grand Touring Lite field through the ‘Bus Stop.’ Driving the Raglin Racing/JDM Group Honda CRX, Dentici won the Tire Rack pole by 1.563-seconds. Then he proceeded to lead every lap of the event – Dentici also recorded the quickest race lap. His margin of victory, after fourteen circuits, was 10.736-seconds.

Australian, Joseph Burton-Harris won the 2015 Formula Mazda National Championship. Burton-Harris grabbed the Tire Rack pole by a comfortable 1.106-second margin. At the start of the race, he was passed for the lead by the third fastest qualifier, Carson Weeder. However, Burton-Harris got the position back and was not challenged for the remainder of the event – winning by a margin of 9.906-seconds.

It was a very exciting F Production contest. During the week of qualifying, three different drivers held the top spot but it would ultimately go to Kevin Ruck in the No. 74 Acura Integra. The race would be no different – Ruck, Gary Baucom, Eric Prill, Charlie Campbell and Joe Huffaker were all in contention for the win. Huffaker gained control of the contest but a flat tire forced him to retire and gave the victory to Ruck.

When the Formula 500 pole-sitter, W. Clint McMahan retired on the first lap, it became a two horse race between – Calvin Stewart and Matthew Strand. Both drivers had different approaches to their car’s setup at Daytona. Strand’s FDS 003 was setup for the infield while Stewart’s NovaKar Blade F600 favoured the banking. The two drivers traded the lead every lap but Stewart crossed the Start/Finish first - every lap .

Philip Royle was driving the No. 09 BF Goodrich /Racer.com /Lucas Oil sponsored Honda Civic Si won the Touring 4 National Championship at Daytona. Royle started on the pole and went unchallenged – leading flag-to-flag and winning by a margin of 5.663-seconds. Although not the most powerful car in the field it was felt that the shape of the 2015 Honda Civic gave the car an aerodynamic advantage.

The first lap of the Formula Vee race and the pole-sitter, Roger Siebenaler, in a Mysterian M2 leads the field of thirty starters through NASCAR turn four. Lining up behind Siebenaler are Michael Varacins in the No. 65 Speed Sport AM-5 and Andrew Whitston in the No. 12 Protoform P2. Running high are Stevan Davis (the first driver to retire from the race), Tyler Hunter and Jonathan Weisheit.

Three-time Formula Vee Champion, Michael Varacins qualified second driving the No. 65 Speed Sport AM-5. Varacins led laps three through twelve but on the penultimate lap, he found himself in fifth place. Taking advantage of the drafting opportunity Daytona International Speedway offers, he was able to slingshot by Andrew Whitston, Richard Shields, Charles Hearn and Mitchell Ferguson for his fourth title.

Another three-time Formula Vee Champion, Roger Siebenaler was the fastest qualifier driving the No. 72 Mysterian M2. Early in the race, Siebenaler led the first two laps and was in a tight battle for first with Michael Varacins, Andrew Whitston, Stevan Davis, Tyler Hunter and Jonathan Weisheit. Unfortunately, on lap-5, Siebenaler and two-time class champion, Davis made contact in corner one and retired from the event.

Only five cars were entered in the Touring 3 category for the 2015 National Runoffs at Daytona International Speedway. The lack of competitors meant that a National Championship could not be awarded. Despite the small grid, the first four drivers qualified within 0.354-seconds of the Tire Rack pole-sitter, Scotty B. White. At the start, Bob Schader driving a Nissan 350Z Nismo jumped to first and led flag-to-flag.

At the end of the four Formula F qualifying sessions, Canadian Rick Payne was only the tenth quickest. The Tire Rack pole belonged to the Piper DF3D of Tim Kautz. Unfortunately, Kautz was eliminated from the race on lap-12 when oil on the track caused him to crash. The contest for the National title was now between William Valet, Jason Generotti and Payne. On the final lap, Payne passed Valet and Generotti for the win.

John Kachadurian started on the outside of the front row in the Kachadurian Group /Fall-Line Porsche 911 Carrera. At the start, Kachadurian dropped in behind the Tire Rack pole-sitter, Jordan Bupp - driving the American Speed Factory Ford Mustang. He followed Bupp until the final last when the Ford suffered a mechanical issue. Kachadurian took the lead and won his first Grand Touring 2 National Championship.

Super Touring Under pole-sitter, Eric Heinrich took the top starting position by 1.46-seconds. At the drop of the flag, Heinrich pulled away from the field. Unfortunately for him, he crashed his BMW on lap-5 when he slid on some oil in corner one. John Schmitt driving No. 92 Honda Civic Si inherited the lead and despite pressure from the Volkswagen GTI of Anthony Simmers, he was able to secure his first National Championship.

