Acura Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian Bio
Acura Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian is an American motorsport team based in Pataskala, Ohio, competing in the IndyCar Series and the IMSA SportsCar Championship. The organization is led by Michael Shank and lists ownership that includes Michael Shank, Jim Meyer, Liberty Media and Hélio Castroneves. The team fields Acura machinery in IMSA and operates Honda-powered entries in IndyCar, carrying car numbers such as 06, 60, 66 and 93.
Early Life and Background
Meyer Shank Racing traces its formation to the Michael Shank racing operation that rose through U.S. sports car ranks in the 2000s. Michael Shank built the team’s reputation in Grand-Am competition, campaigning Daytona Prototype and later prototype machinery across endurance events. The team established a base in Pataskala, Ohio, and developed long-term manufacturer relationships that later expanded into factory-backed Acura GT programs and an IndyCar partnership with Honda.
Michael Shank combined his experience as a driver and owner to shape the organization’s technical approach and driver development. Early program growth relied on endurance racing success, which created the operational foundation for expansions into top-level American open-wheel and sports car series. That progression supported Meyer Shank Racing’s later prominence at marquee events and in championship competition.
Path to MotorSports
The team advanced from Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series competition into the unified WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and pursued IndyCar participation through partnerships and gradual program building. Meyer Shank Racing first established strong endurance credentials with Daytona Prototype entries and scored its first major endurance triumph at the 50th Rolex 24 At Daytona. Those results attracted manufacturer interest and created opportunities to run Acura NSX GT3 machinery in GTD and later factory-backed efforts.
Concurrently, Meyer Shank Racing pursued IndyCar opportunities by purchasing chassis and collaborating with established open-wheel teams. The organization partnered with other entries and, over several seasons, expanded into a multi-car IndyCar effort. Strategic partnerships and selective part‑time campaigns paved the way for full-season entries and high-profile victories at the Indianapolis 500.
Acura Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian Career
Early Career (2004–2012)
Meyer Shank Racing’s competitive roots are in the Grand-Am Rolex Series, where Michael Shank campaigned Daytona Prototype machinery beginning in 2004. The team posted steady progress through the decade with podiums and race wins, culminating in its overall victory at the 50th Rolex 24 At Daytona in a Daytona Prototype entry featuring a mixed professional lineup. Those early endurance results established MSR as a reliable contender in long-distance sports car racing.
Throughout this period the team also developed technical partnerships and expanded driver rosters, attracting experienced sports car pilots and investing in chassis and engine upgrades. Success in Grand-Am set the stage for MSR’s transition into the United SportsCar Championship after the 2014 merger that formed the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
IMSA Breakthrough (2014–2022)
Meyer Shank Racing carried momentum into the unified IMSA championship, campaigning prototype and GT machinery across endurance and sprint formats. The team achieved notable wins across IMSA circuits, including multiple victories at Laguna Seca, Watkins Glen and Petit Le Mans. In GTD competition the organization ran factory-backed Acura NSX GT3 entries beginning in 2017 and captured the GTD drivers’ title in 2019 through consistent podium finishes and race victories.
The 2020 and 2022 seasons further cemented MSR’s status, with the team collecting IMSA SportsCar Championship drivers’ titles in 2019, 2020 and 2022. Meyer Shank Racing also recorded a landmark Rolex 24 victory in 2022 with a driver lineup that included Oliver Jarvis, Tom Blomqvist, Hélio Castroneves and Simon Pagenaud, confirming the program’s competitiveness in prototype endurance competition.
IndyCar Breakthrough (2021–2026)
Meyer Shank Racing’s IndyCar program scaled into a front-line operation that produced immediate high-profile success. The team achieved its first Indianapolis 500 victory on May 30, 2021, with Hélio Castroneves at the wheel, marking a major milestone as the team’s first IndyCar Series win. That result elevated the organization’s profile in open-wheel racing and demonstrated MSR’s ability to prepare a winning oval program at the sport’s marquee event.
Following that breakthrough, Meyer Shank Racing continued to campaign competitive IndyCar entries and expanded its driver roster across full- and part-time seats. The team secured a second Indianapolis 500 victory in 2026, further establishing its place among leading IndyCar entrants. These wins illustrate MSR’s capacity to perform under the unique demands of Indianapolis and to convert endurance and technical experience into success on oval and road-course formats.
