Sports Car Veteran Tim Keene Ready For Switch To Michael Shank Racing

Motorsports veteran Tim Keene is ready for his next challenge, as he has signed on with Michael Shank Racing to serve as General Manager for the team’s two-car Acura NSX effort in the 2017 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GT Daytona (GTD) class.

Keene spent the previous two years as Team Manager for Panoz DeltaWing Racing, where he led the unique race car to its best performances to date, collecting three top-five finishes in 2016.

“I want to say thank you to Don Panoz for everything he has done for me the past couple of years,” said Keene. “He and everyone that's part of the DeltaWing Racing Team will always have a fan in me, and I wish them all the best moving forward.”

Prior to his stint with Panoz DeltaWing Racing, Keene spearheaded the dominant Chip Ganassi Racing GRAND-AM sports car program that racked up 40 victories (including five Rolex 24 At Daytona wins) and seven championships. Hungry for his next win, he is ready to get back to work.  

“I've always held Mike Shank in very high regard as his passion for racing is without question, and his team is always considered a threat come race day,” offered Keene. “When Mike approached me about the possibility of working together on the new Acura NSX project, it was his excitement that led me to this decision.

“I know we are both looking forward to the challenges ahead, and I'm honored to be a part of a program that will immediately be challenging for wins. There's a very formidable task ahead and I'm ready to hit the ground running.”

For Keene’s new boss, it seems the feeling is mutual.

"Our partnership in 2017 with Acura requires the best people in the business,” said team owner Mike Shank. “Tim Keene brings a level of experience in a top role that we have never had before. Tim will be able to advance our preparation and allow me to be able to continue expanding our relationships with Honda/Acura as well as our long term planning and marketing efforts.”

Nunez In Driver’s Seat For National Teen Driver Safety Week

On Monday, Oct. 17, National Teen Driver Safety Week kicked off in the United States. Mazda Motorsports Prototype driver Tristan Nunez headed to the nation’s capital to provide support and education about distractions teenagers face while driving, including alcohol, speeding, and lack of seat belt use.

"I'm in Washington, D.C. today (Monday) to kick off National Teen Driver Safety Week and to help announce Cooper Tire's new safe driving app, TreadWisely,” Nunez said. “We had a press conference with government officials and a few victims to provide the full spectrum of the impact of distracted driving. I met and spoke with a lot of teens who appreciated someone close to their age that they can relate to and trust."

Driver’s safety is a topic close to Nunez’ heart due to the Dnt txt n drV Foundation, which he created in 2014 after witnessing firsthand the potential dangers of texting and driving. In 2015, Cooper Tire partnered with Nunez to help expand the foundation’s reach.

"We have a booth here (in D.C.) with Cooper Tire to talk about the app, and to hit the high points of tire safety for teens,” said Nunez. “Things like proper air pressure, checking tread depth and elements that make certain your tires are safe.”

While the overall message of safe driving is important to Nunez, he doesn’t lose focus of the specific side of the topic important to him.

"We also had a fundraiser Sunday at Hooters in Boca Raton for my own safe driving foundation,” he said. “It's a huge day there with all of the football so we can reach a lot of adults. The message is very important for everyone, not just teens."

End Quote: Wayne Taylor Racing driver Ricky Taylor on staying sharp by competing in FIA World Endurance Championship races with Larbre Compétition: “My first time in Japan was a really cool experience. I’ve never had this kind of an opportunity before, so I’m really enjoying it in every way. It seems every time you get to Daytona, no matter how experienced you are, you do get rusty during the offseason. The first day at the track, it takes a while to get back into the groove. These races definitely help us keep sharp and keep on our game and, more than anything, keep our competitive juices flowing. By the time Daytona comes around, we’ll be ready to go.”