GRAND AM (DAYTONA) - Gurney and Fogarty, Papis and Angelelli Nominated for SPEED Performance Awards

Fans of the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 can help on-track rivals Max Angelelli and Max Papis battle one last time in 2007, and push Alex Gurney and Jon Fogarty to another championship by voting for the annual SPEED Performance Awards. SPEED, which televises all events on the Rolex Sports Car Series schedule, will announce the winners of all nine popular vote categories as well as the SPEED Performer of the Year during a one-hour show in February.

Reigning Rolex Series Champions Gurney and Fogarty are nominated for the “Biggest Upset” after capturing a series-record seven victories on their way to the team and driver’s championships. Entering this season, the pair was searching for the first Daytona Prototype victory for themselves and GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing.

Gurney and Fogarty face stiff competition in the category, battling MotoGP Champion Casey Stoner, Kimi Raikkonen capturing the Brazilian Grand Prix and the Formula 1 Championship and Stephen Leicht’s first career NASCAR Busch Series race win.

Papis and Angelelli are each nominated for separate events in the “Heart Brake” category of the SPEED Performance Awards. Papis’ bittersweet nomination came during an exciting race in Mexico City. After battling with and trading places with Gurney throughout the race’s late stages, Papis spun the No. 75 Krohn Racing Pontiac Riley while leading the race with only two laps to go. He recovered to finish second while Gurney went on to capture their first victory.

Angelelli had a chance to capture the Rolex Series Championship heading into the season finale at Miller Motorsports Park. A late race flat tire, however, turned Angelelli’s No. 10 SunTrust Racing Pontiac Riley into a ball of flames, ending the 2005 co-Champ’s title hopes and earning the “Heart Brake” nomination.

Papis and Angelelli are among six entries in the “Heart Brake” category.

Fans can vote and view videos of all of the nominations at www.speedtv.com/performanceawards. In addition to “Biggest Upset” and “Heart Brake,” nominations have been announced for “Oops Award,” “Rookie of the Year,” “Biggest Hit” and “Temper, Temper.” The “Best Rivalry,” “Best Finish” and “Tell It Like It Is” nominations will be unveiled later this week.

The second annual SPEED Performer of the Year will be selected by a panel including “Wind Tunnel” host Dave Despain, veteran broadcasters Bob Varsha and Ralph Sheheen, SPEEDtv.com writers Robin Miller and Tom Jensen and versatile racers Tommy Kendall and Dorsey Schroeder.

The Grand American Road Racing Association, which operates and sanctions the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 and the Grand-Am KONI Challenge Series, is the premier road racing organization in North America. The 15-race 2008 Rolex Series and the 11-race KONI Challenge Series calendars deliver professional sports car racing to key markets throughout North America in addition to being televised in the United States and Canada on SPEED and distributed globally through ESPN International. With title sponsorship support from Rolex Watch USA and presenting sponsorship from Crown Royal Special Reserve, the Rolex Series showcases emerging and legendary drivers from around the globe and thoroughbred racing machines from the industry's leading constructors and the world's top automobile manufacturers. Learn more about Grand-Am at www.grand-am.com.