Cangialosi Takes Pole on Last Lap in Qualifying One!

Sunny skies and cool morning temperatures blessed the Virginia International Racing surface for Saturday’s first round of qualifying. Keith Grant returned to Atlantic Championship competition, while Dario Cangialosi and Flinn Lazier continued to spearhead the K-Hill effort. Dudley Fleck and Spencer Brockman, both contenders in previous events, returned to competition for the third round of the championship as well.

Early in the session, Cangialosi, Grant, and Lazier traded the top spot. It was Cangialosi to the top on lap two, Grant however found clean air and lowered the fast time to high 1.46, but Lazier wasn’t content and on his fourth lap took over by running a 1:45.5 lap. Circulation was stopped, however, as a car stopped just off track and burst into flames. The car was extinguished, nobody was hurt.

The session resumed with approximately seven minutes remaining. The top three protagonists wasted no time. They immediately bested their fast laps, the order had Lazier on top, Grant second, and Cangialosi third. With one minute reaming, all three crossed the line to start a final flying lap, but the order changed. Grant briefly was on top, but Cangialosi stole it, and Lazier fell to third. Surely there was more pace left, at the checker, Grant again took the top spot, Lazier up to second. Cangialosi the last of the three to cross the line, he again retook the lead. Less than eight tenths of second cover the top three drivers. Spencer Brockman continued to find time as well, but fourth was all he could manage. Lee Alexander would run the fifth fastest lap, and Dudley Fleck would come home sixth.