Michael Valiante

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Michael Valiante (born November 11, 1979, in New Westminster, British Columbia) is a Canadian racing driver.

Contents

Formula racing

Valiante began racing in karting where his success earned him a full-season scholarship in the Skip Barber 2.0 Series. In his first season, Valiante was both series champion and rookie of the year. Following this success he moved on the Barber Dodge Pro Series and then to the Toyota Atlantic Championship.

Driving for the Lynx Racing team in 2001, Valiante was able to finish eighth in the series championship despite competing in only five events. His performance impressed Lynx enough to sign him for two more seasons. 2002 was Valiante's best year in the series. He won three races and led the points going into the final round in Denver, only to struggle in the race and lose the championship to Jon Fogarty. Valiante led the series early in 2003. However, his championship hopes were dashed when he missed the fourth round at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca due to an illness. He went on to finish third in the championship and again scored three victories.

Valiante was set to make his debut in Champ Car at California Speedway in 2003, but the race was cancelled due to wildfires in the area. It was not until a year later that he made his first Champ Car start in Mexico City. His second start came at Portland in 2005 as a one-off drive for Dale Coyne Racing. He was not able to secure a full-time ride in the series due to his lack of financial backing.

Sports car racing

In 2006, Valiante competed full-time with Finlay motorsports in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series, where he and co-driver Rob Finlay finished ninth in the final standings. In 2008 he switched to SunTrust Racing to partner Max Angelelli in a DP class Dallara Pontiac, winning at Sonoma.

The Canadian joined Michael Shank Racing for the 2009 Rolex Sports Car Series. Driving a Riley Ford with John Pew as co-driver, he collected two podiums and resulted seventh in the DP drivers standings. In 2010 he partnered Brian Frisselle at the Shank team. With a best result of third, he finished ninth in the standings.

In 2012 he alternated between the Rolex Sports Car Series and American Le Mans Series. He started five Rolex races, winning at Mid-Ohio with teammate Richard Westbrook. In ALMS he competed in five rounds with JDX Racing in the GTC class, collecting three third-place finishes.

The driver returned to Michael Shank Racing for the 2013 Rolex Sports Car Series, having John Pew has teammate during most races. He collected two second-place finishes and resulted 15th in the DP standings.

In 2014, Valiante moved to Spirit of Daytona to race at the merged United SportsCar Championship. [1] in the Spirit of Daytona Corvette Daytona Prototype with Richard Westbrook and Mike Rockenfeller.

Stock car racing

In 2007, Valiante made a NASCAR Busch Series start driving the No. 42 Dodge from Chip Ganassi Racing at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Valiante started 21st and finished 34th.


Motorsports career results

Complete American open-wheel racing results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Barber Dodge Pro Series

Year123456789101112RankPoints
1999 SEB
3
NAZ
15
LRP
8
POR
22
CLE
2
ROA DET
18
MDO
4
GRA
5
LS
19
HMS
7
WGI
8
10th79
2000 SEB
2
MIA
11
NAZ
4
LRP
18
DET
26
CLE
10
MDO
9
ROA
7
VAN
17
LS
6
RAT
1
HMS
6
6th97

Atlantic Championship

YearTeam123456789101112RankPoints
2001 Lynx Racing LBH
4
NAZ MIL MTL
2
CLE TOR
6
CHI TRR
4
ROA VAN
2
HOU LS 9th64
2002 Lynx Racing MTY
4
LBH
1
MIL
7
LS
5
POR
9
CHI
3
TOR
1
CLE
4
TRR
1
ROA
4
MTL
7
DEN
12
2nd150
2003 Lynx Racing MTY
1
LBH
4
MIL
11
LS
Wth
POR
3
CLE
4
TOR
4
TRR
3
MDO
1
MTL
4
DEN
2
MIA
1
3rd161

Champ Car World Series

YearTeamChassisEngine1234567891011121314RankPointsRef
2004 Walker Racing Reynard 02i Ford XFE V8 t LBH MTY MIL POR CLE TOR VAN ROA DEN MTL LS LVS SRF MXC
14
23rd7 [2]
2005 Dale Coyne Racing Lola B02/00 Ford XFE V8 t LBH MTY MIL POR
11
CLE TOR EDM SJO DEN MTL LVS SRF MXC 25th10 [3]