In a first, the Spec Miata group raced under the lights. Before the start of the event, it had been raining and the sixty-two starters were with faced with a difficult choice – dry or wet tires. The damp setup was the way to go early in the contest but Runoffs rookie, Jonathan Goring elected to go with the alternative. As the track dried, Goring moved through the field and a last lap pass gave him the Spec Miata title.

It was a good season for the seven-time SCCA National Champion, Michael Lewis. Driving the Goodyear /pegzlist.com sponsored Jaguar XJR, Lewis qualified 4.745-seconds quicker than the second place starter. He recorded a top speed of 196.916-mph on the front straight and set the weekend’s fastest time. Lewis was not challenged on the way to his eighth title and also won his second ‘Super Sweep.’

Twelve Touring 1 competitors line-up in Daytona International Speedway’s final turn in anticipation of a start. On the pole is the No. 36 Ford Mustang Boss 302 driven by Andrew Aquilante. Sharing the front row with Aquilante is Mark Boden in a BMW M3 Coupe. The second row is occupied by the Ford Mustangs of Cameron Maugeri and Pratt Cole.

Three-time Touring 1 National Champion, Andrew Aquilante turned in a solid qualifying performance. Aquilante was driving the Phoenix Performance/Hawk Brakes/Hoosier Tires sponsored Ford Mustang Boss 302 recorded a time 1.651-seconds quicker than the second place starter, Mark Boden. In capturing, his sixth National crown, Aquilante led flag-to-flag, set the fastest race lap and won by a margin of 7.771-seconds.

It was an easy victory when the Formula Continental pole-sitter’s biggest threat – second fastest qualifier, Robert Allaer - made a mistake on the first lap. Allaer’s error allowed, Yufeng Luo, driving the Pabst Racing prepared Van Diemen DP08 to pull away from the field. Luo led all fourteen-laps to score his first National Championship. He was also the second youngest Runoffs winner – that title belonged to Graham Rahal.

Canadian, Joe Kristensen entered the 2015 Runoffs at Daytona International Speedway with three runner-up finishes on his racing resume. This year, Kristensen driving the Kristensen Racing Engines/Hoosier Tire sponsored Acura RSX would not be denied. He captured the Grand Touring 3 pole position by 0.565-seconds. On the way to his first National Championship, Kristensen set a new lap record.

The first three rows of the Prototype 2 group prepare for the start of their National Championship race. Starting on the pole is Chris Farrell in the No. 58 Stohr WF1 GDRE. Next to Farrell is the Radical SR3 Jeff Schafer. Gridded behind the front row are the third and fourth place qualifiers, Michael Crowe and Anders Graff. Starting in fifth and sixth are the Stohrs of Sherman Choa and Greg Gyann.

Chris Farrell won the Prototype 1 National Championship at the 2014 Runoffs and he was also victorious in 2013 when he competed in the D Sports Racing category. In 2015, Farrell prepped his car for Prototype 2. His decision paid off with another National title. Farrell put his C&M Manufacturing/Hoosier Tires/Geartronics Stohr WF1 GDRE on the pole and led every lap of the race.

Two-time Spec Racer Ford champion, Cliff White qualified on the class pole and led flag-to-flag. It sounds quite simple but that was not the case. White was challenged during the race by the Spec Racer Ford of the fifth-place starter, Denny Stripling. On the last lap, Stripling made his move too early which allowed White to draft him before the Start/Finish and score a 0.048-second margin of victory.

Eighteen drivers get ready to start the of the H Production race. The fastest qualifier, Jason Isley paces the field in his No. 99 Toyota Yaris. On the outside of the front row is the second fastest qualifier, Brian Linn driving a Honda CRX. Back in the fourth row, gridded seventh is the local favourite, Alan Hulse. These three drivers would be part of one of the weekend’s most exciting and controversial finishes.

As the H Production race drew to a conclusion, it was a battle between three drivers – pole-sitter, Jason Isley driving a Toyota Yaris, the VW Cabriolet of Alan Hulse and Brian Linn racing a Honda CRX. An error on the last lap dropped Linn from first to third. As the trio came to the Start/Finish line, Linn made contact with Hulse and then slid down the track hitting Isley. Linn crossed the line first and won the championship.

The fastest qualifier in B-Spec was the Hoosier Tire/Mobil 1/Hawk Brakes Matick Chey Chevrolet Sonic driven by John Heinricy. It was not an easy race for the twelve-time National Champion. A mistake in the first corner caused Heinricy to fall to fourth place. He worked his way back to the front and challenged David Daughtery for the lead. On the last lap, Heinricy made the pass on Daughtery for the victory.

