NICK GALANTE WINS THIRD RACE OF THE

JIM RUSSELL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES 2009 SEASON

NICK GALANTE WINS THIRD RACE OF THE

JIM RUSSELL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES 2009 SEASON

Sonoma, CA Saturday, May 9, 2009 –The third race of the Jim Russell Championship

Series season saw pressure build as competitors hoped to prove their experience to earn a

podium finish.

Once again for this race, as with the first two races, Nic LeDuc, 2008 Jim Russell

Championship Series competitor, started on the pole position.

Nick Galante sat on the

front row in second position.

Troy Castaneda, 2007 Championship Series competitor,

rounded out the top three positions.

Retuning for another season, Brett Smrz, 2008 Jim Russell Championship Series winner,

had his racing experience pay dividends, as Smrz qualified well but started last due to an

infraction.

Nick Galante, the 2008 Jim Russell Masters Champion, took the green flag and

immediately launched his FJR-50 into first position. Galante held off Nic LeDuc for the

entire race to earn the overall race win. LeDuc made several attempts to pass Galante,

often locking up the front tires, but wasn’t able to make anything stick. Masters Champion,

Galante, was able to run a clean competitive race despite the pursuit and earned his 19th

podium finish.

Further back in the field was where the most exciting and heated battle was brewing. Troy

Castaneda, holding the third position on the starting grid, found himself being attacked by

Smrz, who quickly worked his way up from the back of the grid. At the start of the race,

Smrz, who started last, immediately clicked off two positions. After trying for several laps,

Smrz was able to get around Castaneda for fourth on Lap 8. Smrz then set his sights on

Thomas Asseo, who saw a daunting change in helmet color in his mirrors. After several

attempts to get by Asseo, Smrz finally pushed Asseo in to a compromising situation in the

braking zone at Turn 7, where he capitalized on the opportunity to take third on the last lap.

NICK GALANTE WINS THE 2008 JIM RUSSELL MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

After 16 rounds of the Jim Russell Championship Series the two scholarship winners Nick Galante and Brett Smrz emerge as the two series champions. Nick Galante won the last 13 races in a row in the Masters class. Brett Smrz clinched the championship division by narrowly beating out last years talented champion driver Nic LeDuc. Nick Galante finished third in the overall championship series and will try to win the overall championship in 2009 with a extensive practice and training program this winter and spring.

Nick Galante makes it 4 in a row

Sunday 08.09.2008

Sonoma, CA 2008 Masters Scholarship winner Nick Galante makes it 4 in a row. 2005 Jim Russell Champion Pat Barrett takes a close second in his first FJR-50 race.

Qualifying showed clearly that anyone wanting to give Galante some competition were going to have to raise their game, as Galante continued his recent form and claimed another pole. 4 in a row! This did not come as easy at it seemed as the top 4 ended up within 4/10ths of a second of each other.

Brett Smrz set the early pace at 39 flat with Barrett and Galante only a tenth or two back. The times started dropping almost every lap with each driver taking another tenth off their best and taking a turn at the top of the sheet. At 20 minutes things settled with Galante at 1:38.668, Barrett at 1:38.788 and Smrz at 1:38.798. Nic LeDuc had to switch cars due to a shifting issue and settled in fourth spot at 1:39.021. Galante however was not quite done and dropped the pole time another couple tenths to 1: 38.399 just to confirm his standing.

In the race, Galante with his recent practice from pole got the jump on Barrett and led easily into turn 2. Barrett however kept Galante honest the whole race and never fell more than a couple seconds back to finish just a second behind. 2008 Scholarship winner Brett Smrz needed one more lap to make a challenge to Barrett after dropping to fifth early in the race.

On the opening lap Smrz lost the fight for 3rd to 2007 Jim Russell Champion Nic LeDuc. Then Rory Handel made a nice move into turn 9 to drop Smrz to fifth. Smrz promptly regained the position in turn 11. It took over ½ the race before Smrz got back close enough to LeDuc to challenge for third. LeDuc messed up turn 7 and ran wide to let Smrz by. LeDuc immediately took the position back into 9, to which Smrz returned the favor in 11. Side by side LeDuc and Smrz went through 12, 1 and into 2 before all was settled with Smrz maintaining 3rd on the run to turn 3. LeDuc was having trouble with front tires locking too easily and was not able to keep pace.

Returning 2007 Masters driver Greg Hansen gained a second place in the Masters division for his first race this year. Barrett, also the 2006 Pacific F2000 Champion and current Grand Am GT driver, said he was very impressed with how easy to drive and how well the FJR-50 works. After his first race he declared the cars a blast to drive.

Nick Galante to drive in demonstration race during the Indy Racing League (IRL) opening race at Sears Point Infineon Raceway.

Only 3 drivers from the Jim Russell Championship Series were asked to participate in a demonstration/race. Brett Smrz, Nic Leduc and Nick Galante along with the 8 top instructors from the Jim Rissell School. The session would promote and showcase the amazing FJR-50 racecars, the series and the school, 20 minutes before the IRL race takes place on August 24th. About 11 cars will run a gentleman race at 12:45 on race Sunday. It will be the first time the series drivers have performed in front of such a large crowd.

NICK GALANTE WINS RACE #6 OF THE
JIM RUSSELL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
COMPLETING THE PERFECT WEEKEND
2POLES, 2WINS,

NICK GALANTE WINS RACE #5 OF THE
JIM RUSSELL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES JULY 12, 2008

NICK GALANTE WINS RACE #4 OF THE
JIM RUSSELL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

May 10th
NICK GALANTE WINS THE FIRST MASTERS RACE OF THE SEASON !!



April 20th
NICK GALANTE WINS 2008

FORMULA RUSSELL SCHOLARSHIP SHOOTOUT!


Official Series Website Article
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April 20th 2008
I just got back from 5 day trip to Sears Point Infineon Raceway in Sonoma California
I competed in a 3 day competition using the brand new, highly anticipated, scary fast, FJR-50 Formula3 car.
After a long 3 day battle, I was one of the 2 chosen by the 6 professional judges to receive a $41,250.00 scholarship towards the 2008 Formula Jim Russell Championship Series. I am excited and motivated more than ever now to continue my fight to win the 2008 Championship Masters Title.
The chance would not of been possible without the critical support from COPiSolutions Services and M.G. Bryan Equipment Company.
Matthew and Megan Nishibori again as always, have been there to make my race weekends the best they can be and I thank them.