2008 Atlantic Championship

The 2008 series was televised at 5 PM ET on Sundays starting on November 9, 2008 on Speed TV.[7]

• November 9 – Grand Prix of Long Beach
• November 16 – Laguna Seca and Race 1 of Edmonton
• December 14 – Race 2 of Edmonton and Race 1 of Road America
• December 21 – Race 2 of Road America and Trois Rivières
• December 28 – Miller Motorsports Park and Road Atlanta

• Sunday April 20, 2008 - 1:30 p.m. EDT
• Streets of Long Beach - Long Beach, California (1.968 mile street circuit)
• Time: 50 minutes
• Distance: 38 laps / 74.784 miles
• Race weather: 60 °F, Sunny skies
• Television: Speed (November 9, 2008 - 5:00 p.m. EST)
• Pole position winner: #26 Jonathan Bomarito, 93.286 mph (150.125 km/h)
• Race Summary

The 2008 Imperial Capital Bank Atlantic Challenge of Long Beach was won by the young Swiss driver Simona de Silvestro making her only the second female driver to ever win an Atlantic Championship race after Katherine Legge.

Top Five Finishers
Fin. Pos	St. Pos	Car No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time	Laps led
1	2	34	Simona de Silvestro	Newman Wachs Racing	38	50:51.261	15
2	4	17	Alan Sciuto	Genoa Racing	38	+1.285	0
3	5	25	Kevin Lacroix	Walker Racing	38	+2.256	0
4	6	36	Jonathan Summerton	Newman Wachs Racing	38	+2.983	0
5	1	26	Jonathan Bomarito	Mathiasen Motorsports	38	+4.605	23
Race average speed:
Lead changes: 1 between 2 drivers
Cautions: 1 for 2 Laps

• Sunday May 18, 2008 - 4:00 p.m. EDT
• Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca - Monterey, California
• Time: 50 minutes
• Distance: 34 laps / 76.092 miles
• Race weather: 89 °F, sunny skies
• Television: Speed (November 16, 2008 - 5:00 p.m. EST)
• Pole position winner: #3 James Hinchcliffe, 1:16.189 (105.748 mph)
• Race Summary

Canadian James Hinchciffe took the pole at Laguna Seca with a 1:16.189 which was a track record qualifying run on by an Atlantic car on Saturday after taking the provisional pole on Friday. He then went on to dominate Sunday's race.

Top Five Finishers
Fin. Pos	St. Pos	Car No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time	Laps Led
1	1	3	James Hinchcliffe	Forsythe/Pettit Racing	34	50:50.352	28
2	2	14	Carl Skerlong	Pacific Coast Motorsports	34	+2.391	6
3	4	6	Junior Strous	Condor Motorsports	34	+6.671	0
4	5	8	Markus Niemelä	Brooks Associates Racing	34	+13.027	0
5	11	9	Dominick Muermans	Condor Motorsports	34	+18.404	0
Race average speed: 89.803 mph
Lead changes: 2
Cautions: 2 for 9 laps

• Sunday June 29, 2008 - 1:00 p.m. EDT
• Circuit Mont-Tremblant - Mont-Tremblant, Quebec (2.621 mile road circuit)
• Time: 50 minutes
• Distance: 30 laps / 78.630 miles
• Race weather: 75 °F, Partly cloudy skies
• Television: TBA
• Pole position winner: #6 Junior Strous, 1:28.805 (106.251 mph)
• Race Summary

Dutch driver Junior Strous dominated the weekend by taking pole and leading every lap in the race. The win was his first ever in the Atlantic Championship, as was his pole position. He leads the season championship with 74 points over James Hinchcliffe and Markus Niemelä who are tied at 67.

