Changes on the horizon for Meyer Shank Racing. (Photo: Steve Conley/TPF)
For the last five seasons, Jack Harvey has made a home with Meyer Shank Racing out of Pataskala, Ohio. The last two seasons have been full-time for Harvey with MSR, but as the team has grown, the results haven’t shown up.
Today, Meyer Shank Racing announced that Harvey would not return to the team in 2022. However, MSR co-owner, Mike Shank, said they wished Harvey all the best, knowing he would continue to be a driver to watch in the future.
This announcement leaves the No. 60 Honda open for 2022 at this time, but Shank said they will have an announcement about the driver for this car soon.
A Veteran Is Back
With one change comes another and that is bringing Helio Castroneves on board. Castroneves will now pilot the No. 06, just as he did to a win earlier this year at the Indy 500.
He will be back to compete full-time in the Indycar Series. This will be his first full season back in the series since leaving Penske Racing at the conclusion of the 2017 season.
“I am thrilled to get the chance to go for a fifth Indianapolis 500 win and so excited to fight for the INDYCAR championship again with a full season of races next year with Meyer Shank Racing,” Castroneves shared.
For the four-time Indy 500 champion, he can’t wait to get back to full-time racing, and he will be doing so with some great owners and sponsors.
“Mike (Shank) and Jim (Meyer) have developed some incredible sponsorships with AutoNation and SiriusXM, and having that support is critical,” Castroneves noted. “I have been missing racing in INDYCAR full time so much! So I cannot wait to get a head start on next year with some strong races to finish this season.”
In just 42 INDYCAR Series races, MSR has collected an Indianapolis 500 victory, two podiums, two-front row starts, and 12 top-ten finishes. This is all in addition to the team’s on-track accomplishments.
New Home
For now, the two-car race team of Meyer Shank Racing will be moving into a new facility that will house both Indycar and the MSR DPi Acuras fielded in the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship field. MSR broke ground on the new facility back in September of 2020. The 40,000 square-foot headquarters is located at the northeast corner of Etna Parkway and Refugee Road in Pataskala.
Shank said there are two hubs for racing – Charlotte and Indianapolis. But for Shank, Ohio is home. “I’ve been here my entire life and I wanted it to work out where we could stay here.”