# 2008 Atlantic Championship

The 2008 Atlantic Championship season was the thirty-fifth Atlantic Championship season. It began on April 20, 2008 and ended on October 4, 2008. Despite the merger of Champ Car's premier series with the Indy Racing League, the Champ Car owners continued to own and operate the Atlantic Championship under a new legal entity, Atlantic Racing Series, LLC. Champ Car continued to sanction the first two events of the season at Long Beach and Laguna Seca with the remainder of the season running under IMSA sanction. The Cooper Tires Presents the Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda Drivers' Champion was Markus Niemelä driving for Brooks Associates Racing.

## Teams and drivers

The following teams and drivers competed in the 2008 Atlantic Championship season. All teams used the Swift 016.a chassis powered by a Mazda-Cosworth MZR 2.3 liter inline-4 engine and Cooper tires.
| Team | No | Drivers | Rounds |
| Jensen MotorSport | 2 | Henri Karjalainen | 1–10 |
| Jensen MotorSport | 22 | Eric Jensen | 8–9 |
| Forsythe Championship Racing | 3 | James Hinchcliffe | All |
| Forsythe Championship Racing | 7 | David Garza | 1–5, 11 |
| Forsythe Championship Racing | 7 | David Martínez | 6–10 |
| Walker Racing | 5 | Greg Mansell | All |
| Walker Racing | 15 | Leo Mansell | All |
| Walker Racing | 25 | Kevin Lacroix | All |
| Condor Motorsports | 6 | Junior Strous | All |
| Condor Motorsports | 9 | Dominick Muermans | All |
| Condor Motorsports | 11 | Douglas Soares | All |
| Condor Motorsports | 77 | Brian Thienes | 1 |
| Brooks Associates Racing | 8 | Markus Niemelä | All |
| Brooks Associates Racing | 88 | Andreas Wirth | 1–3 |
| Brooks Associates Racing | 88 | Tom Sutherland | 4–11 |
| Pacific Coast Motorsports | 14 | Carl Skerlong | 1–10 |
| Pacific Coast Motorsports | 41 | Frankie Muniz | All |
| Genoa Racing | 17 | Alan Sciuto | 1 |
| Genoa Racing | 17 | Tõnis Kasemets | 6–7 |
| Genoa Racing | 17 | J. R. Hildebrand | 11 |
| Genoa Racing | 19 | Dane Cameron | All |
| Mathiasen Motorsports | 26 | Jonathan Bomarito | All |
| PR1 Motorsports | 32 | Mike Forest | 1 |
| Newman Wachs Racing | 34 | Simona de Silvestro | All |
| Newman Wachs Racing | 36 | Jonathan Summerton | All |
| Paladin Motorsports | 45 | Greg Minium | 1 |
| Paladin Motorsports | 45 | Christopher Zöchling | 2, 4–5 |
| EuroInternational | 46 | Luis Schiavo | 1–8, 11 |
| EuroInternational | 70 | Daniel Morad | 1–8 |
| Polestar Motor Racing | 66 | Rich Zober | 9 |

## Schedule

The original 13-race 2008 Atlantic Championship calendar, which featured many supporting runs during Champ Car World Series events, had to be scrapped as a result of the 2008 open-wheel reunification announcement. The Long Beach, Laguna Seca, Edmonton, Mont-Tremblant and Road America races, which had been part of the Champ Car schedule before reunification, remained in the calendar. The Road America races were changed, as the American Le Mans Series' Generac 500 weekend meet was changed from one to two races (a Saturday and Sunday race). The Edmonton race, now part of the IndyCar Series, also switched to a two-race format. The original races at Trois-Rivieres and Miller were not affected, since the Quebec race was part of the Grand Prix of Trois-Rivieres (which also features the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series), and the Utah race was conducted as part of the Rolex Sports Car Series Sunchaser 1000 weekend. On April 3 a revised post-reunification schedule was released featuring 11 races including the seven weekends that were kept (with two races at Edmonton and Road America), and two new races, one at New Jersey and a second Road Atlanta (as a support race to the Petit Le Mans).
| Rd | Race Date | Race Name | Circuit | City/Location |
| 1 | April 20 | Imperial Capital Bank Atlantic Challenge of Long Beach | Long Beach Grand Prix | Long Beach, California |
| 2 | May 18 | Monterey Festival of Speed Atlantic Championship | Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca | Monterey, California |
| 3 | June 29 | Sommet des Legends | Circuit Mont-Tremblant | Mont-Tremblant, Quebec |
| 4 | July 25 | Rexall Edmonton Indy Twin Races | Edmonton Indy | Edmonton, Alberta |
| 5 | July 26 | Rexall Edmonton Indy Twin Races | Edmonton Indy | Edmonton, Alberta |
| 6 | August 9 | Road Race Showcase/Road America | Road America | Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin |
| 7 | August 10 | Road Race Showcase/Road America | Road America | Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin |
| 8 | August 17 | Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières | Circuit Trois-Rivières | Trois-Rivières, Quebec |
| 9 | September 14 | Mazda Formula Zoom Zoom | New Jersey Motorsports Park | Millville, New Jersey |
| 10 | September 21 | SunRichGourmet.com 1000 | Miller Motorsports Park | Tooele, Utah |
| 11 | October 3 | Atlanta Atlantic Challenge | Road Atlanta | Braselton, Georgia |
Cancelled events
| Original date | Race name | Track | City |
| April 27 | Atlantic Grand Prix of Houston | JAGFlo Speedway at Reliant Park | Houston, Texas |
| June 22 | Atlantic Grand Prix of Cleveland | Burke Lakefront Airport | Cleveland, Ohio |
| July 6 | Steelback Atlantic Grand Prix | Exhibition Place | Toronto, Ontario |
| July 26 | Atlantic Grand Prix of Portland | Portland International Raceway | Portland, Oregon |
| July 27 | Atlantic Grand Prix of Portland | Portland International Raceway | Portland, Oregon |
| November 9 | Atlantic Gran Premio Tecate | Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez | Mexico City, Mexico |
| References: ||||

