DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (January 27, 2007) – SunTrust Bank will once again sponsor the “SunTrust Improve Your Position Award” for the 2007 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Special Reserve and, for the first time, extends the bonus program to the Grand-Am KONI Challenge Series.
Since the 2004 season, the “SunTrust Improve Your Position Award” has rewarded one entry each in the Rolex Series Daytona Prototype class and one GT class entry that has improved the most positions from start to finish in each race. New for 2007 in the KONI Challenge Series, SunTrust will reward the team in that series that improves the most in each race. The Rolex Series awards double in size, to $1,000 each, while the KONI Challenge recipients will receive $500 per race. In case of a tie in positions gained during an individual race, each respective award will go to the highest finisher overall.
“SunTrust has been one of our most valuable and dedicated partners since we joined with them in 2004, and this substantial increase in their award programs is another wonderful example of this commitment,” said Grand American Road Racing Association President Roger Edmondson. “The SunTrust ‘Improve Your Position’ Award has been a competitor favorite since its introduction. And now, by sponsoring the same bonus in the Grand-Am KONI Challenge Series, SunTrust is increasing it financial commitment to the Grand-Am paddock in both series.”
“The growth of Grand-Am, its teams and drivers is very important to us and important to our business,” said Craig Kelly, Corporate Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer, for SunTrust Banks, Inc. “In order to best impact the individuals we have not only come to know as customers, but friends, we have tripled the total amount of our contingency award to illustrate or commitment to the series.
“In business, SunTrust strives to help our clients improve their financial portfolio, and we want that to be reflected in the SunTrust ‘Improve Your Position’ Award. SunTrust has enjoyed its relationship with Grand-Am’s teams and drivers and look forward to continuing our partnership.”
In addition to the race-by-race awards, the Daytona Prototype and GT teams that win the award the most times during the 2007 season will receive at $10,000 bonus and trophy at the season-ending Rolex Series Champions Banquet. The KONI Challenge Grand Sport and Street Tuner car that wins the award the most will receive $2,500 and a trophy, which will be presented at the KONI Challenge Awards Celebration. In case of a tie, the teams that improved the most positions during the races they won the award will receive the bonus.
The Grand American Road Racing Association, which operates and sanctions the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Special Reserve and the Grand-Am KONI Challenge Series, is the premier road racing organization in North America. The 15-race 2007 Rolex Series schedule and the 12-race KONI Challenge Series calendar will deliver professional sports car racing to key markets throughout North America. All 2007 Rolex Series events will be 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.
