Andy Pilgrim likely isn’t a new name to Corvette enthusiasts. He’s been around the Corvette world for quite a while and he’s been around many racetracks faster than most! He has been showing competitors, enthusiasts and youthful drivers how to improve their driving skills both on the track and the street.

Andy began his career of racing Chevrolet’s halo car in the 1988 Corvette Challenge Series, a class which he competed in for two years, the duration of the series. He later drove a C4 Corvette with co-drivers John Heinricy, Stu Hayner, and Don Knowles in the World Challenge Series for 1990, after the SCCA made the car legal again for competition.

We’re thrilled to have Andy and not only his more than 30 years of incredible racing skills, but also his expertise on distracted driving – Mitch Wright, NCM Motorsports Park

Pilgrim continued to race throughout the next decade in Firebirds, Corvettes, Camaros and various other non-GM brands. His driving prowess on-track and amicable personality trackside both proved beneficial when Corvette Racing gave him a seat in their new C5-R race car from 1999-2003. His driving afforded the factory Corvette Racing team many firsts ranging from their first win at Texas Motor Speedway in 2000, to their first Championship win in 2003. He shared seat time with greats such as Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell, Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Jr.

Andy is well liked throughout the racing community and considers many other drivers as friends. Driving the C5-R Corvette alongside Dale Earnhardt forged a friendship that tragically ended way too soon.

Andy Pilgrim left the Corvette program in 2004 but stayed with General Motors, driving for the winning team at the Daytona 24 in the Doran-Pontiac, and spent the rest of the season driving for the new Cadillac CTS-V factory team in the SPEED World Challenge GT Series. He won the driver’s championship in the CTS-V, and finished 3rd and 2nd in the series in 2006 and 2007. In 2011 he joined former Corvette Racing teammate Johnny O’Connell in driving the factory Cadillac CTS-V Coupe in the World Challenge Series.

Andy is no stranger to the NCM and its Motorsports Park. He has a long history of attending and serving as an instructor at NCM Motorsports Park high performance driving education (HPDE) events. He is also a member of the NCM Hall of Fame, inducted in 2012.

When he is not racing, Andy has been busy on his Traffic Safety Education Foundation. Traffic safety and encouraging responsible driving habits has been dear to Andy since the early ‘90s. The foundation he formed is focused on educating parents, driver education students/teachers and grade 4 through 8 school students about the growing dangers of distracted driving on America’s roads. Joining with Andy and his mission of helping drivers of all ages and skill levels become more proficient behind the wheel, the NCM Motorsports Park is excited to welcome Andy Pilgrim to the team.

Andy’s Corvette racing began in the 1988 Corvette Challenge Series. His single-car team worked hard and was the only of its kind to win a race in the series.

Together they plan on continuing Andy’s passion for improving driving skills both on, and off track. “We’re thrilled to have Andy and not only his more than 30 years of incredible racing skills, but also his expertise on distracted driving,” said NCM Motorsports Park General Manager Mitch Wright. “With Andy joining our team, we will be able to offer a number of programs in the coming months, from driving courses and one-on-one coaching by Andy, to speaking engagements on safe driving habits at schools.”