Simmons Wins in USTCC at Sonoma

2007 USTCC champion Curt Simmons won for the first time this year at Sonoma.

Photo Ryan Cristobal

Sonoma, CA – Curt Simmons won the Nitto Tire US Touring Car Championship round at Infineon Raceway on June 29, 2008 in his Sunnyvale Dodge SRT-4. Simmons became the fourth different driver to win this year in as many races. The win was Simmons’ first since winning the Championship in 2007. Dodge also became the fourth different manufacturer to win a race this year in as many races. Almost spoiling Simmons’ party was Andrie Hartanto who was driving the Red Zone Performance Acura TSX. Hartanto was on Simmons’ rear bumper for the entire race and even set the fast lap of the race in the process of chasing the Dodge. The two fought lap after lap but Simmons proved too difficult to pass and Hartanto had to settle for second position in his first USTCC race since 2005. Finishing third but feeling like he had won the race was Dave Bongiovanni in the Good Sport Racing Mitsubishi Evo. Bongiovanni was the tied for the points lead going into the race with the team of Tom Lepper and Rod Rojas. With Lepper finishing in fifth position, Bongiovanni now enjoys the top spot in the season championship.

Dave Bongiovanni also won the Dupli Color Top Rookie award as the highest placing rookie in the field.

Simmons was the fourth different USTCC winner in four races this year.

Photo Credit: Headonphotos

Curt Simmons won the Go Pro Hero Motorsports camera award by winning the race and took home a free unit in the process.

Andy Chittum won the Molecule Keep It Clean Move of the Race award with his excellent start that brought him up from sixth position to the third spot by Turn 2 at the start. He received a complete Molecule Fabric Cleaning kit.

Michale McColligan won the top scorer in the Konig Cup by placing 8th in the race with his Mazdatrix Mazda RX-8.