The first of two championship race days at the 63rd Mission Foods SCCA® National Championship Runoffs® at Road America concluded on Oct. 3, 2026, with American Sedan® taking the green moments after Touring 2.
With cool temperatures and the setting sun popping through the clouds, the V8 engines of the American Sedan class closed out the Hagerty Race Day with Tire Rack Polesitter and Detroit Region member Andrew McDermid leading the field to the green flag in his No. 24 WeatherTech/Discount Tire/Motorsta Ford Mustang GT. McDermid shared the front row with second-place qualifier Daniel Richardson in his No. 22 Hoosier/AutoGear/Carbotech/GT/Anze Chevrolet Camaro.
Eight-time SCCA National Champion, McDermid got a great jump at the green flag, taking the lead into Turn 1. Then in Turn 2, McDermid had a massive lockup, allowing second-place driver Washington DC Region's Richardson to get to McDermid’s rear bumper. Third-place qualifier Ross Murray held third place until lap two, when Atlanta Region’s Michael Kamalian got his No. 99 RevolutionCNC.com/Hoosier/G-Loc/MCS Ford Mustang GT around Murray in Turn 3.
At the front of the pack, things were a four-wheel drift, classic Mustang-Camaro battle with McDermid leading and Richardson in tow. The two began to gap the field, with Richardson earning an early fast lap a few tenths of a second quicker than McDermid before a full-course yellow bunched up the field.
On the restart, McDermid and Richardson wasted no time accelerating away from the field. Meanwhile, Murray reclaimed third place in Turn 1, passing Kamalian.
Richardson, a two-time National Champion, had great handling in his Camaro while McDermid had a big motor in his Mustang, which caused the two drivers to accordion lap after lap, although McDermid never relinquished the lead.
For third place, Kamalian got by Murray, but then on lap nine, Murray suffered mechanical issues, forcing his retirement from the race.
With the race winding down, Philip Smith, who started fifth, seemingly came out of nowhere and took third from Kamalian. Kamalian didn’t roll over, though, and on the penultimate lap, he squeezed back past Smith for the final spot on the podium.
In the final laps, Richardson gave it everything his Camaro had but it wasn’t enough to catch McDermid, who took the checkered flag and his ninth SCCA National Championship title. To celebrate, McDermid cooked the rear tires off his Mustang at just about every corner of Road America – standard fare for a McDermid Runoffs victory – before heading to the podium celebration to spray Mazza sparkling wine with Richardson and Kamalian.
“Oh, man that was wonderful,” said a cheery McDermid. “Danny Richardson really put the pinch on me, he did a really good job, and the WeatherTech Mustang really came through like a champ!”
Second-place finisher Richardson, teary-eyed, announced that he was retiring his now-vintage Camaro after this event. “It’s been an emotional year for us, this car has done so much, this is the last race for it, and I was hoping it would be on the top step, but you know, she did a good job.”
Third-place finisher Kamalian was happy with his podium performance, although he admitted that getting there involved numerous ups and downs. “It was more than interesting, with my spin, and trying to keep up with the front two guys, and Ross and everybody else,” he said. “It was a fun drive in the car.”
Kamalian’s journey also earned him the race’s Sunoco Hard Charger Award. Philip Smith finished fourth, Kent Biddinger fifth and Andy Schniedermeyer sixth.
The 63rd Mission Foods SCCA® National Championship Runoffs® is the pinnacle of American amateur motorsports and crowns Sports Car Club of America™ Champions as part of the Summit Racing Equipment SCCA Road Racing program. In 2026, two Hagerty Race Days at Wisconsin’s Road America decide 23 gold-medal winners.
The live, online Runoffs Broadcast presented by Mazda features video over both competition days at SCCA’s Official YouTube Channel. Live timing and scoring for each race is also available at SCCA.com/live.
Below are provisional results for Saturday’s American Sedan® race at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs; with finish position, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car, and laps completed.
- 1, (1), Andrew McDermid, Fowlerville, MI, Ford Mustang GT, 13.
2, (2), Daniel Richardson, Derwood, MD, Chevrolet Camaro, 13.
3, (4), Michael Kamalian, Marietta, GA, Ford Mustang GT, 13.
4, (5), Philip Smith, New Albany, OH, Ford Mustang GT, 13.
5, (6), Kent Biddinger, Midland, MI, Ford Mustang, 13.
6, (7), Andy Schniedermeyer, Florissant, MO, Chevrolet Camaro, 13.
7, (8), Tim White, Brighton, CO, Ford Mustang Cobra, 12.
8, (3), Ross Murray, Marina Del Rey, CA, Ford Mustang GT, 9.
Race Stats
Length of Race: 52.62 miles
Overall Time of Race: 42:03.824 (avg. 75.063 mph)
Margin of Victory: 0.849 seconds
Fastest Race Lap: 2:28.471 (98.153 mph)
Lap Leaders: #24, Laps 1-13
Sunoco Hard Charger: #99 Michael Kamalian
Photo by Jay Bonvouloir
