Sirius Reaches New Heights at Pikes Peak
Sirius to Sponsor Morter and Ryan in the "80th Race to the Clouds" Sirius Satellite Radio , the satellite radio broadcaster, today announced it has added a new frequency to its motorsports program. Sirius will continue its involvement with Mike Ryan Motorsports for the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, the "80th Race to the Clouds" on June 29, 2002-but with a twist. A new driver, Molly Morter, will make her debut behind the wheel of the No. 33 Sirius Satellite Radio Sterling, making her the first woman in history to race a Class 8 "big rig" up the famed mountain. Mike Ryan, driver of the No. 77 Freightliner SuperTruck, a Sirius sponsored driver in 2001, will battle to reclaim his championship status and his fifth championship title. An expansion of its current NASCAR Winston Cup program featuring Casey Atwood and the No. 7 Sirius Dodge, the sponsorship of the two Class 8 Pikes Peak trucks further reinforces Sirius' commitment to bringing its 100 channels of digital entertainment to truck drivers coast-to-coast. Sirius has alliances with major truck manufacturers to install Sirius satellite radios in their factories as well as sell product through their vast networks of dealers nationwide. In addition, as part of the Sirius channel lineup, Sirius features the Midnight Trucking Radio Network 24 hours per day seven days a week on channel 180 on the Sirius satellite radio network. The Sirius service is currently available in 37 states and is expected to be available nationwide July 1. "This is a very exciting platform to showcase Sirius as we launch our service to the trucking industry," said Philip Pilla, Vice President of Marketing for Sirius. "What better way to bring attention to Sirius than to sponsor two of the fastest big rigs in the country? We continue to support the Mike Ryan Motorsports team and wish Molly and Mike the best as they tackle one of the most challenging courses in auto racing history." In efforts to showcase their new motorsports assets, the Sirius Pikes Peak race trucks will be making appearances at several NASCAR Winston Cup events throughout the season including the Sirius Satellite Radio 400 in Michigan and the Sirius Satellite Radio at The Glen in New York "I am thrilled to have Sirius on our team," said Mike Ryan, owner of Mike Ryan Motorsports and driver of the No. 77 Freightliner. "Just as Sirius is revolutionizing what people think of as radio today, we are making strides in the sport of super truck racing. We look forward to a great year at Pikes Peak and to turning up the volume with our partner Sirius." Ryan's race-modified Freightliner Century Class features a race version of the Mercedes-Benz 501 V-6 twin turbo that produces up to 1,450 horsepower as well as riding on Michelin X-1 tires, Accuride wheels, a Meritor rear axle and Shell Rotella T oil. The 7800+ - pound big rig saw speeds of up to 96 miles per hour during the Pikes Peak race. The No. 33 Sirius Satellite Radio Sterling "Big Rig," driven by Molly Morter, is a 2000 Sterling AT9500 powered by a 14-liter race-version of the Detroit Diesel Series 60. The engine, built by Detroit Diesel, puts out 1000 horsepower and is geared for a top speed of 102 mph. The Sterling Hill Climb Truck was designed and built by the Freightliner and Sterling Truck Engineering and Test Center in Portland, Oregon. "I am thrilled to be racing the No. 33 Sirius Satellite Radio Sterling," said Morter. "These incredible machines are excellent tools to showcase the Sirius service to the trucking industry and fans around the country. I am proud to have Sirius on our team as I make history at Pikes Peak." The 2002 Pikes Peak Hill Climb, "80th Race to the Clouds," will be held June 29, 2002 in Colorado Springs, Colo. The event is a unique auto and motorcycle race that combines a 12.4-mile gravel course with 130 mph plus straight-aways, 156 gravel turns, and cliffs of 2,000 feet with no guardrails. The Pikes Peak Hill Climb is the second oldest motorsports event in the United States: The Indianapolis 500 being the oldest. Other Sirius Pikes Peak truck appearances include the Sirius Satellite Radio 400 at the Michigan International Speedway on June 14-16, 2002, Good Guys/Sirius Pole Day Sears Point Raceway on June 21, 2002, Sirius Satellite Radio at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 9-11, 2002 and the Great American Trucking Show in Dallas, Texas on September 6-8, 2002. About Sirius Sirius Satellite Radio, the country's premier in-car audio entertainment provider (http://www.sirius.com), is turning on its national service and turning up the volume of its marketing program through motorsports. Sirius is the entertainment partner for motorsports entertainment leader International Speedway Corporation and the sponsor of two NASCAR Winston Cup events - the Sirius Satellite Radio 400 at Michigan International Speedway and Sirius Satellite Radio at The Glen at Watkins Glen International in New York. It also sponsors the No. 7 Sirius Dodge Intrepid R/T driven by Casey Atwood and co-owned by NASCAR champions Jim Smith and Ray Evernham. Sirius is the only digital-quality satellite audio entertainment service to deliver 60 original channels of completely commercial-free music and 40 world-class sports, news and entertainment channels to motorists throughout the continental United States. Sirius Satellite Radio systems are available today at leading electronics retailers in select markets and are expected to be available as options on many leading automotive models beginning later this year.