joey hand reflects on first michelin pilot challenge win

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Joey Hand was dealt a hard, one-two career punch combination a few years ago that sent him to the mat.

But like a true champion, he has pulled himself up, got back into the ring and just scored his first IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge victory.

“I had a two-year hiatus when Ford ended its GT program and my Platinum (FIA driver) rating kind of kept me out of doing a lot of things, then we had the pandemic,” Hand said. “It’s just good to be back racing.”

The 43-year-old veteran from Sacramento, Calif., signed a deal with Ford at the start of the year to perform a variety of jobs.

He has been tasked with helping NASCAR Cup Series Ford teams develop the Next Gen stock car on road courses, and he is also part of the team creating the Mustang GT3, which will make its IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship debut in 2024.

“Basically, I’m a Ford driver,” he said. “I help them in different ways. I help them with the simulator and NASCAR’s Next Gen car. I help any of the Ford Cup and Xfinity (Series) guys who want my help with road courses. I work with them in the simulator for road course stuff. I use my knowledge of the tracks and pass it on to them. The reason for me doing all this is to help Ford win races any way I can.”

As part of the package, Hand has competed in five NASCAR Cup Series road races this year to get seat-of-the-pants experience, which helps him build a setup notebook for Ford teams. He has one more start at the Charlotte Roval next month.

His NASCAR stat sheet doesn’t tell the whole story, such as his 31st-place finish at Watkins Glen three weeks ago. He had the No. 15 Rick Ware Racing Ford positioned in the top five late in the race but spun in Turn 1 in a late-braking move that failed.

“I had been working on Martin Truex for a long time,” he said. “I went for a big, out-brake move, which I didn’t think was that crazy, I was just going to run Turn 1 wide. When I hit the brakes, I lost the rear brakes and I had no chance.

“I never had that happen to me. I was super bummed. You feel like a dummy because you’ve got a good race car, then you make a mistake. I pride myself on not making mistakes like that. The last time I put a car into the fence on my own was in 2009 at Sebring in a warmup.”

Less than a week after that mistake, however, Hand found redemption at VIRginia International Raceway by winning the Michelin Pilot Challenge Virginia Is for Racing Lovers Grand Prix on Aug. 27.

Hand, who has 18 IMSA top-level series race wins dating to 2004, notched the Michelin Pilot Challenge victory in the No. 40 PF Racing Ford Mustang GT4, co-driving with James Pesek.

“Ford called me just after the Indy NASCAR race and they said, ‘Hey, we need you to help the PF Racing guys,’” Hand said. “I guess (co-driver) Chad McCumbee had racing conflicts the rest of the year. At the last minute they called me and asked me to finish the year out with them. I did Road America, Virginia, then we finish up at Road Atlanta. The good thing about this is that it gets me back into the IMSA loop.”

Hand’s most recent previous IMSA time was pretty memorable as part of the vaunted Ford GT program from 2016-19 in the WeatherTech Championship GT Le Mans class.

On top of that, he was part of the driver lineup that delivered a 24 Hours of Le Mans victory for Ford in 2016 on the 50th anniversary of the manufacturer’s vaunted triumph over Ferrari in the French endurance classic.

He was part of five race-winning efforts including the 2017 Rolex 24 At Daytona before the program was shelved. It’s why he’s so excited to be the development driver for the new Mustang GT3, though he doesn’t know much about the car at this point.

“I am part of the GT3 development program in 2023 with Ford and Multimatic Motorsports,” Hand said. “I haven’t even seen the GT3 yet. That is a well-kept secret.”

He also doesn’t know if he will continue helping NASCAR teams or do more Michelin Pilot Challenge races next year in addition to helping advance the GT3 race car. Multimatic and Ford also are developing a Mustang GT4 scheduled to compete in the Michelin Pilot Challenge in 2023.

“I will finish out the year with PF Racing,” Hand said, “then help with the development of these new cars moving forward with development in 2023 and hopefully racing in 2024. The GT4 and GT3 will be totally different cars. The deal with PF Racing was something that just came up. I was the obvious fit because I know the tracks and my connection with Ford. I could jump right in it and get going.”

