PRESIDEN T’S CUP:
PRESTON PARDUS
The President’s Cup is awardedto a driver demonstratingability, competitiveness,and success at the NationalChampionship Runoffs. Claimingthe 2020 honor is Spec Miataracer Preston Pardus.
Having claimed his firstNational Championship inSpec Miata at IndianapolisMotor Speedway in 2017, anda runner-up Runoffs finish atVIRginia International Racewayin 2019, Pardus started eighthduring the 2020 Runoffs atRoad America in a field of 77.
On the last lap, Pardus enteredRoad America’s Turn 5 inseventh place, yet exiting Turn
12, Pardus had the lead andtook the win by 0.079sec.
JIM FITZGERALD ROOKIE OFTHE YEAR: SIMON SIKES
The Jim Fitzgerald Rookie of theYear honor is presented to anSCCA Road Racing competitorshowing the greatest promiseand is based on driving abilitydemonstrated during a firstseason of National competitionor rookie Runoffs appearance.
The 2020 Jim Fitzgerald Rookieof the Year is Simon Sikes.
In his rookie SCCA National
Championship appearance,
Sikes came out strong and
earned a Tire Rack Pole Award
in the Formula F class. The
Atlanta Region driver backed
up that performance with an
FF Runoffs victory and then
managed a runner-up finish
in the Formula Continental
National Championship
race later that same day,
further solidifying the fact
he is someone to keep an
eye on in the future.
KIMBERLY CUP:
AMY AQUILANTE
Awarded to an SCCA RoadRacing competitor whohas shown the greatestimprovement in the pastyear, the 2020 Kimberly Cupwas presented to AmericanSedan racer Amy Aquilante.
A member of SCCA’sPhiladelphia Region, Aquilantejoined the Club more than 15years ago. With nine Runoffsunder her belt, she’s nostranger to road racing. Her2019 National Championshipappearance at VIRginiaInternational Raceway, however,
SPEC TIRE FOR B-SPEC
The CRB is proposing that, effective June 1, 2021, B-Spec competitors inMajors, Super Tour, and the Runoffs races will compete on Hankook tires.
The dry tire is the Z214 205/50ZR15 with the wet Z217 sized 200/580R15.
Regional racers can continue to compete on other DOT tires through 2021.
2020 ROAD RACING AWARDS CELEBRATED
RUNOFFS SUCCESS
Preston Pardus earned the Presiden’t Cup.
ROOKIE PERFORMANCE
Simon Sikes sa w great Runoffs success.
DETERMINATION
Amy Aquilante’s return was strong.
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w i n e Each year, SCCA recognizes Summit Racing Equipment SCCA Road
Racing program standouts for their
hard work, dedication and skill. The
following individuals made the most of a
challenging 2020 and stood out among
the membership. They were virtually
presented with their awards during an
online ceremony on Wednesday, Dec. 16.
JOHN MCGILL AWARD
Noteworthy in 2020 is the JohnMcGill Award, bestowed for significantcontribution to the SCCA Club Racingprogram. Winners are chosen annuallyby the Club Racing Board in conjunctionwith the head of SCCA Road Racing, andthe list of previous recipients containsSCCA and motorsport luminaries.
Keeping in mind that 2020 was such a“distinct” year, SCCA Director of RoadRacing Deanna Flanagan noted theJohn McGill Award presentation wouldbe equally unique this time around.
“The 2020 John McGill Awardgoes to each SCCA region thathosted an SCCA Road Racing eventduring a very tumultuous year,” Cobbsaid. “Conducting race weekends iscomplex and requires a lot of work anddedication. Hosting race weekendsduring a pandemic? That increasesthe complexity tenfold or more.”
CHECKERED FLAG:
OSCARKOVELESKI
Oscar Koveleski, a 2015 inductee to the SCCA Hall of Fame, passed away on Dec. 28, 2020.
Koveleski was a tireless supporter and promoterof motorsport, as a driver, team owner, and businessowner. At 18-years old, he joined the PhiladelphiaRegion of the SCCA. His first win came in a 1951
SCCA Regional race at Bone Stadium in Pittston,Pa. He raced regularly through the 1950s and ’60sin SCCA Regional and National races, as well as the
12 hours of Sebring and the 24 hours of Daytona.
In 1970, he won the ASR National Championship atRoad Atlanta, beating 27-time National ChampionJerry Hansen by just one-tenth of a second. From
1969-’ 72, Koveleski was a regular competitor inSCCA Can-Am action, with his orange “Car 54”one of the most recognized cars in the series.
Looking for a way to contribute to better safetyfor drivers, he joined the board of directors ofthe Motor Racing Safety Society. Koveleski alsoserved on the Board of Directors for the SCCA andpromoted SCCA races at Pocono Raceway from1980-’96. In addition, he introduced a countlessnumber of children to racing, both in person andthrough his Auto World mail order catalog thatsold model and slot cars beginning in 1958.
“Oscar Koveleski was a treasure,” said fellowSCCA Hall of Famer, racer, and Road Racing DriversClub president Bobby Rahal. “His outspokenness andpassionate demeanor in trying to convince you of theimportance of his latest project were the essence of hispersonality. Never quitting, always promoting, in sucha charismatic way that one just couldn’t say no.”
