Racing all-stars to compete in Daytona 24

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (January 28, 2004) -- When the top drivers from around the world rev up their engines for the Rolex 24 At Daytona this weekend, fans may notice names in the starting lineup they are accustomed to seeing in different series. This year's race will have drivers from nearly every discipline in racing competing to add a win in the historic race to their resume.

Drivers from the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, Busch Grand National Series and Craftsman Truck Series, as well as Formula One and IRL IndyCar Series will compete in the grueling 24-hour race.

NEXTEL Cup drivers Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt Jr. will team with three-time Rolex 24 At Daytona winner Andy Wallace in the Howard-Boss Motorsports No. 2 Citgo Chevrolet Crawford.

In the other Howard-Boss entry will be Jimmie Johnson along with three-time Rolex 24 At Daytona winner Butch Leitzinger, two-time winner Elliot Forbes-Robinson and David Brule. Robby Gordon will also be at the wheel of the Spirit of Daytona No. 09 Pontiac Crawford with Doug Goad and former IRL IndyCar Series driver Stephan Gregoire.

Kyle Petty will drive with Academy Award-winning actor Paul Newman, Gunnar Jeannette and Michael Brockman in the Gunnar Racing No. 45 Disney/Pixar Cars Porsche Fabcar.

Christian Fittipaldi will join 2003 Rolex Series Daytona Prototype champion Terry Borcheller, Forest Barber and Andy Pilgrim in the Bell Motorsports No. 54 Pontiac Doran, while Boris Said, who will make his first Budweiser Shootout appearance at SpeedWeeks 2004, will race the Prototype Technology Group No. 21 BMW M3 along with Bill Auberlen, Justin Marks and Joey Hand.

Former open-wheel racer Max Papis, who has competed in the IRL IndyCar Series, CART and Formula One, will join Scott Pruett, a two time SCCA Trans-Am champion, in the Chip Ganassi Racing No. 01 Lexus Riley.

Arie Luyendyk Jr. will drive the Mears Motorcoach/SpeedSource No. 9 Ford Multimatic along with Paul Mears Jr., Mike Borkowski and Nick Ham. Luyendyk Jr., the son of two-time Indy 500 winner Arie Luyendyk, is an accomplished Infiniti Pro Series racer, finishing second in the 2002 series championship.

Former IRL champion Scott Sharp will partner with five-time Rolex 24 winner Hurley Haywood, JC France and 2003 Rolex Series GTS champion Tommy Riggins in the Brumos Racing No. 59 Porsche Fabcar. Factory Porsche drivers Sascha Maasseen and Lucas Luhr will join David Donohue and Darren Law in the Red Bull/Brumos Racing No. 58 Porsche Fabcar.

Other international sports car drivers slated to run in the 2004 Rolex 24 At Daytona include Fabio Spatafora, two-time Rolex 24 At Daytona winner Jan Lammers, Marc Gooseens, Ralf Kelleners, Robin Liddell and Johnny Mowlem.

Tickets for the 42nd Rolex 24 At Daytona are currently on sale and available online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling the Speedway ticket office at 386-253-RACE.

Additional information about the Rolex 24 At Daytona and the Rolex Sports Car Series is available online at www.grandamerican.com.

-garra-