SRF National Championship Runoffs News

Spicer Prepared to Defend SRF Championship

10September03: Richard Spicer, reigning and two-time
SRF National Champion, is set to defend his title at
the 2003 SRF National Championship. Spicer, who has
won the championship the last two years, is one of the
favorites to win his class. The 2003 Valvoline
Runoffs, the Olympics of amateur motorsports, will be
held September 15-21, 2003 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car
Course in Mansfield, Ohio.

Spicer takes his favorite-status in stride. “The Spec
Racer class always is one of the hardest fought races
at the Runoffs and there are plenty of drivers who are
capable of winning the championship,” said Spicer.
According to Spicer, it takes a mixture of skill and
luck to win the National Championship, “Even if you
have the quickest car, you can lose time because of
another competitor’s mistake. This class is so
competitive that a single mistake by anyone can cost
you a place. It’s not your fault. It’s not his fault.
It’s just being unlucky enough to be in the wrong
place at the wrong time.” 

Over 300 miles from where he lives, Mid-Ohio is not
Spicer’s home track. Spicer claims a physic connection
to the track, “For some reason, I seem to have a bond
with the track and I always do well at Mid-Ohio,”
joked Spicer. After a moment, he added, “Well other
than the 2000 Runoffs when we had some problems.”

Spicer has competed in the Valvoline Runoffs three
times in his HagermanRaceEngineering/Spicer Racing
SRF. His first year, 2000, saw him finish well down in
the pack, but for the last two years, Spicer has taken
the National Championship. “We’ve been fortunate that
the gremlins that have hit the other competitors have
overlooked us so far.”

Spicer is optimistic but realistic about his chances
to take his third consecutive National Championship.
“I think the HagermanRaceEngineering Spicer Racing
Team is the team to beat this year, but there are
going to be more than twenty-five excellent drivers
out there – all of whom should be considered
contenders.”