After a day of practice and three days of qualifying, the 2013 SCCA National Championship Runoffs races are ready to get underway at Road America for the 50th Anniversary edition. Eight Mazda drivers claimed pole positions for the races, including those in all-Mazda or Mazda-powered classes. All pole times were set on Tuesday, as rain made going faster on Wednesday and Thursday difficult.
In the spec classes, Jim Drago will start on pole in Spec Miata, while Scott Rettich and Doug Peterson will start up front in Formula Enterprises and Formula Mazda, respectively.
Out of the nine multi-manufacturer classes in which Mazdas are entered, five poles went to Mazdas. E Production had the greatest number and variety near the top, with Aaron Downey setting fast qualifying time in an RX-3. He’ll be followed to the green by Jim Daniels and Matt Reynolds in Miatas. Jesse Prather added to the diversity by qualifying sixth in an MX-5, just ahead of Kenneth Shreve in an RX-7.
Joel Weinberger will start on the B-Spec pole in a Mazda2, one of five in the field. The fastest GT-3 racer was Mike Henderson in his third-generation RX-7.
Both Super Touring classes are headed by Mazdas. Super Touring Lite will be led by Rob Huffmaster in an RX-8 and Marc Hoover earned the pole for Super Touring Under in his Miata.
Sixty-nine Spec Miata drivers set times during qualifying, and the starting field will likely break the previous record for a Runoffs field – set in last year’s Spec Miata race.