Andy Pilgrim
Encyclopedia
Andy Pilgrim is a British-born racing driver, who
became a United States
citizen in 1998. He began racing an IMSA Renault Cup (a semi-pro entry level series) Renault Alliance
in the 80's. His serious professional racing began in 1996
when he made his 24 Hours of Le Mans
debut. He joined the Chevrolet Corvette
factory team in 1999. In 2001 he was selected as Dale Earnhardt
and Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
's teammate in the 24 Hours of Daytona
and the team finished second in class. He left the Corvette program in 2004 but stayed with General Motors
, driving for the winning team at the Daytona 24 in a Doran-Pontiac
and spending the rest of the season driving for the new Cadillac CTS-V factory team in the SPEED World Challenge
GT Series. The following year Pilgrim won the driver's championship in that series in his CTS-V. Staying with the team, he finished 3rd and 2nd in the series in 2006 and 2007. He also made his NASCAR
Busch Series
debut, driving two road course races for Dale Earnhardt, Jr.'s JR Motorsports
team. In 2008 he continued to drive the SPEED World Challenge CTS-V, although it is now a privateer team rather than a factory program, sponsored by Remington.
In 2009, Andy joined Randy Pobst
as part of the K-Pax team, campaigning the Volvo S60
in the SPEED World Challenge
.
For 2011 Andy rejoined GM in World Challenge driving the factory Cadillac
CTS-V Coupe alongside Johnny O'Connell
Pilgrim made his Sprint Cup debut in 2011 at Infineon driving the 46 Car for Whitney Motorsports
, where he finished 26th.
He currently resides in Boca Raton, Florida
.
became a United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
citizen in 1998. He began racing an IMSA Renault Cup (a semi-pro entry level series) Renault Alliance
Renault Alliance
The Renault Alliance is a subcompact automobile manufactured and marketed in North America by American Motors Corporation , with 623,573 examples manufactured for model years 1983-1987, and with a three and five-door hatchback variant, the Renault Encore marketed beginning in 1984.The two models...
in the 80's. His serious professional racing began in 1996
1996 24 Hours of Le Mans
The 1996 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 64th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on June 15 and 16 1996.-Race:The 1996 race was won by a car that was considered by Porsche to not be a factory-backed entry, instead run by Joest Racing...
when he made his 24 Hours of Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
debut. He joined the Chevrolet Corvette
Chevrolet Corvette
The Chevrolet Corvette is a sports car by the Chevrolet division of General Motors that has been produced in six generations. The first model, a convertible, was designed by Harley Earl and introduced at the GM Motorama in 1953 as a concept show car. Myron Scott is credited for naming the car after...
factory team in 1999. In 2001 he was selected as Dale Earnhardt
Dale Earnhardt
Ralph Dale Earnhardt, Sr. was an American race car driver, best known for his involvement in stock car racing for NASCAR...
and Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
* NOTE: References to "Earnhardt", "he", and "him" refer to the subject of this article, unless otherwise specified. References to his father will include "Sr."...
's teammate in the 24 Hours of Daytona
24 Hours of Daytona
The 24 Hours of Daytona, currently known as the Rolex 24 Daytona for sponsorship reasons, is a 24-hour sports car endurance race held annually at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is run on a combined road course, utilizing portions of the NASCAR tri-oval and an infield...
and the team finished second in class. He left the Corvette program in 2004 but stayed with General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
, driving for the winning team at the Daytona 24 in a Doran-Pontiac
Pontiac
Pontiac was an automobile brand that was established in 1926 as a companion make for General Motors' Oakland. Quickly overtaking its parent in popularity, it supplanted the Oakland brand entirely by 1933 and, for most of its life, became a companion make for Chevrolet. Pontiac was sold in the...
and spending the rest of the season driving for the new Cadillac CTS-V factory team in the SPEED World Challenge
SPEED World Challenge
The Pirelli World Challenge is a North American auto racing series that is sanctioned by the Sports Car Club of America . Founded in 1985, it consists of four classes: grand touring, touring car, a "GTS" class since 2010, and a "touring car B-spec" since 2012...
GT Series. The following year Pilgrim won the driver's championship in that series in his CTS-V. Staying with the team, he finished 3rd and 2nd in the series in 2006 and 2007. He also made his NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Busch Series
Busch Series
The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. It is promoted as NASCAR's "minor league" circuit, and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organization's "big leagues"; the Sprint Cup circuit...
debut, driving two road course races for Dale Earnhardt, Jr.'s JR Motorsports
JR Motorsports
JR Motorsports is a NASCAR team based in Mooresville, North Carolina, co-owned by NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr., his sister Kelley Earnhardt Miller, cousin and former crew chief Tony Eury, Jr., and the owner of his Cup ride Rick Hendrick. It currently fields the No...
team. In 2008 he continued to drive the SPEED World Challenge CTS-V, although it is now a privateer team rather than a factory program, sponsored by Remington.
In 2009, Andy joined Randy Pobst
Randy Pobst
Randy Pobst also known as "RFP" or "The Rocket" is an American race car driver, born 26 June 1957, in Dayton, Ohio.Currently active in the SCCA World Challenge GT series and the Grand American series' GT class, Pobst is the 2003, 2007, 2008, and 2010 SCCA World Challenge GT champion and is a...
as part of the K-Pax team, campaigning the Volvo S60
Volvo S60
The Volvo S60 is a compact executive sedan produced by the Swedish automaker Volvo from 2000. Two generations of the sedan have been produced to date.-First generation :...
in the SPEED World Challenge
SPEED World Challenge
The Pirelli World Challenge is a North American auto racing series that is sanctioned by the Sports Car Club of America . Founded in 1985, it consists of four classes: grand touring, touring car, a "GTS" class since 2010, and a "touring car B-spec" since 2012...
.
For 2011 Andy rejoined GM in World Challenge driving the factory Cadillac
Cadillac
Cadillac is an American luxury vehicle marque owned by General Motors . Cadillac vehicles are sold in over 50 countries and territories, but mostly in North America. Cadillac is currently the second oldest American automobile manufacturer behind fellow GM marque Buick and is among the oldest...
CTS-V Coupe alongside Johnny O'Connell
Johnny O'Connell
Johnny O'Connell , is a GM factory racecar driver from United States, currently residing in Flowery Branch, Georgia...
Pilgrim made his Sprint Cup debut in 2011 at Infineon driving the 46 Car for Whitney Motorsports
Whitney Motorsports
Whitney Motorsports is a NASCAR team that currently competes in the Sprint Cup Series. It is based in Harrisburg, North Carolina. They currently field the #46Red Line Oil/International Trucks Ford Fusion for Scott Speed and The #81 Ford Fusion for Scott Riggs....
, where he finished 26th.
He currently resides in Boca Raton, Florida
Boca Raton, Florida
Boca Raton is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, USA, incorporated in May 1925. In the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 74,764; the 2006 population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 86,396. However, the majority of the people under the postal address of Boca Raton, about...
.