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Shank signs off its prototype run with 250th start

Rolex 24 At Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - JANUARY 29: The Drivers of the #60 DP Michael Shank Racing Ford Riley celebrate in Victory lane after winning the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway on January 29, 2012 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images)

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BRASELTON, Ga. - For more than a decade, Michael Shank Racing has been part of the fabric in the prototype ranks - either with a Daytona Prototype or, for the last two years, an LMP2-spec Ligier JS P2 Honda.

Both cars have been huge for Shank’s business, with the racing “lifer” noting how much his life has changed for the better in sports car racing since joining the Jim France-owned GRAND-AM Rolex Series after coming from a primarily open-wheel background.

Long a DP fan, Shank needed a switch for the business - and for his primary customer John Pew - when Pew and longtime co-driver Ozz Negri saddled up in the Ligier Honda starting with the 2015 Rolex 24 at Daytona.

Le Mans 24 Hour Race - Qualifying

LE MANS, FRANCE - JUNE 16: The Michael Shank Racing Ligier of Laurens Vanthoor, John Pew and Oswaldi Negri drives during qualifying for the Le Mans 24 Hour race at the Circuit de la Sarthe on June 16, 2016 in Le Mans, France. (Photo by Ker Robertson/Getty Images)

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This would lay the groundwork for a potential bow at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, achieved this year, as the small-market American team from outside Columbus then made it to the world’s grandest sports car stage. Finishing 14th overall and ninth in the 23-car LMP2 class was a significantly impressive achievement.

Now, the prototype era for Shank meets its end, as part of a number of “eras” ending this weekend at Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta.

The team makes its 250th prototype start this weekend - full details can be found amidst this smorgasbord of information in the team’s pre-race advance - as Pew makes his final scheduled professional start along with Negri and Olivier Pla.

There’s been several highlights, including the 2012 Rolex 24 at Daytona - the 50th anniversary Rolex 24 - when Negri, Pew, AJ Allmendinger and the late Justin Wilson won the race in a Riley-Ford DP.

“Looking back on our time in prototypes, it’s hard to even begin. We finished fourth in our very first race – the Rolex 24 – and in the next race Ozz joined us and we were on the podium. We had a few podiums that year with that car and that’s what kind of all kicked things off for us,” Shank said.

“Lot of memories with this team from the very beginning, with Ozz (Negri) and Ian James and Mark Patterson,” Pew added. “Big DP fields, two-car team, it was a lot of fun. As the series changed over time, we kind of changed with it. It’s all been really good.

“I’ve really grown to love these guys at Michael Shank Racing. They’re great guys and when the going gets tough, they just work hard with a smile on their faces. It was a real honor to go with them and take them along to Le Mans. We’ve had some fantastic times including when we won the Rolex 24 with AJ (Allmendinger), Justin (Wilson), and Ozz (Negri). I drove with some great guys and met some great people.”

Next year, Shank moves ahead with the Acura NSX GT3 program in the GT Daytona class.

The two-car effort is expected to feature some additional announcements about that program in the coming weeks.

Follow @TonyDiZinno