Michael Shank Racing makes history with Rolex 24 win
Daytona Beach, Fla. (RacingWire) – One of the best crowds in the history of the Rolex 24 at Daytona was treated to one of the most hotly contested races in recent memory.
That Didn’t Take Long: AJ Allmendinger Already off to a Winning Start in 2012
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[/media-credit]Every driver prepares differently for the upcoming NASCAR season. Some might pick up their workout routine, change their eating habits, seek psychological help or just spend as much time as possible relaxing at home.
But there are a few that spend their off-season racing and even with Speedweeks at Daytona just around the corner AJ Allmendinger was among a few Cup stars who decided to do just that. He could have been at home, thinking about the year ahead of him with his new team at Penske Racing, trying to prepare to turn his career around.
Instead he climbed behind the wheel of a Daytona Prototype in the 50th anniversary of the Rolex 24 hour race for Michael Shank Racing. Then he went out and won the race for Shank and co-drivers Justin Wilson, John Pew an Oswaldo Negri.
“It’s always cool to be me,” joked Allmendinger about how great the last month has been for him. “No I’m just kidding, the last five years it’s sucked to be me. It’s pretty amazing to go through the last month and a half. Obviously the Penske side of it is completely different from this side of it. Mike Shank – we’ve done this for seven years and I told him we’ve been waiting for the 50th anniversary.”
Allmendinger acknowledged that the last five years have been tumultuous for him in the NSCS, even for as hard as he worked. When it came to trying to win at Daytona with the No. 60 team for Shank it was much of the same, always coming up short. The team stayed committed though to building faster and faster cars and finished runner up in 2007 with the same group of drivers.
Now they’re all champions, beating the best in the business and in the Rolex 24 by dominating the superstar lineup of the Chip Ganassi teams. The Shank drivers completed 761 laps through the 24-hour race and were leading for 249 of those laps.
When it came down to the final few though, Shank full-filled his promise to Allmendinger of putting him in the car for the final stint to the finish. Even agreeing that should Allmendinger be the driver of the car when they win the race, he would shave his initials on his head, which he plans to do this week.
“The last seven years this whole team, Mike Shank Racing, went through a lot to get to this point, to not only win the race but have two cars on the podium,” Allmendinger said as Shank’s second car the No. 6 finished third.
“It’s a small group of guys that Mike’s put together and they work their butts off and it’s really cool this year to have them get a well deserved victory and a second car on the podium,” continued Allmendinger.
“I feel very fortunate; 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 races you want on your resume and you want to say that you were part of a victory. It’s amazing. I’m going to cherish this.”
Allmendinger will for as long as he can since the swagger he has now will most likely be knocked back down by Speedweeks, he’ll be reminded he hasn’t won in Cup yet. Or maybe not because when he comes back to Daytona to start the NASCAR season it’ll be with a confidence he’s may never had before. This year he’s with a team that he knows can win races and championships, a team that wanted him to be their driver.
Driving for Penske, the California native has high expectations ahead for him. He knows they’re there; he’s ready for them and even says himself that this might be the best chance he has to show what he’s capable of. On Sunday he talked about the 2012 NSCS season briefly but focused mainly on what he and his Michael Shank Racing team had accomplished.
“Yeah, none at all,” Allmendinger said on the pressure from those expecting him to win this year.
“For the last five years for what I went though and I think Michael McDowell said it best, Sprint Cup racing is the toughest in the world right now, it’s so hard to win. And yeah, I look at this year as my best opportunity to go win a Cup race but that’s easier said than done. So for right now I’m just going to take this for what it’s worth, not think about anything for a couple days and just enjoy it. Right now it’s the biggest win I’ve ever had because we’ve worked for seven years to get to this point with Mike Shank and we’ve been so close so many times.”
When he took the car over with three hours to go in the race Allmendinger thought about all the previous times the team had been in that position. Only to have something happen and the win snatched away.
But not on Sunday as Allmendinger held a pretty wheel for almost all three hours. Of course there were a few heart-stopping moments when he was navigating traffic and fighting for the lead with Starworks Motorsports drivers.
It wasn’t enough to make him crack under the pressure though, as his competitors expected. The 24-hour, 35 minute and 57 second race featured 10 different leaders and 14 cautions. There could have been more near the end, something Allmendinger didn’t want to see as he continued to extend his lead. Fortunately for the team there wasn’t any and as long as nothing broke they were headed for victory lane and brand new Rolex watches
“Honestly you get in the car with three hours to go and having a chance to win the race and I joke about it, but I haven’t had that position for a long time,” Allmendinger said.
“For me it’s about having confidence but you sit there and go, ‘OK, can I be in this position and hit three hours of perfect laps and not make any mistakes.’ It creeps into your mind as I’m sitting strapping my helmet on and about to get in the car. [Negri] did such a great stint at that point to hold onto the lead and a ton of pressure and he never put a wheel wrong before I got in the car and at that point I felt like I had worked so hard to get that lead and I had done everything that I sat there and thought to myself everything I needed to do to get the lead. Yeah, I didn’t want to see a yellow but at that point if it came out that was just another test for myself as a racecar driver.”
