Summit Point Motorsports Park and Labor Day weekend played host to the penultimate round of the 2018 North American Formula 1000 Championship and the points race is heating up!
Press Play to Watch F1000 Insider from Summit Point
Summit Point proved to be a great track for F1000 cars, and drivers put on a great show for the large number of fans in the stands, and camped around the circuit. Alex Mayer, Jose Gerardo, and Doug Hertz would battle wheel to wheel in both races.
The schedule was a shaken up from the traditional for this weekend, with Round 9 qualifying and championship race held before lunch on Saturday. With a damp and drying track from overnight rain, championship drivers took to the track at 8:30 am and it was the #14 G-labels/Mayer Motorsports JDR of Jose Gerardo coming out on top for pole position, followed closely by the #13 Sunrise Solar Solutions Firman of Doug Hertz and the #77 Technotecs/Mayer Motorsports JDR of Alex Mayer.
Official Qualifying Results Round 9
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Jose Gerardo – G-labels / Mayer Motorsports / JDR
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Doug Hertz – Sunrise Solar Solutions / FIRMAN
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Alex Mayer – Technotecs / Mayer Motorsports / JDR
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Tim Pierce – Waterfall Security Solutions / Area 81 Racing / JDR
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Steve Hamilton – CSI Leasing / EPCusa.com / Hamilton Motorsports / JDR – No time
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Reilly Harris – Murray Consulting / Team Mantac / MANTAC – No time
When the green flew on round 9 it was a wheel to wheel battle between the top 3 – with Mayer and Gerardo swapping positions multiple times. Hertz would slowly fall back and leave Mayer motorsports to take another 1-2 finish with Alex on the top step and Jose coming in a very close second place. Mayer would also take home the Sunoco Hard Charger Award moving from third to first.
Both Area 81 Racing and Hamilton Motorsports are continuing to develop their brand new twin 2018 JDR’s with 2017 Suzuki engines. Tim Pierce in the #81 Waterfall Security Solutions / Briky JDR would end up in fourth with the #93 CSI Leasing / EPCusa.com of Steve Hamilton retiring on lap 8 with mechanical failure.
Reilly Harris and team MANTAC have no time in qualifying as the team loaded up following friday’s test day, unable to keep the #12 temperatures under control.
Round 9 Results
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Alex Mayer – Technotecs / Mayer Motorsports / JDR
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Jose Gerardo – G-Labels / Mayer Motorsports / JDR
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Doug Hertz – Sunrise Solar Solutions / FIRMAN
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Tim Pierce – Waterfall Security Solutions / Area 81 Racing / JDR
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Steve Hamilton – CSI Leasing / EPCusa.com / Hamilton Motorsports / JDR
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Reilly Harris – Murray Consulting / Team Mantac / MANTAC – DNS
Following the round 9 championship event, all the teams and drivers gathered for the random drawing awards and social. With the race being held before noon, drivers and teams spent the afternoon relaxing in hospitality with grilled chicken wings, roasted peppers and corn casserole, bacon and ranch potato salad, and more from RTP Trackside Catering – and Just as every championship weekend, every driver wins thanks to cash and prizes from wonderful companies such as Taylor Race Engineering, Sunoco Race Fuels, MPT Industries, Jongbloed Racing Wheels, Hurley Racing Products, Wulff Motorsports, Rilltech Racing, Rebel Gears, VisorCam USA, and of course Tires from American Racer Tire.
Wow that’s a lot of sponsors and prizes!!
Sunday morning would once again be a damp and drying track from the overnight rain storms, and once again it would be the #14 G-labels JDR of Jose Gerardo on pole, followed by Dough Hertz in the #13, Alex Mayer in the #77, Tim Pierce in the #81, and Steve Hamilton in the #93.
Official Qualifying Results Round 10
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Jose Gerardo – G-labels / Mayer Motorsports / JDR
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Doug Hertz – Sunrise Solar Solutions / FIRMAN
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Alex Mayer – Technotecs / Mayer Motorsports / JDR
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Tim Pierce – Waterfall Security Solutions / Area 81 Racing / JDR
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Steve Hamilton – CSI Leasing / EPCusa.com / Hamilton Motorsports / JDR
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Reilly Harris – Murray Consulting / Team Mantac / MANTAC – No time
A noon time race for round 10 on Sunday proved to be sunny and dry, despite the threat of rain, and it was once again a wheel to wheel battle between Gerardo and Mayer. Hertz would spin off track very early losing touch with the leaders, but would recover to climb through the field for a third place finish.
In the battle of the development programs – Steve Hamilton and Tim Pierce would switch places from Saturday – with Hamilton coming home fourth and Pierce in fifth. Both drivers’ teams are working hard to develop their brand new chassis and engine packages.
Round 9 Results
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Alex Mayer – Technotecs / Mayer Motorsports / JDR
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Jose Gerardo – G-Labels / Mayer Motorsports / JDR
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Doug Hertz – Sunrise Solar Solutions / FIRMAN
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Steve Hamilton – CSI Leasing / EPCusa.com / Hamilton Motorsports / JDR
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Tim Pierce – Waterfall Security Solutions / Area 81 Racing / JDR
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Reilly Harris – Murray Consulting / Team Mantac / MANTAC – DNS
With only one race remaining in the 2018 championship, Alex Mayer has secured his 3rd F1000 professional title, however behind Mayer there are close battles throughout the points. With a win at Mid Ohio last month, and a string of second place finishes, Jose Gerardo has moved into second place behind his teammate, and ahead of Steve Hamilton in third. Doug Hertz has continued to climb the points and is not far behind the two.
For the last spot in the top 5 – its even closer… three drivers, Mike Meyers, Reilly Harris, and Tim Pierce are within 2 points to earn a spot in the coveted top 5 and be a featured driver / car for 2019
Click HERE to view Championship Standings
Who will be featured in NorthAmF1000 promotions for the 2019 season? Find out when the series closes the 2018 championship, this November 3rd at the American Road Race of Champions, held at Road Atlanta.
For more information about the North American Formula 1000 Championship presented by American Racer Tire – visit NorthAmF1000.com
And Follow on Facebook / Instagram / Twitter – @NorthAmF1000