Michael Shank Racing news 2010-04-16

Podium Pushes Michael Shank Racing to P2 in Rolex Championship Standings

COLUMBUS, OH (16 April 2010)-Ozz Negri and John Pew's runner-up finish in last weekend's Porsche 250 at Barber Motorsports Park not only kept the team's record of podium appearances at the Birmingham area track going, but it also gave the No. 60 side of the team a welcome boost in the championship standings as the No. 60 Crown Royal XR Ford-Riley leapfrogged from sixth to second in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal XR Team Championship standings.

Negri and Pew, who qualified ninth on the combined-GT and Daytona Prototype class race at Barber, will look to keep that championship momentum in place as the team returns to Rolex race action next weekend.

"With two races this month, we were hoping to make April a good points month for us and Barber was a great start in that direction, especially for the Crown Royal XR car," said team owner Mike Shank. "It's still very early in this championship, but it's always good to get some momentum going early in the season like this. We are focused on doing that again at VIR, and hopefully we can roll off the trucks with a good car for Michael (Valiante) and Brian (Frisselle). If we do, both our cars should be a serious threat this weekend."

Michael Shank Racing will return to Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal race action again next weekend for the Bosch Engineering 250 at Virginia International Raceway.

There is good reason for optimism ahead of Saturday's 2.75-hour outing at VIR, as last year's VIR race saw Negri recover from a cut tire early in his stint to finish sixth at the checkered flag as Pew (teamed with Michael Valiante) took a strong second place result.

-source: msr