2008 Riley Mk XI Michael Shank Racing Prototype

Ian James

James joined Michael Shank Racing for the 2007 season looking to check off the final class of Grand American racing that he has not yet won in-the Daytona Prototypes. James followed the typical single-seater ladder through the ranks in Europe before racing Stateside and has a wide scope of experience in the sport, including taking the 2004 LMP2 Championship in American Le Mans competition.
The Britsh-born racer made one Daytona Prototype race start in 2006 in the Rolex 24 At Daytona co-driving with Henri Zogaib, but engine problems early in the day prevented him from scoring a strong result. Teamed with Pew, James brought top-tens with metronomic regularity and his feedback will help MSR get the most out of the new Forld-Riley combination.

Source - Michael Shank Racing

Oswaldo Negri Jr.

Don't let Negri's quiet, humble manner deceive you-he's one of the fastest drivers out there. With a pedigree that includes rubbing elbows, and sometimes wheels, with guys like Barrichello, Coulthard, and de Ferran, Negri has proven quick in anything he's ever driven.
Negri put in a signature drive to close out the 2006 season, battling through the darkness to hold a bevy of chasers at bay and take his first Rolex Series victory at Miller Motorsports Park in Útah. Nearly every team had three drivers for the nine-hour event, but Negri and Patterson took on the challenge themselves, and were rewarded with a win.




Mark Patterson
Negri's teammate Mark Patterson is a successful businessman who has taken his competitive mindset to the track as he has leapfrogged his way to the top levels of the sport in his typical relentless pursuit of victory.

Running a limited schedule in 2005, Patterson scored a podium in just his third start with Negri before having a break-out season in 2006.



With a strong team behind him, and the experience of winning a race under his belt, Patterson has even higher expectations for 2008.

Source - Michael Shank Racing

Mike Shank — Team Owner

Mike Shank first started racing professionally in 1989, and quickly made a name for himself, earning notice as the SCCA-Ohio Valley Region Novice Driver of the Year. He didn't lose any momentum as he moved up the ladder, taking the 1996 Toyota Atlantic C2 Championship before moving up to race in the Indy Racing League.

As he gained winning experience in the car, he put that knowledge to work as his team expanded to run other drivers and Shank eventually retired as a driver to focus on running and growing his team.



Shank, who himself had one start as a driver in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, oversaw his teams adroit adaptation to the rigors of endurance racing, as the team led the first race they entered and finished on the podium in the second.

With multiple podium trophies on the mantle in the Columbus, Ohio, shop, Shank is focused on taking his team to the next level in 2006, with a full-time stable of two cars, and with a talented stable of drivers piloting cars prepared by a loyal and professional crew, he is likely to continue to grow the legacy of the team.



• 1999 - KOOL/Toyota Atlantic Championship Car Owner of the Year

• 1999 - Únited States Road Racing Championship (ÚSRRC), Can-Am Division. Co-drove a Intersport Racing Lola T98/10 in Rolex 24 at Daytona with Jon Fields, Sam Hornish Jr., and Ryan Jones. Qualified eighth and finished 42nd following mechanical problems

• 1997 - Indy Racing League (IRL), qualified 25th and finished 13th in the Las Vegas 500 with Neinhouse Motorsports

• 1996 - Champion, C2 Division, Player's/Toyota Atlantic Championship

• 1989 - SCCA-Ohio Valley Region Novice Driver of the Year

Source - Michael Shank Racing

Michael Shank Racing Westfield Insurance Riley Scores Sixth at Mid-Ohio

Michael Shank Racing capped off a strong home track race weekend on Saturday as the Westfield Insurance Ford-Riley of Mark Patterson and Oswaldo Negri improved the teams best-ever race result at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course with a run to sixth place in a dramatic round seven of Rolex Sports Car Series competition.

The race went green as a significant rainstorm took over with heavy winds and the precipitation continued through most of the two hour and forty-five minute race. Patterson opened up the race during some of the most challenging conditions and moved up in the order before turning the car over to Negri, who returned to the field 19th .



'That was one of the most difficult races I have ever run,' said Negri. 'The conditions so were tough that it was everything you could do every lap just to make sure you didn't go off. I've raced in the rain a lot, and I really love it, but this was really a huge challenge. At the end, the 58 and 59 were mega, and I didn't want to have any contact trying to defend against them and just kept pushing to get what I could get out of the car. It is a shame we weren't able to do a little bit better for all the Westfield Insurance guests, but I'm happy to come out of this race with another solid finish and a car without any damage.'

The sister Michael Shank Racing Ford-Riley didn't fare as hoped, as early in the race, a spinning competitor forced Pew off the racing line and into the path of track debris, cutting a tire down and sending him into a spin. Before he was able to recover, another competitor spun into his path, hitting him and sending the 6 car behind the wall for repairs. The team put in a stout and speedy effort to return the car back to competition just as the green flag flew again, but the team had to fight from laps down before taking the finish with Ian James behind the wheel.

Source - Michael Shank Racing