Mike Shank, team owner of Meyer Shank Racing, which competes in IMSA and INDYCAR, was honored by the Road Racing Drivers Club with the 2024 Phil Hill Award. The 2019 award recipient, RRDC President Bobby Rahal, made the presentation at the annual RRDC members’ dinner on January 22 prior to the 63rd running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, the season opener of the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

Phil Hill [Al Satterwhite image]
It is named in honor of America’s first Formula 1 World Champion (in 1961), and is not only a tribute to his masterful accomplishments on the race track, it also recognizes his contributions as a great ambassador for the sport. Hill passed away in 2008.
Mike Shank first started racing professionally in 1989, competing in SCCA, Toyota Atlantic C2 Championship and the Indy Racing League. He eventually retired as a driver to become a team owner. He fielded cars in the Champ Car Toyota Atlantic Championship and the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series, earning Toyota Atlantic’s “Team Owner of the Year” Award twice in four years.

Mike Shank receives the prestigious Phil Hill Award from RRDC President Bobby Rahal. [Brian Cleary image]
The same year Shank managed the debut of the factory Acura Motorsports team in IMSA WeatherTech competition, giving the Acura NSX GT3 its first victory and pole position. Shank was also awarded the 2017 Rolex Bob Snodgrass Award of Excellence, presented by The Gorsline Company.

Mike Shank [Meyer-Shank Racing image]
“This is an awesome award and it represents something so special in racing,” said Rahal. “To me, Phil Hill was not only a great driver, he was a true gentleman and a great proponent of the sport. He represented motor racing to the world, especially in this country, in such a manner, such a fashion, that is something you had to admire.
“We’ve had a lot of great recipients of the Phil Hill Award over the years, and this year’s honoree is no different. When you think about who should get this award, you think of somebody who does it all and did it on his terms,” added Rahal. “Frankly, it was pretty easy to decide this year. We have a lot of respect for Mike Shank and all he’s done over the years. And some days probably didn’t look so bright [for Shank] but here he is representing Acura in IMSA and Honda in INDYCAR. Michael, congratulations, man. I think you are a worthy recipient of this great award.”
NBC sports commentator and RRDC member Leigh Diffey conducted an interview with Shank, eliciting this grateful comment from the team owner: “I’m overwhelmed,” said Shank. “I think it is an unbelievable honor and it just makes me feel pretty small. Everything I did in racing I did just to survive and try to advance to where I wanted to be, but to get recognized by the RRDC with the Phill Hill Award is beyond words.”