The 2024 SCCA® National Championship Runoffs® presented by Sunoco will be a celebration for many reasons, the most notable being it’s the 60th anniversary of the SCCA Runoffs. It also marks the Club’s return to America’s National Park of Speed, Elkhart Lake’s Road America.
The 4.048-mile, 18-turn circuit – located in the beautiful Kettle Moraine region of Wisconsin – will host the event on Sept 28-Oct. 6, 2024. Activities include three test days, three days of qualifying to earn Tire Rack Pole Awards, three Hagerty race days, and social gatherings throughout.
Over six decades, the Runoffs has seen such racers as Bobby and Graham Rahal, Bob Bondurant, Scott Sharp, Randy Pobst, and many more set a motorsports career in motion with a win at the Runoffs. While that’s impressive, the Runoffs is really a place for competitors from across the nation to gather at one location each year to battle on track for one week, while building friendships that last a lifetime.
But before SCCA descends on Road America, there are some important dates competitors, crew, and volunteers need to mark on their calendars.
Dates to Know
June 26: Prep Shop Paddock Requests
Prep shop paddock requests can be made starting at 9 a.m. CT on Wednesday, June 26. The procedure will be the same as used in 2022 and 2023. This request process is only available to eligible prep shops that meet certain criteria, such as being a commercial business that provides event race services and employs crew members. More details and criteria can be found in the Registration and Paddock Parking Information document.
Details needed during the Runoffs paddock request process include prep shop business information, as well as the name, SCCA member number, and car class for each driver competing through a prep shop. These drivers need not have fulfilled Runoffs qualification criteria at this time, and prep shops have until July 26 to submit requests.
Also required is the trailer/rig type, width, and length of the trailer/rig with awning, and total compound footprint. Prep shops will indicate their preferred paddock location during the request process. Prep shop paddock assignments will begin July 29. Don’t forget drivers paddocking with a prep shop must be registered in order to be considered in the prep shop paddock request.
Click here for more information on paddock spaces at Road America. General information is also available via the Runoffs event page.
July 10: Volunteer and Driver Registration
The registration window for volunteers and drivers opens at 10 a.m. CT on Wednesday, July 10 at MotorsportReg.com. Drivers need not have fulfilled Runoffs qualification criteria to register for the event. Prior to the registration process, competitors should log into their MotorsportReg account to ensure their SCCA member number, license expiration date, and vehicle profile information are correct. This will save time and reduce frustration during online registration.
During the registration process, drivers will have the opportunity to select a prep shop (completing the verification process for the Prep Shop paddock request) or a manufacturer paddock area (Mazda or Toyota). Prep shop and manufacturer assignments will begin July 29, and event registration must be completed before the assignment can be made.
Drivers who participated in the 2023 Runoffs may select their 2024 car number in the same class for this year’s event. Eligible competitors must register no later than 9 a.m. CT on Wednesday, July 17, to secure the previous year’s number. Afterward, unclaimed 2023 numbers will become available to other competitors.
In the case of groups with combined qualifying sessions, if two competitors request the same number, the requested number will be assigned to the competitor who completed registration first. As always, the number “1” is reserved for the defending National Champion in each class.
For prep shops and their employees, there will again be a separate event registration procedure. Instructions for that process can be found here or at the Runoffs event page under the Driver/Prep Shops menu link.
Worker Registration Driver Registration
July 10: Test Day and Camping Registration
Test day reservations should be made during the driver registration procedure, which opens July 10. Those requests are made within the driver registration process. The test day schedule is available from the Runoffs event page menu.
There will be a free participant camping area for dry RV/camping across from the Turn 7 spectator hill. During online event registration, participants may request a camping pass (for an unreserved spot) in this area by simply checking a box. Participants may sleep in their marked paddock area at no charge.
Road America also offers reserved RV camping spots with and without electricity, as well as reserved tent camping. Participants may reserve these sites through Road America using this link.
Road America also offers cabin rentals located along the front straight.
Aug. 21: Single-Car Paddock Reservations
The single-car paddock reservation process opens at 12 p.m. CT on Wednesday, Aug. 21, at MotorsportReg.com. Check out the Runoffs event page for more details and a link to the form on MotorsportReg.com.
Party in the Paddock
The Runoffs is so much more than just cars on track. For starters, get ready to dance at the 60th Anniversary Celebration with the SCCA-member featured band Backroads. Also on tap are track walk sessions Sunday, Sept. 29, and Monday, Sept. 30. More details will be available shortly regarding the annual Block Party, Tire Rack Pole Awards, Worker of the Year Presented by Mazda celebration, and more.
About the Runoffs
The National Championship Runoffs, which caps the Summit Racing Equipment SCCA Road Racing program each year, has evolved into what is now commonly agreed to be the pinnacle of amateur road racing in the United States. Since 1964, SCCA has crowned champions through the winner-take-all, single race Runoffs format conducted over three days. This year, the 60th anniversary of the SCCA Runoffs will see winners crowned across 26 different car classes.
Photo by Philip Royle
