Stevenson Corvette Infineon Press Release
August 21, 2006 For Immediate Release: Stevenson Corvette Heads For California With just two races left on the 2006 Grand American Rolex GT Series calendar, the Stevenson Motorsports Corvette team knows the time for a podium finish is now. And the members of this seasoned race team are determined to enter California dry, but leave a bit wet, as in champagne-soaked wet. The kind of wet you can only get from being sprayed with champagne emanating from a pair of happy people standing atop a race podium. Team Engineer and Strategist Ron Ogletree wouldn’t mind having to look up to see the drivers of the #57 Corvette, Vic Rice and Tommy Riggins, standing atop a podium. And he wouldn’t mind it at all if he got sprayed with a bit of bubbly too. “We are definitely looking to finish up the season on a high note. I’ve been told you can get high if you drink enough champagne so I intend to find out for myself if that is really true! Of course, it will take another great run by our veteran drivers but we think we have the car for them and I know I have the mouth for drinking champagne!” The team has worked steadily to prep the car for this weekends round at the Infineon Raceway (a.k.a. Sears Point) in Sonoma, California. The 2.52 mile circuit should be to the liking of the high-torque horsepower of the Corvette and team owner John Stevenson is expecting a great run. “The long season that is now coming closer to an end has shown me that this team has what it takes to move us onto a podium. We’ve had a couple of great runs and, if not for some bad luck, we would have finished on the podium already. But the key is we know we have gelled as a team and our car just keeps getting better so I expect the next two races will find us right in the hunt through the very last lap.” Looking ahead to the final race – the 9-hour Discount Tire Sunchaser at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah on September 2nd – Rice and Riggins will be joined by Dominic Cicero who hails from Portland, Oregon. The Stevenson Motorsports Corvette has entered 12 of the 14 events on the Grand Am GT calendar this season, and they continue to hold down 11th place overall in the Team Standings, putting them ahead of 30 other GT teams. Two races remain on the 2006 Grand American Rolex Series GT calendar: August 26 Infineon Raceway Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, CA Sept 2 Miller Motorsports Park Miller Motorsports Park, Tooele, Utah For more information on the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series visit: http://grandamerican.com/Home.asp ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contact Information: Press / Media Contact: Andrew S. Hartwell / ashautomobilia.com ashartwell@att.net Team Website: www.stevensonmotorsports.com Team Owner: John Stevenson jostev@earthlink.net Team Offices: Stevenson MotorSports 2225 N. Marine Blvd Jacksonville, North Carolina 28546 Phone: 910-455-1555 Driver Bios: Vic Rice Birth date: March 29, 1951 Height: 6' 2" Weight: 230 lbs Residence: San Rafael, California Family: Wife – Corrine Two Sons - Jeff and Peter Off-Track Career: Founding partner Pacific Forest Resources, Inc. wholly owned by CellMark AB of Sweden since 1990. CellMark is the world's largest privately owned forest products trading company. Vic is a director, shareholder and manages the global recycling division. Professional Driving Career: 1996: GT American Champion, winner IMSA 24 hrs of Mosport 2000: ALMS 5th GTS points, 4 podium finishes. 2002: 4th in class 7th overall FIA-GT 24hrs of SPA. 2003: Podium finisher ADAC German Endurance series - Nurburgring 3rd in Class, 19th overall of 230 starters 24 hrs-Nurburgring 2004: Southard MotorSports - Grand-Am DP Fabcar / BMW 2005: Stevenson MotorSports - Grand-Am GT Corvette Tommy Riggins Birth date: October 10, 1951 Height: 5' 8" Weight: 185 lbs Residence: Jacksonville, Florida Family: Single, Two children, Brae and Brooke Off-Track Career: President, Riggins Engineering, Inc. Designs and builds race cars: manages racing programs. His shop builds and prepares the #57 Corvette for Stevenson Motorsports Professional Driving Career: Driving race cars since 15yrs old Has raced in several series including: NASCAR short tracks Busch Grand Nationals; Winston Cup; SCCA Trans Am, IMSA GTO, IMSA Camel Light and in Grand-Am Daytona Prototypes A two time IMSA Kelly American Challenge Driving Champion ('84 & '85) Grand-Am GTS Driving Champion 2003: 8 poles, 6wins) 7th in all time IMSA career wins (26) Won '87 Sebring 12 hr GTO Class Has competed in 13 previous Rolex 24 hrs of Daytona Has raced in the US, Canada, Japan, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and Costa Rico. Has driven with Buick, Chevrolet, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Dodge, and Nissan factory race teams. Joined Stevenson MotorSports in 2005. John Stevenson Birth date: May 11, 1948 Height: 5’ '7" Weight: 165 lbs. Residence: Swansboro, North Carolina Family: Wife – Susan Daughters - Shelley and Booth Interests outside of racing: Boating and Labrador Retrievers Off-Track Career: John is the President and Owner of Stevenson Automotive Group located in Southeastern North Carolina, comprising eleven new car franchises - Honda, Acura, Toyota, Scion, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Jeep, Hyundai, Suzuki, Mazda, Kia. Professional Racing Career: 2003: A newcomer to the Grand American Road Racing Series, he competed in his first GT race at Watkins Glen in a Porsche GT3 RS. He finished on the podium, in second place, in his first professional race. 2004: Driver with Stevenson MotorSports - finished 6th in GT team points in their first full year of competition. About The Stevenson Automotive Group Stevenson Automotive Group has been a leading automotive influence in Southeastern North Carolina since 1983. We enjoy a reputation for conducting business in an honest and professional manner with all of our customers. They are always our number one priority. The owner, John Stevenson, has a vested interest in obtaining maximum customer satisfaction and that commitment to excellence is shared with over 200 well-trained parts, service and sales staff. When it has our name on it, you have our word on it! The Stevenson Automotive Group includes the following store locations in North Carolina: Stevenson Honda – Wilmington Stevenson Acura - Wilmington Stevenson Chevrolet - Swansboro Stevenson Chrysler – Jeep – Mazda - Jacksonville Stevenson Hyundai - Suzuki of Jacksonville Stevenson Kia - Jacksonville Stevenson Mazda - Kia - Wilmington Stevenson Toyota - Scion – Jacksonville Stevenson Pre Owned Center - Jacksonville Website: www.StevensonAuto.com -- ash automobilia: "A place for photos and words about sportscar racing and the people who make the cars go!"