Top Five Finishers
Fin. Pos	St. Pos	Car No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time	Laps led
1	1	6	Junior Strous	Condor Motorsports	30	53:50.600	30
2	3	8	Markus Niemelä	Brooks Associates Racing	30	+0.487*	0
3	4	14	Carl Skerlong	Pacific Coast Motorsports	30	+0.966	0
4	5	3	James Hinchcliffe	Forsythe Championship Racing	30	+1.514	0
5	8	19	Dane Cameron	Genoa Racing	30	+2.057	0
					* Race finished under caution
Race average speed: 87.621 mph
Lead changes: 0
Cautions: 3 for 10 Laps

• Friday July 25, 2008 - 5:15 p.m. MDT
• Rexall Speedway - Edmonton, Alberta (1.973 mile temporary airport circuit)
• Time: 50 minutes
• Distance: 38 laps / 74.974 miles
• Race weather: 80 °F, Partly cloudy skies
• Television: Speed (November 16, 2008 - 5:30 p.m. EST)
• Pole position winner: #3 James Hinchcliffe, 1:05.910 (107.765 mph)
• Race Summary

Polesitter James Hinchcliffe led from the green flag but was closely stalked by Jonathan Bomarito, who finally made the pass in Turn 1 on lap 31. A late race caution set up a one lap sprint to the finish with Bomarito holding off Markus Niemelä to become the fourth race winner in as many races this season. The win was Bomarito's third Atlantic victory and the first victory for his team, Mathiasen Motorsports, in 36 starts. In the points chase, Niemelä leads Hinchcliffe 94-93.

Top Five Finishers
Fin. Pos	St. Pos	Car No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time	Laps led
1	2	26	Jonathan Bomarito	Mathiasen Motorsports	38	45:18.942	8
2	5	8	Markus Niemelä	Brooks Associates Racing	38	+0.691	0
3	1	3	James Hinchcliffe	Forsythe Championship Racing	38	+1.151	30
4	4	19	Dane Cameron	Genoa Racing	38	+1.757	0
5	6	7	David Garza Pérez	Forsythe Championship Racing	38	+2.170	0
Race average speed: 99.269 mph
Lead changes: 1
Cautions: 1 for 3 Laps

• Saturday July 25, 2008 - 12:45 p.m. MDT
• Rexall Speedway - Edmonton, Alberta (1.973 mile temporary airport circuit)
• Time: 50 minutes
• Distance: 36 laps / 71.028 miles
• Race weather: 80 °F, Mostly cloudy skies
• Television: Speed (December 14, 2008 - 5:00 p.m. EST)
• Pole position winner: #14 Carl Skerlong, 1:05.455 (108.514 mph)
• Race Summary

A1 Grand Prix veteran (but Atlantic rookie) Jonathan Summerton jumped into the lead from third on the starting grid and dominated the race, leading every lap on the way to his first Atlantic series win. He became the fifth different winner in five races and the first rookie to top a podium this year. James Hinchcliffe finished third and jumped to the top of the points table. He has 118 points, five more than Markus Niemelä.

Top Five Finishers
Fin. Pos	St. Pos	Car No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time	Laps led
1	3	36	Jonathan Summerton	Newman Wachs Racing	18	45:08.751	36
2	1	14	Carl Skerlong	Pacific Coast Motorsports	18	+2.222	0
3	4	3	James Hinchcliffe	Forsythe Championship Racing	18	+6.039	0
4	5	26	Jonathan Bomarito	Mathiasen Motorsports	18	+6.719	0
5	2	19	Dane Cameron	Genoa Racing	18	+7.195	0
Race average speed: 94.398 mph
Lead changes: 0
Cautions: 1 for 5 Laps

• Saturday August 8, 2008 - 1:00 p.m. CDT
• Road America - Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin (4.048 mile permanent road circuit)
• Time: 50 minutes
• Distance: 18 laps / 72.864 miles
• Race weather: 76 °F, Partly cloudy skies
• Television: Speed (December 14, 2008 - 5:30 p.m. EST)
• Pole position winner: #19 Dane Cameron, 1:59.190 (122.265 mph)
• Race Summary

Jonathan Bomarito became the first multiple time winner in the 2008 Atlantic series. He took the lead from pole sitter Dane Cameron at the standing start. On lap 10, Cameron passed Bomarito in Canada Corner but Bomarito was able to pass him back on the following lap, taking the lead which he would hold for the remainder of the race. James Hinchcliffe finished fifth, high enough to keep the points lead with 139 points. Markus Niemelä trails Hinchcliffe by 7 and Bomarito is only 9 points back. Atlantic and Champ Car veteran Tõnis Kasemets made his first appearance since last year's Atlantic round at Road America and finished on the podium in third.

