Championship Weekend at Summit Point
Sharon, CT – The inaugural Atlantic Championship Series season will conclude with a doubleheader at Summit Point this weekend, with David Grant, winner of all four races thus far, looking to take the title in his Swift 014/Toyota for Polestar Racing Group.
Grant will go up against a rapidly-expanding Atlantic grid, which could swell to a season high at Summit Ponit, with some 16 cars starting the most recent race at New Jersey Motorsports Park in June.
The keys to a Championship weekend, said Grant, will be continued support from Polestar.
“Car reliability will be needed to allow plenty of seat time and to learn the track,” he added. As far as a perfect season? “I don’t race to finish second. If I do my job, the points will fall into place.”
And while he has never been to Summit Point before, New Jersey was also new real estate for the Tennessee-native, who cruised to two victories.
Grant’s closest challenger shares his last name, Keith Grant, his brother, driving a similarly prepared car for Polestar.
Paul LeCain is also expected at Summit Point, coming off a pole position at Thunderbolt in his Ralt RT-41/Toyota.
In addition is the father and son combo of John and Connor Burke, in Swift 014s fielded by Company Motorsports, having both finished well in June.
“I showed good speed at New Jersey, but pushed too hard in the race and threw it away after a spin,” said Connor. “I want to have a good and clean race. If I can land a spot on the podium, I will be thrilled. Our field has some very talented drivers and the competition is fantastic.”
K-Hill Motorsports will be out in force this weekend, with an expected four car armada of Swift 016/Mazdas for Theodoras Zorbas, Lee Brahin, Bruce Hamilton and Andy Schaufelberger.
Other entry list notables include John Dole, Jean-Luc Liverato, both in Swift 016s, former F2000 veteran Jesse Yorio and Front Range’s Dwight Rider – both in Ralt RT-41s, Joe Blacker, also in a Ralt RT-41/Toyota, Joseph Tauro – in the No. 32 Swift 016, as well as Rich Zober, in the Zober Industries Swift 016/Mazda.
The weekend, the last of three doubleheaders of 2012, comprising of six races, will also see another “Atlantic Town Hall” gathering to discuss the direction of the Championship for 2013.
The Summit Point weekend features a packed schedule, with the Atlantic Championship Series sharing track time with F1600 and F2000, in addition to motorcycles. Practice gets going on Friday, August 24, at 9:35 local time, with another session at 11:20 and qualifying rounds following at 1:50 and 3:35. Saturday and Sunday feature a 7:50 warm up and 11:45 race, with live audio available for qualifying and races, and updates throughout the weekend on www.atlanticchampionshipseries.com