Gerardo Earns First win of 2018!

This weekend Mid Ohio Sports Car Course hosted rounds 7 & 8 of the 2018 North American Formula 1000 Championship and the series put on an amazing show with two first time podium finishers!  

Click the Arrow (PLAY) To Watch F1000 Insider – Full Race Report from Mid Ohio

 

Following a full Friday of test and tune, plus a twilight test, F1000 Championship teams were treated to a grill full of wonderful Bubba Burgers.

 

Saturday qualifying was once again the Alex Mayer show – putting the familiar #77 Technotecs / JDR on pole.  First time entrant, Rick Costin put his #36 Ohio Health / Firman second on the grid ahead of the #14 G-labels JDR of Jose Gerardo in third, and the #13 Sunrise Solar Solutions / Firman of Doug Hertz in fourth, with the #98 CSI Leasing / EPCusa.com / JDR of George Hamilton rounding out the top 5.  

When the cars rolled for Round 7, it was immediate excitement, as a car in another class attempted to take out the #77 of Alex Mayer – hitting his rear tire in turn 1.  Mayer would spin and be hit again – bending multiple pieces on the front end – however Mayer would continue with the car just a tad out of alignment.

Rick Costin took his #36 to the grass to avoid the melee, saving his Ohio Health Firman from any damage and would continue to finish third in his first ever F1000 pro race.

Missing all the spinning cars and carnage, the #14 of Jose Gerardo took advantage, jumping out to a big lead and never looking back, taking home his first win of 2018.

Following Saturday’s Round 7 event, the drivers and teams of the North American Formula 1000 Championship got together for the dinner social and random drawing awards.  This weekend it was bacon wrapped chicken kabobs and roasted red skin potatoes courtesy of Right Turn Hospitality and sponsored by Team MANTAC.

Every weekend the North American Formula 1000 Championship hands out CASH prizes from Taylor Race Engineering, Sunoco Race Fuels, Jongbloed Wheels, and HRP; plus discounts and products from MPT Industries, American Racer Tire, Race MIrrors, VisorCamUSA.com, Rebel Gears, Rilltech Racing, and Wulff Motorsports.   Thanks to amazing sponsors – Every Driver Wins in the North American Formula 1000 Championship presented by American Racer Tire.

Click Play (ARROW) to Watch Full Video of Random Drawing Awards

 

The rain would hold off for Round 8 qualifying, and once again Alex Mayer put the #77 on pole, followed closely by teammate Jose Gerardo in the #14, with Rick Costin putting the #36 third for Sunday’s race.   Once again it would be the #13 of Doug Hertz and the #98 of George Hamilton rounding out the top 5 for qualifying.

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Sunday’s Round 8 race would be a clean start, thanks to an F1000 only field – drivers would not have to worry about other classes ruining their race.  

Alex Mayer jumped out to an early lead, followed closely by Gerardo.  The #36 Rick Costin and the #13 of Doug Hertz were set to have a great battle for third place,  until Costin went a little to far over the curbs at the end of the back stretch and ended up spinning into China beach – leaving Hertz comfortably in third – until the #14 of Jose Gerardo broke a chain on the last lap – handing Hertz second place – and giving the #98 of George Hamilton his first podium.  

George’s father Steve would move his #93 CSI Leasing / EPCusa.com from last to 5th to earn the Sunoco Hard Charger award – with series regular #111 Mike Meyers taking home another top 5 to end the day in 4th.  

And hands down the iron man crew of the weekend goes to the crew of Reilly Harris in the #12 – Team MANTAC.    This team worked round the clock to solve the ever increasing number of gremlins which seemed to plague the team this weekend.   Great effort guys!

 

CLICK HERE TO VIEW UPDATED CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS

Congratulations to all the drivers and teams from
Rounds 7 & 8 at Mid Ohio Sports Car Course.

Next up for NorthAmF1000 –
September 1 -2 at Summit Point Raceway.

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