Tom Gloy Racing returns with Simo and rookie driver

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (January 3, 2001) -- One of the most respected and winning teams in Trans-Am racing announced it will return to the series for 2001. Tom Gloy Racing will field two entries for the new season with the 2000 Trans-Am Champion Brian Simo of Carlsbad, Calif. and Jim Matthews of Chapel Hill, N.C.

Tom Gloy Racing has entered Qvale Mangusta's with Ford power. Tommy Bahama's Cafe and Emporium's is returning as the sponsor for the Simo entry. The purveyor of island lifestyles will be the primary sponsor, with associate sponsorship from Valvoline.

Team Manager Bill Fingerlow will once again work with Gloy. Together, these racing veterans have been a winning combination for eight years. The cars will be prepared at Tom Gloy Racing in Mooresville, N.C.

"We are looking forward to returning to the Trans-Am series," said Gloy. "We see this series on a major upswing and are looking forward to becoming part of it. We are excited about our driver lineup, with Brian as the defending Drivers' Champion and Jim as a new driver to the series."

"I'm happy to be back racing with Tom Gloy," said Simo. "He's a fierce competitor and has very high expectations, which are qualities you want in a team owner. It's also terrific to bring our two key sponsors together. We developed an exciting relationship with Tommy Bahama last year, and I look forward to doing more with them in 2001. And, of course, it's great to be back with Valvoline, which has such a powerful heritage in racing."

"I am looking forward to racing in the 2001 Trans-Am Series," said Matthews. "I am also excited to be part of the Tom Gloy Racing Team and to be Brian's teammate."

The team will compete in the 11-race Trans-Am Series, which begins March 16, 2001 in Sebring, Fla. Gloy last competed in Trans-Am in 1997 with Simo, Dorsey Schroeder and Mike Borkowski. The team also competed in the NASCAR Truck Series for 1997, 1998 and 1999. Gloy is returning to many venues he won as the 1984 Trans-Am Drivers' Champion and 1979 North American Formula Atlantic Drivers Champion. His team has campaigned winning Trans-Am drivers such as Boris Said, Walter Payton, Ron Fellows, Bruce Jenner and Paul Newman.

Gloy also raced on these circuits in International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) and Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) series.