“I don’t want to let him down”: AJ Allmendinger discloses Mike Shank’s influence behind his Rolex 24 at Daytona return

NASCAR veteran AJ Allmendinger is no stranger to high-pressure moments, but his return to race in the 2026 Rolex 24 at Daytona comes with a far more personal motivation than trophies or headlines. Allmendinger recently revealed that Meyer Shank Racing team co-owner Mike Shank played a defining role not only in his endurance race return but also in convincing him he was the right man for the job. Ad The open-wheel-turned-NASCAR driver is set for his 16th Rolex 24 at Daytona start, a 24-hour sports car endurance race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway. It’s been five years since Allmendinger drove an MSR entry. In 2021, he competed in MSR’s Acura ARX-05 DPi with Dane Cameron, Juan Pablo Montoya, and Olivier Pla to a fourth-place overall finish. Thanks for the submission! In a recent interview, AJ Allmendinger admitted that he initially hesitated when Shank approached him about rejoining the team for the 2026 Rolex 24. Despite his experience at this event and Daytona, the weight of expectation and not letting down his longtime friend Shank amid MSR’s lineup made him unsure. Ad Trending “More importantly, it’s just to have Mike call me up and ask me to be a part of it. Honestly, he had to kind of talk me into it because I don’t want to let him down; that’s the last thing I ever want to do in this world. It’s my wife Tara, my parents and then probably Mike Shank [in terms of importance in my life]. I don’t want to let him down and I know how good these guys are,” the 43-year-old driver from Santa Clara, California, said (as quoted by sportscar365. com). Ad However, the reassurance from Mike Shank, whose role in his life extends far beyond the racetrack, ultimately sealed the deal. “That was the biggest thing I told Mike. I’m like, ‘Bud, I don’t want to let you down’ and he was like, ‘Ain’t going to happen. You never have. We want you,” Allmendinger continued. AJ Allmendinger says his bond with Mike Shank was so strong he never considered other rides AJ Allmendinger reflected on the deep personal bond he shares with Mike Shank and how that relationship has shaped his connection to the Rolex 24. Together, the duo earned overall victory at the 2012 Rolex 24, one of the defining moments of Allmendinger’s career. Ad “I love this race for some reason but the biggest reason I love doing it was always with Mike. I’ve never really sought after trying to go find somebody else to drive for.” Allmendinger added. AJ Allmendinger will be joined by NTT IndyCar Series champions Scott Dixon and Alex Palou, as well as Honda Racing Corporation Super Formula ace Kaku Ohta, for the 2026 Rolex 24. The endurance race is scheduled for January 24-25 on Daytona’s 3. 56-mile road course. × Feedback Why did you not like this content? Clickbait / Misleading Factually Incorrect Hateful or Abusive Baseless Opinion Too Many Ads Other Was this article helpful? Thank You for feedback Get the latest NASCAR All-Star race news, Xfinity Series updates, breaking news, rumors, and today’s top stories with the latest news on NASCAR. Edited by Yash Soni.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/nascar/news-i-don-t-want-let-down-aj-allmendinger-discloses-mike-shank-s-influence-behind-rolex-24-daytona-return