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Busch Series

NASCAR Xfinity Series results
YearTeamNo.Make1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435NBSCPtsRef
2007 Chip Ganassi Racing 42 Dodge DAY CAL MXC LVS ATL BRI NSH TEX PHO TAL RCH DAR CLT DOV NSH KEN MLW NHA DAY CHI GTY IRP CGV
34
GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH DOV KAN CLT MEM TEX PHO HOM 140th61 [4]

24 Hours of Daytona results

YearTeamCo-driversCarClassLapsPos.Class
Pos.
2005 Flag of the United States.svg Ten Motorsports Flag of the United States.svg Memo Gidley
Flag of the United States.svg Michael McDowell
Flag of the United States.svg Jonathan Bomarito
Riley Mk. XI-BMW DP46542nd
DNF
19th
DNF
2006 Flag of the United States.svg Finlay Motorsports Flag of the United States.svg Rob Finlay
Flag of the United States.svg Bryan Herta
Flag of the United States.svg Buddy Rice
Crawford DP03-Ford DP68411th9th
2007 Flag of the United States.svg Finlay Motorsports Flag of the United States.svg Rob Finlay
Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Labonte
Flag of the United States.svg Michael McDowell
Crawford DP03-Ford DP62710th
DNF
10th
DNF
2008 Flag of the United States.svg SunTrust Racing Flag of South Africa.svg Wayne Taylor
Flag of the United States.svg Ricky Taylor
Flag of Italy.svg Max Angelelli
Riley Mk. XI-Pontiac DP6875th5th
2009 Flag of the United States.svg Michael Shank Racing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ian James
Flag of the United States.svg A. J. Allmendinger
Flag of the United States.svg John Pew
Riley Mk. XX-Ford DP15347th
DNF
19th
DNF
2010 Flag of the United States.svg Michael Shank Racing Flag of the United States.svg A. J. Allmendinger
Flag of the United States.svg Brian Frisselle
Flag of the United States.svg Mark Patterson
Riley Mk. XI-Ford DP7077th
DNF
7th
DNF
2011 Flag of the United States.svg Michael Shank Racing Flag of the United States.svg John Pew
Flag of Brazil.svg Oswaldo Negri
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Marc Goossens
Riley Mk. XX-Ford DP70610th10th
2012 Flag of the United States.svg Starworks Motorsport Flag of the United States.svg Marco Andretti
Flag of the United States.svg Ryan Hunter-Reay
Flag of the United States.svg Scott Mayer
Riley Mk. XX-Ford DP73610th10th
2013 Flag of the United States.svg Michael Shank Racing Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Chris Cumming
Flag of Venezuela.svg Jorge Goncalvez
Flag of Colombia.svg Gustavo Yacamán
Riley Mk. XXVI-Ford DP50841st
DNF
13th
DNF
2014 Flag of the United States.svg Spirit of Daytona Racing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Richard Westbrook
Flag of Germany.svg Mike Rockenfeller
Coyote Corvette DP P6934th4th
2015 Flag of the United States.svg VisitFlorida.com Racing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Richard Westbrook
Flag of Germany.svg Mike Rockenfeller
Coyote Corvette DP P7343rd3rd

Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, Results are overall/class)

YearTeamClassMakeEngine1234567891011RankPoints
2014 Spirit of Daytona Racing P Coyote Corvette DP Chevrolet 5.5L V8 DAY
4
SEB
10
LBH
5
LGA
5
DET
2
WGL
1
MOS
2
IMS
3
ELK
4
COA
6
PET
7
3rd318
2015 VisitFlorida.com Racing P Coyote Corvette DP Chevrolet 5.5L V8 DAY
3
SEB
3
LBH
3
LGA
1
DET
5
WGL
1
MOS
4
ELK
5
COA
3
PET
5
2nd306

See also

List of Canadians in Champ Car

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References

  1. theCheckeredFlag.co.uk
  2. "Michael Valiante – 2004 Champ Car World Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  3. "Michael Valiante – 2005 Champ Car World Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  4. "Michael Valiante – 2007 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 10, 2023.