One special award renewed, a new one created

SunTrust Continues Improve Your Position Award; Adds "SunTrust Challenge Award"

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 2, 2006) -- Officials from SunTrust Bank and the Grand American Road Racing Association today confirmed the renewal of the "SunTrust Improve Your Position Award" for the Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Special Reserve and announced the creation of the "SunTrust Challenge Award" for the Grand-Am Cup Series.

Since the 2004 season, the "SunTrust Improve Your Position Award" has rewarded the one entry in the Rolex Series Daytona Prototype class and one GT class entry that has improved its position the most from start to finish in each race. The new "SunTrust Challenge Award" will be presented to the Grand-Am Cup Series Grand Sport (GS) and Street Tuner (ST) teams that accumulate the most points in the season-opening Grand-Am Cup 200 at Daytona International Speedway, the 200-mile event at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) in April, the 200-miler at Barber Motorsports Park in July, and the season-ending 12-hour event at VIR.

"SunTrust Motorsports Banking seeks to help our customers improve their financial position, so we created the 'SunTrust Improve Your Position Award' in 2004 to recognize and parallel the improvement on the track to what we strive to accomplish in our business," said David Pijot of SunTrust Motorsports Banking. "It's been a popular program and we've received good feedback, so we decided to continue it this year, as well as establish a new award to include the GS and ST classes in Grand-Am Cup."

The "SunTrust Improve Your Position" contingency program awards $500 to the Daytona Prototype and GT teams that improve the most positions in each race. To be eligible for the program, cars must display a SunTrust logo decal. Any competitor assessed a penalty by Grand American will be disqualified for the award for that race, and the award will go to the highest finisher in the event of a tie.

"SunTrust continues to be a valued partner to all involved in the Grand American Road Racing Association," said Grand American President Roger Edmondson. "In addition to its status as 'Official Bank of Grand American,' programs like the 'SunTrust Improve Your Position Award' and the new 'SunTrust Challenge' makes SunTrust one of the most active sponsors in our paddock. We are obviously delighted that SunTrust has continued its support of the Rolex Series, as well as giving the Grand-Am Cup Series its own turn in the spotlight."

The Daytona Prototype team that wins the award the most times in the 2006 season will receive a $4,000 bonus and a trophy at the season-ending Champions Banquet. The season-ending winner for both the 2004 and 2005 seasons was the No. 2 Howard-Boss Motorsports Pontiac Crawford team of Andy Wallace and Milka Duno.

The "SunTrust Challenge Award" will see the top point-getters in the GS and ST classes from the four races earn $1,000 bonuses as well as a trophy. The Grand-Am Cup "SunTrust Challenge Award" winners will be honored at the Grand-Am Cup Awards Banquet.

The Grand American Road Racing Association, which operates and sanctions the Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Special Reserve and the Grand-Am Cup Series, is the premier road racing organization in North America. The 15-race 2006 Rolex Series schedule and the 10-race Grand-Am Cup calendar deliver professional sports car racing to key markets throughout North America in addition to being televised in the United States and Canada on SPEED and distributed globally through ESPN International. With title sponsorship support from Rolex Watch USA and presenting sponsorship from Crown Royal Special Reserve, the Rolex Series showcases emerging and legendary drivers from around the globe and thoroughbred racing machines from the industry's leading constructors and the world's top automobile manufacturers. Learn more about Grand American at www.grandamerican.com.

-garra-