Allmendinger spoke about how proud he was of everyone on the team for all his or her hard work. Everyone who worked on the car, those involved on raceday and were now loading the car up to go home. But he also didn’t hold back in saying that he was proud of himself and his personal performance.
It takes a lot for a driver to compete in an endurance race like the 24 hours at Daytona. Especially one as prestigious as the Rolex 24 and Allmendinger said it was a great test for him he was proud that he had a chance to go win the race. Something he hasn’t had many of in Cup since he came NASCAR in 2007.
“2007 was hell honestly, it was the worst year of my life when it came to my career,” said Allmendinger before opening up a big.
“There was plenty of times in my bus on Friday, missing a [Cup] race that it was either should I go back to IndyCar or slit my wrist, honestly. We’re race car drivers right? It sounds over the top but I knew I wanted to be in the Sprint Cup Series, that’s where the best of the best was.”
Sure, Allmendinger says he would have loved to gone about entering NASCAR differently. When CART and IndyCar had things going on that didn’t appeal to him he jumped at the chance to go to NASCAR, wishing he could have done come Truck or Nationwide races first. Instead he went right to Cup and it was anything but pretty.
“It was just a tough couple of years, the last few years have been tough and I feel like the last two years I at least got on a good rhythm and it makes me feel good to know that a guy like Roger Penske can look at my talent and say, ‘You know what, he might not have a Cup win’ and Shell Pennzoil that’s used to winners and champions in their car but if we give him the right stuff he might be able to do that,” said Allmendinger.
“It’s been a tough time but the fun thing was a guy like Mike Shank, no matter how I felt about myself after a tough year or tough season he never waivered on whether he wanted me in the car. Every year we said we were doing this, that’s why I love this guy so much. He’s always been there for me, I would do anything for him and I’m just happy I can be a small part of this victory for him.”
Bill Elliott Plans to Put the Awesome in His Upcoming Race Season
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Photo Credit: Greg Engle, NASCAR Examiner[/media-credit]At this stage in his career, Bill Elliott could definitely sit back, rest on his laurels, and enjoy watching his young son Chase progress in his racing career. Yet for the veteran driver known as ‘Awesome Bill from Dawsonville,’ the upcoming racing season promises to live up to his moniker.
This past week, Elliott made an historic announcement, partnering with Walmart for the July Daytona race, the Coke Zero 400, in celebration of the superstore’s 50th anniversary. The joint venture, “Legends in Racing” is the first time ever that Walmart as sponsored a Cup car.
“It came about real quick,” Elliott said of his historic deal with the superstore giant. “I don’t really understand the total dynamics but it came about super-fast.”
“I’m very excited about it,” Elliott continued. “There’s a lot of opportunities there for the race fans, Walmart and NASCAR all together.”
“The opportunity for me at this stage of my career, having something like this come along, is very gratifying to me.”
Elliott, the 1988 Cup Champion who competed last year in five Cup races, will be piloting the Walmart No. 50 Car. And according to a Walmart spokesperson, the superstore could not be more pleased with their choice as well.
“The No. 50 car is a big deal for us,” Rand Waddoups, Senior Director Entertainment Marketing for Walmart, said. “It’s one of the major things we’re excited about as we turn 50 and we couldn’t have picked a better driver to represent us.”
In addition to being the primary sponsor on Elliott’s car, Walmart also is sponsoring a special ticket package for the fans. This package will be available at 17 races throughout the NASCAR Cup season.
“They have a great program for the fans,” Elliott said. “Last year they started working with NASCAR and this will just expand what they are doing in the future.”
“They have a ticket package where you can get four tickets, four hot dogs and four drinks for $99 at various different tracks,” Elliott continued. “It’s a huge deal.”
“It’s as big as when NASCAR went to Indy and expanded,” Elliott said. “It’s big for everybody involved.”
Although he has been out of the seat of a race car for a bit of time, Elliott does not see that as a disadvantage going to Daytona over the summer.
“I’ve run well at Daytona and that’s a race track where you can be out of the seat of a race car and still perform,” Elliott said. “With Turner Motorsports and Hendrick engines, I’m very confident from the competition side that everything will be there.”
“Their key point for Walmart and for me is doing all we can promotion-wise, not necessarily worrying about the race but building up to it instead.”
While other drivers may feel some pressure carrying the Walmart banner for their first official ‘on-the-car’ sponsorship, Elliott is not nervous about it at all, instead feeling tremendously honored and excited.
“It’s a big step for Walmart because they’ve never been a primary on a Cup car before,” Elliott said. “It’s very important to me to make it work.”
“It’s a great opportunity and I’m so pleased that I’m able to do this kind of deal.”
“I feel like I can offer more from the standpoint of the promotional side than a driver that drives full-time,” Elliott continued. “I’ve been around the sport a long time so we’ll work with Walmart the best we can to achieve their goal and trying to put race fans in the stands at those key markets.”
“I’ll do the best job that I can for them so it will work out for their marketing strategy.”
While the Walmart deal was uppermost in ‘Awesome’ Bill’s mind due to the announcement this week, the veteran driver has other plans for the upcoming race season. First and foremost, 2012 includes his continued mentoring of drivers hoping to develop and hone their NASCAR talents.