The Michelin Pilot Challenge season concludes Sept. 30 with the Fox Factory 120 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

Keyword: Joey Hand Reflects On First Michelin Pilot Challenge Win

CAR'S NEWS RELATED

IMSA’s State Of The Sport Reveals New Plans For 2023

ELKHART LAKE, Wis. – Stability and sustainability were among the key messages delivered Friday night in IMSA’s annual State of the Sport presentation to stakeholders and media in Road America’s Tufte Center. IMSA President John Doonan revealed 2023 season schedules and shared details on a wide range of topics with ...

View more: IMSA’s State Of The Sport Reveals New Plans For 2023

Mazda Unveils 2023 MX-5 Cup Schedule

ELKHART LAKE, Wis. – The 2023 Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires schedule was unveiled Friday at IMSA’s State of the Sport presentation, and the growing championship is set for another season of big events at outstanding tracks. Mazda’s signature spec series will continue to hold a ...

View more: Mazda Unveils 2023 MX-5 Cup Schedule

Lamborghini Super Trofeo Schedule Released For 2023

ELKHART LAKE, Wis. – Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America returns for an 11th season in 2023 with a schedule including a first visit to iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Once again, six doubleheader race rounds are on the calendar, plus the World Finals where North American teams and drivers will ...

View more: Lamborghini Super Trofeo Schedule Released For 2023

It’s All-Or-Nothing Time For The No. 01 Cadillac

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Sebastien Bourdais and teammate Renger van der Zande know their chances of winning the final Daytona Prototype international (DPi) class title in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship are remote. Tom Blomqvist and Oliver Jarvis — No. 60 Meyer-Shank Racing with Curb Agajanian — hold a ...

View more: It’s All-Or-Nothing Time For The No. 01 Cadillac

Driver Change For Mathiasen Motorsports At Road America

ELKHART LAKE, Wis. — The No. 11 PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports LMP2 entry will feature a driver change for the last round of the sprint events at this weekend’s IMSA Fastlane Sportscar Weekend at Road America. Steven Thomas will co-drive the No. 11 Oreca 07 LMP2 with driver Tristan Nunez, who ...

View more: Driver Change For Mathiasen Motorsports At Road America

Hawksworth Is Back In the Saddle After Injury

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Any mention of motorcycles will not be tolerated by Jack Hawksworth. “We don’t talk about that,” he said with a laugh. Facetious silence aside, Hawksworth is serious about his journey back to full strength after a spill on a dirt bike in May left him ...

View more: Hawksworth Is Back In the Saddle After Injury

New Driver Lineup For Performance Tech Motorsports

DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. – Performance Tech Motorsports will have a new driver lineup for this weekend’s race at Road America (Wis.).  The No. 38 CardioAccess Ligier JSP320 will be piloted by long-time Performance Tech driver and Sheboygan, Wis., native James French to drive the entry alongside the team’s 2022 endurance ...

View more: New Driver Lineup For Performance Tech Motorsports

Hughes Strengthens Points Lead with Fourth Win

MILLVILLE, N.J. – Lochie Hughes strengthened his points lead with his fourth Formula 4 United States Championship Powered by Honda victory of the 2022 season to close out the New Jersey SpeedTour event at New Jersey Motorsports Park. Despite a highly-competitive field, Hughes led every lap on track this ...

