Officials from the Grand American Road Racing Association released the 2006 Grand-Am Cup Series schedule of events night at the Awards Celebration following the season-ending VIR 200 at Virginia International Raceway.

Highlights of the 10-race calendar for the Grand-Am Cup Series GS and ST classes include a return to Lime Rock Park on its traditional Memorial Day Weekend event, a debut race at the new Miller Motorsports Park in Salt Lake City on Labor Day weekend and the first big endurance race in Grand-Am Cup Series history to end the season here at VIR.  The Virginia endurance race will be either 12 or 24 hours in length with the final distance to be determined after a survey of series teams.

Returning venues include the season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Phoenix International Raceway, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Barber Motorsports Park and Trois-Rivieres, in addition to VIR.

Nine races were announced and a 10th and final event will be added in the near future with a return visit to Homestead-Miami Speedway a likely stop.  A race in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – where the Grand-Am Cup Series made its international debut this season – is currently not on the schedule.

2006 Grand-Am Cup Schedule*

January 4 – 7, 2006                    Daytona Test Days                    Daytona International Speedway

January 26 – 27, 2006                150 Miles/2 Hours                      Daytona International Speedway

May 5 – 7, 2006                         150 Miles/2 Hours                      Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

May 12 – 14, 2006                     150 Miles/2 Hours                      Phoenix International Raceway

May 26 – 29, 2006                     150 Miles/2 Hours                      Lime Rock Park

June 23 – 25, 2006                     150 Miles/2 Hours                      Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

July 28 – 30, 2006                      150 Miles/2 Hours                      Barber Motorsports Park

August 4 – 6, 2006                     150 Miles/2 Hours                      Grand Prix of Trois Rivieres

August 31 – Sept. 1, 2006          150 Miles/2 Hours                      Miller Motorsports Park

October 6 – 8, 2006                   12 - 24 Hours TBD**                   Virginia International Raceway

* - One additional race to be added

** - Race to be 12 or 24 Hours with length to be determined following team survey.

The Grand American Road Racing Association, which operates and sanctions the Rolex Sports Car