Davis Captures 13th Title in the Final Race of the 2005 SCCA National Championship Runoffs

LEXINGTON, Ohio (Sept. 25, 2005) – Duane Davis, of Camas, Was., captured his 13th National Championship Sunday, taking the Grand Touring 2 class win at the 2005 SCCA National Championship Runoffs® Presented by Kohler at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. David Finch, of Ann Arbor, Mich., and Jim Goughary, of Houston, Texas, completed the top-three.

Completing Mid-Ohio’s 12-year run of hosting the Runoffs, Davis led the Grand Touring 2 field to the green flag. Racing side-by-side into the first turn with six-time National Champion Finch, Davis held the lead, despite light contact between the two cars. Attacking the course, the duo quickly pulled out a gap on third place Gilles, who had moved into the position at the start, as he battled Goughary and Tom Patton. Holding off early challenges from Finch, Davis steadily began to pull away, building his gap to over five seconds. As the lead duo circulated the 2.258-mile track unchallenged, the battle for third heated up. Passing Gilles just past the halfway mark of the 20-lap race, Goughary passed Patton for third on lap 13. Running unchanged to checkered flag, Davis crossed the start/finish 7.797 seconds ahead of Finch, to capturing his eighth Grand Touring 2 National Championship and 13th Championship overall. The active leader in National Championships, Davis’ 13 titles ranks second all-time behind Jerry Hansen’s 27 wins.

“For me it was a great race,” said Davis. “The first few laps were pretty tight. I had my areas where I was quick and David [Finch] had his. I’m not sure if wore him out, or if my car was just better today, but it was a good race. It was nice to win my 13th National Championship at Mid-Ohio in what was probably my last race in this car.”

Patton, of Hamilton, Ohio, finished fourth, and Gilles, of Avon Lake, Ohio, completed the top-five.

No. 60 Tony Giordano wins the Sunoco Hard Charger Award for advancing six positions, to finish 16th after starting 22nd.

Now in its 42nd year, the SCCA National Championship Runoffs annually crown the best amateur road racers in North America as Champions. More than 750 competitors have gathered this year to battle for 23 class titles this year, with eight races being run Friday and Saturday and seven on Sunday.

Celebrating its 61st anniversary, Sports Car Club of America is a 60,000 member motorsports organization that sanctions and promotes grassroots and professional motorsports events of a variety of disciplines, including road racing, autocrossing, road rally and rallycross.