Jackson defends Runoffs title in action-packed Touring 4 race
 

[h=2]Jackson defends Runoffs title in action-packed Touring 4 race[/h] Sunday, 01 October 2017


SCCA / Image by Jay Bonvouloir
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The Touring 4 (T4) class packed as much drama as they could into the 19-lap SCCA National Championship Runoffs Sunday afternoon at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Action from the front of the 40-car field to the back kept spectators in suspense watching as the laps counted down.

Driving the No. 46 Jackson Racing BF Goodrich Toyota, Oscar Jackson, of Chino, Calif., defended his national title to take his second consecutive Runoffs victory, winning the race by only 0.16 second. Dynasty Racing teammates Darren Seltzer and rookie entry Kellie Czarny, both of Orlando, finished on the fender of Jackson with Seltzer taking second and Czarny completing the podium.

"To be able to have a chance to race here in Indy, there's just no feeling like it," Jackson said. "The times were close all week through qualifying and I knew it was going to be a tough race. Last year I only had to manage one top-of-the-line driver, this year, there were seven."
Jackson, surrounded by Dynasty Racing drivers, started on pole position with Chi Ho, of Orlando, on the outside of row one, and the No. 64 BF Goodrich/OrecaGear/G-Loc Scion of Seltzer on the inside of row two. As the green flag dropped, Ho and Seltzer took advantage of being teammates, working together to overtake Jackson at the start. Ho dipped to the outside with Seltzer pushing him from behind.
Jackson braked deep to make Turn 1 with three cars flying off into the grass behind him. Ho went wide on the outside, hitting the curb before Turn 6. Seltzer dropped back to third with Jackson challenging Ho side-by-side entering Turn 6. Exciting the esses, contact from Jackson caused Ho to shunt of track. Ho's incredible first-lap run in first ended before he crossed the bricks for the first time. Jackson and Seltzer held a sizeable lead after Lap 1 with Czarny challenging Jon Yanca for third.
Czarny, in the No. 77 Fidelity Funding Mortgage Corp Scion, seized third-place position on Lap 2 and started chipping away the gap Jackson and Seltzer created. It took Czarny eight laps to catch her teammate Seltzer. Drafting off Seltzer, Czarny passed for second on the front straight of Lap 17, but Seltzer quickly took his position back after Czarny hit lapped traffic in Turn 1. On the final lap, Czarny tried to make a move one last time for second, but lapped traffic trapped her again in a turn, allowing Seltzer to pull away to challenge for first. After shaking Czarny, Seltzer caught Jackson, but it was too late. Jackson crossed the stripe with Seltzer right on his tail.
Czarny finished nearly three seconds behind the pair, making her the only female to visit the podium in the 2017 Runoffs.
"I want to say to all the girls out there wanting to pursue a career in motorsports that there is a place for you here," Czarny passionately said. "Try karting, try cars, try SCCA Autocross, try everything. Follow your dreams because you belong here, too."
In the No. 51 RST Performance Racing Mazda RX-8, Raymond Blethen took fourth with Yanca charging in his No. 20 Steve Steeb Service/Hoosier/G-lock Mazda MX-5 from 11th to claim fifth.
The No. 3 Hoosier/SVLLC Mazda driven by Lance Stewart earned the Sunoco Hard Charger Award after moving from 25th on the grid to 12th at the checkered flag.
While the live broadcast of all 28 National Championships is available at SCCA.com and Motor Trend OnDemand, each race will be on demand in the coming weeks.