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SCCA: Valvoline Runoffs at Mid-Ohio Oct. 7-10

31 August 1999

The Valvoline Runoffs, which brings together SCCA regional titlists from around the country to determine national champions in numerous classes, is scheduled Oct. 7-10 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Brian Simo, a four-time winner this season in the Valvoline Ford Mustang in the SCCA BF Goodrich Trans-Am Series, is one of many distinguished graduates of the Valvoline Runoffs. Simo competed in the showroom stock class.

"The Valvoline Runoffs are the pinnacle of amateur road racing," said Simo. "I wish I had been more clued-in to what it meant when I got into racing. I was out having more fun than I was really racing. That's when it was at Road Atlanta, and I hooked up with some good friends, and that's how I met Boris Said. That's a big deal and it should be played up because it's a bridge to professional racing."

SIMO WINS: Brian Simo led start-to-finish from the pole in last Sunday's Trans-Am on the downtown street course in Grand Rapids, Mich. It was Simo's series-leading fourth win and sixth pole in nine events this season in the Valvoline Ford Mustang. Simo, seeking his first Trans-Am title after being the runner-up the last two seasons, moved to within one point of leader Chris Neville, 209-208, going into this weekend's race in Vancouver. Simo's victory clinched the Trans-Am manufacturers crown for Ford.

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