DUBLIN, California — The final SCCA Formula Ford Series event at Thunderhill Raceway on October 24th saw Bay Area driver Nik Romano not only claim his winning spot on the podium, but closed an exciting season by earning him the title of San Francisco Regional Formula Ford Champion.
With his victory, Romano capped a progressively strong 2008 campaign with a dominating second half finish. Thanks to six race wins, four poles and a smooth driving style, Romano took home the Regional championship by 28 points over two time champion, Peter Nosler, during this event.
Adding icing to his cake, Romano was also granted the title of Road Racing Rookie of the Year at the SCCA San Francisco Region’s awards banquet on November 15th. Mr. Nosler, a regional Board member and Nik's teammate with Neil Porter Racing, presented Nik with his trophy. During his presentation, Nosler pointed out that many professional drivers started their careers in the Formula Ford ranks, mentioning Ayrton Senna and Chip Ganassi, local hero Jimmy Vassar, and the "brutish" Canadian Paul Tracy, by name.
With his early racing exposure on dirt and pavement oval racing, Romano spent the first half of the 2008 season acclimating himself to the new challenges presented in pavement racing in general and road racing specifically. His first race showed his skill behind the wheel as he pressed on his way from fifth position to second with his eye on the lead, only to spin out (on a right hander, coming uphill) and connect with another car, ending his run that day. The next few races saw him impressively finish in one of the top five positions. He had the 'fast time' in four of the first six races, but hadn't yet developed the consistency necessary to finish on top.
The second half of Nik’s season showed the winning trend that earned this talented driver his championship title. Nik qualified no less than third in his final seven races and took home the checkered flag six times in these seven races, winning the last five in a row.
Nik exhibited the talent of a veteran driver during his ninth race at Infineon Raceway battling National champion James Hakewill for the lead. Even with his visor coated with oil coming from a leak in Hakewill’s car, Romano negotiated the lead and remained there to finish the race without incident, and with Hakewill all over his rear end in an exciting final lap.
Three victories happened over a single weekend in October at Laguna Seca. The first race of this triple sweep saw Nik qualifying off pole and driving for the first time in the rain on full wet tires. The second race saw Nik qualify once more off pole and fight two other drivers for the top spot in a hotly contested battle. This shining performance paved the way for this young California pilot to claim victory once again in the third race, the Formula Ford Festival race. Nik started on pole and drove a smooth, smart race to secure his final victory and weekend sweep.
Nik ultimately claimed his final win of the season after qualifying second at the Willows Grand Prix Doublepoints Regional in Thunderhill.
“Nik has come a long way in just one year of development,” expressed Ron Sutton. “From dirt oval racing to winning six races and the Regional Championship in Formula Ford is quite impressive.”
"Nik is the first driver I have ever had from the Ron Sutton program that came to us with almost zero road racing or karting experience,” exclaimed Neil Porter. “He acclimated himself quickly to the new driving experience and was soon contending for wins every race. By the end of the season he was the driver to beat winning all of his races in the final part of the season".
Nik would like to thank Neil Porter Racing, Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle Driver Development team, and his sponsors "Dr. Glass Reactor Repair" and "Romold Precision Molding" for supporting him through a successful season. Nik would also like to send special thanks to his parents as well as his aunt, Jacqueline Keiser, and the many other friends and family for their support and encouragement.
For sponsorship opportunities, news, recent results or for more information on Nik Romano, please contact him at NRomano210@aol.com.