View more: Hughes Strengthens Points Lead with Fourth Win

Hughes Secures Third Win At NJMP

Lucas di Grassi Takes Maiden Win At London E-Prix

Dennis Wins Opening Round Of London E-Prix

Inaugural GR Cup Schedule Unveiled

IMSA Returns To Indy In 2023

Monterey County Approves Final Budget For Laguna Seca Resurfacing

Hardpoint Adds Second Porsche to IMSA Pilot Challenge

French To Rejoin Performance Tech

Winward’s Last Lap Agony At Lime Rock Park

Porsche, Cadillac Share Track At Sebring

Development Of Cadillac LMDh Continues At Sebring

Three Takeaways From FCP Euro Northeast Grand Prix

OTHER CAR NEWS

; Top List in the World https://www.pinterest.com/newstopcar/pins/
Top Best Sushi Restaurants in SeoulTop Best Caribbean HoneymoonsTop Most Beautiful Islands in PeruTop Best Outdoor Grill BrandsTop Best Global Seafood RestaurantsTop Foods to Boost Your Immune SystemTop Best Foods to Fight HemorrhoidsTop Foods That Pack More Potassium Than a BananaTop Best Healthy Foods to Gain Weight FastTop Best Cosmetic Brands in the U.STop Best Destinations for Food Lovers in EuropeTop Best Foods High in Vitamin ATop Best Foods to Lower Your Blood SugarTop Best Things to Do in LouisianaTop Best Cities to Visit in New YorkTop Best Makeup Addresses In PennsylvaniaTop Reasons to Visit NorwayTop Most Beautiful Islands In The WorldTop Best Law Universities in the WorldTop Richest Sportsmen In The WorldTop Biggest Aquariums In The WorldTop Best Peruvian Restaurants In MiamiTop Best Road Trips From MiamiTop Best Places to Visit in MarylandTop Best Places to Visit in North CarolinaTop Best Electric Cars For KidsTop Best Swedish Brands in The USTop Best Skincare Brands in AmericaTop Best American Lipstick BrandsTop Michelin-starred Restaurants in MiamiTop Best Secluded Getaways From MiamiTop Best Things To Do On A Rainy Day In MiamiTop Most Instagrammable Places In MiamiTop Interesting Facts about FlorenceTop Facts About The First Roman Emperor - AugustusTop Best Japanese FoodsTop Most Beautiful Historical Sites in IsraelTop Best Places To Visit In Holy SeeTop Best Hawaiian IslandsTop Reasons to Visit PortugalTop Best Hotels In L.A. With Free Wi-FiTop Best Scenic Drives in MiamiTop Best Vegan Restaurants in BerlinTop Most Interesting Attractions In WalesTop Health Benefits of a Vegan DietTop Best Thai Restaurant in Las VegasTop Most Beautiful Forests in SwitzerlandTop Best Global Universities in GermanyTop Most Beautiful Lakes in GuyanaTop Best Things To Do in IdahoTop Things to Know Before Traveling to North MacedoniaTop Best German Sunglasses BrandsTop Highest Mountains In FranceTop Biggest Hydroelectric Plants in AmericaTop Best Spa Hotels in NYCTop The World's Scariest BridgeTop Largest Hotels In AmericaTop Most Famous Festivals in JordanTop Best European Restaurants in MunichTop Best Japanese Hiking Boot BrandsTop Best Universities in PolandTop Best Tips for Surfing the Web Safely and AnonymouslyTop Most Valuable Football Clubs in EuropeTop Highest Mountains In ColombiaTop Real-Life Characters of Texas RisingTop Best Beaches in GuatelamaTop Things About DR Congo You Should KnowTop Best Korean Reality & Variety ShowsTop Best RockstarsTop Most Beautiful Waterfalls in GermanyTop Best Fountain Pen Ink BrandsTop Best European Restaurants in ChicagoTop Best Fighter Jets in the WorldTop Best Three-Wheel MotorcyclesTop Most Beautiful Lakes in ManitobaTop Best Dive Sites in VenezuelaTop Best Websites For Art StudentsTop Best Japanese Instant Noodle BrandsTop Best Comedy Manhwa (Webtoons)Top Best Japanese Sunglasses BrandsTop Most Expensive Air Jordan SneakersTop Health Benefits of CucumberTop Famous Universities in SwedenTop Most Popular Films Starring Jo Jung-sukTop Interesting Facts about CougarsTop Best Hospitals for Hip Replacement in the USATop Most Expensive DefendersTop Health Benefits of GooseberriesTop Health Benefits of ParsnipsTop Best Foods and Drinks in LondonTop Health Benefits of Rosehip TeaTop Best Air Fryers for Low-fat CookingTop Most Asked Teacher Interview Questions with AnswersTop Best Shopping Malls in ZurichTop The Most Beautiful Botanical Gardens In L.A.Top Best Mexican Restaurants in Miami for Carb-loading rightTop Best Energy Companies in GermanyTop Best Garage HeatersTop Largest Banks in IrelandTop Leading Provider - Audit and Assurance In The USTop Best Jewelry Brands in IndiaTop Prettiest Streets in the UKTop Best Lakes to Visit in TunisiaTop Highest Mountains in Israel