Wednesday SCCA Runoffs notebook

The 2018 SCCA Runoffs are underway at Sonoma Raceway. Follow the action live by clicking here.

Here's what's happening:

SCCA to hold charity 5K on Sonoma Raceway

The 2018 SCCA Runoffs 5K and Checkered Flag Dash will be held on Saturday, October 20 at Sonoma Raceway. The one-mile Checkered Flag Dash will start at 6:00 p.m., and the 5K race will begin at 6:30 p.m.

In support of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, 100 percent of the proceeds will benefit a local pediatric cancer charity, arranged through the Speedway Children's Charities foundation. Anyone may make an additional donation during online registration or at the packet pickup desk for the foot races.

Continuing a tradition started at last year’s Runoffs in Indianapolis, all registrants for the 5K run will be entered in a drawing for a ride in an IndyCar two-seater courtesy of the Indy Racing Experience. In addition to this ride, the organizers have arranged several other door prizes including items ranging from free tires to brake pads and running shoes.

SCCA offers special thanks to Fleet Feet Sports Santa Rosa for their support in planning and putting on these charity events.

Tuesday qualifying results – Provisional pole leaders

At the close of the first day of qualifying, the following drivers hold fast times. Todd Slusher was fastest overall with a time of 1:27.714 in his Elan DP02 running in the Prototype 1 class:

AS Andrew McDermid, Ford Mustang, 1:47.782

BS Oscar Jackson, Ford Fiesta, 1:59.815

EP Matt Reynolds, Mazda Miata, 1:47.372

FA Spencer Brockman, Swift 014a, 1:28.270

FB JR Osborne, RFR F1000, 1:28.612

FC Robert Armington, Van Diemen RF00, 1:32.912

FE Quinten Nelson, SCCA Mazda FE, 1:39.382

FE2 Liam Snyder, SCCA Mazda FE2, 1:35.206

FF Jonathon Kotyk, Honda Mygale, 1:42.413

FM Bryce Cornet, Star Formula Mazda, 1:36.006

FP Joe Huffaker, MG Midget, 1:48.834

FV Andrew Thomas Abbott, Vector AM-1, 1:53.362

F5 Jeff Jorgenson, Novakar J10, 1:42.418

GT1 Preston Calvert, Porsche 991, 1:37.066

GT2 Michael McAleenan, BMW, 138.330

GT3 Collin Jackson, Nissan 240SX, 1:41.740

GTL Joe Huffaker, MG Midget, 1:48.562

HP Jason Isley, Toyota Yaris, 1:54.409

P1 Todd Slusher, Elan DP02, 1:27.714

P2 Chuck Bona, Stohr WF1, 1:32.031

SM Ken Sutherland, Mazda Miata, 1:54.355

SRF3 Mike Miserendino, Spec Racer Ford 3, 1:46.656

STL Cliff Ira, Acura Integra GSR, 1:50.686

STU Nathan Pope, Honda Prelude, 1:46.281

T1 Kristofer Olson, Acura NSX Turbo World Challenge, 1:42.480

T2 Mark Boden, Porsche 911 Carrera S, 1:45.699

T3 Marshall Mast, Ford Mustang, 1:48.026

T4 Gresham Wagner, Mazda MX-5, 1:53.511

Mark Weber prepares for his 58th and 59th Runoffs races

Noted motorsports photographer and driver Mark Weber already holds the record for the most Runoffs starts in SCCA history at 57 races. This year, he plans to make his 58th and 59th Runoffs starts in a Mazda Miata, running both EP and FP at Sonoma Raceway.

“Sonoma’s always been one of my favorite tracks to photograph, but this is the first time I’ve raced here,” Weber says. “I’ve always wanted to race here because it’s so nice and picturesque and hilly and treacherous and tricky to learn. All that stuff’s great.”

Weber enjoys planning his season to make his Runoffs races significant.

“This will be race 586 and 587 in my career,” he notes. “I’ll do 12 races in the regular season next year, and then go to the Runoffs at Virginia in only one class. That will be my 600th race and my 60th runoffs appearance.”

For Weber, the length of time he’s been coming is a competition on its own.

“I’ve raced at the Runoffs every year since 1982, and I’ve been a photographer at every Runoffs since 1971,” he declares. “Richard Colburn is here in the P1 class, and he’s been racing at every Runoffs since 1981. Every year at the start of the season we see each other in Florida and say, ‘Well, we’re still here and still racing,’ and every year we get together on the first day of the Runoffs and say, ‘Here we are!’ I’m going to outlast him somehow.”