Michael Shank Racing is to enter a new car for the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series beginning in the month of June at Mid-Ohio. The replacement became necessary after the team’s No.6 Ford/Riley driven by Michael Valiante was damaged in a freak fire accident in the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen.

At the time of the accident the car was running in the tenth position, with the driver all set to close the race after solid performances from team-mates Mark Patterson and Brian Frisselle. Narrating the sequence of events that led to the accident, the driver said that he could feel the motor struggling to generate power before the car caught fire, seconds before he managed to jump to safety. According to him, it was a shame that the accident happened, ruining all the hard work put in by the Michael Shank Racing team.

Co-driver Brian Frisselle said that he was thankful that Michael Valiante was able to jump to safety seconds before the car was engulfed in flames. He also added that it was a pity that the car was damaged because it was running beautifully untill then.

The racing conditions at Glen were quite challenging, with the rain starting and stopping occasionally, leading to slippery driving conditions. John Pew, driving the No. 60 Crown Royal XR Ford Riley, said that it was a shame that the accident happened because the team had put in a lot of effort in order to gain a competitive position. According to him, the driving conditions were very challenging with occasional spurts of rain falling from time to time.

However, the team was upbeat about their chances at the Mid-Ohio event, where the Ford Dallara is to team up with the No. 60 Crown Royal XR Ford-Riley.  The team of Brian Frisselle and Michael Valiante has had previous experience with Ford Dallara machines, having driven them to victory on previous occasions.

Team owner, Mike Shank said that he was grateful for the support extended by Bill Riley and Mike Croake of Riley Technologies, who have continued their support for the team since 2005.  According to Mike Shank, they were forced to look at viable options after the No. 6 was badly damaged in the accident. He said that the accident was a tremendous setback for the team; however, he was confident that the team would come up with the goods at the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series in Mid-Ohio on the 19th of June.

As the finale of the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series draws closer the excitement levels at SunTrust are rising. Saturday’s 150-minute event promises to be loaded with the usual Rolex Series fireworks as the three perennial contenders will be all geared up for an all-out sprint to the finish. Rolex has always supported individuals who exhibit brilliance in the field of sports. Rolex with its long association with sporting events has been rewarding individuals for their brilliance and endurance exhibited at such competitions. Not only does Rolex give regard to the spirit to excel but also encourages it by giving its support to these events. Having made an unforgettable mark for themselves in the world of watch-making by delivering timepieces that have created history Rolex also supports events and individuals to bring out the best in them and harness their capabilities to the fullest.

Co-drivers Max Angelelli and Brian Frisselle are all fired up to represent SunTrust on Saturday afternoon at the Homestead-Miami Speedway. The SunTrust team did win the Rolex Series title in 2005 at this very track. So, Wayne Taylor (now team-owner) who co-drove Max Angelelli to the win in 2005 is extremely hopeful that his team stands as good a chance as the championship leaders No. 99. And the team certainly has reason to be confident as it sits only 8 points behind this year’s championship leaders. Practice for Saturday’s Grand Prix of Miami begins Thursday afternoon with qualifying set for 2:45 p.m. EDT Friday. Race time for Saturday’s two-hour, 30-minute event is 1 p.m. with all the action being telecast live.

The competition SunTrust has to face is with No. 99 Gainsco/Bob Stallings Racing Pontiac Riley of Alex Gurney and Jon Fogarty and No.1 Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Lexus Riley duo of Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas, as No.1 is just two points behind SunTrust. Gurney and Fogarty only need only a top-four finish to score their second Rolex Series championship since 2007. Though the team has scored a series-high four victories this season, they have never finished better than a sixth in three previous outings at the 2.3-mile, 11-turn Homestead-Miami Speedway road course layout, giving added hope to the SunTrust and Ganassi teams, each of which has scored two wins this season.

Max Angelelli has had a pair of runner-up finishes in 2004 and 2008 to go with his 2005 championship-season victory at Homestead, while Scott Pruett and the Ganassi team won this event last season after back-to-back third-place finishes in 2006 and 2007. This makes season 2009 a very interesting mix of events and teams. The entire mix of racers makes this season highly unpredictable and thus making anything possible. The points, at where they stand can go in either of the team’s favor and this very exciting finale can have a turn of events that can be very last-minute and yet very deciding. The Grand-Am Rolex Series brought forward by Rolex will definitely have a nail-biting Grand Finale and from where the SunTrust team stands the possibility of re-claiming their past glory is a goal that seems quite achievable.

