LEXINGTON, Ohio (Sept. 26, 2004) – Jeff Loughead, of Darien, Ill., captured his first National Championship Sunday, taking the Formula Vee class win at the 2004 SCCA National Championship Runoffs® Presented by Kohler at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Brad Stout, of Webster Groves, Mo., and Stevan Davis, of Powder Springs, Ga., completed the top three.

Driving the No. 8 Hoosier Tire/LL Loughead DDS Vortech 04C, Loughead led twice en route to his first SCCA Runoffs win. In typical Formula Vee fashion, the largest field at the SCCA Runoffs went four wide at the start, with Stout holding the lead. On lap three, a full-course yellow was displayed for two cars off-course in the “China Beach” gravel trap. When racing resumed on lap five, several cars battled for the lead. Running nose-to-tail the lead group swapped the top spot virtual ever lap. Just past the midway point of the 20-lap race, polesitter Stout was able to take the lead hold the position for several laps. On the penultimate lap, Loughead took over the lead entering the esses. Benefiting from Stout and Davis battling for position on the final lap, Loughead pulled out a small lead. Driving as smooth as he could, Loughead crossed the finish line winning by 0.576-second with an average speed of 71.549 mph.

“The race was all about the draft,” said Loughead, who proposed to his wife at his previous career best finish of second in 1995. “These cars don't have the horsepower to be able to pull away so one has to take the time to plan moves. During the race I was hoping to get into a three or four car group breakaway. I wanted to run about second or third and then make my move at the end of the race. Then we came into the end of the straight and I decided to stay to the inside. Brad [Stout] and Steve [Davis] went outside and I was able to get through into first. So there I was leading the last lap. The opportunity was there and I had to take it.”

Roger Siebenaler, of Williston, Vt., finished fourth, and Skip Streets, of San Clemente, Calif., completed the top five. All five drivers in the top five are now National Champions.

Now in its 41st year, the SCCA National Championship Runoffs annually crown the best amateur road racers in North America Champions. More than 700 competitors have gathered this year to battle for 24 class titles this year, with eight races being run each day from Friday through Sunday.

Celebrating its 60th 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 performance rally.

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Link to story: http://www.scca.com/News/News.asp?Ref=170