Meyer Shank Racing Doubles Down on Fourth of July INDYCAR and IMSA Events

Pataskala, Ohio (30 June 2020) – The anticipation has been building, and Meyer Shank Racing is ready to embark on the Fourth of July race weekend in a big way. After years of developing its racing programs on both the sports car and IndyCar side, the Fourth of July weekend will see the team race at two legendary tracks—on the same day.The Ohio-based team will enter its first double-header race weekend with the INDYCAR GMR Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (July 4, NBC, 12:00pm ET) and the IMSA WeatherTech 240 at Daytona (July 4, NBCSN, 6:00pm ET).

The double-race day marks another significant step for the Ohio-based organization, which is fielding its first-ever full season IndyCar campaign in parallel with its IMSA WeatherTech Championship-defending two-car Acura NSX GTD campaign.

Nearly 30 full time employees and two separate crews support a total of five drivers for the 2020 season-long IndyCar and IMSA programs under the MSR banner. While both programs run independently, there is just one overlap between the two programs— team co-owner Mike Shank.

Shank will attend the INDYCAR GMR Grand Prix where he will call the race for Jack Harvey, and then will fly to Daytona shortly after the checkered flag falls in Indianapolis to call the IMSA race for the No. 57 Heinricher Racing with Meyer Shank Racing Acura NSX GT3.

NTT INDYCAR Series: INDYCAR GMR Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

The team’s IndyCar program returned to racing action one month ago at Texas Motor Speedway as Jack Harvey made his 2020 full season debut in the No. 60 AutoNation / SiriusXM Honda.

Racing on the daunting high-banked, high-speed oval for the first time, Harvey made remarkable gains through the intense one-day schedule as he got his first laps in IndyCar competition after nearly nine months between races.

With some seat time under his belt, Harvey and Meyer Shank Racing are excited to head back to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road course for the GMR Grand Prix – a site that houses proud memories.

Last year’s INDYCAR Grand Prix was the highlight of the IndyCar season for both Harvey and MSR. Qualifying third marked Harvey’s career best qualifying effort and he matched that with a standout race that saw him run in podium position throughout the day. When rain moved in with just 10 laps to go, Harvey was unfazed despite never having driven an Indy Car in the rain as he brought home a fighting third place finish.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway will host an action packed weekend with the GMR Grand Prix running in conjunction with NASCAR. INDYCAR Series qualifying will be broadcast live on Friday, June 3rd at 4:30pm ET on NBCSN. Catch the GMR Grand Prix on NBC starting at 12:00pm ET on July 4th. All qualifying and race coverage can also be followed along on SiriusXM Ch. 205.

Meyer Shank Racing INDYCAR driver quote:

Jack Harvey, No. 60 AutoNation / SiriusXM Honda
“The GP was obviously the highlight of our year last season with our first INDYCAR podium, not only for me as a driver but for everyone at Meyer Shank Racing. Naturally we’re hoping to replicate another great weekend and if we can really string it together, we’d really like to end up on the top step.”

IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship: IMSA WeatherTech 240 at Daytona

It’s been six long months that the Meyer Shank Racing IMSA team has been on track, with the last outing at Daytona for the Rolex 24. The two-car Acura NSX GT3 squad will head back to Daytona for a sprint format event – one which has not been on the IMSA schedule since 2011.

Mario Farnbacher and Matt McMurry will pair up back behind the wheel of the No. 86 Meyer Shank Racing Acura NSX GT3 while Alvaro Parente and Misha Goikhberg will reconvene in the No. 57 Heinricher Racing with Meyer Shank Racing Acura NSX GT3.

Meyer Shank Racing’s IMSA drivers have been keeping busy while stationed on the sidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic. Farnbacher, who went back to Germany after the Rolex 24 and returned to his full-time job as Service Manager at the Farnbacher car dealership.

“We were lucky that our dealership has stayed open as well as the repair shop,” said Farnbacher. “The sales department was closed down part time due to country laws. We were lucky that we could keep the business running. Up until last week I was working there every day.”

McMurry on the other hand finished his senior year at University of California, Irvine which switched to an online program for the final months of the semester.

“I’ve been busy at home finishing my last quarter at the University of California, Irvine,” McMurry said. “Two weeks ago I turned in my final project for my aerospace engineering degree where I had to design two commercial airliners from scratch. I’m happy to be done, and excited to get my diploma in the mail soon!”

The IMSA event marks the first race weekend back with the new health and safety rules due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The two-day event will feature one practice session on Friday with Saturday consisting of Practice, Qualifying and the Race (NBCSN, 6:00pm ET).

Meyer Shank Racing IMSA Driver Quotes:

Mario Farnbacher, No. 86 Acura NSX GT3