May 24, 2023
Supply, North Carolina. May 24th, 2023 - McCumbee McAleer Racing (MMR) with AEROSPORT is thrilled to announce that renowned Ford factory driver Joey Hand will be joining forces with Jenson Altzman as the co-pilot of the No. 13 Ford Mustang GT4 sponsored by Vervantis for the upcoming Detroit Grand Prix. Hand will step in for Chad McCumbee, who unfortunately faced scheduling conflicts in the 2023 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Grand Sport calendar.
With an impressive racing career spanning several years, Joey Hand, the 43-year-old veteran from Sacramento, California, has established himself as a force to be reckoned with on the track. In 2022, Hand embarked on a limited NASCAR season with Rick Ware Racing, showcasing his prowess on road courses. Additionally, Hand serves as the test and development driver for the highly anticipated Ford Mustang GT3, with testing having started earlier this year. In his remarkable career, Hand has secured 18 top-level series race wins in IMSA since 2004, including a victory last season in the Michelin Pilot Challenge in the No. 40 PF Racing Ford Mustang GT4.
Hand's most recent notable achievements include his participation in the renowned Ford GT program from 2016 to 2019 in the WeatherTech Championship GT Le Mans class. Notably, he contributed to Ford's remarkable 24 Hours of Le Mans victory in 2016, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the manufacturer's historic triumph over Ferrari in the French endurance classic. Hand was part of the winning driver lineup in five races, including the prestigious 2017 Rolex 24 At Daytona, before the program concluded. His wealth of experience and accomplishments make him an invaluable addition to the team and a natural choice as the development driver for the upcoming Mustang GT3.
Expressing his regret at missing the Detroit Grand Prix, Chad McCumbee, McCumbee McAleer Racing Team Owner/Driver of the No. 13 Vervantis Ford Mustang GT4, stated, "I am certainly bummed to be missing Detroit as it's a brand new street race in the Motor City. But relieved to have Ford's support and an amazing replacement in Joey! He will bring so much experience both to Jenson and our young team."
“I’m super excited to get back into a GT4 Ford Mustang,” said Joey Hand. “It's cool to come to a new venue, it might give us a little bit of an advantage, as everyone has to learn the track the same. I have subbed in for Chad before and it went pretty well. I know a lot of the crew members on the team, so we will be getting up to speed really quickly. I am thankful for Chad and Ford Performance for giving me the call to come and drive. It is always great to strap into a Ford mustang GT4 and go racing!” Hand finalized.
Jenson Altzman, the driver of the No. 13 Vervantis Ford Mustang GT4, shared his excitement, saying, "Awesome to hear that Joey will be filling in for Chad at the upcoming race in Detroit. Looking forward to keeping the momentum going and continuing to learn as a group. The track looks to be an absolute blast, and it will be pretty special to be racing in Ford's backyard!"
The next event on the IMSA Pilot Challenge Schedule for 2023 is the Detroit Grand Prix, taking place on June 2-3. Peacock will provide live coverage of all IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge events. For more information on the Detroit Grand Prix, click here.