Columbus-based team captures Rolex 24

Michael Shank Racing holds off high-profile competitors at Daytona.

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Associated Press 9:58 PM Sunday, January 29, 2012

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The little team with no pedigree knocked off the big boys with all those championships.

Michael Shank Racing — based near Columbus — did it with a pair of drivers hoping Sunday’s victory in the Rolex 24 at Daytona is the kickoff to their career comebacks.

NASCAR driver AJ Allmendinger closed out the twice-around-the-clock win by piloting the No. 60 Ford Riley for the final stint, a nearly three-hour drive that included some door-to-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’s NASCAR team.

“This is one of the reasons why I love this race, because it really kicks off SpeedWeeks,” Allmendinger said. “It’s such a prestigious race. It’s one of those races you want on your résumé and you want to say that you were part of a victory.”

IndyCar Series driver Justin Wilson, meanwhile, turned in his own strong performance with a three-hour drive during the morning hours that proved he’s healthy — but more importantly, he’s still fast — after a six-month layoff because of a broken bone in his back. Wilson is reuniting with Dale Coyne Racing for the IndyCar season.

Allmendinger was suffering from severe leg cramps at the end of the race, and had to be helped from the car in Victory Lane.

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.

“I am just grateful,” he said of winning the 50th running of the 24-hour race. It was Shank’s ninth attempt to win Daytona.

Ryan Dalziel was at the wheel for Starworks Motorsport’s second-place finish, and Felipe Nasr was driving for Shank when he crossed the line in third. Ford swept the top three spots of the Daytona Prototype class, and won the race for the first time since 1999. It required holding off the vaunted teams from Chip Ganassi Racing, which finished fourth and sixth after both cars had mechanical issues.

Lebanon-based Doran Racing finished seventh.

Flying Lizard Motorsports — owned by former Daytonian Seth Neiman — finished 15th in the GT (Grand Touring) class.

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