“Right now, I’m trying to put a couple more late-model programs together for some different people,” Elliott said. “As soon as I get that signed, sealed and delivered, then I can expand on that.”
“I’m trying to expand my short-track program to help a few guys along,” Elliott continued. “We’re doing a little deal with a kid named T.J. Reaid this weekend at Cordele and we’ll continue to work with another couple guys.”
“I’m also trying to work out a program with Dan Kennedy to help him do some late model stuff this year,” Elliott said. “So, I’ve got a lot of things going this year.”
Finally, of course, Elliott plans to be the proud and watchful papa, overseeing his sixteen year old son Chase’s progression in the sport. Chase Elliott will not only be racing this weekend at Cordele in the 2012 SpeedFest but will also continue his driver development program with Hendrick Motorsports in the K&N East Series.
“My other goal is to stay close to Chase and where he is on the K&N and ARCA side as the season continues,” Elliott said. “Other than that, I would like to run a few more Cup races, but if it don’t happen, so be it.”
“My key goal is being available to Walmart this year to do what they need me to do,” Elliott continued. “I can’t say enough about how honored I am to do their program.”
“It’s a great opportunity and the fans can really benefit,” Elliott said. “Hopefully, we’ll make it a win-win situation.”
Doc Mattioli Lived a Pocono Love Story
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[/media-credit]One of NASCAR’s true legends, Pocono Raceway track founder ‘Doc’ Mattioli, has passed away at the age of 86. While known as one of the most successful track owners and one of the true characters in the sport, ‘Doc’ will be most remembered for the love story that he lived.
Dr. Joseph Mattioli had many loves in his life, from stock car racing to serving his country and helping others in need. But the most important loves in his life were his wife of 63 years, Dr. Rose, as well as his children and grandchildren.
‘Doc’ and Dr. Rose began their love story after meeting at Temple University, where Dr. Rose was working for the Registrar’s office at the time. Dr. Rose said that ‘Doc’ was “the freshest guy” she had ever met, always trying to get to the head of the line.
“He kept telling me he had a car, like that was a big deal,” Dr. Rose said of her future husband-to-be. “Little did I know that he would be the one that I would marry.”
Dr. Rose and ‘Doc’ actually ran away to Baltimore in 1948 to get married. They kept their marriage a secret until they came back home and had an actual wedding ceremony, which all “seems like just yesterday,” according to Dr. Rose.
The couple was destined to find each other, both living in the Philadelphia area. They also shared another common bond, that of being only children.
After their marriage, Dr. Rose set up her practice as a podiatrist while ‘Doc’ set up shop as a dentist. They then started a family, blessed with two daughters and a son.
Seeming to have it all, both Dr. Rose and ‘Doc’ worked hard at their thriving practices. But at the age of 35, ‘Doc’ experienced major burnout and confided to his wife that he needed to make a lifestyle change.
So, the couple set of to pursue the newest love in their lives, that of owning a race track.
“We were always curious about racing,” Dr. Rose said of herself and her husband. “We went to the races at Nazareth right after Sunday mass.”
“We were in our Sunday best, all dressed up,” Dr. Rose continued. “We had no idea that the dirt would be flying everywhere and all over us.”
“The children were crying,” Dr. Rose continued. “And I had to keep stuffing Kleenex in their ears to block out all of the noise of the engines racing around the track.”
In spite of that inauspicious introduction to racing, ‘Doc’ and Dr. Rose continued their investigation of track ownership, learning that there was one under construction in Long Pond, PA.
They flew over the track, fell in love, and the rest, as they say, was history. The couple started off with USAC races and then moved into NASCAR, which was just expanding into the region from its southern roots.
The first NASCAR race at the Mattioli’s track was won by Hall of Famer Richard Petty. The Mattiolis then met the father of NASCAR, Bill France Sr., who took them both under his wing and taught them the business.
“More and more people started to come to the track,” Dr. Rose said. “Children and their families would come to see the races.”
‘Doc’ not only passionately loved his wife and his successful Pocono Raceway, but he also adored his extended family. Mattioli leaves behind his daughters Louie and Michele, son Joseph Mattioli III, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, all of whom have been present with him in running the family business in one way or another.
“His loss has left with each of us an unbearable sadness, which we’ll bear with us for the rest of our lives,” his family shared in a statement released on his death. “He died loved, respected, and admired.”
In addition to his family, Doc’s other loves included serving his country, helping others and aiding the planet. Mattioli served his country during World War II as a Navy medic stationed in the Pacific.
‘Doc’ also loved helping others, participating in a variety of charities, from the Red Cross to local hospitals, schools and nonprofits. In 2009, Mattioli received the Philanthropic Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
‘Doc’ was also a visionary when it came to the environment, spearheading a solar energy project that has paid dividends not only for the race track but also for the local community.
Mattioli’s family summed up the essence of the love story lived by ‘Doc’ Mattioli best.
“He leaves not only his family, but also everyone he’s ever met with an insatiable desire to take life by the horns,” said Mattioli’s family. “He always lived life on his own terms.”
“He did it his way.”
