STRANA: New series STRANA's sponsor, television announced

IMSA-sanctioned STRANA slated to be sponsored by TONKA with races on ESPN2

BRASELTON, Ga. (March 20, 2003) -- The Super Truck Racing Association of North America (STRANA), which is sanctioned by the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA), announced that it has reached a preliminary agreement on principal business terms for the TONKA brand to become title sponsor of its super truck racing series.

In addition, it was announced that ESPN2 will be the series' broadcast partner for its events in 2003. The announcements were made today at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Ky., one of the largest shows of its kind in North America.

Under the proposed arrangement with TONKA, STRANA's events in 2003 would be called the "TONKA 2003 Super Truck Celebrity Challenge," and events starting in 2004 would be called the "TONKA Super Truck Racing Series."

The TONKA 2003 Super Truck Celebrity Challenge will showcase superstars of road racing competing in STRANA trucks for charity. The races will be run in support of IMSA-sanctioned American Le Mans Series events at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. (July 25-27), Mosport International Raceway near Toronto (Aug. 15-17) and Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis. (Aug. 22-24).

"Securing title sponsors in motorsports is difficult at best in today's uncertain world, and that's why this deal would be so significant," said STRANA Executive Director Brian Till. "It speaks volumes about the unique nature of our motorsports property and its value in the marketplace.

"The name TONKA has meant big, tough trucks for generations of North Americans. It's also synonymous with fun, family entertainment," Till said. "That's exactly what STRANA is all about and why this matchup would be perfect."

"STRANA is bringing some of the toughest, most powerful trucks to the U.S. and that's what the TONKA brand is all about," said Todd Rywolt, Vice-President of Marketing for Hasbro's vehicles group. "Generations of boys and their dads have played TONKA tough and together with the STRANA series, we would be able to bring them more action and excitement."

Based in suburban Columbus, Ohio, STRANA is the governing body for class-8 super truck racing in North America. Its mission is to promote super truck racing and the trucking and transportation industry. The unique racing trucks for STRANA are being built by Elan Motorsports Technologies in Braselton, Ga.

IMSA is the premier sanctioning body for road racing in North America. Since its establishment in 1969, IMSA has conducted hundreds of races on a variety of permanent and temporary racing circuits in the United States and Canada. In addition to the American Le Mans Series and STRANA, IMSA also sanctions the Panoz Racing Series and the Star Mazda Series. IMSA's headquarters are in Braselton, Ga.

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