Touring 2 was a clean sweep for Kurt Rezzetano. The driver of the No. 37 Phoenix Performance/Calvert Dynamics Ford Mustang GT turned his quickest time in the first qualifying session which was 1.809-seconds faster than the second place starter, Cooper McNeil. At the drop of the green, Rezzetano jumped into the lead and went unchallenged for his first National Championship – winning by a margin of 20.972-seconds.

Another driver dominating his class was Formula Enterprises competitor, Scott Rettich. Rettich was the fastest qualifier and in doing so matched Jerry Hansen’s record for the most consecutive pole positions at seven. The race went just as well for the driver of the No. 17 Alliance Autosport prepared SCCA Formula Enterprises. Rettich went unchallenged for fourteen circuits, set a new lap record and won his fifth championship.

CLASS	GOLD	SILVER	BRONZE
GT1	Michael Lewis / Jaguar XKR	Stewart Bachmann / Camaro	Jack Busch / Ford Mustang
GT2	John Kachadurian / Porsche 911	Robert Kennedy / Ford Mustang	Mark Boden / Porsche 997
GT3	Joe Kristensen / Acura RSX	Chad Bacon / Toyota Celica	Mike Henderson / Mazda RX-7
GTL	Jim Dentici / Honda CRX	Joe Huffaker / MG Midget	Michael Kamalian / Mazda Miata
E Production	Greg Ira / Datsun 240Z	Jeffrey Cripe / BMW 358is	Aaron Downey / Mazda RX-3
F Production	Kevin Ruck / \|Acura Integra	Eric Prill / Mazda Miata	Ken Kannard / Mazda Miata
H Production	Brian Linn / Honda CRX	Jason Isley / Toyota Yaris	Alan Hulse / VW Cabriolet
Formula Atlantic	Tyler Hunter / Swift 014a	Dudley Fleck / Swift 016a	Brian Novak / Swift 014a
Formula 1000	J R Osborne / RFR F1000	Alex Mayer / JDR Suzuki	Gary Hickman / Phoenix F1K.12
Formula Continental	Yufeng Luo / Van Diemen	Robert Allaer / Van Diemen	Joshua Saurino / Van Diemen
Formula E	Scott Rettich / FE	Ryan Norman / FE	Paul Schneider / FE
Formula Mazda	Joseph Burton-Harris / Star Mazda	Carson Weeder / Star Mazda	Mike Anderson / Star Mazda
Formula F	Rick Payne / Van Diemen	William Valet / Swift DB6	Jason Generotti / Swift DB1
Formula 500	Calvin Stewart / NovaKar Blade	Matthew Strand / FDS 003	James Weida / Scorpion W1
Formula Vee	Michael Varacins / Speed Sport	Andrew Whitston / Protoform P2	Richard Shields / VDF-2
Prototype 1	Gianpaolo Ciancimino / Stohr WF1	James Devenport / Norma M20FC	Miles Jackson / Wolf GB08MJB
Prototype 2	Chris Farrell / Stohr WF1	Jeff Shafer / Radical SR3	Sherman Chao / Stohr WF1
Spec Racer Ford	Cliff White / Spec Racer	Denny Stripling / Spec Racer	Lee McNeish / Spec Racer
Spec Racer Ford3	Kerry Jacobsen / Spec Racer 3	Tray Ayres / Spec Racer 3	Cliff White / Spec Racer 3
American Sedan	Andy McDermid / Mustang	John Heinricy / Firebird	Philip Smith / Camaro
B-Spec	John Heinricy / Sonic	David Daughtery / Honda Fit	Brian Price / Honda Fit
Spec Miata	Jonathan Goring / Mazda Miata	Andrew Carbonell / Mazda Miata	Alex Bolanos / Mazda Miata
Super Touring Lite	Kevin Boehm / Honda Civic Si	Cliff Ira / Acura Integra	Deuce Keane / Honda Civic Si
Super Touring Under	John Schmitt / Honda Civic	Anthony Simmers / VW GTI	Oscar Jackson / Scion FR-S
Touring 1	Andrew Aquilante / Ford Mustang	Cameron Maugeri / Ford Mustang	Pratt Cole / Ford Mustang
Touring 2	Kurt Rezzetano / Ford Mustang	Cooper MacNeil / BMW M3	Preston Calvert / Ford Mustang
Touring 3	Bob Schader / Nissan 350Z	Tom Wickersham / Ford Mustang	Jason Ott / BMW Z4 Coupe
Touring 4	Philip Royle / Honda Civic	Lance Stewart / Mazda RX-7	Michael Tsay / Honda Civic

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