When Autoweek last spoke to the president and CEO of the Sports Car Club of America ("Jeff Dahnert drives the SCCA forward," Oct. 24, 2012), Dahnert told us that since the five-year deal with Road America in Wisconsin ends this year, he'd like to begin moving the SCCA National Championship Runoffs to different locations, possibly a year here, a year there, rather than locking into multi-year contracts with one facility.

He said he'd even like to take the Runoffs west of the Rocky Mountains, for the first time since 1968, when they ran at the long-shuttered Riverside. But, he said, it would likely be a few years before that could happen, given the typically glacier-like pace the SCCA moves at, thanks in part to a conservative board of directors.

So it came as a surprise when Dahnert announced at a press conference today that not only will the Runoffs visit the West Coast, it would happen in 2014, when the event will take place at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

Then, just as surprising: The next year the Runoffs moves to the East Coast -- Daytona International Speedway, which hosted the Runoffs decades ago. And then in 2016, it's back to the old Runoffs home of Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Three years, three different tracks: Ambitious, Dahnert told Autoweek, but worth it. "I give a lot of the credit to the board we have now," Dahnert said. They are obviously far more willing to take chances than boards in the past.

It will also be quite a challenge logistically: Having the race at one track for five straight years offered a certain comfort level for SCCA and the workers. But with each passing year, attendance typically drops, with racers figuring they have been there, done that, at the same track year after year.

Dahnert also credits SCCA vice president of club racing Terry Ozment for actually cutting the deals with the tracks, and beginning the process of making sure the logistics work. After all, the SCCA is a volunteer club, and the races must be staffed with officials and corner workers, typically coordinated by the local host SCCA chapters. Getting them on board was a challenge, too.

And then there were the tracks themselves -- as busy as facilities like Mazda Raceway at Laguna Seca and Daytona International Speedway are, getting them to commit a full week or more to one event isn't easy, especially since a total competitor car count of more than 1,000 is not out of the question.

In the case of Laguna, it likely would not have even been possible a few years ago, said Gill Campbell, CEO and general manager of MRLS. Because of its location, its race dates and noise levels are limited by the local government. Only recently, Campbell said, has more control over the dates been given to the track to make an event like the Runoffs possible.

Campbell said that hosting the Runoffs will be great for both the racers and the track. Laguna "sas soul," she said. "It's such an iconic facility. I know the racers will love coming here, and we look forward to having them."

Joie Chitwood, president of Daytona International Speedway, said that he tried to get the Runoffs to come to Indianapolis Motor Speedway when he was in charge of that track, but the SCCA management then was "unrealistic" about what it would take. "I'm so happy they are coming back to Daytona," Chitwood said. "It's part of the SCCA's history, and part of Daytona's history, and it will be great to reconnect."

"It's great to have the SCCA Runoffs back at Mid-Ohio as amateur racing helped build the history of this track," Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course president Craig Rust said. "Over the past few years many of our fans have asked about the Runoffs returning so we know they will be excited to welcome them back in 2016."

The move is expected to increase manufacturer support, too. Since there is no prize money, many racers depend on contingency money to help cover expenses. "Club racing is the heart and soul of Mazda Motorsports," Mazda Motorsports director John Doonan said. "We are proud to help bring the biggest club racing event in the country to our home track for 2014."

Dates have yet to be confirmed for the 2014 SCCA National Championship Runoffs or beyond. This year, the Runoffs will be held Sept. 16-22 at Road America. But don't expect that to be a lame-duck effort: It is the 50th anniversary of the Runoffs, and both the SCCA and long-participating manufacturers such as Mazda and Nissan will be there in force bringing drivers and cars from the past for what should be a huge event.

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