Grant Wins Race, Norman Wins Title
Millville, NJ - David Grant took the lead on lap one and never looked back, taking his fourth victory of the season in eight starts in the Atlantic Championship Series for Polestar. Grant's win came in round 12 of the season at New Jersey Motorsports Park, as Ryan Norman started on pole and finished second, which clinched him the 2016 title for K-Hill Motorsports.
"I'm psyched about it, it has been a great weekend with a great car," said Norman. "Grant pulled a big move in turn three on me and I had to get out of it, I knew I had to finish the race. I need to thank K-Hill, I've learned a ton and we've become a family over the last year. We're going to VIR and hope to win both races there."
In eight starts, the No. 29 Polestar Swift 016/Mazda that Grant drives has not only taken four wins, but three second places, with a single DNF. Grant finished second on Saturday at NJMP's Thunderbolt course.
For Norman, however, second place points delivered him the 2016 Atlantic Championship Series title with two races still left on the schedule at VIRginia International Raceway, Sept. 30 - Oct. 2. The second place finish was the second of the weekend for Norman, who has put a strong season together of wins and podium results in the No. 48 Swift 016/Mazda.
Keith Grant fell way back after first lap dramatics despite starting third, but recovered from deep in the pack to drive back to finish third in the No. 40 Polestar Racing Group Swift 016/Mazda.
Chris Ash and Lee Alexander, driving a pair of Comprent Motorsports Swift 016/Mazdas, completed the top five. It was a bounce back drive for Ash as wing damage hampered his Saturday race.
The action in the Atlantic Challenge was intense for the race distance, as Bruce Hamilton spent 40 green flag minutes and 31 frantic laps holding off Connor Burke to take the victory for K-Hill Motorsports.
"Connor was right in my mirrors the entire race," said Hamilton. "He almost got past me in turn four. I need to thank K-Hill, Mike my engineer and Tonis my coach."
Sitting second in the Challenge standings, it was a huge day for Hamilton as Bob Corliss, points leader, failed to finish.
Burke, who won Saturday's race, ended the race second behind Hamilton, hassling him the entire race distance, while John Burke finished third in class.
"I was trying real hard to get Bruce," said Connor Burke. "But he kept it on the track and I settled for second place."
Next up, Formula Race Promotions heads for its season finale weekend at VIR, Sept. 30 - Oct. 2.
Full results are available on www.F1600Series.com, www.F2000Series.com and www.AtlanticChampionshipSeries.com under the results tab.