Rolex has played a vital role in the development of talent and influencing the pursuit of excellence. Supporting a number of sporting events around the globe, Rolex has been the momentum behind the motor sports industry in America. At the turn of the century the motor sports racing championships were suffering in the United States and the lack of sponsors further accentuated the problem. Rolex changed the fortunes of the industry altogether with its unhindered sponsorship of the Grand-Am Rolex transform this game into a world class event that draws a number of talented drivers from across the globe. The Rolex Sports Car Series is one of the most prestigious and challenging race events and comprises twelve races held all over the United States. The points garnered by the teams and their respective drivers are totaled up to determine the champion at the end of the event that is held in October on the Homestead Miami Raceway.

The 2009 edition of the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series was one of the most eventful racing championships ever held. With a number of photo-finish victories at the event this turned out to be the most competitive and eagerly fought for racing event ever. In some cases the teams were behind each other by a few milliseconds. The thousand strong spectators that had come to witness the event were gasping with delight and stunned to see the standard of competition at the event. The Gainsco team and SunTrust team along with others are in close contention for the title of the Rolex champion. Literally racing to the finish Max Angelelli and Brian Frisselle are fighting hard in an attempt to lay a claim to the title of the Rolex champion. Securing two victories this year in the total races that were held as a part of the Rolex Sports Car Series, the second of which came at the Montreal 200 they are hoping to close the lead. Currently eight points behind Alex Gurney and Jon Fogarty, who are representing the No. 99 GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing Pontiac Riley, Max Angelelli and Brian Friselle will be putting all they have got in order to win the finale as well as the Rolex Championships.

Champions from the last years Rolex races Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas will be defending the title in the close competition that will reach its crescendo on the 10^th of October at the Homestead-Miami Speedway. Merely a week or so away the grand finale of the Rolex Sports car Series will be a spectacle to watch. The best teams, the most competent drivers and a huge fan base along with a sea of spectators will descend to the tracks of the Homestead-Miami Speedway on the 10^th of October to come together in a celebration of the eminent Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Championship Races.

Proudly supporting the race and celebrating the remarkable drivers who participate in this event Rolex is redefining the popularity of the Grand-Am Sports Car Series. In a few days time Rolex will crown the champion, till then fans along with the spectators have to wait anxiously for the eventual victor.

The chances of SunTrust Racing winning the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series got a big boast on the racing weekend at Miller Motorsports Park. Racing past the treacherous track the No. 10 SunTrust Racing team crossed the checkered flag right after the winners to take the second spot. Going into the last race of Grand-Am 2009 season next month at Homestead the SunTrust team now stands not very far from the championship. To know whether they can pull it off or not, we’ll have to wait for couple of more weeks till teams again converge in Florida.

SunTrust team has a history and heritage that goes beyond what others have achieved. For more than half a century SunTrust has been actively involved with the world of motorsport racing including financing the popular Daytona International Speedway. The SunTrust Racing has emerged as a very strong team and in the Utah 250 race the team was represented by two of their great drivers, Max Angelelli and Brian Frisselle.

Max Angelelli has a long racing history and close association with Wayne Taylor. The duo had grabbed podium finish in its first race together in 1999 and since then has been evolving into a formidable team. In the year 2005 this duo won the Rolex Series Team as well as drivers’ title. After many races together Max Angelelli joined Wayne Taylor when he formed Wayne Taylor Racing in November 2006. Since then Wayne Taylor Racing has been the SunTrust team including for the 2009 season. Also, 2008 was great year for the driver as he went onto win 12 Rolex Series races.

Max Angelelli’s co-driver at Miller Motorsports Park Brian Frisselle is a young and highly acclaimed race driver. Driving for a different team in the 2008 season he was able to come out at top in two races and that too back-to-back. Ever since the present season started Brian Frisselle has been driving as a fulltime driver with Max Angelelli for the SunTrust Racing team.

The team drives the powerful No. 10 SunTrust Racing Ford Dallara DP-01 which uses Roush Yates Racing-built 5.0-litre Ford V-8. The impressive engine propels the car with 500 hp delivered at 7,000 rpm. The carbon fiber body car packs a punch which has been amply demonstrated throughout the season and was evident during race at the Miller Motorsports Park too.

Before Utah 250 began the SunTrust was placed tied second overall in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series along with the No.01 Chip Ganassi Racing. N0. 99 Gainsco/Bob Stallings Racing Pontiac Riley was the team that was heading the points table and is still at the top after the race. In fact the team has increased its lead from five points before the last race to eight points now. Though it increases the challenges for the SunTrust team, by coming at the second place it has also managed to build a two point lead over the Ganassi team.

The final race of the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series is going to be held at the Homestead-Miami Speedway on 10^th October and where the SunTrust team be placed finally would be decided then only.

