Chevrolet Becomes Contingency Sponsor of 2002 Trans-Am Series for the BFGoodrich Tires Cup

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: T.E. McHale (727) 533-0503

 

CHEVROLET BECOMES CONTINGENCY SPONSOR OF 2002 TRANS-AM SERIES FOR THE BFGOODRICH TIRES CUP

 

CLEARWATER, Fla. (April 4, 2002) - General Motors and the Trans-Am Series have reached an agreement that makes GM's Chevrolet Division a contingency sponsor at all 12 events during the 2002 Trans-Am Series for the BFGoodrich Tires Cup season. 

 

Under terms of the agreement, Chevrolet will provide $20,000 to any Corvette driver who wins a 2002 Trans-Am event, provided that the winning Corvette carries the "new style" bodywork introduced last year, and displays the appropriate General Motors, Chevrolet or Corvette signage and graphics package.

 

The agreement could result in a contribution from General Motors of up to $240,000 during the 2002 Trans-Am season, which opens with the April 14 Johnson Controls 100 on the streets of Long Beach, Calif.

 

"Chevrolet is, far and away, the winningest marque in the 36-year-history of the Trans-Am Series," said Dennis Huth, Trans-Am president, noting Chevrolet's 152 race victories, to 101 for runner-up Ford, as well as Chevy's 16 Trans-Am Manufacturers' Championships. "The success and support they have given us in the past will continue in 2002, thanks to this generous contingency program.

 

"Given their success with us over the years, we expect that our friends at Chevrolet will be making a substantial contribution to Trans-Am race purses on behalf of Corvette drivers during the coming season," Huth added.

 

Corvette enters the 2002 Trans-Am campaign on a two-race winning streak, as Justin Bell, last year's AmeriSuites Rookie of the Year, closed the 2001 season by driving a Derhaag Motorsports Corvette to back-to-back victories at Laguna Seca and Houston.

 

"The Trans-Am Series has been an important part of Chevrolet's racing heritage," said Gary Claudio, Group Marketing Manager for GM Racing. "We are pleased to offer this contingency sponsorship program in recognition of the history we share, while at the same time making a commitment to help ensure the Trans-Am's future." 

 

 The Trans-Am Series, sanctioned by Englewood, Colorado-based Sports Car Club of America Pro Racing, is the longest-running road racing series in North America, entering its 37th year of competition in 2002. Three-time and defending champion Paul Gentilozzi of Rocketsports Racing will be looking to claim his fourth title against a strong field of rivals including former champion Brian Simo, Johnny Miller, Lou Gigliotti, Michael Lewis and Rookie of the Year Justin Bell. Three of the Trans-Am's mid-season events will be televised nationally by CBS Sports, while the others will be carried by SPEED Channel on either a live or tape-delayed basis. All Trans-Am drivers compete for the prestigious BFGoodrich Tires Cup, emblematic of the series driving championship.