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Michael ONeill Photographer Writer Motorcyclist Adventurer
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Another fine photograph of the GTD (Daytona) class sports cars racing down the backstretch of Lime Rock Park, arguably one of the most beautiful road racing venues in the world. This image shows the number 93 Acura NSX of Michael Shank racing running in front of a Porsche, an M-Power BMW and a Ford GT. This one is important to me for a number of reasons. First…the Acura is being driven by Andy Lally, a world renowned driver who hails from my very own home town of Northport, NY. Though we had never met before this day (I met him very briefly for a quick photograph in the paddock area before the race) we have a mutual friend in former NASCAR Cup Series driver, Steve Park who originally lived in East Northport, NY where my studio and gallery are located. Andy Lally himself drove in the NASCAR Cup Series for awhile and actually earned Rookie of the Year honors in 2011 but he is best known for his road racing expertise in the Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series (Now called the IMSA Weathertech Championship) and also the American Le Mans Series. In May 2010 Andy became only the 2nd driver in the history of the Grand Am Rolex Series to make 100 starts, while winning at Virginia International Raceway. In 2012 Andy extended and broke records in the Grand Am Rolex Series by winning his fourth Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona in the GT class. Lally won his fifth class victory at Daytona on January 31, 2016, tying him for fourth on the all time win list at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona. Lally holds Grand Am records for the most GT wins, the most podiums and the most top five finishes in Rolex Series history. In the race pictured here another fine performance was put in by the number 93 Michael Shank Racing Acura. Early in the race they had fallen down to 15th position but great strategy, combined with fine driving by Andy, saw the Acura crossing the finish line fifth…an amazing comeback. This kind of personal involvement is what gives me a leg up on other motorsports racing photographers. I have my favorite drivers and riders to be sure, but I stay abreast of everything that is happening in any given race series so I know who to focus on (no pun intended) at any given event. At most events you will see me roaming the track with headphones on. Unlike other photographers who are simply sporting ear protection, my headphones are connected to a scanner so I can be kept up to the minute on everything that is happening on track..