The real test of resilience comes only on tracks which are very tough and hard to complete. One of the best and the most testing tracks in this word is the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve and the best promoter of such an event can be no other than Rolex. Rolex has been a brand that has always believed in allying with the highest echelons of any domain and thus feels proud to be an associate at the Grand-Am which has the Circuit Gilles Velleneuve as one of its tracks. It is only apparent that this circuit in being chosen with the grand finale of the tournament nearing commencement. Rolex has always thrived in adversity and thus aligns itself with all those participants who had the race of their lives on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, a circuit which tests the real potential of a professional driver and judges his longevity.

The Circuit Gilles Velleneuve is one real circuit where professional motor sports drivers get the chance to show their real potential. The track is one of the best ones in motor sports and promises exhilarating experiences through the course of the race. A recent testimony of this legacy is the latest Grand-Am race that happened on August 28-29 on the circuit which produced a very close and enthralling result. Finishing first was the team of Max Angelelli and Brian Frisselle who drove a total of 67 laps with an average speed of 89.526 miles per hour. Coming in second best were Bernhard and Dumas who also drove the same number of miles with an average speed of 88.780. Following at three and four were the teams of Fogarty/Gurney and Forest/Taylor who gave stiff competition and drove identical number of miles. The competition was made more intense when weather tried to play spoilt sport and it started raining. One of the reasons why the top team came first was because they got their judgment right and stuck with rain tires. Many teams even struggled to complete the entire number of laps because of the toughness of the track and the variations it offered. The rain caused the driving to be tougher, making the whole process very challenging for the drivers who had to use their skill and expertise to come out with a win. The results produced on this track have always been unnerving and this time it was no different.

Being tough involves facing challenges in life and coming out triumphant, something that drivers get to prove by racing at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Rolex has always seen off tough weathers with ease and consistently came out victorious to become the brand that it is today. Rolex is a proud endorser of this track where records have been made and will keep getting created. The track has been named after the legendary Gilles Villeneuve, who himself was considered to be a very fast and fearless driver. The track has justified the name after which it has been named to produce spectacular results, an initiation that Rolex is proud to be a part of.

The incredible popularity of the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series has fuelled the growth of other related spheres as well. Brought out of the darkness by Rolex, the motorsports industry in the United States has seen the dawning of a new era in sporting history. The steadfast support of Rolex in bringing the prestigious event forward to new heights of success and popularity has resulted in the progress of all other aspects. Due to the ever increasing fan base of the Rolex Series and the drivers that compete in this illustrious event, a number of shows whether they are on the air, on the web or on television are directed towards bringing the Rolex series closer to home.

The exceeding popularity consequently demands that the race car drivers become more accessible to fans who would like answers to a volley of questions. A number of broadcasters and radio channels have become actively involved with following every constituent of the Rolex Series and put together several interviews with race car drivers as well as members of the organizing committee and sponsors who play an active role in organizing this eminent series. On the 30^th of July an interviewer took put together a teleconference interview for the star race car drivers Max Angelelli and Wayne Taylor. Trying to grasp the action plan for the next race in the Rolex Series at the Watkins Glen on the 7^th of August, the interviewer tried to gain a better insight of the champions.

With the series heating up with every single race the top three teams are pushing harder to outclass each other. The duo of Wayne Taylor and Max Angelelli roared past the others in the 2005 Daytona Prototype championship and clinched the win twice. The interviewer asked the star drivers about the significance of the next race. Almost instantly both Max Angelelli and Wayne Taylor agreed that every single race of the series is as important as the next. Due to the high level of competition at the Rolex Series performing at every single race is imperative. The 2009 edition of the Rolex Series has seen an increased number of photo finish victories and with the teams trailing behind each other, separated merely by a few points, the importance of finishing in the top three is gaining a new momentum.

The team of Max Angelelli and Wayne Taylor utilizes a completely different strategy for the two races at the Watkins Glen. In the short course they employ very little downforce, while in the long course they use more downforce to tackle the increased corners and turns. Defending the inconsistent performance of team mate Brian Frisselle, Max Angelelli told the interviewer that Brian was great driver who is slowly learning all the techniques and other finer aspects that will definitely transform him into a formidable contender and a great champion. Shedding light on the significance of swift pit stops and track positioning, Max Angelelli stated that the tremendous level of competition at the Rolex Series makes it harder for a driver to clinch the top spot.

The interview that was probably heard by at least by thousands of people gave a rare insight on the opinions and thought process of the champion racers.

The changing fortunes of the Grand-AM Rolex Sports Car Series can probably be credited to the steadfast support of Rolex. The celebrated Swiss Brand, Rolex has played a pivotal role in molding the Grand-AM Rolex Sports Car Series into a world class event. The Rolex Series has become equated with the best racing tournaments in the world. Enabling the drivers to reach for perfection, the coveted Rolex Series is an arena that witnesses some of the most spectacular driving skills in the history of motor sports racing. Every year the spectators line the stands of the Grand-Am Rolex Series waiting anxiously for the champions to roar past in an awesome display of skill. Branching out into all spheres of the media world, the Grand-Am not only receives extensive media coverage but had to launch its own medium for interacting with the increasing number of fans.

