IMSA: Angelelli to retire after Rolex 24

Max "the Ax" Angelelli will call time on a driving career that began in the 1980s after he completes his final stint in the No. 10 Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R at the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

The Italian, known for his hard-charging ways behind the steering wheel, said it became obvious the time was right to hang up his helmet after a funny exchange took place over the holidays.

"This is a true story," he told RACER. "During the holidays, my wife and I turned off our cell phones so we could enjoy the time with our family. When we turned on our phones at the first of the year, my wife was surprised to see she had more than 60 messages. She asked how many I had and I said, 'Zero.' She said, 'That's how much everybody loves you.'

"So, all through the years when I was winning races, I never got messages after I won. But after word got out that I was going to retire, you have no idea of the amount of text messages, phone calls, e-mails, etc., like the people could not wait for me to say I'm done. That's the way I see it. Seriously, I feel like the time is right to retire at this race, this year."

Angelelli, who also plays a vital role within WTR and has been instrumental as a driver manager for many years, is pleased to go out on his terms with the team that has been his home for decades.

"This is where it all started, at the Rolex in 1999," he said. "And this is where it's going to finish, at the Rolex in 2017. It was with Wayne Taylor in 1999, and it's with Wayne Taylor in 2017. How nice is that? Hanging around the same guy for this long. It would be the cherry on the cake to win the watch this last time, but I'm happy no matter what happens."