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A.J. Allmendinger’s standout victory at the 2012 Rolex 24 at Daytona remains one of the most vivid endurance-racing moments of his career. Driving the No. 60 Meyer Shank Racing (then Michael Shank Racing) Ford-Riley Daytona Prototype, Allmendinger took the final stint and carved his way past a fierce challenge from the No. 8 Starworks car, which was led by legends such as Allan McNish and Lucas Luhr. He battled through GT traffic, managed a critical late-braking move into Turn 1, and held his nerve to win by less than six seconds after 24 hours of grueling action. After that high-water mark win, his focus shifted increasingly back to NASCAR and other racing opportunities, and though the partnership with MSR remained on good terms, his full-time commitments moved elsewhere. But now, after 14 long years, he is back with the team. Allmendinger returns Veteran driver AJ Allmendinger is set for a long-awaited reunion with one of his most successful former teams. Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) announced that Allmendinger will join the lineup for the 2026 Rolex 24 at Daytona, piloting the No. 60 Acura ARX-06. The return marks his 16th career start in the prestigious endurance event and his first with MSR since 2012, a full 14 years after their last collaboration at Daytona’s high banks. Allmendinger’s connection to MSR runs deep, defined by one of the most memorable victories in the team’s history. Back in 2012, he helped deliver Meyer Shank Racing its first-ever Rolex 24 overall win, sharing driving duties with Ozz Negri, the late Justin Wilson, and John Pew. The group’s triumph in the No. 60 Ford-Riley prototype not only cemented Allmendinger’s status as a versatile racer but also put the then-small Ohio-based team on the global sports car racing map. Since then, MSR has grown into one of the premier programs in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, capturing the overall Rolex 24 victory again in 2022 and 2023 with Acura. For Allmendinger, this return feels like a homecoming. “This race and this team mean so much to me,” he said in a team statement. “Some of the best moments of my career happened at Daytona with these guys. To come back after all these years and get another shot at it with MSR and Acura, it’s really special.” The 43-year-old driver brings not only immense endurance experience but also a renewed sense of motivation after a successful NASCAR Cup Series stint with Kaulig Racing. Known for his road course prowess, Allmendinger earned two Cup Series victories at the Indianapolis Road Course (2021, 2023) and remains one of the most respected all-around racers in the paddock. Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports Meyer Shank Racing co-owner Mike Shank shared similar enthusiasm about reuniting with a driver who helped shape the team’s legacy. “AJ has been a huge part of our story,” Shank said. “He gave everything in 2012 to get us that first Rolex win, and he’s been like family ever since. Having him back with us in the Acura ARX-06 just feels right.” The team’s 2026 driver lineup is expected to blend Allmendinger’s veteran expertise with rising endurance talents, giving MSR a formidable combination as they chase another victory at Daytona. Allmendinger’s participation also adds a crossover storyline that blends NASCAR and IMSA fans. He’s no stranger to endurance racing’s challenges, having competed multiple times at Le Mans, Sebring, and Petit Le Mans earlier in his career before focusing full-time on NASCAR. His adaptability between stock cars and prototypes has earned him respect across both disciplines, reminiscent of multi-talented racers like Kyle Larson and Jimmie Johnson, who’ve also ventured into sports car racing in recent years. The announcement further strengthens the growing bridge between NASCAR and IMSA, both sanctioned under the same organizational umbrella. The 2026 Rolex 24 at Daytona will mark Allmendinger’s 16th career start in the iconic event, where he has previously scored three overall podiums, including his 2012 win. His return not only brings nostalgia but also optimism for MSR, which aims to rebound after a challenging 2025 season. With Acura’s proven hybrid GTP package and Allmendinger’s wealth of experience, expectations are already high heading into January’s endurance classic. For fans, it’s more than just a reunion; it’s a reminder that even after 14 years apart, some racing partnerships are simply meant to come full circle. Reunion buzz builds for Daytona, but Phoenix tires steal the spotlight first. Allmendinger done with the tire drama AJ Allmendinger seemed to struggle as the practice session turned into a wreck-strewn scramble. The most exciting race of the campaign may be for those top four drivers, but as far as he’s concerned, he just wants the season to end. What was supposed to be a straightforward tune-up ahead of Sunday’s finale quickly spiraled into mayhem. The hour-long session saw four red flags and at least six drivers suffer tire blowouts, derailing teams’ plans for long-run simulations. Hamlin briefly slowed to avoid congestion, but disaster struck just behind him. Briscoe, his teammate and championship rival, suffered a cut left-rear tire down the backstretch, sparks flying as the underside of his car dragged along the pavement. He limped to pit road, only to report a heavy vibration minutes later and return to the garage. Allmendinger’s run ended even more dramatically. Five minutes into practice, the veteran was forced into the wall after his left-front tire exploded entering Turn 3. The impact brought out the third red flag of the session. Allmendinger later explained that he had already experienced a left-rear failure earlier in his run. He told the reporters, “I’m ready for this year to be over… Blew a left front, but I don’t know. The first run, we blew a left rear like three laps into it. Everything felt fine there. I was already tight. But the balance was okay, and I just wanted to run the laps out and put a 25-30 lap run to see what we had.” “Yeah, it just all of a sudden blew out of nowhere. So, I don’t know if it’s we’re too low on tire pressure. We usually on our group in practice, we’re not overly low in tire pressure, but to have two left side tires blow out, we got to figure out why,” the Kaulig Racing driver added. Unaware that multiple teams were battling the same gremlin, Allmendinger admitted it was too soon to tell whether the problem would plague the entire weekend. As his battered car was hauled off, another issue emerged, this time for Christopher Bell, who slowed his JGR Toyota with a cut left-rear tire just as the track returned to green. After him, Daniel Suarez and Riley Herbst also faced similar issues. But that’s not it. In the actual race too, Allmendinger couldn’t escape the tire drama. Towards the end of Stage 2, he hit the Turn 3 wall badly, ending his year on a sour note. He was extremely frustrated on the hit and laid out expletives on his radio. It was a cruel deja vu for Allmendinger. After tire issues in the practice, the same fate struck in the race, sealing up his exhausting season.
