Grand American Road Racing Announces Ford As Sponsor
Grand American Announces 2002 Sponsors
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 1, 2002) -- The Grand American Road Racing Association released its 2002 sponsor lineup in a press conference announcing its newest sponsor - Ford - as its official pace car and vehicle. Four additional new sponsors were named, including Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Dunlop Tyres Ltd., Zippo Manufacturing Company and First Union/Wachovia Corporation. Contract renewals were announced for Union 76 Gasoline and Hoosier Racing Tire, as well as returning sponsorship from Coca-Cola, Gatorade, Meteorlogix, USG, Red Cell, Racing Radios, Stand 21 and Featherlite Trailers.
Union 76 Gasoline
For more than 100 years, the 76 brand has been providing high-performance petroleum products and excellent customer service. Every grade of 76 gasoline contains PROpower, a high-performance additive that provides a unique detergent technology. Union 76 has renewed its sponsorship with Grand American for three years, increasing its support of both the Rolex Sports Car Series and Grand-Am Cup point funds.
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
Goodyear's racing heritage reaches back almost to the very first car race, and today the company produces hundreds of thousands of tires a year for races of all kinds, all over the world. Goodyear joins Grand American as the sole supplier of tires for the Rolex Sports Car Series SportsRacing Prototype, GTS and American GT classes through the 2004 season.
Dunlop Tyres Ltd.
Dunlop has a proud history extending back to the 19th century, and today is part of the world's top tire manufacturer - Goodyear. Dunlop will be the exclusive tire in the Rolex Sports Car Series SportsRacing Prototype II and GT classes through the 2004 season.
Hoosier Racing Tires
Hoosier is the largest race tire manufacturer in the world, making tires for all types of competition from dirt tracks to drag racing, oval racing and road racing. The company has provided "spec" tires for a number of other race organizations including NASCAR, ARCA and USAC. Hoosier renewed its support of the Grand-Am Cup series as the official tire manufacturer and sole supplier through the 2004 season.
Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company is the world's leading manufacturer, marketer and distributor of nonalcoholic beverage concentrates and syrups. Coca-Cola and its subsidiaries employ nearly 34,000 people around the world. The company's flagship brand, Coca-Cola, and more than 230 other soft-drink brands are manufactured and sold by The Coca-Cola Company and its subsidiaries in nearly 200 countries around the world.
Zippo Manufacturing Company
Zippo is the maker of the world famous windproof lighter with the Lifetime Guarantee. Other products from Zippo's diverse line include a variety of pocket knives, key holders, money clips, writing instruments, tape measures, ZipLight pocket flashlights and the Fixxit pocket tool. Zippo has produced more than 325 million windproof lighters since its founding in 1932. The company recently inked a three-year deal to become an official sponsor of Grand American.
First Union/Wachovia Corporation
When the First Union Corporation and Wachovia Corporation merged as equals last year, it made the company the largest financial holding company in the Southeast/East Coast region and the fourth-largest nationwide. With total assets of approximately $322 billion and a market capitalization of $46 billion, the company offers its 19 million customers superior corporate banking, retail banking, asset and wealth management, capital markets and securities brokerage services and products. Starting with the 2002 season, the company joins Grand American as an official sponsor as part of a three-year agreement.
Meteorlogix
Meteorolgix is a leading business-to-business electronic commerce and information services company. It has been serving professional users in the agriculture, weather, energy and financial services industries since it was founded in 1984. Meteorlogix provides its customers with targeted time-sensitive information through a variety of distribution methods including Internet, satellite, leased lines and other technologies. The company provides Grand American officials with weather support at the races, as well as information to race fans on the series' website.
Gatorade
Gatorade is the world's best-selling sports drink of all time. It's in the hands of serious athletes in every sport around the world, and is available on the sidelines during every major sporting event in the U.S., from the NFL, MLB, NBA, WNBA, U.S. Soccer and NASCAR. Gatorade also produces other products to help athletes, including energy bars, Torq Energy Juice and Propel Fitness Water.
USG
For almost 100 years, Chicago-based USG has been a leader in producing innovative products and systems to build the environments in which we live, work and play. They are the world's largest producer of gypsum wallboard, joint compound and a vast array of related construction products. USG boast 249 worldwide locations and more than 14,000 employees.
Red Cell Batteries
Red Cell Batteries offers a wide variety of batteries. Their product lines include batteries for watches, calculators, cordless phones, hearing aides, and photography equipment. RedCell Alkalines provide extended life in all applications, from toys to flashlights, to music devices. Specialty photo and pager batteries offer outstanding performance and all have a five-year shelf life.
Stand 21 Racewear
Stand 21 Racewear is a French-based manufacturer of racing apparel and accessories. Their product line includes a vast variety of racing suits, helmets, gloves and shoes. For 30 years, a close collaboration with the world's greatest drivers, teams and sponsors has allowed Stand 21 to earn their trust. Grand American officials are outfitted at the track in Stand 21 fire suits and outerwear.
Featherlite Trailers
Featherlite is an innovative leader in designing, manufacturing and marketing high quality aluminum specialty trailers and luxury motor coaches. As the nation's largest specialty trailer manufacturer, Featherlite caters to a wide range of customers. The company offers diversified product lines with more than 400 custom order and standard model specialty trailers through a network of approximately 270 dealers in the United States and Canada. Grand American technical officials work out of the series' official Featherlite trailer on every race weekend.
Racing Radios
In 1979, Racing Radios became the racing communications arm of Diversified Electronics, with the new company's first customers being Richard and Maurice Petty. Since then, Racing Radios has worked with clients in all forms of racing. The years spent in research and development have enabled Racing Radios to stay on top of racing communications all over the world for teams, drivers and racing governing bodies. The company provides radio support and products to Grand American officials at all of its events.
More information on the Grand American Road Racing Association is available online at www.grand-am.com/media.
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For more information: Grand American Public Relations
Christie Hyde (386) 681-4182
email: CHyde@grand-am.com