“We are excited to sponsor Michael Shank Racing for the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring,” TBC Chief Marketing Officer Scott Stoughton said.
“These are both very big races that carry an international reach. Mike Shank's team obviously knows what it takes to do well in these long races and we could not be more excited to be involved.”
The car will be will be driven by John Pew, Ozz Negri, NASCAR driver A.J Allmendinger, and Matt McMurry, who at age 16 is set to become the youngest-ever prototype driver in Rolex 24 at Daytona history.
Pataskala, Ohio-based MSR, the 2012 Rolex 24 winning team, switched in the off-season to the P2-class Ligier chassis from the Ford-powered Daytona prototype machinery it raced last year.
“I'm very excited to have Tire Kingdom come on board with us for our first race with this new car,” said team owner Michael Shank. “There has been a ton of hard work that has gone into being prepared to support an effort like this and I'm very happy to have it all come together in time for the start of the season in Daytona.”
The FOX network will broadcast the Rolex 24 this weekend, starting at 2 p.m. on Jan. 24 with FOX network. Follow race developments via Twitter — @michaelshankrac and @sundaygroup.
TBC operates several hundred Tire Kingdom service centers in seven eastern states — Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana and Vermont.
