10 Wins Propel Runyan to SCCA Regional Formula Ford Title

SACRAMENTO, CALIF. (November 5, 2009) – American rising talent Bobby Runyan is the 2009 San Francisco Region SCCA Regional Formula Ford Champion and Rookie of the Year following a superb first season of racing. The Ron Sutton’s Winner’s (RSWC) development driver showcased both the skill and speed of a future star in motorsports, scoring an impressive 10 wins in 15 races.


The 16 year-old Runyan, despite having never raced a car previously and only competing in Karting for a little over two years, immediately showed he was force to be reckoned with. The two-time IKF National karting champion, beat out over 750 other applicants for a place on the Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle program. When the 2009 San Francisco Region SCCA Regional Formula Ford season got underway at Thunderhill Raceway Park in California, Bobby captured the Formula Ford pole position and win in his first-ever car race. That trend continued in Round Two at the famed Infineon Raceway, when the No. 2 Porter Racing/Raging Bull Motorsports Swift DB-6 once again led the field to the checkered flag.

While it initially appeared Runyan had everything going his way, the racing gods showed how fickle they can be. The Denair, CA resident, was the driver to beat in two of the next three races, however engine issues prevented Runyan from making return visits to victory lane.

Runyan remained focused on continually getting better each time he got behind the wheel and his perseverance paid off. The talented teenager found himself back in victory lane at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, winning two of three races at the challenging Northern California road course in June.

The RSWC driver’s Formula Ford success was not limited to just the West Coast this season. Thanks to the Formula Ford 40th Anniversary event at Road America in Wisconsin, Runyan got the opportunity to match his skills behind the wheel against over 200 Formula Ford drivers, including the best from across the nation. Runyan, as expected, rose to the challenge ... capturing the pole position for the 115 car SCCA Regional race, qualifying third for the 70+ car National race and leading the majority of the Regional race, before ultimately finishing third.

Upon returning to California, Runyan further established himself as a driver worth watching in the years to come. The youngster, in true champion style, proved unbeatable in the final six races of the season.

He won twice from the pole position at Infineon Raceway, converted three poles into wins at Laguna Seca, and went flag-to-flag at Thunderhill in the season-finale. Runyan in the end won an impressive 10 races, started from the pole position 10 times and led all but two of the 15 San Francisco SCCA Region Championship Formula Ford races as a car racing rookie.

“I would like to thank everyone that made this year possible for me,” stated Runyan. “Neil Porter, my Crew Chief, was outstanding at setting up the car and making the appropriate adjustments that made us "bad fast" everywhere we went. His two mechanics, Tyler and Mark, for keeping things together and keeping me calm and focused in the cockpit lap after lap.

I would also like to thank Ron Sutton, for giving me the opportunity to move from karts to cars, under his direction, and setting me on a career path that I would not have been able to attain without him.

To my fans, that came from near and far to watch and who supported me financially as well - you are the best! Lastly, I would like to thank my family, for their continued dedication to my dream! I hope I have made all of you proud and I look forward to seeing you all next year.”

“Wow! What a season Bobby Runyan has had. We knew he was going to be good. He impressed us big time in the 2008 RSWC Talent Search Shoot Out. But 10 wins and the Championship in his first year surpassed even our expectations of Bobby,” declared Ron Sutton. “He is a rising star for sure. We can’t wait to see how he is going to perform at each level of his development.”

Runyan has already been accepted back into the Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle program for 2010, with the highly talented teenager scheduled to make the move to oval competition. Piloting a USAC Ford Focus Midget, Runyan will take the next step towards a career in NASCAR by racing in the USAC California Pavement Ford Focus Car Series.

Runyan would like to thank his sponsors, Raging Bull Motorsports and City Tires of Modesto for their continued support in his championship-winning season.