GRAN AM: Ferrari Challenge Travels to Road Atlanta this Weekend

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

May 10, 2001

ATLANTA, Ga. - Ferrari Challenge will compete at Road Atlanta (Ga.) this weekend, with tickets on sale for Saturday and Sunday*s race action. The weekend will include not only the 355 Challenge and brand-new 360 Challenge cars, but also the most unique Historic Challenge cars. Road Atlanta is a 2.54-mile, 12-turn road course, located outside of Atlanta in Braselton, Ga. This weekend*s race will be the third event of the season for the Ferrari Challenge. American City Racing League

Johnson, Team New York Take Victories at Virginia International Raceway DANVILLE, Va. - Michael Johnson of Team St. Louis, a cast member of MTV*s 1995 *The Real World,* captured a win at the first American City Racing League Eastern Division race of the season at Virginia International Raceway. Johnson was dominant through out practice and qualifying in only his second ACRL race. His only other ACRL race was in 1998 at Pikes Peak where he also finished first, just ahead of his father Duke.

Johnson, who owns Rolex Sports Car Series-team Archangel Motorsport Services, captured the VIR pole and was the only driver to break into the 1:57s, covering the field by more that two seconds. Rookie Vic Kicera (Team Boston) looked to be a threat with some 1:58s in practice but could not duplicate his time in qualifying. Johnson*s win at VIR was 1.645 seconds ahead of Team Philadelphia*s AJ Smith, also known on the Rolex Series for winning the SportsRacing Prototype class at the Rolex 24 At Daytona this year.

Team New York edged out Team Boston to win the beautiful silver City Cup with points scored by Dan Dubrovich (4th), Jeff Wayland (8th) and John Burke (14th).

The first 2001 ACRL Western Division victory went to Peter Zarcades at the Phoenix Children*s Hospital Race at Phoenix International Raceway in early April. John Ostlund and Brad Pierce rounded out the top-three finishers at the season opener. The American City Racing League Eastern Division will race next at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course with the Rolex Sports Car Series on June 10. The next ACRL Western Division race is with NASCAR at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, Calif., on May 20, with a strong contingent of Eastern Division competitors expected to take part.

Text provided by Christine Hyde

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