Yokohama Renews Deal as Official Tire of Jim Russell Racing Drivers School

    SONOMA, Calif.--July 16, 2003--Jim Russell Racing Drivers School today announced that Yokohama Tire Corporation (Yokohama) is entering its 13th year as the school's official tire sponsor. Yokohama has renewed its sponsorship with Jim Russell for another three years. Yokohama will continue to provide racing slicks, karting tires and high-performance street tires for the school's fleet of racecars, karts and street cars.
    Under the agreement, Yokohama is the official tire of the school's USAC Formula Russell Championship Racing Series and all Jim Russell racing, karting and defensive driving courses in Sonoma, Calif.
    The sponsorship provides Yokohama with significant signage and visibility on all of the school's cars, in sales and marketing materials, and on the tracks and facilities where all courses are taught and racing series are held.
    "Our relationship with Jim Russell is a great way for people who are passionate about driving to experience our tires at peak performance levels," said Art Michalik, director of marketing communications, Yokohama. "We're proud to be an integral part of the quality experience drivers receive at Jim Russell."
    Yokohama has sponsored the Jim Russell Racing Drivers School since 1990. The company also is the official tire of Infineon Raceway, where Jim Russell is located in Sonoma, Calif.
    Yokohama is one of many world-class consumer brands and motorsport equipment suppliers that sponsor the Jim Russell Racing Drivers School, including Fujitsu, Robert Bosch Corp., Sparco, Eibach, Koni, Lincoln Electric, Beta Tools, Goodridge, Performance Friction Corp. and Mechanix Wear.

    About Yokohama Tire Corporation

    Yokohama Tire Corporation manufactures markets and distributes a complete line of products for high performance, light truck, passenger car, commercial truck and bus, as well as off-the-road mining and construction applications. Yokohama supports the tire care and safety guidelines established by the Rubber Manufacturer's Association (RMA) and the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration (NHTSA).

    About Jim Russell Racing Drivers School

    For more than four decades, the Jim Russell Racing Drivers School has been dedicated to teaching true racing techniques to professional drivers and people looking for the experience of a lifetime. The school, based in Sonoma, Calif., is located at Infineon Raceway (formerly Sears Point Raceway), known as the best teaching track in the country.