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CART: Hollywood to sponsor Mo Nunn Racing entry

24 February 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

First-year FedEx Championship Series team Mo Nunn Racing announced last week that Hollywood would serve as primary sponsor of the Mercedes-powered Reynard driven by Tony Kanaan under terms of a multi-year agreement.

"With Hollywood joining our new team, we now have all the tools necessary to make Hollywood and Tony champions of the CART FedEx Championship Series," said Mo Nunn, who founded the team late last year in partnership with marketing executive Rod Campbell and Bruce McCaw, owner of the PacWest Racing Group.

Hollywood, one of the brands marketed by Rio de Janeiro-based tobacco company Souza Cruz SA, has served as a primary sponsor on the FedEx Championship Series entry piloted by PacWest's Mauricio Gugelmin since 1995.

"To sponsor a driver with Kanaan's potential and a team that was already born with a winning profile is a great honor for us," said Fernando Pinheiro, Hollywood brand manager.

Under terms of the agreement, Kanaan will work with fellow Brazilian Felipe Giaffone, who will serve as a test driver for the Mo Nunn team. Giaffone is a regular competitor in the Dayton Indy Lights championship with the Conquest Racing team, which is also sponsored by Hollywood.

"I have taken a big step in my career, and I believe it is time to fight for the title," said Kanaan, who earned his first career FedEx Championship Series victory at Michigan Speedway last season. "This is more of my dream come true. I am so excited about racing with Hollywood under the guidance of Morris Nunn. He is the engineer every driver in the paddock wants. As for working with Felipe, we have raced together in the past. Besides being a friend, Felipe is one of the most underrated drivers I know."

Text provided by CART

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