Mike Rockenfeller has been named to drive for Legacy Motor Club in this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series road race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the August 20 race at Watkins Glen International.
The German driver is the latest substitute for Cup rookie Noah Gragson, who has been suspended indefinitely for an offensive response to a racist meme on an on-line platform.
Xfinity Series star Josh Berry drove the No. 42 Sunseeker Resort Chevrolet Camaro last weekend in Michigan. It’s unclear when (or if) Gragson will return to LMC. Three regular-season races remaining, it was fairly obvious that Gragson (33rd in points) wasn’t going to be part of the 16-driver Playoff field.
Rockenfeller finished fifth last weekend in the GTP class at Road America in the IMSA Weather Tech SportsCar series. Shortly afterward, LMC co-owner Jimmie Johnson called to offer his recent LeMans co-driver the No. 42 Chevrolet for the next two Cup Series races.
Johnson and Rockenfeller competed together for Action Express for two seasons in the IMSA series. They were integral parts of the recent Garage 56 project with Hendrick Motorsports in which they completed the 24 Hours of Le Mans with former Formula One driver Jenson Button.
This will be the first start for Rockenfeller on the 2.439-mile road course at Indianapolis. His only NASCAR experience has been his appearances last year at Watkins Glen (30th for Spire Motorsports) and later that fall on the Charlotte Roval (29th for Spire). In addition to winning twice at Le Mans, he is a three-time winner in the NASCAR Rolex Grand-Am Sports Car Series and won the 2013 DTM championship.
“After racing with Jimmie in IMSA for two years and together in the Garage 56 program not only were we teammates, but we are now great friends,” said Rockenfeller. “To get to race for him in the NASCAR Cup Series for Legacy Motor Club with him as a co-owner is such a true honor. It’s going to be a huge challenge as I have never raced at Indy. I was dreaming about being in a Cup Series car again and I’m thankful for the opportunity. I will try my best in this short timeframe to come together with the team and have a great race in Indy.”
Johnson welcomed his sports car teammate to the team. “Rocky and I were teammates and helped develop the Garage 56 program,” he said. “I couldn’t think of a better person to assist our Club in this tough situation. These back-to-back road course events will be great for Rocky from the technical side as they will bring out his expertise. He’s extremely knowledgeable and talented, and I know he will get us the best results possible.”
Contributing Editor
Unemployed after three years as an Army officer and Vietnam vet, Al Pearce shamelessly lied his way onto a small newspaper’s sports staff in Virginia in 1969. He inherited motorsports, a strange and unfamiliar beat which quickly became an obsession.
In 53 years – 48 ongoing with Autoweek – there have been thousands of NASCAR, NHRA, IMSA, and APBA assignments on weekend tracks and major venues like Daytona Beach, Indianapolis, LeMans, and Watkins Glen. The job – and accompanying benefits – has taken him to all 50 states and more than a dozen countries.
He’s been fortunate enough to attract interest from several publishers, thus his 13 motorsports-related books. He can change a tire on his Hyundai, but that’s about it.
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