2001 Champions Honored in Daytona - Six Rolex Watches Awarded to Driver Champions
2001 Champions Honored in Daytona Six Rolex Watches Awarded to Driver Champions DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (January 7, 2002) - The 2001 Rolex Sports Car Series champions were honored over the weekend in Daytona Beach, Fla. The 2001 Rolex Series Tribute to Champions was held at DAYTONA USA on Saturday, Jan. 5, with six specially engraved Rolex Oyster Perpetual Daytona Cosmograph watches in stainless steel and 18K gold being presented to the series driver champions by Rolex Watch USA President Walter Fisher. James Weaver became the first driver to win back-to-back championships, garnering the top honors in the SportsRacing Prototype class. Andy Lally earned his first championship in the SportsRacing Prototype II class, while Darren Law became the second driver from G&W Motorsports to be named the GT driver champion. Doug Goad and Craig Conway beat the point system to tie atop the American GT driver points. The pair of co-driver narrowly missed out on the championship in 2000. Chris Bingham was the only driver honoree whose team did not also win the class' team owner championship. Bingham's Park Place Racing Saleen started the season at the second race of the year, but Bingham got a jump on the season racing in a different GTS entry at the Rolex 24 At Daytona. Rob Dyson took home the SRP team owner championship trophy for the second-straight year. The Dyson Racing Team #16 Ford Riley & Scott was a dominant force throughout the year, winning five out of ten races. Kevin Doran earned second-place honors in the class with his Doran Lista Racing #27 entry, while George Robinson and the Robinson Racing #74 Judd Riley was named as the third-place finisher. Mike Johnson was honored twice during the Tribute for placing the Archangel Motorsport Services #21 and #22 Nissan Lolas in both first and second places in the SRPII team owner points race. Johnson won the SRPII team owner championship last year with his #22 entry. Andre Gaudet was named as the class' third-place finisher with his Porschehaus Racing #89 Nissan Lola. G&W Motorsports was the big winner of the evening, with team owner Cole Scrogham receiving the team owner trophies for both the GTS and GT classes. Scrogham's #81 Porsche GT3 R was a consistent podium finisher throughout the season to earn him his second-straight GT award, while the #07 Porsche GT2 endured throughout the 10-race season to give Scrogham his first GTS trophy. Todd Flis earned his second American GT team owner championship for the dominating performance his Team X-1R Flis Motorsports #09 Corvette gave during the season. Bob Riley accepted his second-straight SRP chassis manufacturer championship for the Riley & Scott chassis, while Ford earned the SRP engine manufacturer award. Dan Partel accepted Lola's SRPII chassis manufacturer award, and Steve Dumellow received Nissan's engine manufacturer championship in for the class. Henry Hsu and Eric Bloss accepted Porsche's second-straight GT manufacturer championship, as well as its first GTS championship. Larry Kubes received the American GT manufacturer championship on behalf of Chevrolet. The 40th Anniversary of the Rolex 24 At Daytona will kick off the 2002 Rolex Sports Car Series season, as well as SpeedWeeks at Daytona International Speedway. Tickets are currently on sale for the Rolex 24 At Daytona and may be purchased online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling the Speedway ticket office at 386-253-RACE. The Rolex 24 At Daytona will be broadcast live on Speedvision. More information on the Rolex Sports Car Series is available online at www.grand-am.com. -30- For more information: Grand American Public Relations Christie Hyde (386) 681-4182 email: CHyde@grand-am.com