By SCCA

TOPEKA, Kan. – Sports Car Club of America, Inc., announced today that the SCCA National Championship Runoffs® will remain at Road America, in Elkhart Lake, Wis., through the 2013 event.   The 48^th edition of the event, which crowns National Champions in SCCA Club Racing’s 28 National classes, will be held Sept. 19-25, 2011.

The extension to the existing deal, originally a three-year agreement through 2011, assures that the premier event for amateur road racers in North America will remain in Wisconsin through the event’s historic 50^th running.

“Feedback from competitors and our members indicated that we should extend our relationship with Road America, but the reality is, assuring that the 50^th Runoffs is at a track with an equal amount of history and significance is a natural fit,” SCCA President & CEO Jeff Dahnert said. “The 2013 event will be a historic milestone for both the Runoffs and Road America, and we’re looking forward to sharing it, and the next three Runoffs, with them.”

More than 600 competitors participated in 28 classes at the 2010 National Championship Runoffs, which included four days of qualifying and three days of races. Including the 500 volunteer workers that operate the week-long event, the Runoffs serves as the center of the road racing world during that period.

“We've seen some of our season's finest, most competitive racing action during the Runoffs,” George Bruggenthies, Road America President, said. “The extension through 2013, including the 50th anniversary, is a great compliment to our organization. We will work closely with the SCCA to plan a celebration that fits the incredible spirit and passion behind SCCA Club Racing.”

The SCCA National Championship Runoffs moved to Road America in 2009, following three years of racing at Heartland Park Topeka. Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (1994-2005) and Road Atlanta (1970-1993) previously hosted the event that alternated in its early years between Riverside International Raceway (1964, 1966, and 1968) and Daytona International Speedway (1965, 1967, and 1969).

Dahnert noted that the SCCA Board of Directors intends to initiate a selection process for the event’s location following 2013. That process would likely start in 2012.