Each year, the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) hosts the largest amateur sportscar racing event, where drivers from across the country vie for the title of National Champion in a winner-takes-all, one-race shootout. Virginia International Raceway’s 3.27-mile track hosted the 2022 Runoffs the week of September 26 to October 2. And this year, the Sripath Technologies’ #12 Mini Cooper, driven by Steve Introne, took home the National Championship title in the B-Spec class.
In what commentators and broadcasters called a perfect race, Introne set the fastest lap each day during the three days of qualifying, earning the Tire Rack Pole Award. Then on Saturday, he led the pack of 30 cars, making it the third largest field, onto the course to take the green. From that point on, it was a green-to-checker race, with Introne leading every single lap.
By no means a runaway race, the battle for the podium was fierce among the top four drivers. In the end, Introne captured the win, crossing the finish line a mere 78/1000th of a second in front of the second place car.
“Winning a national championship is a team effort,” Introne explained. “My crew, my family, and especially the companies that sponsor me, all contributed to making this a reality. Sripath is a company known for its innovation, research and technical expertise, the same qualities required to deliver a national championship on the racetrack. That’s what makes Introne Racing and Sripath Technologies a winning combination.”
Introne finished the week with two additional recognitions for his achievement, the Gee Dubb Henderson Award of Excellence, as well as the Veteran Challenge 2022 Driver of Distinction award.
The entire race is available for viewing online at YouTube – fast forward to the 5:25 mark on Saturday’s race coverage. To watch an interview with Introne after the race, click here.
