Tucker Claims Second Consecutive SCCA National Championship; Third Consecutive Title for Ferrari and

ELKHART LAKE, Wis. -- After a week of record-breaking qualifying runs, Level 5 Motorsports Owner / Driver Scott Tucker started from the pole and claimed his second consecutive Touring 1 class title and third consecutive podium for Ferrari in the SCCA National Runoffs at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisc.

"It was really a great week all the way around," said Tucker. "I'm really proud of this win and proud to put Ferrari on top of the podium again."

The event was red flagged for an incident at the green flag when 11-time SCCA champion John Heinricy's Corvette broke a driveshaft and could not get up to speed, triggering a multi-car accident behind him that collected four cars before a single lap could be completed. Tucker's Level Motorsports 5 No. 55 Ferrari Challenge 430 was safely in front of the field as problems unfolded behind him.

"You sure don't want to see that kind of trouble so early in a championship event," Tucker said. "Some good cars were taken out early and you hate to see that."

After an hour-long red-flag period for major repairs to the track's frontstretch retaining walls, the race resumed with Tucker again leading the field to the green-flag restart on a cold, slick track. The scheduled 40-minute event was shortened to a 15-minute shootout for the championship.

Tucker waged a furious battle with John Buttermore in a Dodge Viper, swapping the lead over the 14-turn, 4.048-mile road course. But the Ferrari driver was able to put the Viper behind him and hold the lead for the last few laps.

"With such a short race, we couldn't waste any time," Tucker said. "It was slick and we really had to dig in the early going. But, John (Buttermore) and I raced clean the whole way. That was a lot of fun."

Tucker took the Level 5 Motorsports No. 55 Ferrari to the top qualifying position by setting a Touring 1 class record with a fast lap of 2:20.266 (102.662 mph) during the second day of qualifying on Wednesday. He eclipsed the previous standard, which he had set Monday with a lap of 2:20.795.

Last September, Tucker made history at Road America by setting the fastest race lap, qualifying on the pole, leading all but two laps and, ultimately, earning his first national championship.

Tucker and the Level 5 Motorsprots Microsoft Office 2010 American Le Mans Prototype Challenge team will be back in action next weekend as Tucker seeks a championship in that series' inaugural season. Tucker is tied with Green Earth Team Gunnar's Gunnar Jeannette going into the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta. Television coverage for the 10-hour endurance classic gets underway at 11 a.m. ET, Saturday, Oct. 2 on SPEED.