Michael Shank Racing Kicks Homestead Off With Team Karting

Homestead, Fla. (25 April 2012) – John Pew and Ozz Negri hosted Michael Shank Racing team owner and the crew members of their No. 60 Liveon.com Ford-Riley at Homestead-Miami Speedway’s karting facility for an afternoon of karting fun on Tuesday.

The Rolex 24-winning squad arrived early for the Grand Prix of Miami to get an early start to the weekend with a very fun itinerary–karting.

While some members of the team were more eager than others to jump right into the higher horsepower TaG and shifter karts provided by JC Karting, each took a turn behind the wheel with the team combining to complete plenty of laps throughout the afternoon. The team members each took turns in the various karts on hand but no matter the type of kart, the end result was the same with each emerging from under their helmets wearing a smile.

The Ironman Awards went to Mike Shank, Justin Harnisfager, Dale Wise, and Jeff Schaffner who took full advantage of the karting day to put down countless laps around the Homestead kart track. Justin looked like he would never come back into the pits – only stopping at the end of the day when he nearly ran his kart out of fuel.

Smiles were seen all around the pit area with some of the biggest grins on the faces of John and Ozz who in addition to their time behind the wheel, spent time giving advice and insight to the crew guys who looked to go even faster as the day wore on.

“This was an awesome way to start the weekend,” said team owner Mike Shank. “The guys work so hard and this was really a great thing that Ozz and John put together for us. This team lives and breathes the sport. For us to get a day to come down and do this was just a great day for this whole team. We’ve never had so much going on as an organization, growing our commercial department, entering the Indianapolis 500, and leading the Grand Am Endurance Championship. It’s very exciting for everyone, and to get to take even just a little bit of time and do something like this is just great. Hopefully the guys aren’t too sore tomorrow!”

Fun was had by all and the team is set for more this weekend as they move from Homestead-Miami Speedway’s kart track to the speedway road course for Round 3 of the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series Championship.