DAYTONA BEACH, fla. — Michael Shank Racing, a little team with no pedigree, knocked off the big boys at the Rolex 24 at Daytona on Sunday with two former Colorado residents — AJ Allmendinger and Justin Wilson — who are making comebacks in race cars.
Allmendinger, a NASCAR driver, closed out the win by piloting the No. 60 Ford Riley for the final stint, a nearly three-hour drive that included some door banging with Allan McNish for the lead. It was Allmendinger’s first win in a major series in almost six years, and comes about a month after he landed a job with Roger Penske.
“I feel very fortunate,” said Allmendinger, who was suffering from severe cramping at the end of the race. “This is one of the reasons why I love this race, because it really kicks off SpeedWeeks. It’s such a prestigious race. …It’s one of those you want on your résumé.”
IndyCar Series driver Wilson turned in a strong morning performance with a three-hour drive that proved he’s healthy after a six-month layoff because of a broken bone in his back. Wilson is reuniting with Dale Coyne Racing.
“Hopefully, this is the start of a good season,” Wilson said. “We just have to work it out.”
The two paired with Grand-Am regulars Ozz Negri Jr. and John Pew to give Shank its first win in one of the most prestigious sports car races in the world. Shank, who had a second entry that finished third, was nearly in tears in Daytona’s storied Victory Lane.
