Lally: ‘I Want to Race Ovals, Road Courses, Rovals in any NASCAR Series’

By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer

IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Series driver Andy Lally is one of many drivers that have attempted to jump from one discipline of racing to another. The three-time Grand-Am Series Champion attempted just one full season in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

In 2011, Lally earned the Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors in NASCAR’s Premier Series driving for the Kevin Buckler-owned The Racers Group Motorsports team. His best career start to date, seventh, came in the 2011 Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway. Lally’s best finish, 18^th, came at Watkins Glen International in 2010.

“As far as my foray into the Monster Energy Series back in 2011, it was one of these deals where we did it on a tiny little budget,” Lally explained. “You know, if you’ve got a dream to play at Yankee Stadium, and when you finally get your chance to go up to bat, they hand you a wiffleball bat, you are going to swing the hell out of that thing anyway. I did, we did, and it was a good group of people that were doing a whole lot of work with not a lot of resources there.

“I’m proud of the work those people did and the friendships I made over there because they were hard workers and wanted to win as much as I did. We knew the odds were against us, but we were going to swing that wiffleball bat regardless.”

Lally competes full-time for Magnus Racing in IMSA’s GT Daytona class. He has earned two podium finishes this season, including a runner-up finish in class at Lime Rock Park. Lally sits 11^th in the GTD Points Standings, 70-Points behind the Championship Leaders.

Lally expressed disappointment that a full-time NASCAR career never panned out, but was optimistic on his current driving career.

“I am, but at the same time I’m one of the luckiest guys on the planet that gets to race cars for a living. I’ve got a great home at Magnus Racing in the IMSA WeatherTech Championship. There is no better team that I would rather be with in that garage and in the series. I love that series.

“We got some crown jewel events that I’m proud to be a part of every year, the 24 Hours of Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring, Six Hours of The Glen, and Petit Le Mans. Then we have a bunch of fun races on the schedule too that I have fun every time we go there.”

Lally has given several teams in the NASCAR Xfinity Series career-runs. His road course expertise has delivered one top-five and two top-10s to Bobby Dotter’s underfunded SS-Greenlight Racing, as well as two top-10s to the Mario Gosselin-owned DGM Racing. Lally tied Dotter’s best finish as an owner, fifth, and still holds the best finish, seventh, for DGM Racing.

In several of those races, the Northport, NY native has had opportunities to reach victory lane. However, circumstances has left Lally wanting more.

Lally admitted, if he could have a do over, he’d likely change something about almost every race he didn’t win.

“Always. Every race I’ve ever done, except for the ones I’ve won. I’d probably change a little something. Every season I’ve done, I’d change a little something. We wouldn’t be racers if we weren’t wanting to tune on it and get at it again.

“I want to race ovals, road courses, rovals in any NASCAR series that anyone calls me about. I’m all for it, I love this style of racing, and if I get more opportunities to do it, I’ll jump for it.”