ELKHART LAKE, Wis. (Aug. 7, 2015) — Tire wholesaler U.S. AutoForce is dipping its toe into motorsports sponsorship, agreeing to be the primary sponsor of the Team Michael Shank No. 60 P2 prototype for this weekend's TUDOR Championship race at Road America near Elkhart Lake.
“We are absolutely thrilled to have U.S. AutoForce on board with us at Road America,” said Team Owner Mike Shank.
“They are a big supporter of the Continental tire brand, as are we, so it's a natural fit for us as a team,” he said, referring to Continental Tire the Americas L.L.C.'s role as the race tire supplier for the TUDOR Championship series.
Conti also is the title sponsor of the TUDOR racing weekend at Road America, dubbed the Continental Tire Road Race Showcase. http://www.roadamerica.com/buy-tickets/tudor-united-sportscar-championship.html
“We've had two podium finishes [at Road America] in the past three years,” Mr. Shank said. “This year we'll be at the track for the first time with our P2 car. We're really looking forward to this collaboration with U.S. AutoForce.”
Scott Demsien, director of marketing for Combined Locks, Wis.-based U.S. AutoForce, said, “This is an ideal sponsorship opportunity for us. We have many dealers who love racing, selling Continental tires and buying from U.S. AutoForce. We're confident of a victory for the Michael Shank racing team and his U.S. AutoForce-sponsored car.”
The partners did not disclose the value of U.S. AutoForce's sponsorship. It will run in conjunction with the U.S. Venture Open charitable golf event held the Wednesday after the Road America race. U.S. Venture Inc. is U.S. AutoForce's parent company.
Michael Shank Racing (MSR) ranks sixth in the TUDOR championship, just 29 points behind the No. 1 team, VisitFlorida.com Racing, with three podium finishes thus far. A win is worth 36 points.
MSR's drivers John Pew and Ozz Negri also sit sixth in the drivers' standings.
The team runs a Honda-powered Ligier JS P2 closed-canopy prototype.
The race will be televised live on FOX Sports 1 beginning at 3 p.m. EDT Sunday, Aug. 9.
U.S. Venture said the U.S. Venture Open is northeast Wisconsin's single largest one-day philanthropic event dedicated entirely to fighting poverty. This year it celebrates its 30th anniversary and, since its inception, has raised more than $25 million for the U.S. Venture Fund for Basic Needs.
U.S. AutoForce distributes tires, undercar parts and lubrication services for the automotive aftermarket through 18 wholesale distribution centers throughout the Midwest and Great Plains. It also adminsters the Tread Pros, Tire One and PowerLane Tire Solutions dealer programs.