Meyer Shank Racing Scores Podium at Daytona

Daytona Beach, Fla. (4 July 2020) – Meyer Shank Racing drivers Mario Farnbacher and Matt McMurry had a strong return to IMSA competition on Saturday, finishing third for the IMSA WeatherTech 240.

Round 2 of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship brought the Meyer Shank Racing squad back to Daytona for the two hour and 40-minute event. It had been six months since the IMSA season opening Rolex 24 At Daytona, as Saturday’s event marked the first time back on board the No. 86 Acura NSX GT3 machine for Farnbacher and McMurry since the Rolex 24.

A typical Florida summer brought several severe thunderstorms through the speedway during practice on Friday as well as scattered storms on Saturday. McMurry was set for qualifying duties in the No. 86 Acura on Saturday – his second qualifying run of 2020.

The fifteen minute qualifying session closed with McMurry posting a 1:47.779-second lap to claim a spot on the third row of the grid. With lightning spotted in the area just 30 minutes before the green flag, the field was halted before heading out on track.

Once the race got the green flag, McMurry wheeled the No. 86 Acura through the GTD field to lead for four laps before pitting on lap 29. Coming in for a full service stop, Farnbacher got behind the wheel to close out the remainder of the race.

With a strong pace and good balance, Farnbacher continued to hold his position within the top three for 46 laps. Running in close competition with the sister No. 57 Acura entry, the No. 86 Acura showed strong pace but didn’t have the chance to regain the track position needed to have a run at a victory.

Closing the gap to the leader by four-seconds during the final forty minutes of the race, Farnbacher brought home the No. 86 Acura NSX GT3 third.

Meyer Shank Racing Team Quotes:

Mike Shank: 
“Today was a busy day for our guys – with our IndyCar crew in Indianapolis for the GMR Grand Prix and then the IMSA new holding down in Daytona. Our Acuras had the pace today and it was a significant improvement from earlier in the year at the Rolex. But unfortunately today there were no yellows when we really needed it. Overall I’m super proud of this entire team. Mario and Matt drove a great race and we’ll take this pace into the next round.”

Matt McMurry: 
“The start was a bit messy with the mixed conditions but it sorted itself out. The car was great especially in the mix conditions and cooler weather. I was able to make up a bunch of positions over the course of my stint and handed the car off to Mario who put down some great laps during his last two stints.”

Mario Farnbacher:
“Matt did a really great job during the first stint. The conditions were tricky and he had never driven the Acura in the rain before but he did a great job. We started on slicks which was a high risk, but it worked out for us in the end. Unfortunately we didn’t have any yellow flags today which would have helped us to catch up to to two cars ahead of us. It was great championship points for us and hopefully we can have a few more podiums later this year.”