TOOELE, Utah — Finnish driver Markus Niemela became the seventh-different winner in the 2008 Cooper Tires presents The Atlantic Championship powered by Mazda SunRichGourmet.com 1000 at Miller Motorsports Park and remained one of three drivers still in mathematical contention for the series title.
Niemela started from the pole position for the first time in his Atlantic career and led every lap to win by .446 second over American rookie Jonathan Summerton.
Dane Cameron completed the podium in third, while Cark Skerlong finished fourth ahead of Simona De Silvestro in fifth.
Niemela’s victory and Summerton’s second-place finish coupled with a sixth-place performance by points leader Jonathan Bomarito pushes the championship battle to the season finale at Road Atlanta in two weeks. Just 10 points separate the top-three drivers, with Bomarito holding an eight-point advantage over Summerton, 224-216, and Niemela another two points back with 214.
The finish:
Markus Niemela, Jonathan Summerton, Dane Cameron, Carl Skerlong, Simona De Silvestro, Jonathan Bomarito, Tom Sutherland, Junior Strous, Greg Mansell, James Hinchcliffe, Kevin Lacroix, Henri Karjalanainen, David Martinez, Frankie Muniz, Douglas Soares, Leon Mansell, Dominick Muermans.