It was a thing of both myth and legend, a race that saw the mysterious stranger come out of nowhere and win from the pole in his first ever time in the car or on the track... but John Edwards, who put together a spectacular season, goes on to win the championship and the prize that goes with it.
Richard Kent, an English karting champion with a background in the European Formula Palmer Audi series and a few Formula Renault U.K. races earlier this season, put the #77 Andersen Racing Mazda he tested for the first time in Mosport, last month, on pole during a gloomy, cold morning qualifying session.
In the warmth of the afternoon, he started in the lead, held it throughout and crossed the finish line 2.171 seconds ahead of John Edwards that started fourth.
Qualifying on the outside of the front row was Irishman Peter Dempsey, a 4-race winner so far this season who was third in the championship battle. He finished 3rd in the race and third in the championship.
Rounding out the top-4 was the remaining championship contender Joel Miller. He finished the race in 4th place and took the second place in the championship.
Edwards had missed the first race of the season and won from the pole in his Star Mazda debut in Round 2 at Miller Motorsports Park.
Edwards collected his symbolic prize, a MAZDASPEED driver's suit and helmet, at the series season-end banquet yesterday night and will begin testing with various Atlantic Championship teams within a matter of weeks to make his selection of the team he will race for in the 2009 Atlantic Championship.
While Kent was running in the race, he was not officially entered inthe championship, so the point for pole position went to PeterDempsey and points for the victory to Edwards. It also makes Edwards the driver with the most victories of the season with a fifth (four officials).
Edwards finished with 422 points, Miller with 406, Dempsey with 398, Ardoin with 365 and Charles Hall, who did not compete this weekend was 5th with 342 points. John Edwards also goes away with the 2008 Rookie title.
The Expert and Master Class championship title were already attributed to Chris Cumming and Chuck Hulse before coming to Monterey.
Richard Kent, an English karting champion with a background in the European Formula Palmer Audi series and a few Formula Renault U.K. races earlier this season, put the #77 Andersen Racing Mazda he tested for the first time in Mosport, last month, on pole during a gloomy, cold morning qualifying session.
In the warmth of the afternoon, he started in the lead, held it throughout and crossed the finish line 2.171 seconds ahead of John Edwards that started fourth.
Qualifying on the outside of the front row was Irishman Peter Dempsey, a 4-race winner so far this season who was third in the championship battle. He finished 3rd in the race and third in the championship.
Rounding out the top-4 was the remaining championship contender Joel Miller. He finished the race in 4th place and took the second place in the championship.
Edwards had missed the first race of the season and won from the pole in his Star Mazda debut in Round 2 at Miller Motorsports Park.
Edwards collected his symbolic prize, a MAZDASPEED driver's suit and helmet, at the series season-end banquet yesterday night and will begin testing with various Atlantic Championship teams within a matter of weeks to make his selection of the team he will race for in the 2009 Atlantic Championship.
While Kent was running in the race, he was not officially entered inthe championship, so the point for pole position went to PeterDempsey and points for the victory to Edwards. It also makes Edwards the driver with the most victories of the season with a fifth (four officials).
Edwards finished with 422 points, Miller with 406, Dempsey with 398, Ardoin with 365 and Charles Hall, who did not compete this weekend was 5th with 342 points. John Edwards also goes away with the 2008 Rookie title.
The Expert and Master Class championship title were already attributed to Chris Cumming and Chuck Hulse before coming to Monterey.