Top teams look at Guerrieri to drive in Atlantic Racing Series
Chris Guerrieri of Pickering has finished third overall for the season in the ultra competitive Formula Ford Zetec Cooper Tires Championship Series. Racing this past weekend in Alton, Virginia at the renownedVirginia International Raceway, Guerrieri was able to secure his third place finish in theseries by finishing ahead of competitor Jason Byers.
The weekend was dampened by tropical storm Tammy which left the track looking more like apond at time rather than a race track but Guerrieri was able to overcome. In what wasreminiscent of his win at Mount Tremblant in 2003 Guerrieri kept his car on the track while others skidded off due to the slippery conditions.
Starting the first race of the weekend in the 12th grid position he was able to pass 6other racers to finish 6th. His 12th place start was a result of being bumped off the track in the opening laps of qualifying by California resident Ira Fierberg.
The sixth place finish didn’t reflect the speed at which Guerrieri was going as he postedthe second fastest lap in the race meaning he qualified for the second grid position in racetwo. Race two started on the first dry track of the weekend where Guerrieri took the earlylead. By lap three Guerrieri’ teammate and championship winner, Jay Howard, was onhis tail after starting further back in pack.
Howard used the draft of Guerrieri’ car andpassed him going into to turn one to take the lead and hold on to it. Nearing the end of therace Guerrieri was in third position after battling with Alan Scuito for second place whena car in lapped traffic spun out only several metres in front of him. Guerrieri was forcedon to the grass runoff but was able to regain control of the car and finish in fourthposition and secured his third place finish overall in the race series.
Guerrieri’ consistent style of racing saw him in the top five finishers for almost everyrace this year with a brilliant third place finish out of 40 competitors in Cleveland, Ohioduring the Champ Car weekend in June. Now being approached by several top teams inthe Atlantic series Guerrieri appears to be on his way up the racing ladder.
“I would like to thank my team, Aiken racing for all the hard work this year. They are a great team and a proven winner. We had the first and third place drivers and won the constructors championship as well. Thank you to my family for all their support and thank you to my sponsors Northstar Promotions, Cherry Beach Sound and Med Broadcast.”L