The surging popularity of the Rolex Series and the exceeding number of enthusiastic fans has driven the organizing committees to venture out into newer avenues. Right from webcasts to television programs and radio shows the Grand-Am committee is ensuring that the spectators have added opportunities to interact with their favorite racers and learn about other aspects of the series. The Grand-Am Weekly radio show and webcasts feature champion racers who partake in enhancing the fan experience. The most interesting aspect of the Grand-Am Weekly radio show is that it allows the skilled racers to interact directly with the fans and answer their queries regarding every aspect of this eminent sport racing tournament.

This year the champion drivers of the Grand-Am Rolex Series Daytona Prototype Burt Frisselle and Brian Frisselle will together feature on the Grand-Am Weekly radio show and webcast along with Acxiom GT champion Kelly Collins. Driving the No. 10 SunTrust Racing Ford Dallara along with team mate Max Angelelli, Brian Frisselle is one of the most well respected racers of the Rolex Series and has many spectacular finishes to his credit. While, Burt Frisselle the rising star in the Rolex Series championships replaced his elder brother, Brian Frisselle to become a part of the AIM Autosport team. Representing the AIM Autosport team that currently stands at the sixth place in the series, Burt Frisselle along with team member Wilkins has three top-five finishes to his name. The other member of the Grand-Am Weekly radio show, Kelly Collins along with team mate Paul Edwards currently stands at the number two spot on the GT standings with five podium finishes to his name.

The highly capable race car drivers that will feature on the radio show ensure that every single fan is allowed to better comprehend the scope and range of the Grand-Am Rolex Series along with the finer aspects of motor sport racing. The extremely interactive radio show gives a better insight into the challenges faced by the drivers while racing along with the requisites that are required to becoming a champion racer. Hitting the air waves every Tuesday the radio show is a rare window into the elements and aspects that form the core of the Grand-Am Rolex Series.

The fierceness of the blazing wheels, the rush of air as the speed demons rush by and the power of the super charged engines is enough of draw the attention of the sea of spectators that come to witness the Rolex Grand-Am Sports Car Series. As the foremost name in creating the finest premium watches Rolex has always endeavored to support events that showcase the brilliance of talent and the magnitude of human will. As a dedicated collaborative member of the road racing association in America for almost a decade now, Rolex has played an instrumental role in resurrecting motor sport racing in the United States.

The Rolex Grand-Am Sports Car Series comprises as range of races that are held at various speedways across America. The entire Rolex Grand-Am series consists of a total of 12 races. Heralding the prestigious series is the celebrated Rolex 24 at Daytona that tests the utter limit of endurance and determination. The Rolex Grand-Am Sports Car Series that begins with this grueling 24 hour race is held at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona and ends at the Homestead Miami Speedway in Florida. The 12 races that form a part of this series are divided into two seasons with the first six races begin held in the first half of the year and the remaining six being held in the second half of the year.

The second half of the eminent racing event began with the EMCO Gear’s Classic at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington and was followed by the Brumos Porsche 250 at Daytona. The ninth race of the season Porsche 250 presented by Legacy Credit Union will be held on the 17th of July in the Baber Motorsports Park in Alabama. The points earned in the other races add up to the total score and according to the tally the present race standings is led by Telemex/Chip Ganassi Racing Lexus Riley team with a total of 199 points. Closely followed by the SunTrust team and the Gainsco team the race to the finish is getting hotter. The world is closely following this prestigious event and keeping its eyes focused on the performances of these talented racers. The whirlwind races have become increasingly important with teams close behind each other. The very fact that almost any team can out beat the other has led to tremendous competition and increasing grit to claim the top honor.

After the Brumos Porsche racing event is the thrilling Crown Royal 200 at the Glen. Regarded by many as one of the most challenging races the Crown Royal 200 is bound to bring up increased levels of competition and performance. With teams gearing up to win the title of the Rolex Grand-Am Sports Car Series the remaining races that follow will turn out to be a gut wrenching challenge and will bring with it surging ambitions and resilient effort. The Crow Royal 200 for 2008 was won by the talented team of Brian Frisselle and Mark Wilkins. In a dramatic display of exceptional talent Brian Frisselle blazed through the circuit and left the other competitors behind.

As the 2009 Royal Crown 200 at the Glen sponsored by Rolex comes around the world will anxiously wait to see ability and the change in the precarious race standings that see a complete change in order almost every year.