AJ Allmendinger with MSR for Daytona24

AJ Ready for Rolex 24 With Michael Shank Racing

AJ will be back behind the wheel this weekend. But it won't be his NASCAR Sprint Cup ride--AJ is going racing for a watch.

(Columbus, OH) 30 December 08--For the fourth consecutive year, Michael Shank Racing has signed AJ Allmendinger to be a part of the Columbus, Ohio-based team's assault on the biggest jewel in North American endurance racing, the Rolex 24 At Daytona. The team has two entries in the top Daytona Prototype class. The Rolex 24 event also has a GT class field as well, making the 24 hour race something akin to running a NASCAR Sprint Cup race at the same time, on the same track, as a Nationwide race.

The 47th running of the famed race, which will start at 3:30 PM ET on January 24th, is staged on the 3.56-mile combined oval and road course at Daytona International Speedway. AJ sat on the outside pole for the race last year, and very nearly won the race in his first run with Michael Shank Racing in 2006, coming up just under three miles short after 24 hours of hard running to take second overall with Mark Patterson, Oswaldo Negri, and Justin Wilson.

"I really like Mike Shank and working with his whole team is always a great experience," said AJ, who would score a custom-built Rolex watch for a victory. "This is just one of those races that you want to have on your resume. There are so many guys who come out for this from so many parts of the sport, its a great event that just keeps getting bigger. Hopefully we can go all the way and end up on top."

The "Roar Before The 24" test will take place January 3-5th.

-credit: ajallmendinger.com