TRANS AM: Trans-Am Series Announces 2001 Contingency Program

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

March 17, 2001

Nearly $3 Million Total Purse Available This Season

Miami - The Trans-Am Series for the BFGoodrich Tires Cup and the Panoz\Sanchez Group today announced that it has secured contingency sponsorship agreements with 17 companies for the 2001 season. The total postings will be nearly $1 million and will represent the largest contingency program in the Series’ history.

The combination of the guaranteed Trans-Am Series purse of $2 million, including $100,000 to the winner of the BFGoodrich Tires Cup, and the contingency postings of $1 million make the 2001 season the richest in the Series’ illustrious 36-year history.

Over $400,000 will be posted by Chevrolet, Ford and Panoz. This represents a three-fold increase in manufacturer participation from last season. Chevrolet will post $20,000 per race for a victory by a newly-styled Corvette. Ford will post a $5,000 cash bonus for a victory by a Ford Division-based Mustang Cobra powered by Ford engines. Panoz will post a $3,000 cash bonus for a Panoz Esperante victory, a $1,500 cash bonus for a second place finish and $500 for a third place finish..

“We are delighted that three manufacturer’s have decided to increase their involvement in the new Trans-Am Series that was unveiled last summer at Road America,” said executive director John Clagett. “This kind of participation by the manufacturers should serve as the foundation for the future expansion of North America’s premier road racing series.”

BFGoodrich Tires has posted a total of $57,000 in tires for the 10-race schedule. The winner of the BFGoodrich Tires Take Control Award, given each race to the Trans-Am driver who leads the most laps, will receive a full set of race tires. In addition, the top-ten finishers in each race will receive tires as well (1-5, two tires; 6-10, one tire).

High Tech Performance Trailers, the official trailer of the Trans-Am Series for the BFGoodrich Tires Cup, is the presenting sponsors of the Owners’ Championship and offers contingency awards for series’ participants. The High Tech Owners’ Championship offers $50,000 in product certificates to the top-three finishing teams in 2001, with the winning team owner claiming $25,000. High Tech will also pay a mid-season cash bonus of $10,000 to the driver who accumulates the most Drivers’ Championship points through the completion of round five of the series in Cleveland.

“The Trans-Am Series is an ideal place to showcase our product,” said High Tech Performance Trailers president Bruce Hanusosky. “The diversity in venues (American Le Mans and CART) and the premier nature of the events makes it a winning combination.”

Simple Green, the Official Cleaner Degreaser of the Trans-Am Series, will again sponsor the Clean-Up Award and the series’ Rapid Response Team. The Clean-Up Award will be a $2,500 cash bonus that goes to a driver who “cleans-up” at any single race weekend by earning the pole position, posting the fastest race lap, leading the most laps and winning the race. The award will accumulate from consecutive races without a Clean-Up winner, offering a potential single-race bonus payout of $25,000.

Text provided by David Lang

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