KEYBANK JOINS TRUESPORTS AS PRESENTING SPONSOR OF EMCO GEARS CLASSIC
<http://www.midohio.com> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Rebecca Ackford, (614) 793-4620, rackford@midohio.com KEYBANK JOINS TRUESPORTS AS PRESENTING SPONSOR OF EMCO GEARS CLASSIC DUBLIN, Ohio (May 31, 2006) - TrueSports, Incorporated today announced a new partnership with KeyBank who will become the official financial services provider of Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and The Mid-Ohio School. KeyBank also has been named the presenting sponsor of the EMCO Gears Classic at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on June 23-26, 2006. The partnership will allow KeyBank to use motorsports to deliver their superior service message to customers and bring convenient KeyBank ATM service to the tens of thousands of race fans who visit Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course each year. The 2006 season will also see KeyBank sponsoring Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series competitors Derhaag Motorsports who will be competing in the EMCO Gears Classic presented by KeyBank. "Key is proud to strengthen our support for the local communities in the Mansfield area by becoming the official financial services sponsor to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course," said Sue Zazon, District President, KeyBank Central Ohio. "This distinctive venue provides opportunities to promote Key to our target audiences via multiple channels. The partnership between Key and Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course aligns with our Community Bank strategies and goals for 2006 and we are excited to be part of this fast growing sport." "KeyBank is a committed community partner and a longtime supporter of major events and venues like Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course," said TrueSports, Incorporated President Michelle Trueman Gajoch. "They offer a diverse and distinctive presence in the market and we are pleased to have them as a sponsor. We look forward to working together to deliver a considerable return on their investment." Cleveland-based KeyCorp is one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $92 billion. Key companies provide investment management, retail and commercial banking, consumer finance, and investment banking products and services to individuals and companies throughout the United States and, for certain businesses, internationally. Founded in 1981 and headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, TrueSports, Incorporated is a privately held motorsports entertainment enterprise. The company owns and operates Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and The Mid-Ohio School and promotes a wide variety of motor racing, driver and rider instruction, corporate, and family entertainment events throughout the year. Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is a 2.4-mile, 15-turn permanent road racing circuit in Lexington, Ohio. Located 60 miles north of Columbus and 75 miles south of Cleveland near Mansfield, the track has been called the most competitive in the U.S. and annually hosts a diversity of locally, regionally and nationally sanctioned racing events for amateur, club and professional riders and drivers. Mid-Ohio's 2006 schedule features a record eight spectator events, including the American Le Mans at Mid-Ohio (May 19-21), EMCO Gears Classic presented by KeyBank (June 23-25), AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days (July 28-30), Honda Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire (August 4-6), Vintage Grand-Prix at Mid-Ohio (August 18-20), National Auto Sport Association Championships presented by Toyo Tires (September 15-17), AMA Road Race Grand Championships & AMA Motocross Manufacturers Cup (September 22-24) and the AMA Superbike Shootout (September 30-October 1). -30-