Season summary
The 2023 season of the Atlantic Championship began at Road Atlanta with pole positions for Tony Ave and Austin Hill in the 016 and Open Classes. Ave retired, leaving Jimmy Simpson to defend from a faster Keith Grant, who could not find a way by. Similarly, Bob Corliss was also faster than Hill, but also had to be content with second place. Wright was third in the Open Class and Romer in the 016 Class. Simpson dominated the 016 field in race two, ahead of a photo-finish between Dudley Fleck and Romer. Hill was the only finishing car in the Open Class. Two double wins saw Simpson and Hill head their classes' standings after the weekend. [7]
Rain was once again on the agenda as the field headed to Mid-Ohio. In the 016 class, Simpson established himself as a title contender early on when he took both pole positions and won both races by over ten seconds. Behind him, Fleck and Richard Zober completed the podium both times as only four drivers entered the class. The picture was less clear in the Open Class, as Hill was the only driver to have entered both rounds so far. New entry Hayden Bowlsbey swept race one and fought past Hill to also take the second victory. Both class leaders grew their points advantage in the standings. [8]
The third event was held at Pittsburgh International Race Complex, and familiar faces were on top in qualifying. Simpson swept 016 qualifying while Corliss and Hill shared Open class pole positions. The first race saw Simpson convert his pole position to a win, ahead of David and Keith Grant. Corliss meanwhile had to give up his first place to Hill. Race two was the first race not won by Simpson, as Keith Grant took first place. Simpson still came second, ahead of Romer. Hill was the only Open Class entry to start race two, so he took an unchallenged first place. Simpson and Hill once again extended their points lead. [9]
The fourth round at Road America saw the biggest field of the season, with 15 cars entered. Simpson was still the man to beat, as he took race one pole position and the win ahead of David Grant and Fleck. For Hill, the story was the same, as he also won from pole, leading Kirk Kindsfater and Bruce Hamilton. Simpson handed his car to Tõnis Kasemets for race two. David Grant took pole position and the win, ahead of Kasemets and Keith Grant. Hill had to retire his car, handing Kindsfater the Open Class win, with polesitter Hamilton and Jim Booth completing the podium. Simpson and Hill had now both amassed an unreachable lead in their classes. [10]
Both class champions did not attend the final round at Summit Point. Matthew Butson swept the weekend in the 016 Class, taking both pole positions and wins ahead of Richard Zober, the only two drivers in the class. Zober consolidated his second place in the class, albeit still 82 points behind Simpson. The field was similarly small in the Open Class, with only three cars entered. Hamilton also swept both qualifyings and races in his class, ahead of Everett Stack, while Corliss was unable to start both races. Double-winner Hamilton was therefore able to overtake Corliss for second in the standings, 161 points behind champion Hill. [11]
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Jimmy Simpson 