### Television

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

## Race results

| Rd | Track | Pole Position | Fastest Lap | Race winner | Race winner | Report |
| Rd | Track | Pole Position | Fastest Lap | Driver | Team | Report |
| 1 | Long Beach Grand Prix | Jonathan Bomarito | Carl Skerlong | Simona de Silvestro | Newman Wachs Racing | Report |
| 2 | Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca | James Hinchcliffe | Douglas Soares | James Hinchcliffe | Forsythe Pettit Racing | Report |
| 3 | Circuit Mont-Tremblant | Junior Strous | Junior Strous | Junior Strous | Condor Motorsports | Report |
| 4 | Edmonton Indy | James Hinchcliffe | David Garza Pérez | Jonathan Bomarito | Mathiasen Motorsports | Report |
| 5 | Edmonton Indy | Carl Skerlong | Carl Skerlong | Jonathan Summerton | Newman Wachs Racing | Report |
| 6 | Road America | Dane Cameron | Tõnis Kasemets | Jonathan Bomarito | Mathiasen Motorsports | Report |
| 7 | Road America | Jonathan Bomarito | Dane Cameron | Jonathan Summerton | Newman Wachs Racing | Report |
| 8 | Circuit Trois-Rivières | Jonathan Bomarito | Jonathan Summerton | Jonathan Bomarito | Mathiasen Motorsports | Report |
| 9 | New Jersey Motorsports Park | Carl Skerlong | Carl Skerlong | Carl Skerlong | Pacific Coast Motorsports | Report |
| 10 | Miller Motorsports Park | Markus Niemelä | Carl Skerlong | Markus Niemelä | Brooks Associates Racing | Report |
| 11 | Road Atlanta | Jonathan Summerton | J. R. Hildebrand | Markus Niemelä | Brooks Associates Racing | Report |

## Race summaries
### Round 1: Imperial Capital Bank Atlantic Challenge of Long Beach

* 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 |||||||||

### Round 2: Monterey Festival of Speed Atlantic Championship

* 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 |||||||||

### Round 3: Sommet des Legends

* 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 finished under caution | * Race finished under caution | * Race finished under caution |
| Race average speed: 87.621 mph |||||||||
| Lead changes: 0 |||||||||
| Cautions: 3 for 10 Laps |||||||||

### Round 4: Rexall Edmonton Indy Twin Races - Race 1

* 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 | Forsythe Championship Racing | 38 | +2.170 | 0 |
| Race average speed: 99.269 mph |||||||||
| Lead changes: 1 |||||||||
| Cautions: 1 for 3 Laps |||||||||

### Round 5: Rexall Edmonton Indy Twin Races - Race 2

* 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 |||||||||

### Round 6: Road Race Showcase/Road America - Race 1

* 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 |||||||||

### Round 7: Road Race Showcase/Road America - Race 2

* 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 |||||||||

### Round 8: Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières

* 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 |||||||||

### Round 9: Mazda Formula Zoom Zoom

* 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 |||||||||

### Round 10: SunRichGourmet.com 1000

* 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 |||||||||

### Round 11: Atlanta Atlantic Challenge

* 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 finished under caution | * Race finished under caution | * Race finished under caution |
| Race average speed: 105.976 mph |||||||||
| Lead changes: 1 |||||||||
| Cautions: 2 for 7 Laps |||||||||

