David Grant Scores Mid-Ohio Win
Lexington, OH - It didn't take long for David Grant to return to the top step of the podium, as the Atlantic Championship Series driver took home the win at Mid-Ohio in just his third start of 2016, driving the No. 29 Swift 016/Mazda for Polestar Racing Group.
"The Atlantic car is starting to come back to me," said Grant, who returns to Atlantic competition after three seasons in the F2000 Championship Series, including a victory at Road Atlanta. Grant is the 2012 Atlantic title winner. "The car was great today, I need to thank Jim and Pam and the entire Polestar team and my kids that are here this weekend, it has been a fun time so far."
Grant roared into the race lead in round seven of the season from the back stretch green-flag from his pole position and took a dominating flag-to-flag victory at the challenging Mid-Ohio race track ahead of Keith Grant, in the No. 40 Polestar Swift 016/Mazda.
"We started with a sticker on the left front after puncturing a tire, we also had a different wing on so it handled differently than we wanted to," said Grant. "But it started coming together in the end."
Points leader Ryan Norman, in the No. 48 K-Hill Motorsports Swift 016/Mazda, finished third and could not extend his win streak to five in a row. He moved up from third to second on a charging start, but fell back with four laps to go when a mechanical issue popped up.
"We got a great start and moved up to second and held it the entire way," said Norman. "With about four laps to go I got stuck in fifth gear and had to let Keith by and nursed it home."
Norman could not extend his streak after winning four races in a row, but did improve during the race with a charge on the opening lap from third to second before the issue.
Richard Zober finished fourth in the No. 66 for Comprent Motorsports, unable to match his podium performance from Road Atlanta. Lewis Cooper Jr. rounded out the top five for Polestar Racing Group ahead of Comprent driver Chris Ash.
In Atlantic Challenge, Bruce Hamilton had the early lead for K-Hill, but an unscheduled visit to the pits handed the lead to Comprent's Bob Corliss. As the race went on, Hamilton set fast lap after fast lap, and missed catching Corliss to the checkered flag for the Challenge win by .189 seconds.
The Atlantic Championship Series drivers and teams also compete on Sunday at Mid-Ohio with a morning qualifying session and mid-afternoon race.