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[Johnny D]

TOPEKA, Kan. (Nov. 29, 2016) -- The Southern Conference has released its 2017 SCCA U.S. Majors Tour competition schedule.  Six weekends, 12 races in all, make up the schedule that runs from February to late May.

 

The newly-formed Southern Conference, which includes Texas and Louisiana, was created to reduce travel costs in what was the largest geographic area, the Mid-States Conference, and provide more racing opportunities in Texas.  Within the Conference’s schedule are three Hoosier Racing Tire SCCA Super Tour dates.  The first one is a dual event with the Southeast Conference at NOLA Motorsports Park, followed by a visit to Circuit of The Americas for the first time in several years.  The third Hoosier Super Tour date is also a dual event at Hallet Motor Racing Circuit with the Mid-States Conference.

 

Dates are subject to change, but the 2017 U.S. Majors Tour Southern Conference calendar currently consists of the following:

 

- February 11-12: Texas World Speedway; College Station, Texas

 

- March 4-5: NOLA Motorsports Park; Avondale, Louisiana
Hoosier Super Tour (Dual Southern Conf./Southeast Conf. Event)

 

- March 24-26: Circuit of The America; Austin, Texas
Hoosier Super Tour

 

- April 8-9: Hallett Motor Racing Circuit; Jennings, Oklahoma
Hoosier Super Tour (Dual Southern Conf./Mid-States Conf. Event)

 

- April 29-30: Motor Speedway Resort Houston; Angleton, Texas

 

- May 27-28: Texas World Speedway; College Station, Texas

 

The Western Conference, Southeast Conference, Northern Conference, Northeast Conference and Mid-States Conference calendars have already been announced. Some changes were made this year to the SCCA U.S. Majors Tour program that focus on cost containment and providing greater control of non-Super Tour events to Regions and Divisions. While annual calendaring is approved by the central office to avoid conflicts wherever possible, host Regions or race groups have sole management responsibility of events, leading to potentially lower costs for racers due to a reduction in series staffing and services.

 

Hoosier Super Tour dates offer a heightened experience for both competitors and racing fans.  Race weekends include segmented timing and scoring, and have a dedicated “Super Tour Radio presented by Hoosier Racing Tire” team of announcers capable of providing consistent insight and entertainment heard at tracks or online at SCCA.com.  Dedicated staffing with a series race director, administrator and technical inspector working in conjunction with local event personnel is an additional feature of the Hoosier Super Tour.  Up to three static cameras will broadcast races live online at SCCA.com, and onsite SCCA public relations staff will provide weekend media coverage. Hoosier Super Tour dates will also have enhanced weekend social activities.

 

Drivers competing in the U.S. Majors Tour or Hoosier Super Tour should apply online for Series Registration at MotorsportReg.com.  Those paying the $50 Series Registration fee can reserve a single or two-digit number in a Conference of their choosing with payment deferred until January 1, 2017.  The same number can also be reserved in other Conferences for an additional $25 per Conference. A Series Registration fee of $100 allows drivers to register a three-digit number, with the leading digit required to be “1,” for all Conferences.

 

Only SCCA Full Competition and SCCA Pro Racing License holders may register for the U.S. Majors Tour or Hoosier Super Tour series.  Series Registration allows drivers to prepare number graphics for their cars that will be good for the season.  Registered participants also receive a special Hoosier SCCA Super Tour hard card and series decals for car placement prior to events.  Where available, Series Registration also provides access to a special registration line for express registration and tech.  Additionally, a $25 coupon will be supplied to registrants for merchandise at www.sccagear.com.

 

Reserved numbers will be honored until two weeks prior to an event.  In-Conference reserved numbers will be given priority over out-of-conference reserved numbers for event registration.  In the case of a dual-conference event, any duplicate reserved number requests will be resolved by earliest event registration.  The word “reserved” does not mean “permanent.” If class run groups for any event differ from a norm, then number assignments for that event will give preference to the in-conference drivers who register first, then further duplicate requests will be resolved by earliest event registration.  The reserved number program does not apply to the SCCA Runoffs.

