347 sharessharetweetemail
By:
Marshall Pruett | February 21, 2019 4:30 PM For a half century, IMSA has been the conduit through which top-level North American sports car racing has flowed. In that time, a lot of history and a lot of memories have been made. Here are a few thoughts and recollections from eight drivers who’ve all made their mark in IMSA.
HURLEY HAYWOOD
Five-time winner of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, two-time 12 Hours of Sebring victor, and a double IMSA GTU class champion.Say “Hurley,” and you’re pretty much saying IMSA, too. One man, one organization, linked together in sports car racing perpetuity.The first really serious race Peter Gregg and I competed in was the first sports car race IMSA held, at VIR in 1971. We won the race. I was based in Fort Lee, Virginia, but getting out of the military, so that was a pretty monumental career steppingstone, winning that first IMSA race.
I’m proud of what IMSA stands for and what it started off being. Back then, Peggy and (IMSA founder) John Bishop were sort of mom and dad at the race track. John didn’t like what the SCCA was doing, so he started his own organization with the help of Bill France Sr., and away they went. They told the ACO to go screw themselves, “We’re going to set our own rules up,” and they were such good rules that everybody came onboard. It’s really great to be able to be with an organization for that long.IMSA has been part of my whole entire life. And even though it’s had a couple different owners and different directions, it’s always been a major player. I’m just thankful that it’s back under one roof and the Frances have bought IMSA and are creating some great races now.Even though, we had Grand-Am and some other series going in different directions for a while, really, it’s all the same group, the same players, that all came back to square one. I started with IMSA and I ended my career with them. It makes me proud that I’ve been there from the beginning to the end.
