Ford Becomes Newest Manufacturer To Join GRAND-AM

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 24, 2010) - It was announced today that Ford Motor Company, defending champion of both the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 and the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, is expanding its GRAND-AM involvement in 2010 as the newest manufacturer to join GRAND-AM's 2010 Manufacturers Official Promotion Partner Program.

The program calls for all Ford-powered Rolex Series and Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge cars to carry approved Ford decals to be eligible for prize money bonuses from Ford, including $10,000 season-ending bonuses in both championships. The partnership provides Ford with the rights to use GRAND-AM marks, logos, images and video throughout the 2010 season.

Ford has also provided GRAND-AM with a Mustang Boss 302R racecar, similar to the ones used in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, for display in the GRAND-AM Fan Zone. The traveling display is featured at all 12 Rolex Series races in 2010.

"Ford is obviously an American icon and we are extremely pleased to announce this partnership," said Kevin Hindson, GRAND-AM Vice President, Marketing and Communications. "Ford has been a longtime supporter of teams in both the Rolex Series and the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, and this new partnership takes that support to the next level."

Ford celebrated its second GRAND-AM-sanctioned victory of the 2010 season this weekend when Dean Martin and Bob Michaelian piloted the No. 52 Rehagen Racing Products/Bizrate.com Ford Mustang GT to victory at Barber Motorsports Park in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge. Earlier this year Jack Roush Jr. and Billy Johnson won the Homestead 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the No. 61 Roush Performance Ford Mustang GT. It was the 400th victory for famed Ford team owner Jack Roush.

At Barber Motorsports Park, there were six Daytona Prototypes carrying Ford's famed blue oval logo on their noses in the Rolex Series as well as 13 Ford Mustangs (combined FR500C and Boss 302R) that race in the Grand Sport (GS) class in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge.

"We're proud to support these motorsport enthusiasts and racers with contingency and manufacturer recognition for their on-track efforts,"   said Jamie Allison, director, Ford North America Motorsports.  "We're proud of our past success in GRAND-AM, and are just as proud that this year we have brought the 2011 BOSS 302R into the series - a race car built on the same assembly line, the same platform, and has the same 5.0 liter engine as the 2011 Ford Mustang GT."

From Grand-Am