Mazda Racers Shine in Runoffs Preview at Sonoma

The final SCCA Western Conference Majors race weekend attracts a host of drivers eager to test before the 2018 Runoffs

A race at the home of the SCCA National Championship Runoffs is often an indicator of what one might expect for the big event come fall. While last year we didn’t see a race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway prior to the Runoffs, this year, SCCA’s San Francisco Region hosted a U.S. Majors Tour race at Sonoma Raceway where the championship event will be held Oct. 16-21, 2018. 

Any Majors race at the Runoffs track usually brings out championship hopefuls from all over the country, eager to log time at the circuit prior to the big show. But with this year’s event being so far West, few East Coasters made the trip, opting instead for the Runoffs test days to familiarize themselves with the technical, hilly circuit. Still, enough top-rank drivers made the trip, offering a sure indicator of what will come this October.

In Spec Miata, Mark Drennan, hailing from nearby San Jose, put on a clinic. He didn’t just win, he pulled out a gap over Tristan Littlehale and Austin Newmark in a field that also included Matt Reynolds and Brad Rampelberg. It was reminiscent of his performance at the Runoffs at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in 2014 when he finished first on track. That was the year of the head controversy, and his finish – along with the finishes of many others in the class – didn’t stand.

“It feels a lot like preparing for the Runoffs in ’14,” said Drennan at the track. “I’ve worked all year long to make sure that my game is solid and I’m ready to go. I feel great about October and I just hope that I’m able to realize what I hope is my destiny.

“I actually came in to the weekend thinking that Ken Sutherland in his 1.6 was going to be unbeatable and that I really didn’t stand much of a chance unless I got in front of him and had a really wide Miata, so I’m surprised it wasn’t as close,” Drennan continued. “I did have some good pressure from both Tristan and Austin in both races, but I think I have the tires figured out and my setup dialed in, and my driving was pretty darned good. I know this track pretty well and everything seems to be coming together.”

There are several other strong local Mazda drivers with home track advantages that have a good chance of winning the Runoffs, such as Jake Pipal, who won both days in B-Spec in a Mazda2; Jim Devenport, who was a double winner in Formula Enterprises 2; and Bill Weaver in Formula Mazda. While not exactly local, hailing from Southern California, Michael Lewis won GT-3 in an RX-7 on Saturday, beating four-time SCCA national champ Collin Jackson, who has won every Runoffs he has attended. Lewis raced in GT-1 Sunday, since he is qualifying in both classes and they usually run in the same group on Majors weekends. Ross Murray was another Southern Californian to win, taking his RX-8 to a victory in Touring 4 on Sunday over some stiff competition.

Glen McCready has the home track advantage in E Production, and his NC MX-5 is looking fast. He won on Saturday, but Matt Reynolds took the victory on Sunday. Reynolds is hoping that by race time at the Runoffs, any home track advantage disappears. 

“We were both out here gearing up for the Runoffs obviously – I wanted to pick up the track and make some changes to the car, try to figure out what works and what doesn’t,” Reynolds said after Sunday’s race. “Yesterday was a great race with Glen. We were real close the entire race. It didn’t shake out that way today, but that’s just kind of how it goes. You try different things – it worked out for me, didn’t work out for him, so we finished one-two again. He’s definitely quick here – he’s very smooth. We’ve just got to prepare for it and be ready.”

The Sonoma Majors weekend was the final Majors weekend in SCCA’s Western Conference; look for a report on the Conference championships soon on MazdaMotorsports.com. The 2018 SCCA National Championship Runoffs will be held in October on the traditional Sonoma Raceway layout, with three days of qualifying leading into three days of racing for 28 different classes. 

SCCA U.S. Majors Tour
Sonoma Raceway
Sonoma, Calif., June 29-July 1, 2018
Saturday Provisional Mazda Winners
GT-3: Michael Lewis; Poway, Calif.; RX-7
BS: Jake Pipal; Oakdale, Calif.; Mazda2
EP: Glen McCready; Redwood City, Calif.; MX-5
FE2: Jim Devenport; Modesto, Calif.; Formula Enterprises Mazda
FE: Brandon Chappell; Las Vegas, Nev.; Formula Enterprises Mazda
FM: Bill Weaver; Fresno, Calif.; Star Formula Mazda
SM: Mark Drennan; San Jose, Calif.; Miata

Sunday Provisional Mazda Winners
EP: Matt Reynolds; Fair Oaks, Texas; Miata
BS: Jake Pipal; Oakdale, Calif.; Mazda2
FE2: Jim Devenport; Modesto, Calif.; Formula Enterprises Mazda
FE: Brandon Chappell; Las Vegas, Nev.; Formula Enterprises Mazda
FM: Bill Weaver; Fresno, Calif.; Star Formula Mazda
SM: Mark Drennan; San Jose, Calif.; Miata
T4: Ross Murray; Marina Del Rey, Calif.; RX-8