News from Cooper: Formula Drift Contingency Awards Announced
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 8, 2006 COMPANY CONTACT: Doug Andrus Cooper Tire (419) 424-4251 dgandrus@coopertire.com Cooper Tire Contingency Program For The 2006 Need For Speed Formula Drift Championship Series FINDLAY, OHIO, MARCH 9, 2006 COOPER TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY announces its third consecutive year as sponsor for the 2006 Need for Speed Formula Drift (Formula D) Championship Series (www.formulad.com). Cooper Tire will also offer a contingency program to all qualified Formula D drivers using the Cooper brand. "Formula D has been the hottest drift series in the United States for the past 2 years, and Cooper Tire is proud to be associated with Formula D since its inception," said Chris Pantani, Director of UHP Marketing and Business Development. "The level of excitement, the fan base and professionalism of the participants, as well as the Formula D organization, has been an overwhelming success for Cooper Tire & Rubber Company." Seven Formula D Events are scheduled for the 2006 Race Season The schedule includes Long Beach, Calif. on April 2; Road Atlanta, Ga. on May 13; Chicago, Ill. on Jun 10; Infineon Raceway on July 8; Evergreen Speedway on August 19; Wall Speedway, N.J. on Sept 9; and the Finals at Irwindale Speedway, Calif. on October 14. At each of the seven Formula D Events, Cooper Tire will offer Contingency Awards for drivers who compete on Cooper tires for the entire event. The Cooper Tire Contingency Award will be $5,000 for a first place finish, $3,000 for second place and $1,000 for third place. Drivers competing on Cooper tires who finish in fourth through eighth, and ninth through 16th receive Contingency Awards of $500 and $300 respectively for each event. Cooper Tire will also offer a Year End Contingency Award if a driver completes all seven races on Cooper tires and wins first, second or third place overall in the 2006 Formula D Championship. The first place award will be $7,000, second place will be $5,000 and third place will be $3,000. The next two highest rated drivers running Cooper tires at all seven events will receive $2,000 (for the highest) and $1,000 (for the next highest). To be eligible for the Contingency Awards, drivers will be required to use Cooper tires on all four positions of their vehicle during the entire event. The minimum signage requirements include: a 12-inch Cooper Tire decal above each fender, a 36-inch Cooper Tire decal on the rear window, visible Cooper Tire patches (or embroidery) on the driver's race suit and helmet. Contingency participants also include Paddock area requirements of a Cooper banner, logos on team uniforms, and visible decals on support vehicles located within the driver's paddock area. For any inquiries on the program, or to register for the Cooper Tire Contingency Award, contact dgandrus@coopertire.com. About Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Cooper Tire & Rubber Company is a global company that specializes in the design, manufacture, marketing and sales of passenger car, light truck, medium truck tires and subsidiaries that specialize in motorcycle and racing tires, as well as tread rubber and related equipment for the retread industry. With headquarters in Findlay, Ohio, Cooper Tire has 60 manufacturing, sales, distribution, technical and design facilities within its family of companies located around the world. For more information, visit Cooper Tire's web site at: www.coopertire.com. ### To no longer receive emails from Cooper Tire, including news and information, please reply to this message with "REMOVE" in the subject line.