Burkett Secures Pole for Race One and Sets New Track Record
Braselton, GA - Fifteen Atlantic cars took the track for this morning’s qualifying session for the opening round of the 2014 Atlantic Championship Series season at Road Atlanta, with two drivers under the previous track qualifying record. Daniel Burkett, driving for K-Hill Motorsports, set a new track record of 1:17.0 securing pole position for the Atlantic race of the weekend. Jimmy Simpson of Atlantic Creations was also under the previous record and will start beside Burkett on the front row.
The fastest driver from Friday’s practice session, Ethan Ringel of COMPREP, will be starting third on gird this afternoon. Keith Grant, driving for Polestar Motor Racing, who also had a time in the 1:17’s, will be starting fourth for race one, and Conner Kearby of K-Hill Motorsports rounds out the top five.
Of the top five drivers, Canadian Burkett joins Ringel, Kearby and Simpson, Americans, making four out of the top five young, career-minded drivers.
Matt Miller, Gaston Kearby, Bruce Hamilton, Richard Zober, and Michael Mallinen will round out the top 10 for the Saturday race at Road Atlanta.
Times for the Atlantic cars were quicker than Friday’s practice session, but still quite close together, showing tight competition for the first race of the season.
Race one of the 2014 season, and the first of two this weekend at Road Atlanta follows at 5:15pm local time (Eastern).
Qualifying Results:
Pos No. Name In Lap Best Tm Make/Model Diff 1 4 Daniel Burkett 8 1:17.078 Swift 016 Mazda - 2 21 Jimmy Simpson 5 1:17.594 Swift 016 Mazda +0.516 3 49 Ethan Ringel 12 1:17.787 Swift 016A Mazda +0.709 4 40 Keith Grant 7 1:17.865 Swift 016 Mazda +0.787 5 56 Conner Kearby 7 1:18.228 Swift 016 Mazda +1.150 6 82 Matt Miller 12 1:18.412 Swift 016.A Mazda +1.334 7 69 Gaston Kearby 5 1:18.996 Swift 016 Mazda +1.918 8 06 Bruce Hamilton 11 1:19.177 Swift 014 +2.099 9 66 Richard Zober 6 1:19.411 Swift 016 Mazda +2.333 10 71 Michael Mallinen 7 1:19.994 Swift 016.A Mazda +2.916 11 22 Tyler Hunter 12 1:20.278 Swift 014 +3.200 12 17 Bob Corliss 14 1:20.341 Swift 014A +3.263 13 5 Bruce Crockett 13 1:20.488 Swift 014 +3.410 14 11 Dwight Rider 3 1:20.786 Ralt Rt-41 +3.708 15 09 J.R. Smart 3 1:24.880 Swift 014A +7.802