Michael Shank Racing post-Homestead notes

Michael Shank Racing Moves up in Championship Battle

Michael Shank Racing improved in the Rolex Sports Car Series Team Owner Championship after posting a strong podium finish at Homestead Miami Speedway this weekend to move up to third in the overall championship standings.

Oswaldo Negri and Burt Frisselle had a fantastic weekend in just their first start together in the #6 Michael Shank Racing Lexus-Powered Doran, converting third starting position into a hard-fought third place finish.

"It doesn't get any better than this," said Frisselle, who like Negri, suffered from car contact on multiple occasions during the 250-mile event. "To get on the podium in just our first start with the team after such a tough battle is so fantastic. The guys did a great job, and we learned a lot this weekend, so we are looking forward to the battle at Phoenix next month."

Michael Shank Racing was fourth in the points battle heading into the Homestead weekend after making a strong run in the closing hours of the Rolex 24 at Daytona in the teams first start in Grand-Am competition. The podium result moved the #6 entry up to third in the standings, and the MSR entry kept the points difference to the lead the same with just seven markers separating MSR and the current championship leaders, Howard-Boss Motorsports.

The exciting Homestead race, which saw the MSR entry launch from seventh position in the late going up into third place, will air on Speed Channel on Sunday, March 7 at 4 pm. ET. The Michael Shank Racing crew will be in action again on the weekend of April 8-10 at Phoenix International Raceway.

Based in Columbus, Ohio, MSR was formed in 1989 when Michael Shank first began driving racing cars professionally, taking the award as SCCA-Ohio Valley Region's Novice Driver of the Year. Shank retired from the cockpit in 1997 after moving up the motorsports ladder to focus his efforts on running the team, which quickly found success in the CART Toyota Atlantic Championship, with several race wins leading Shank to be named as Team Owner of the Year twice in four years. MSR has campaigned drivers including Johnny Rutherford Jr., Kenny Wilden, and 2001 and 2002 Indy Racing League champion Sam Hornish, Jr. MSR is making the transition to the Rolex Series from open-wheel competition for the 2004 season in the Rolex Sports Car Series, campaigning a Lexus-powered Doran JE4.

-www.michaelshankracing.com