Duncan Ende wrap ups first year with Dempsey Racing

Reflecting on the 2012 American Le Mans Season, there are three bright spots that stand out for Duncan Ende, who drove the no. 25 Dempsey Racing Oreca FLM09 car in the Prototype Challenge class with Henri Richard.

In their first season together, the duo scored podiums at the American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Conn., as well as at the Baltimore Grand Prix at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore, Maryland. In a season where the duo faced their fair share of bad luck, those were bright spots for them as well as the Dempsey Racing team.

#25 Dempsey Racing Oreca FLM09 Chevrolet: Henri Richard, Duncan Ende

Photo by: Greg Nichols

A highlight that happened throughout the season was the ongoing efforts to promote STANDD (Stop Texting and Driving Distracted). Founded by Diveeta Thompson, the Fort Wayne, Indiana-based non-profit organization aims to raise awareness of the dangers of driving distracted.

With pledge forms available at the Dempsey Racing pits throughout the ALMS season, STANDD collected thousands of signatures at ALMS events in 2012, including those from Dempsey Racing principles Patrick Dempsey and Joe Foster.

Fans pledged to drive without being distracting by texting, talking on the phone, putting on makeup or anything else that causes the driver to take their mind off driving safely.

In order to carry the message into the ALMS' off-season, Duncan Ende and his partners have teamed up in a fundraiser for STANDD. Between now and the drop of the green flag at Sebring in March, fans of Duncan Ende and the American Le Mans Series can win prizes via a donation to STANDD.

"Even though racing season is over, we wanted to find a way to continue to help STANDD and work with all of our partners," said Ende. "We've seen over the past year and a half how hard Diveeta works to promote STANDD and honor the memory of her son Rodney, and we'd like to carry that message into the off season.

Thanks to the generous help of companies such as Racer's Roast and Dempsey Racing, we are able to help out."

Duncan Ende