Top Five Finishers
Fin. Pos	St. Pos	Car No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time	Laps led
1	2	26	Jonathan Bomarito	Mathiasen Motorsports	18	45:02.334	17
2	1	19	Dane Cameron	Genoa Racing	18	+0.411	1
3	8	17	Tõnis Kasemets	Genoa Racing	18	+0.978	0
4	9	14	Carl Skerlong	Pacific Coast Motorsports	18	+6.384	0
5	3	3	James Hinchcliffe	Forsythe Championship Racing	18	+7.230	0
Race average speed: 97.068 mph
Lead changes: 1
Cautions: 2 for 6 Laps

• Sunday August 9, 2008 - 1:30 p.m. CDT
• Road America - Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin (4.048 mile permanent road circuit)
• Time: 50 minutes
• Distance: 20 laps / 80.960 miles
• Race weather: 75 °F, Partly cloudy skies
• Television: Speed (December 21, 2008 - 5:00 p.m. EST)
• Pole position winner: #26 Jonathan Bomarito, 1:59.564 (121.883 mph)
• Race Summary

Race 1's winner Jonathan Bomarito led away from the pole, while behind him Jonathan Summerton was charging up through the field from ninth place on the grid. On lap 18, Summerton passed Bomarito in Turn 1, leading only the final two laps home to the checkered flag. Even with the second place finish Bomarito jumped to the top of the points chase. He leads with 157, three in front of the previous leader James Hinchcliffe and six in front of Markus Niemelä.

Top Five Finishers
Fin. Pos	St. Pos	Car No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time	Laps led
1	9	36	Jonathan Summerton	Newman Wachs Racing	20	46:39.544	2
2	1	26	Jonathan Bomarito	Mathiasen Motorsports	20	+1.084	18
3	2	17	Tõnis Kasemets	Genoa Racing	20	+6.202	0
4	10	25	Kevin Lacroix	Walker Racing	20	+6.832	0
5	4	14	Carl Skerlong	Pacific Coast Motorsports	20	+8.993	0
Race average speed: 104.108 mph
Lead changes: 1
Cautions: 2 for 5 Laps

• Sunday August 17, 2008 - 1:30 p.m. EDT
• Circuit Trois-Rivières - Trois-Rivières, Quebec (1.521 mile temporary street circuit)
• Time: 50 minutes
• Distance: 44 laps / 66.924 miles
• Race weather: 70 °F, Clear
• Television: Speed (December 21, 2008 - 5:30 p.m. EST)
• Pole position winner: #26 Jonathan Bomarito, 58.989 (92.824 mph)
• Race Summary

Jonathan Bomarito led away from the standing start and was never seriously challenged on his way to his third Atlantic victory of the year. Bad days for James Hinchcliffe and Markus Niemelä allowed him to open a sizable lead in the season championship going into the final three races of the year. Bomarito leads the championship with 191, 28 points ahead of Jonathan Summerton who has 163. Hinchcliffe is still in third, but is 36 points back with 155.

Top Five Finishers
Fin. Pos	St. Pos	Car No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time	Laps led
1	1	26	Jonathan Bomarito	Mathiasen Motorsports	44	50:17.453	44
2	2	36	Jonathan Summerton	Newman Wachs Racing	44	+1.590	0
3	8	6	Junior Strous	Condor Motorsports	44	+5.682	0
4	11	34	Simona de Silvestro	Newman Wachs Racing	44	+7.878	0
5	4	19	Dane Cameron	Genoa Racing	44	+10.015	0
Race average speed: 79.844 mph
Lead changes: 0
Cautions: 2 for 9 Laps

• Sunday September 14, 2008 - 1:00 p.m. EDT
• New Jersey Motorsports Park - Millville, New Jersey (2.177 mile permanent road circuit)
• Time: 50 minutes
• Distance: 42 laps / 91.434 miles
• Race weather: 86 °F, Clear
• Television: TBA
• Pole position winner: #14 Carl Skerlong, 1:10.211 (111.624 mph)
• Race Summary

Carl Skerlong dominated the weekend, leading every session and leading every lap in the race to claim his first Atlantic victory. He even set the fastest lap, giving him a perfect score of 34 points for the weekend. Points leader Jonathan Bomarito finished ninth, which reduced his margin to 16 points over Jonathan Summerton and 22 over Markus Niemelä with two races left in the season.

