RACE: Stillwell races for record book at Runoffs

DUBLIN, Ohio (September 21, 2000) - Warren Stilwell, of Hartville, Ohio, will try to build upon Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course's longest active win streak when he defends his Spec Racer Ford SCCA National Championship at the Valvoline Runoffs®, October 2-8.

Should Stilwell claim this year's title, he will have won seven national championships in a row, all at Mid-Ohio. This would give him sole possession of second place in the SCCA record books for the most consecutive national championships in the same class. Stilwell's first SCCA National Championship came in 1994, when the Valvoline Runoffs® moved to Mid-Ohio from Road Atlanta.

Overall, he has won 10 races in a row at the track including four SCCA Pro Spec Racer events. Stilwell has the longest active winning streak at the historic Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, a stat that has earned him the nickname "Mr. Mid-Ohio." His most recent victory at the track came during this season's U.S. Road Racing Classic in June.

"The Valvoline Runoffs® are just as competitive as the big time events because the cars are matched equally and one race counts for everything," Stilwell said. "The pressure is really starting to build for this year's event because everyone expects so much. With the streak, everyone will be shooting for me."

Stilwell competed in the SCCA National Championship event for six years before claiming his first Spec Racer Ford title at Mid-Ohio in 1994. Since that time, he has been able to build a streak at the course by meshing his fluid racing style with the many turns and elevation changes of Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

"I enjoy the twisty creative style of driving at Mid-Ohio," Stilwell said. "You have to use more ballet-type maneuvers back and forth on the track and through the 15 turns. It takes all of the car to win."

The Spec Racer Ford title is one of 24 that will be decided at this year's Valvoline Runoffs®. The 2000 event is the 37th edition of the Valvoline Runoffs®, and the seventh time the event has come to Mid-Ohio. Over 600 of North America's top amateur drivers will compete in the weeklong SCCA National Championship event.

Practice for the Valvoline Runoffs® begins Monday, October 2. Qualifying gets underway Tuesday, October 3, and runs through Thursday, October 5. The 20-lap SCCA National Championship races happen Friday, October 6, through Sunday, October 8.

Daily, weekend and weeklong general admission passes are available. Call 1-800-MID-OHIO or (419) 884-4000, or visit the track's web site at www.midohio.com <http://www.midohio.com> for ticket information.