Crown Royal XR Extends Partnership With Michael Shank Racing
2011 will mark Michael Shank Racing's eighth consecutive season of GRAND-AM competition. The Columbus-based squad enters the year with fresh momentum after posting the team's best championship result to date as Negri and Pew had a strong 2010 campaign with the No. 60 Ford Riley Crown Royal XR, starting with a front row start in the Rolex 24 At Daytona and closing with a run to fifth in the championship after taking three podium finishes.
The team is looking forward to building on what Negri and Pew were able to accomplish in the No. 60 Crown Royal XR machine in 2010, and putting the organizations experience to work in 2011.
"We are really happy to have earned this extension of our relationship with Crown Royal Extra Rare and we are looking forward to building on what we started in 2010 both on the track and off," said team owner Mike Shank. "We had a strong run in the championship, but we are targeting even better results in 2011. Having a partner like Crown Royal return is key for us. We are also building continuity with both our technical package and our full-season driver line up and having those pieces in place will only help us next year. We are very eager to get to the track and get to work in the Rolex 24."
"Crown Royal is proud to extend our association with Michael Shank Racing in the GRAND-AM Series," said Heather Boyd, Senior Brand Manager for Crown Royal. "Michael Shank Racing has consistently succeeded in the sport and Crown Royal looks forward to building a championship-contending team in 2011."
Michael Shank Racing will be putting the distinctive colors of the No. 60 Crown Royal Extra Rare Ford/Riley in action at Daytona International Speedway January 7-9 as the GRAND-AM season races to the start with the traditional Roar Before the Rolex 24 test.
The team will announce the No. 60 Crown Royal XR Ford/Riley driver line up for the 2011 Rolex 24 At Daytona in the coming weeks.