## Final driver results
### Points system

| Position | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | 11th | 12th | 13th | 14th | 15th | 16th | 17th | 18th | 19th | 20th |
| Points | 31 | 27 | 25 | 23 | 21 | 19 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
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.
| Pos | Driver | LBH | LAG | MTT | EDM | EDM | ROA | ROA | TRR | NJS | UTH | ATL | Points |
| 1 | Markus Niemelä (R) | 7 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 6 | Ret | 2 | 1* | 1 | 245 |
| 2 | Jonathan Bomarito | 5* | Ret | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1* | 2* | 1* | 9 | 6 | Ret | 228 |
| 3 | Jonathan Summerton (R) | 4 | 6 | 12 | 6 | 1* | Ret | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | Ret | 224 |
| 4 | James Hinchcliffe | 10 | 1* | 4 | 3* | 3 | 5 | 8 | Ret | 16 | 10 | 3 | 196 |
| 5 | Junior Strous | 8 | 3 | 1* | 13 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 196 |
| 6 | Carl Skerlong | 23 | 2 | 3 | 19 | 2 | 4 | 5 | Ret | 1* | 4 | Inj | 189 |
| 7 | Dane Cameron (R) | 11 | 17 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 17 | 5 | Ret | 3 | Ret* | 169 |
| 8 | Simona de Silvestro | 1 | 10 | 9 | 8 | Ret | 9 | 18 | 4 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 167 |
| 9 | Kevin Lacroix | 3 | 15 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 4 | Ret | 4 | 11 | 2 | 161 |
| 10 | Greg Mansell (R) | 13 | Ret | DNS | 9 | Ret | 12 | 13 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 105 |
| 11 | Frankie Muniz | 15 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 14 | 9 | 102 |
| 12 | Daniel Morad (R) | 6 | 9 | Ret | 11 | 8 | Ret | 9 | 6 | | | | 95 |
| 13 | David Garza | 12 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 10 | Inj | Inj | Inj | Inj | Inj | 6 | 94 |
| 14 | Dominick Muermans (R) | 17 | 5 | 10 | Ret | 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 12 | 80 |
| 15 | Tom Sutherland | | | | 10 | Ret | Ret | Ret | 8 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 78 |
| 16 | David Martínez | | | | | | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 13 | | 74 |
| 17 | Henri Karjalainen (R) | 14 | 16 | Ret | 14 | 11 | Ret | 14 | 10 | 15 | 12 | | 70 |
| 18 | Douglas Soares (R) | 16 | 14 | Ret | 15 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 13 | 15 | Ret | 70 |
| 19 | Leo Mansell (R) | 19 | 11 | Ret | 17 | Ret | 13 | Ret | 13 | 12 | 16 | 11 | 68 |
| 20 | Luis Schiavo (R) | 18 | Ret | DNS | 16 | 14 | 10 | 12 | 16 | | | 7 | 60 |
| 21 | Tõnis Kasemets | | | | | | 3 | 3 | | | | | 51 |
| 22 | Andreas Wirth | 9 | 8 | 7 | | | | | | | | | 45 |
| 23 | Alan Sciuto | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | 27 |
| 24 | Christopher Zöchling (R) | | 12 | | 18 | 16 | | | | | | | 18 |
| 25 | Eric Jensen | | | | | | | | 15 | Ret | | | 9 |
| 26 | J. R. Hildebrand | | | | | | | | | | | Ret | 7 |
| 27 | Rich Zober (R) | | | | | | | | | 17 | | | 4 |
| 28 | Brian Thienes | 20 | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| 29 | Mike Forest | 21 | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| 30 | Greg Minium (R) | 22 | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Pos | Driver | LBH | LAG | MTT | EDM | EDM | ROA | ROA | TRR | NJS | UTH | ATL | Points |
| Color | Result |
| Gold | Winner |
| Silver | 2nd place |
| Bronze | 3rd place |
| Green | 4th & 5th place (Top 5) |
| Light Blue | 6th-10th place (Top 10) |
| Dark Blue | Finished (Outside Top 10) |
| Purple | Did not finish (Ret) |
| Red | Did not qualify (DNQ) |
| Brown | Withdrawn (Wth) |
| Black | Disqualified (DSQ) |
| White | Did not start (DNS) |
| Blank | Did not participate (DNP) |
| Blank | Driver replacement (Rpl) |
| Blank | Injured (Inj) |
| Blank | No race held (NH) |