Howard-Boss Motorsports and Crawford Race Cars announced today that veteran road racer Andy Wallace will team with NASCAR stars Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt Jr. for the Rolex 24 At Daytona in the No. 2 Crawford DP03 Daytona Prototype.
"This is an exciting time for all of us at Howard-Boss Motorsports," RickHoward stated. "We have set our standards high with the new DP03 DaytonaPrototype car. Our unique blend of driving talent with Andy Wallace, TonyStewart and Dale Earnhardt Jr. makes this event even more exciting, not onlyfor our team, but for the fans of the Grand American Rolex Sports CarSeries. Our expectations are also high for our teammates in the No. 4 BossSnowplow Dave Brule-owned car. The results of our recent test session at theHomestead-Miami Speedway are very encouraging and we're really lookingforward to the Rolex 24 At Daytona."
"From the manufacturer point of view, I'm elated to have three DP03 DaytonaPrototype cars competing in the Rolex 24," commented Max Crawford, owner ofCrawford Race Cars. "I'm also pleased to be associated with such a stellarlist of drivers who I'm sure will do an outstanding job."
Andy Wallace, a mainstay on the international sports car circuit for manyyears, has won the Rolex 24 At Daytona three times in his storied career.Wallace was on the winning team in 1990, 1997 and 1999 and is one of onlyfive drivers to win all three major road racing endurance events, the Rolex24 At Daytona, Sebring 12 Hours and LeMans 24 Hour.
"I'm happy to be driving in the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series andthe new Daytona Prototype car," Wallace stated. "These cars are fun todrive. My two teammates are obviously established NASCAR drivers, and I'mthrilled to be driving with such wonderful teammates. Max and Jan Crawfordhave been working very hard on these cars, and if the new cars are as greatas their SSC2K, they'll be fantastic machines."
Tony Stewart will be making his second start in the Rolex 24 for CrawfordRace Cars. Stewart teamed with Jan Lammers and Johnny Mowlem in a CrawfordSSC2K Prototype in the 2002 endurance race. After an impressive run at thefront of the field, engine problems sidelined the Stewart, Lammers andMowlem team just past the midway point in the twice-around-the-clock event.
"Driving these cars is so much fun," Stewart stated. "It is unlike anythingwe do in the Nextel Cup. And, I feel like this event owes me another chance.We were running very well in 2002 right up until the engine let go."
Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be making his second start in the Rolex 24 AtDaytona. Earnhardt Jr. teamed with his father Dale Earnhardt, Andy Pilgrimand Kelly Collins in a Chevrolet Corvette to finish fourth overall in the2001 event.
"I am really excited about going back to Daytona for this race," EarnhardtJr. commented. "I had talked to Jim France about it (Rolex 24) earlier thisyear, and the Crawford Chevrolet opportunity came up in November. The chanceto work with Andy Wallace and have some fun with Tony (Stewart) was too goodto pass up."
The Wallace, Stewart and Earnhardt Jr. team will have the support of ActionPerformance Companies and Chevrolet for the Rolex 24 At Daytona.
"I'm thrilled that racing stars Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Stewart willagain participate in the Rolex 24 At Daytona, giving fans the opportunity tosee these drivers compete in a different setting," said Fred Wagenhals,Action Performance Chairman, President, and CEO. "Action Performance has astrong relationship with both drivers and will support this program withofficially licensed merchandise."
Gary Claudio, GM Racing Group Marketing Manager, commented, "GM Racing ispleased to be involved with this endeavor. Since two of our NASCAR Chevroletdrivers will be participating, this event will be exciting for the fans aswell as the competitors. GM Racing is proud to be associated withHoward-Boss Motorsports, Crawford Race Cars and Grand American Road Racing."
Primary sponsorship opportunities are available and interested partiesshould contact Howard-Boss Motorsports at (704) 489-6533.
Howard-Boss Motorsports will participate in the pre-season test session atDaytona International Speedway this weekend, January 3-5. The 42ndAnniversary of the Rolex 24 At Daytona is set for Saturday, January 31 andSunday, February 1, on the 3.56-mile road course at the DaytonaInternational Speedway.
Tickets are currently on sale for the Rolex 24 At Daytona and can bepurchased online at daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling386-253-RACE. Additional information on the Grand American Rolex Sports CarSeries and Rolex 24 is available online at grandamerican.com.
