6 replies to this topic

[Johnny D]

TOPEKA, Kan. (April 24, 2015) – Friday Night Lights at the Runoffs® presented by Mazda highlights the 2015 event schedule for the SCCA National Championship Runoffs Presented by Garmin VIRB® at Daytona International Speedway, where each of the 28 classes will race alone for the first time since 2008. The event begins with four days of qualifying and concludes with 10 races on Friday and nine each on Saturday and Sunday, September 21-27.

"With its lighting options, Daytona International Speedway provides a unique opportunity for us and we thank Mazda for its support in helping make Friday Night Lights at the Runoffs a reality," SCCA Vice President and COO Eric Prill said. "Spec Miata regularly delivers some of the very best racing of any weekend, and running its National Championship race under the lights ratchets that excitement up, providing a can't-miss moment for everyone."

The Spec Miata class will crown a National Champion under the lights on Friday night at 7:30 p.m., with the 3.56-mile road course at the "World Center of Racing" lit to the same level as the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Tuesday's qualifying session will also be under the lights as a preview for Friday's race.

"Two years ago we set the all-time record for class size at the runoffs with 63 Spec Miatas," John Doonan, Director, Mazda Motorsports said. "In 2014, we brought the Runoffs to Mazda Raceway for the first time ever. Each year we work with the SCCA to raise the bar. This will be amazing to make history once again, by having the first ever night race at the Runoffs with Spec Miata. This will be an epic drafting battle."

The nighttime race also allows enough room in the schedule to fit each class in individually.

"With Mazda's help, this allows us to ensure that each of our 28 classes will have its own race," SCCA Senior Manager of Club Racing Deanna Flanagan said. "At the last two venues, we held some multi-class races out of necessity. We thank the Runoffs volunteer chief team for creatively finding ways to make this happen for our participants."

Official qualifying sessions will be held from Monday through Thursday, with each class getting two 30-minute morning sessions and two 25-minute afternoon sessions throughout the week. The best time through the week will set the grids for the weekend's 14-lap, 49.84-mile races, with each race winner crowned National Champion.

The SCCA Runoffs Presented by Garmin VIRB has crowned Club Racing National Champions since 1964. Through 28 separate races over three days, the 2015 edition will crown champions in a winner-take-all, single race format.

Preceding the event, the Central Florida Region SCCA will host test days from September 17 – 20. Unlike recent Runoffs events, parking, registration, and pre-event tech inspections will be good from test days through the length of the event. Test day registration will be available as an option when registering for the Runoffs.

The entirety of the 2015 SCCA Runoffs races, including Friday Night Lights at the Runoffs presented by Mazda, will be broadcast live on SpeedcastTV.com.

Runoffs registration opens July 22nd on SCCA.com. Additional information about the event, including the parking and garage reservation process, as well as promotional event activities, will be available soon.

The full schedule and supplemental regulations are posted at SCCA.com/Runoffs.

[wheel]

This is going to be awesome.

[john mueller]

Folks at TUDOR should pay attention...  Gonna be so cool.

[38bfast]

That is gong to be so cool.

[Danny Steyn]

E P I C !

[TJKearney]

And the NA's with the pop-ups feel the aero love

[Jim Creighton]

All the more reason for SEDiv drivers to use the SECS as a means to attend the Runoffs. With at least 15 SEDiv drivers already qualified for the Runoffs via Majors, it means they will not earn anymore points in SECS and will be the lower 1/2 of SECS points.( They are counting 2 Majors and the most points they could get is 100 for 4 wins and only one driver has that.) And with Daytona next weekend, here is a chance to get points for the SECS and practice for the Runoffs. I've seen the night lights at Daytona and I don't think anyone will need much lights. If I were race czar, I'd only require rear running lights.

 

I'll be at Daytona next weekend in tech and can answer any questions about SECS as a path to the Runoffs. Those who ran the 2 Florida Majors already have 2 of the required 4 events and Daytona would be the 3rd one. Lot's of SECS races left to get points.