Andy Lally, one in all North American sports activities automotive racing’s most profitable drivers, is making ready to retire and tackle an essential new position.
The New Yorker, a three-time Grand Am champion in prototypes and GTs and five-time winner of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, will participate in IMSA’s January endurance racing basic at Daytona Worldwide Speedway along with his longstanding Magnus Racing workforce. As soon as the checkered flag waves over the occasion on January 26, the 49-year-old will be a part of Parella Motorsports Holdings as its new Trans Am Sequence president.
For Lally, whose profession additionally consists of NASCAR Cup’s Rookie of the 12 months honors in 2011, the power to hold up his helmet and step immediately into one other vital position within the sport that gives an extended runway is a uncommon alternative that might not be ignored.
“The timing of that is essential,” Lally advised RACER. “I may in all probability lengthen my driving profession one other two or three years, however when one thing like this comes alongside that might find yourself bringing one other 10-plus years within the sport, you say sure to it instantly, and I’ve to thank Tony Parella [founder and CEO of series owner Parella Motorsports Holdings] for making this occur for me. When he introduced it to me, it simply made a lot sense.
“I believe I’ve so much to contribute. I’m certain that there shall be lots of people actually shocked studying this, as that is popping out of left subject, however I’ve seen different actually good enterprise selections that Tony and his workforce have made prior to now which have labored out rather well, and I’m going to work actually onerous to be sure that that is one other one. It’s a really respectful and clean transition out of the motive force’s seat and into an official capability with a collection that I really like.”
Finest often known as the proprietor of dozens of sports activities automotive victories throughout three many years in Grand Am, the American Le Mans Sequence and IMSA, with main wins within the greatest endurance occasions, Lally began out in karting and stepped as much as junior open-wheel racing, the place he excelled within the USF2000 collection late within the Nineteen Nineties earlier than dedicating himself to sports activities automobiles and inventory automobiles. Aggressive outings in Trans Am additionally gave Lally a glance contained in the paddock he’ll quickly name residence.
“I’m an enormous fan of the Trans Am Sequence,” mentioned Lally, who has a win and one other podium to his credit score. “I’ve at all times been vocal about it. I really like the large quantity of energy and complete lack of driver aids, in addition to the idea and the route that the TA and TA2 courses are taking. These courses have such potential in being a continued revival of the most important and quickest Trans Am automobiles, after which there’s the GT courses that are additionally standard. I really like the expansion, and the power for me to have a small half within the growth of younger, up-and-coming drivers in what I really feel is the perfect racing in North America.”
Lally and Magnus Racing began their relationship by profitable the Rolex 24 At Daytona in 2012, and can log off collectively on the similar occasion subsequent 12 months. F. Peirce Williams/Motorsport Pictures
As a member of the John Potter-owned Magnus Racing workforce for greater than a decade, which is able to conduct a farewell of its personal after the Rolex 24 as Potter turns his full consideration to an enormous actual property challenge, Lally is grateful to have his personal farewell happen with the workforce the place he’s spent greater than half of his skilled profession.
“I’m eternally grateful to John Potter and Magnus Racing for the 13 years that I’ve spent with them to complete out my profession,” he mentioned. “I bear in mind on the finish of the primary 12 months with John in 2012 that we have been speaking about contract negotiations, and I advised him I used to be thrilled with them, was having extra enjoyable than I’ve ever had with a race workforce earlier than, and that I’d be prepared to signal a 10-year contract to complete out my profession. 13 years later, we’re sitting right here, nonetheless collectively, and going to provide it one final run.
“This would be the twenty sixth straight season, come 2025, that I’ll be collaborating in an IMSA occasion, and I’ll get to stroll into my last-ever skilled race because the winningest lively driver in Daytona, in addition to at the moment having the longest ever streak of steady Rolex 24 back-to-back-to-back. I believe it’s 22 or 23 consecutive years now. Daytona is such a particular place for each my profession achievements in addition to precisely what it’s as ‘The World Heart of Pace.’ I’ve had so many superb reminiscences there, each on the NASCAR aspect and the sports activities automotive aspect, that it appears a becoming place to run my final race.”
As soon as Lally turns his final laps on the Rolex 24 with Magnus, he received’t have a lot downtime to get pleasure from earlier than Trans Am duties name when the collection opens its season at Sebring in February. In reality, he’ll flip 50 on February 11, 9 days previous to the beginning of Trans Am follow the place he’ll preside over the occasion.
Whereas he received’t be chasing rides, Lally received’t rule out making one-off cockpit appearances if it strikes a chord.
“I’m stepping out of driving full-time, and I don’t anticipate driving a lot sooner or later,” he acknowledged. “However I definitely think about and am open to doing a little issues for enjoyable that may probably embody doing the Rolex 24 yearly if it doesn’t battle with something, or hopping into no matter collection, whether or not it’s a one-off Xfinity race or one thing for enjoyable in a touring automotive or GT automotive, however I actually suppose that shall be extraordinarily restricted.
“I don’t love to do one thing with out being all-in, and as within the as is the case with this new position, I’ve so much to study and anticipate dedicating a large portion of my time to contributing to this above and past what the conventional president’s position can be.”
