Corvettes win in the 2025 SCCA Runoffs at Road America

Corvettes win national Championships in the T1 and GT2 classes at Road America, now in its 62nd year.

In the T1 race, James Candelaria from Boca Raton FL # 134 C6 2006 Corvette prepared by Phoenix Performance won the T1 class in a heated battle with friendly rival Hugh Stewart in his # 23 BMW.  After clashing mid-race in Canada Corner, James recovered and put the hammer down to emerge the winner on the final lap of the 12-lap race.

Michael Pettiford from Louisville CO # 41 C6 2006 Corvette dropped out on the ninth lap and was classified fifth.

The T1 class with just 6 cars was combined in the race for the GT1 cars (see below) which started ahead.

In the GT2 race, Jorge Nazario from San Juan Puerto Rico # 165 2012 Corvette worked his way from ninth to second as others faltered by the wayside; and was named the GT2 class winner due to a post-race penalty assessed against Ray Mason in his Ford Mustang.  His one-of-a-kind Phoenix Performance C7 GT2 Corvette was designed, built, tested and raced by Andrew Aquilante, a gifted driver, constructor and former GT2 champ.

Michael Quattlebaum from Houston TX # 22 2004 C5 Corvette by G-Speed failed to complete a lap and was not scored as a result.

In the GT1 race, Ryan McManus from Seville OH # 07 2003 C5 Corvette was the top GT1 Corvette with a sixth-place finish.  After many years, the car is now clad with a classy-looking newer C7 body.

Tony Ave from Maiden, NC, a long-time Corvette stalwart, led all 13 laps for the win in his # 44 Bill Riley designed Camaro.  No sour grapes but the consensus seems to be that the Camaro and Mustang are more aerodynamic as # 31 Dave Ruehlo, another Corvette stalwart also switched to a Camaro body.

David Fershtand from Dallas TX # 05 2003 C5 Corvette finished tenth.

Dominick Martinloch, a newcomer from Kennwa WA # 73 2003 C5 Corvette finished eleventh.

Rocky Elli from Winnetka, IL # 11 2015 C7 Corvette did not start the race which was quite disappointing after finishing fourth last year.

In the T2 race, Dave Sanders from Malvern PA # 73 2001 C5 Corvette finished fifth in the T2 class.  Dave takes great pride and has had lots of good times with this car, prepared by Phoenix Performance in which John Heinricy, Corvette racing legend, won five straight championships from 2001 to 2005.

Photos courtesy of Pete Gorski and Jeff Loewe.

It is still anyone’s guess when prices will come down to a point where it makes economic sense to race a C8 Corvette in SCCA competition.