WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (June 13, 2012) — Continental Tire the Americas is teaming with Buffalo, N.Y., retailer Dunn Tire Co. as sponsors of a 200-mile Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series race at Wakins Glen International race course Aug. 11 as part of the NASCAR race weekend.
The deal also makes Dunn Tire the “Official Tire Retailer” of the storied race track in New York's Finger Lakes region. Dunn Tire has a dozen or so stores in the Finger Lakes region, although the closest to Watkins Glen are in Auburn and Canandaigua, each more than 50 miles away.
“The racing heritage of Watkins Glen International is known worldwide,” said Chuck Haring, director, marketing and advertising at Dunn Tire. “We're very lucky to have it right here in our footprint.”
Terms of the multi-year deal were not disclosed.
The “Continental Tire 200 presented by Dunn Tire” will be a 200-mile sprint race featuring the Grand-Am Rolex Daytona Prototypes and sports cars. It will take place on Saturday, Aug. 11, the day before the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at The Glen race.
The event will the Grand-Am Rolex series' second visit to Watkins Glen this year; the series also visits the track the weekend of June 30-July.
Continental, already the “Official Tire” of Watkins Glen International, will be the title sponsor of the Continental Tire 150, a 2 ½-hour Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge race, Conti said.
Watkins Glen International President Michael Printup said it's a “great combination” to have Conti and Dunn Tire working together with the track.
Dunn Tire has 31 retail locations throughout New York and Pennsylvania, stretching from Syracuse, N.Y., to Erie, Pa.