Top Five Finishers
Fin. Pos	St. Pos	Car No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time	Laps led
1	1	14	Carl Skerlong	Pacific Coast Motorsports	42	50:49.282	42
2	2	8	Markus Niemelä	Brooks Associates Racing	42	+2.464	0
3	4	36	Jonathan Summerton	Newman Wachs Racing	42	+10.441	0
4	3	25	Kevin Lacroix	Walker Racing	42	+22.772	0
5	6	6	Junior Strous	Condor Motorsports	42	+23.914	0
Race average speed: 107.948 mph
Lead changes: 0
Cautions: None

• Sunday September 21, 2008 - 2:30 p.m. MDT
• Miller Motorsports Park - Tooele, Utah (4.486 mile permanent road circuit)
• Time: 50 minutes
• Distance: 20 laps / 89.720 miles
• Race weather: 71 °F, Mostly Cloudy
• Television: Speed (December 28, 2008 - 5:00 p.m. EST)
• Pole position winner: #8 Markus Niemelä, 2:28.915 (108.448 mph)
• Race Summary

Markus Niemelä followed up his first Atlantic series pole position with his first series victory, leading every lap in the race. Three drivers are still alive for the series championship going into the final round of the season. Jonathan Bomarito, who finished sixth, now leads with 224 points. He has an eight point advantage over Jonathan Summerton and a 10 point lead over Niemelä.

Top Five Finishers
Fin. Pos	St. Pos	Car No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time	Laps led
1	1	8	Markus Niemelä	Brooks Associates Racing	20	50:40.529	20
2	2	36	Jonathan Summerton	Newman Wachs Racing	20	+0.446	0
3	3	19	Dane Cameron	Genoa Racing	20	+2.296	0
4	6	14	Carl Skerlong	Pacific Coast Motorsports	20	+2.828	0
5	4	34	Simona de Silvestro	Newman Wachs Racing	20	+22.363	0
Race average speed: 106.229 mph
Lead changes: 0
Cautions: None

• Friday October 3, 2008 - 2:10 p.m. EDT
• Road Atlanta - Braselton, Georgia (2.540 mile permanent road circuit)
• Time: 50 minutes
• Distance: 35 laps / 88.900 miles
• Race weather: 72 °F, Clear
• Television: Speed (December 28, 2008 - 5:30 p.m. EST)
• Pole position winner: #36 Jonathan Summerton, 1:14.137 (123.339 mph)
• Race Summary

Markus Niemelä won the race and clinched the series championship on an eventful day at Road Atlanta. At the start Dane Cameron took the race lead from the standing start while Niemelä got around the pole sitter Jonathan Summerton for second place. Jonathan Bomarito, the points leader going into the race, dropped out of the race with mechanical troubles after only 10 laps. Going into a restart on lap 33, Niemelä was in second and Summerton was in third, but Summerton was in line to clinch the championship. On the restart, Niemelä got around Cameron to take the lead on the track and Kevin Lacroix passed Summerton for third, which put Niemelä in position to take the championship. Summerton attempted to pass Cameron to put himself back into the championship position but they made contact and both cars were knocked out of the race. Niemelä cruised the final laps under yellow. Niemelä finished the season with 245 points followed by Bomarito at 228 and Summerton with 224.

Top Five Finishers
Fin. Pos	St. Pos	Car No.	Driver	Team	Laps	Time	Laps led
1	3	8	Markus Niemelä	Brooks Associates Racing	35	50:19.931	3
2	4	25	Kevin Lacroix	Walker Racing	35	+0.730*	0
3	7	3	James Hinchcliffe	Forsythe Championship Racing	35	+1.311	0
4	11	34	Simona de Silvestro	Newman Wachs Racing	35	+1.807	0
5	8	5	Greg Mansell	Walker Racing	35	+4.174	0
					* Race finished under caution
Race average speed: 105.976 mph
Lead changes: 1
Cautions: 2 for 7 Laps

Bonus Points

• 1 point to fastest driver in a qualification session.
• 1 point to driver who leads the most laps in the race.
• 1 point to driver who improves the most positions in the race.