Current Era and Manufacturer Partnerships (2020s–Present)
In 2020 Liberty Media’s Formula One Group made a minority equity investment in the team, broadening Meyer Shank Racing’s ownership base and commercial profile. The organization runs Acura-powered prototypes in IMSA’s top class and Honda-powered chassis in the IndyCar Series, maintaining technical relationships with both manufacturers. The team fields entries across series with car numbers including 06, 60, 66 and 93 and has attracted drivers with endurance and open-wheel pedigrees.
Meyer Shank Racing’s roster has included veteran names and rising talents across both championships, with drivers such as Hélio Castroneves, Tom Blomqvist, Colin Braun, Simon Pagenaud, Felix Rosenqvist, Renger van der Zande and Nick Yelloly appearing in various programs. The combination of manufacturer backing, experienced leadership under Michael Shank and a flexible multi-series structure positions the team to compete at high levels in endurance and open-wheel events.
Driving Style and Strengths
Meyer Shank Racing has built strengths around endurance preparation, race strategy and adaptable setups suitable for both long-distance prototype racing and the varied circuits of IndyCar competition. The organization emphasizes reliability, tire and fuel management in endurance events and applies disciplined oval setup work and pit execution for Indianapolis 500 campaigns. Close collaboration with manufacturer engineers and experienced driver lineups contributes to consistent race pace and strategic flexibility.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones include the overall victory at the 50th Rolex 24 At Daytona, multiple IMSA drivers’ titles in 2019, 2020 and 2022, and Indianapolis 500 wins in 2021 and 2026. The team’s 2022 Rolex 24 triumph and subsequent endurance results signaled successful adaptation to prototype competition, while Indy 500 victories underlined MSR’s capability on the sport’s biggest stage. The program has also navigated regulatory and sporting challenges, including a high-profile post-race penalty at the 2023 Rolex 24 that affected championship points and team discipline.
Acura Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian Career Wins
Meyer Shank Racing’s verified wins span marquee endurance races and headline IndyCar moments, with championship success concentrated in IMSA and singular pinnacle victories at Indianapolis. The team’s record reflects combined strengths in long-distance strategy and one-off event preparation, producing both season-long championship results and standalone historic wins.
IMSA SportsCar Championship Highlights
The team captured IMSA drivers’ championships in 2019, 2020 and 2022 while campaigning Acura machinery in GT and prototype classes. Meyer Shank Racing’s notable endurance victories include the Rolex 24 At Daytona overall win at the 50th running and the 2022 Rolex 24 triumph with a factory-linked prototype lineup. These results underscore MSR’s rise to the front of IMSA competition across manufacturer-supported programs.
Other Wins & Perfromances
Meyer Shank Racing has secured wins at tracks including Laguna Seca, Watkins Glen and Petit Le Mans across varied seasons and classes. The organization’s Grand-Am and early WeatherTech SportsCar Championship successes provided a platform for later accomplishments and helped attract manufacturer partnerships that amplified MSR’s competitive reach.
Acura Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Michael Shank’s background as a driver and team owner shaped the organization’s development. His history in SCCA and formula racing, combined with ownership experience in sports car competition, informed the team’s progression from Grand-Am entries to IMSA and IndyCar programs. Co-owners Jim Meyer and later investors including Liberty Media and Hélio Castroneves have contributed commercial and competitive resources to the operation.
Personal Life
The team operates publicly from its Pataskala, Ohio base and maintains a visible presence in U.S. sports car and open-wheel paddocks. MSR’s public profile is tied closely to its leadership and high-profile drivers rather than private family details, and the organization focuses on competitive performance and manufacturer collaboration.
2025 Season Performance
For 2025 Meyer Shank Racing announced a return to IMSA’s GTP category, fielding two Acura LMDh GTP entries for the season opener at the 24 Hours of Daytona with car numbers 60 and 93. The 60 entry is slated to feature Tom Blomqvist and Colin Braun while the 93 entry will race with drivers including Renger van der Zande and Nick Yelloly, reflecting a combination of prototype endurance specialists and experienced factory drivers.
The 2025 campaign represents a concerted push to reestablish MSR at the front of prototype endurance racing under Acura power while maintaining competitive IndyCar efforts. With manufacturer support, an experienced crew led by Michael Shank and proven race drivers, the team’s outlook emphasizes consistency across endurance stints, strategic pit performance and building championship momentum in IMSA alongside selective IndyCar objectives.