TRG announces new partner 2010-04-21

TRG, AXA and Brent Koch Form Motorsports Alliance

Petaluma, CA (April 21, 2010) - In one of the biggest sponsorship and partnership announcements in professional sportscar racing this year,AXA Financial and Brent Koch have chosen TRG to partner in a new program together. Following the team's absence from the previous Grand-Am round at Barber Motorsports Park, TRG and AXA will return to this weekend's festivities at Virginia International Raceway, with a bigger announcement to come very soon.

Committed to the future and health of both the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask no. 16 as well as the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, TRG team will campaign in both categories with AXA and Brent Koch of Wealth Management Strategies. With a number of rules changes and equities allowed for Porsche's in both categories, the team is firmly focused on the top step of the podium.

AXA Daytona AXA Financial is a leader in financial protection strategies and wealth management, supporting individual and business clients. The organization and Brent Koch of Wealth Management Strategies have long been supporters of TRG, as evidenced in their partnership throughout much of the 2009 season, and now in 2010. TRG and its multiple operations have created a new paradigm for how business can be done and effective sponsorships generated--all around motorsports. AXA and Brent Koch will use Grand-Am and motorsports as a business platform to network with large corporations, small businesses, high net-worth individuals as well as conducting effective business-to-business programs. Their new state-of-the-art facility, in the planning phases at the New Jersey Motorsports Park, will bring much of this new cutting edge motorsports business development all together under one roof and to further add to TRG's ability to DELIVER for it's sponsors and partners.

Team photo Barber For Team Owner Kevin Buckler, the commitment to such a strong partner, as well as such a strong driver lineup, is a welcome addition to the future of TRG.

"AXA is a fantastic global organization and one of the leaders in its field," Buckler said. "AXA and Brent Koch of Wealth Management Strategies re-define the standard of a true partner in our new motorsports business model. Grand-Am provides a terrific platform for AXA to introduce their superior financial programs, as well as look for opportunities to forge new business to business relationships and gain market share. I'm proud that they've partnered with TRG in this new cutting edge program and we will work very well together to help accomplish our mutual goals."

The No. 66 AXA Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car will be driven by Ted Ballou and Andy Lally in the Rolex GT race for this weekend's event. Driving in his 100th start in the series, Lally is looking to turn his season around thanks to the new rules package. Ballou, who earned his first professional win with Lally, is looking forward to the future.

"It's great to be back in Grand-Am," stated Ballou. "TRG has always given me such strong support both on and off the track and it's great to finally have the opportunity to go out and win again. Kevin Buckler, AXA and Brent Koch have an opportunity here to really re-write the rules of sponsorship through their new motorsports program and to lay the groundwork for others to follow. I am really glad to be part of this exciting opportunity and I want to thank everyone involved."

Champagne Barber "The 100th start really kind of crept up on me," Lally said. "I am really looking forward to VIR, especially with the rules break we have for the Porsche. The slightly increased torque range is closer to what the V-8s have out there. With the weight we lost and the pounds that Mazda gained, I hope our acceleration will help us to get off of the corners a lot better. The car being a little lower should help us with tire life. Our biggest focus is to keep the tires under the car while being able to do a race distance pressing as hard as the competition without worrying about burning the rubber off. I am cautiously optimistic that Ted and I will be able to put together a fast car. We will have to keep our nose clean and have a fast race to make it on the podium."

Beyond the Rolex Series, Ballou will be pulling double duty by uniting with Spencer Pumpelly for the Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, driving the no. 41 AXA Porsche GT3. Also running with a new rules package, Spencer Pumpelly is blindingly fast at VIR and always a threat to win.

"VIR is one of my favorite tracks, and I've always had a lot of luck there," stated Pumpelly, who grew up in Virginia. "AXA and Brent Koch have been a big part of my career the last two years, and I thank their support of myself and TRG."

For Brent Koch, Principal of Wealth Management Strategies, LLC, the opportunity to bring AXA into sportscar racing and field programs for their financial services has been a fantastic opportunity. We've enjoyed an incredible two years together and I look forward to some much bigger programs we have coming in the future. TRG has created a great platform for us to further our business development, and I really hope to see the AXA 66 and 41 on the top step of the podium this weekend."

-source: trg