 

Both the U.S. Majors Tour and Hoosier Super Tour serve as paths to the 2017 SCCA National Championship Runoffs with race days being Sept. 29-Oct. 1 at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

 

The Sports Car Club of America, Inc., founded in 1944, is a 67,000-member motorsports organization that incorporates all facets of autocross, rally and road racing at both club and professional levels. With headquarters in Topeka, Kansas, the SCCA annually sanctions over 2,000 events through its 115 Regions and professional subsidiary. Much of the SCCA’s activities are made possible with support from the following Official Partners: Chevrolet, the Official Truck of the SCCA; Garmin VIRB, the Official Camera of SCCA; Hawk Performance, the Official Brake Products of SCCA; Mobil 1, the Official Oil of SCCA; SafeRacer, the Official Safety Provider of SCCA; Sunoco, the Official Fuel of SCCA; and Tire Rack, the Official Tire Retailer of SCCA. To learn more, please visit www.scca.com.

[Johnny D]

SCCA Southern Conference Kickoff

 

The SCCA U.S. Majors Tour begins its six weekend Southern Conference racing series this Feb. 11-12, 2017

 

(Matt Reynolds, 2016 SCCA Runoffs Mid-Ohio USA ©2016 Rupert Berrington.)

 

The 2017 SCCA U.S. Majors Tour will kick off in SCCA’s Southern Conference this coming weekend, Feb. 11-12, at the challenging Texas World Speedway circuit in College Station, Texas. Despite rumors of the track’s closing, the facility is still completely operational and SCCA’s Texas Region is excited to host its annual Polar Prix to start the Conference’s 2017 Majors season off right.

 

Over 100 drivers will take on the beloved 2.9-mile “roval” course, looking to bring home victory – but possibly none more so than defending E Production SCCA National Champion Matthew Reynolds. “Texas World Speedway is a great track to kick off the 2017 season,” Reynolds says. “I’m looking forward to shaking some of the rust off and getting the cars ready for the SCCA Hoosier Super Tour races coming up.”

 

Having dominated the Mid-States Conference in previous years, Reynolds looks to continue that success with the help of his team and supporters of the SCCA Club Racing program. “We’re excited to have Hoosier Racing Tire as the title sponsor for those events and would love to put the No. 71 Hoosier Racing Tire/Jesse Prather Motorsports/G-LOC Brakes/Reynolds Brothers Racing Mazda Miata at the top of the points for not only the 2017 Hoosier Super Tour events, but all the Southern Conference Majors as well,” Reynolds continues.

 

Reynolds is already preparing for this year’s SCCA National Championship Runoffs fight in late September, and isn’t afraid of the unique challenge that the Indianapolis Motor Speedway may pose. “This season will be unique in that almost all of the drivers will have never turned a wheel on the track.” Reynolds explains. “I believe this will level the playing field and provide some intense and exciting racing.”

 

Reynolds is always up for a challenge, especially learning new tracks. “Indy seems to have a good mixture of low and high speed sections, which won’t heavily favor one aspect of a car, making this Runoffs E Production race even more competitive than last year,” he says. “Everyone has continued to step up their game, and I don’t anticipate anything different going into this season.”

 

Like with many race tracks, it’s hard to determine if one track individually is a close parallel to another, but Reynolds feels there are several road courses in SCCA’s Southern Conference that have similar components to the 14-turn, 2.592-mile road course at the Brickyard. “Texas World Speedway has the speed and some rhythm sections, NOLA is flat and has a series of esses, and Hallett is just busy, demanding, and requires a lot of focus,” Reynolds says. “Every weekend we are hoping to take something away that can be used to better prepare the car – and myself – for the Runoffs.”

 

Reynolds and at least five others will be racing for the E-Production win in Group 7. He will also be racing in Spec Miata, looking to maximize both track time and hardware.

 

Coverage of the Polar Prix from Texas World Speedway will be available on Race Monitor with final results posted to SCCA.com and sowdivscca.com. MazdaMotorsports.com will follow this race weekend and provide an update, as well.

 

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