The SCCA® National Championship Runoffs® presented by Sunoco is headed to Road America on Sept. 28-Oct. 6, 2024, and this 60th anniversary celebration promises to be spectacular.
This fall, 26 drivers will be crowned National Champions and hundreds more drivers, volunteer workers, family, and crew will be there to witness it all. Fueled officially by Sunoco and unofficially by cheese and bratwurst, it’s going to be an event to attend no matter your role.
To get there, though, there are numerous important dates to be aware of. Let’s get to it.
Single-Car Paddock Reservation: Aug. 21
Road America has lots of great places to paddock for the week (it is, after all, America’s National Park of Speed), with each spot providing a different view and neighbors. While plenty of spots remain, you’ll want to register for your favorite location.
Prep Shop paddock parking is already underway, but Single-car paddock reservations for drivers not parking with a prep shop can reserve their spot beginning Aug. 21at Noon CT, and if you have a preference, you’ll want to move quick because it happens on a first come, first served basis. Paddock spaces are selected via an interactive online paddock map.
Some fine tuning – you, of course, must be registered for the Runoffs prior to selecting your spot. When choosing your paddock space, please be logged into the same MotorsportReg account you entered the event with, or it won’t work.
To ensure a smooth booking process, make sure you’re using a supported browser (Safari for iOS, Chrome for Android; on desktops, use Safari, Chrome, Firefox, IE 11, and newer). If you experience technical difficulties, please try closing and reopening a new browser.
The link for paddock registration will be located on the Runoffs homepage.
For additional paddock parking questions, contact runoffs@scca.com; for technical issues, contact msrhelp@motorsportreg.com.
Late Registration: Sept. 1
There are a variety of reasons a driver may have to wait to decide if they’re attending the Runoffs, and that’s OK. But keep a looming Aug. 31/Sept. 1 crossover in mind. Beginning at midnight (Central Time) on the early morning of Sept. 1, the entry fee will increase, jumping an additional $500 from the current entry fee of $1,125.
If there are other reasons you’re holding back, hopefully we can help.
This chart may help you determine if you’ve earned a Runoffs invite. If you’re still unsure, a chart showing all qualified drivers through the Hoosier Racing Tire SCCA Super Tour and U.S. Majors Tour paths will be posted on the Runoffs homepage soon. If you want to doublecheck your eligibility through the Divisional path, check with your Division’s scorekeeper.
If you’re still working on qualifying and think it may be a tossup, you can register now and request a full refund prior to Sept. 18.
That refund information, along with many things you should be aware of (including how the Runoffs Appearance Fund works), can be found in the supplemental regulations. The “supps” are often skimmed through, but at an event like the Runoffs contain information that is unique to this event. Check out the Runoffs supps here.
Driver and worker registration can be found here:
Flagtronics: Today!
It’s been a topic of conversation all season long, but somehow these things can sneak up on you: A Flagtronics system is required in every car at the 2024 Runoffs.
Hear that one more time, just in case you didn’t read it closely. It is required, not suggested, to have a Flagtronics system in your car at the Runoffs.
The system has been optional for Hoosier Super Tours this year, but when everyone participates at the Runoffs, each group will get more green flag time because it’s possible to slow the field without a safety car, without taking an extra lap to bunch the field, and without waiting on everyone to visibly pass the start finish line to begin a clean-up.
If you’ve waited to order your Flagtronics system, head to Flagtronics.com and order one of the SCCA-approved kits now so it arrives in time for the event.
Contingency Sign Up: Before the Runoffs
The deadline for contingency sign-up is actually before the event begins, but why wait? The Runoffs contingency program is larger and more robust than the “regular season,” but as always is free to participate.
Someone does it every year – “I didn’t sign up for that one because I didn’t think I would be in a position to receive a contingency award.”
Be pleasantly surprised and register for every program you’re eligible for. Races are unpredictable and not all programs are exclusively for podium finishers.
Sign up for Runoffs contingency now.
Workers of the Year and Mechanic Awards: Very Soon
The unsung heroes of our world often go unrecognized while a driver gets interviewed on the podium. But it’s possible to close that gap through the SCCA Worker of the Year presented by Mazda and the SCCA Mechanic of the Year awards.
Broken down by specialty, the Worker of the Year awards are an outstanding way to recognize those SCCA volunteers who go out of their way to make our sport better for everyone.
Nomination forms can be found below – but don’t delay:
- Mechanic of the Year Award (submission deadline is Oct. 21)
- Worker of the Year Awards – (submission deadline is Sept. 10)
Buy Runoffs Tickets: ASAP
Not racing or volunteering but want to take in this year’s action in person? Spectator tickets are already on sale! Road America is one of the best places in the world to watch a road race, and you can purchase spectator tickets in advance. And remember: SCCA members get 20% off tickets.
Purchase Runoffs spectator tickets today!
Photo by Philip Royle