[h=2]SCCA Runoffs? Part 2: Prod and GT[/h] Thursday, 21 September 2017
By J. Michael Hemsley and Sydney Davis Yagel / Images by Mark Weber, Rupert Berrington
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When it was announced that Indianapolis Motor Speedway would host the 2017
SCCA National Championship Runoffs on Sept. 25-Oct. 1, it was obvious things were about to get real. All race season the buzz has been palpable, and the moment event registration opened in July, records began to break. This will truly be a Runoffs like no other. So who will take the gold? With so many people set to descend on the Brickyard, the task of guessing a winner is difficult. But don't worry, that's what we're here for with our annual – and debatably ill thought out – prognostications.
E Production, F Production, H Production
Looking at the current season, Joe Moser says, "With the help of Hoosier tires, King Motorsports, and most of all, my dad, we enjoyed an 'undefeated' regular season." In his opinion, "E Production never fails to produce top-notch competition, and we don't expect 2017 to be any different at Indianapolis. Everyone brings their 'A' game to the Runoffs." As Moser suggests, the EP race should be one of the best of the weekend as the field will be very strong. Moser lists Matt Reynolds, Kip Van Steenburg, Jessie Prather, Aaron Downey, Jon Brakke, Chris Dryden, and Kevin Leigh as potential threats to his championship attempt. Every one of them is a credible threat, and there are probably a few others out there who will be fast. In our opinion, this race will end with Moser on top, Van Steenburg in second, and Reynolds in third. But we've been known to be wrong.
Joe Huffaker is one of the few people who have raced at IMS before – he won the SVRA Vintage Racing Championship there in DP three years ago, and he's our pick to win F Production this year. He's optimistic about the performance of his FP Midget at Indy. "My year has gone very well again," says Huffaker. "I got qualified early and have been working meticulously on the car. Since running Daytona and showing an MG Midget can do 143mph around the banking, I've continued to tinker on the motors. Lots of testing here at Sonoma Raceway, which will additionally help for next year."
Huffaker considers "anybody with a Lotus" to be a contender for the win, although he also mentions Eric Prill and Brian Linn. We anticipate Ken Ruck to be in the mix, too, placing his front-wheel-drive car between Huffaker and Prill
Huffaker's also looking forward to racing at Indy again, "Just being there and taking in the IMS atmosphere was really great, especially with my dad's history at Indy." The only potential snag may be that he is racing the Midget in both FP and GT-Lite – then again, we are talking about Joe Huffaker.
Speaking of Linn, he's our pick for a three-peat in H Production. When asked about racing at Indy, Brian Linn responded, "I'm very much looking forward to going to IMS. It's probably the most iconic track in the U.S., although for the oval aspect. I really like that there isn't a 'home track' factor and it's relatively equal for all of us."
Linn has been running both FP and HP again this year, so it will be a challenge to be fast in both, but he's capable. As for the competition, he says, "Yaris, Yaris, Yaris." He thinks the track with its long straights and lack of elevation change is perfect for Jason Isley and his Toyota. But he also believes there will be a wealth of competition, mentioning Dan Meller, Vesa Silegren, Greg Gauper, Ron Bartell, Matt Brannon, and Eric Vickerman. He adds, "How can you resist the intrigue of Parker Johnstone returning to Indy?"
For our HP podium prediction, it'll be Linn, Isley, and Bartell; although maybe not in that order.