Norman Fastest in Atlantic Practice
Lexington, OH - Late afternoon practice saw Championship leader Ryan Norman run a quick time at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course at 1:18.546 for K-Hill Motorsports to lead Friday Atlantic Championship Series practice.
A mid-morning session produced a slow track after over-night and early morning rain showers, while the track dried and conditions cleared for a clear afternoon 30-minute Atlantic practice session.
At the 10-minute mark of the 30-minute practice session, it was points leader and five-race winner Ryan Norman out front for K-Hill Motorsports with a lap time of 1:18.822 ahead of Polestar's David Grant.
Grant led the morning session in dry but slippery conditions, while Norman elected to skip it with a clear and solid weather forecast expected for the rest of the weekend.
Keith Grant then jumped to second ahead of his brother, David, with a time of 1:19.085 putting him just .263 off Norman's time. Grant drives the No. 40 Polestar entry and won at Mid-Ohio in Atlantic competition in 2015 on his way to the title.
A lap later, Grant improved his pace to take over the top spot in practice at 1:18.735, with Norman responding quickly, and lowering the mark to 1:18.546 as the track rubbered in. David Grant was still third with Rich Zober fourth, back in his primary car after utilizing a back-up at VIR.
In Atlantic Challenge, K-Hill 's Bruce Hamilton was quickest over Bob Corliss mid-way through the session.
The session ended early with an incident on track, as Norman put up the best time at 1:18.546 in the Championship class over Keith and David Grant, with Zober in fourth for Comprent Motorsports in the No. 66.
Lewis Cooper Jr., in the No. 70 Polestar Swift 016/Mazda, was fifth on the time sheets, with Comprent's Chris Ash sixth in the No. 67 and Kirk Kindsfater in seventh for K-Hill Motorsports.
The Atlantic Challenge class saw Hamilton lead Corliss in the category for older Atlantic cars, with both drivers in Swift 014/Toyotas.
Saturday and Sunday feature morning qualifying and afternoon races for the Atlantic Championship drivers and teams.