KTKA

$800,000 for sanctioning fees. Heartland Park Topeka owner Raymond Irwin would pay that and more and he has each year to keep the Sports Car Club of America Runoffs in Topeka, he said.

But, the SCCA's Board of Directors was looking for something Heartland Park couldn't offer when it announced Monday Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis. will host the Runoffs from 2009 to 2011.

"They were looking for something with historical recognition, and that's something that Heartland doesn't have," Irwin said.

SCCA was also looking to attract bigger crowds, Visit Topeka Inc. Vice President of Sales and Marketing Linda Briden said

The event draws about 2,000 fans each year, Irwin said.

"I don't think people understood what the event was all about and how fun it really is," Briden said.

For those who have never been, she encourages them to attend the Runoffs this year. Heartland Park will host the Runoffs October 6 to 12, an event expected to bring 700 racers and millions in tourism dollars to the community.

Briden said 2,500 hotel rooms were booked in 2007 and 2,900 in 2006 because of the Runoffs. Those are rooms that will be hard to fill after 2009, she said.

Visit Topeka hopes the new Festival of Speed (see left) and dog shows may fill that gap, Briden said.

The date for the 2009 Runoffs in Wisconsin has yet to be finalized, although it will move from October to September. Irwin knows Road America's facilities and says the venue, which has been in existence in the '50s, is beautiful.

"The Board had a difficult decision, as we had an unprecedented number of outstanding potential hosts for the event, meaning the long-term future of Club Racing's National Championship is very bright," SCCA President and CEO Jim Julow said.

Although it's a loss to Heartland Park and Topeka, Irwin said had no hard feelings against SCCA.

"I wished them the best of luck. There's no animosity on our part whatsoever," he said. "We'd have liked to have kept it."

Briden added that the community may have taken for granted that the Runoffs would stay put and encourages people to attend what may be the last year for SCCA Runoffs in Topeka.

As for the economic consequences?

"I don't think they will appreciate the affect that this event had on the community until 2009," she said.

The event has grown in both size and stature over the years. The sheer number of competitors makes the Runoffs the largest annual amateur road racing event in the world, and results in an average local economic impact approaching $10 million each year, according to an SCCA press release.

Heartland Park administrators reapplied for the Runoffs contract and were surprised when Topeka's facility was not picked.

"Most everyone thought it would stay here for another term," Irwin said.

Heartland Park spent $500,000 in 2007 to make changes to the course because SCCA requested it, he said.

And, SCCA says the facility was responsive.

"This is by no means a reflection on the job that Raymond Irwin and his staff have done at Heartland Park Topeka," Julow said. "In the last four years, they have met every challenge and request and built a tremendous facility that is worthy of potentially hosting not only the Runoffs, but other high-profile road racing events in the future. Additionally, the local community and business groups have been outstanding and we thank them for their continued support."

Irwin paid for the sanctioning fees and improvements to facilities in hopes of drawing more people into the seats and selling more food and merchandise.

He says he will apply again to reclaim the Runoffs from Road America. Briden, while trying to get over the disappointment, is optimistic the Runoffs will return to Topeka.

"We're just hoping they give us another shot," she said.

And, even without the Runoffs, Irwin said the park would survive.

"There shouldn't be any question in anyone's mind that Heartland Park has returned to viability and we're continuing to grow," he said.

For example, in 2003, the park hosted 87 events. In 2007, it hosted 260 events, and Irwin said the park's scheduled to host 280 events this year.

"One thing that I don't know if people understand : what happens at Heartland Park is extremely important for the community and therefore important for us," he said.

The Runoffs annually crown the National Champions of SCCA Club Racing's National level classes and has been referred to as the "Olympics" of motorsports. Drivers from across North America race locally to earn points, with the top-10 qualifying drivers from the nine SCCA Divisions in each class earning an invitation to compete in the event. The list of past Runoffs Champions is a who's who in road racing history that includes Skip Barber, Michael Galati, Paul Newman, Bobby Rahal, Graham Rahal, Greg Ray, Boris Said and Scott Sharp.

The Runoffs date back to 1964.

Some information for this story provided by the Sports Car Club of America.