Sunshine Matters

This weekend kicks off the start of VISIT FLORIDA’s third consecutive year as a partner with Mazda and Dempsey Racing in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series.  And we’re kicking it off in a big way with two VISIT FLORIDA-themed cars competing in the 50th Anniversary of the fabled Rolex 24 At Daytona for team owner and driver Patrick Dempsey.  The two-car team includes the  No. 40 VISITFLORIDA.com/Share a Little Sunshine car and the  No. 41 FishingCapital.com/Bass 2 Billfish car.

“Dempsey Racing expanded to a two-car operation in 2010 and VISIT FLORIDA has been with us from practically the start,” said team owner and driver Patrick Dempsey, the popular television and film actor who has also raced at professional levels for the last six years. “Mazda actually first introduced us to VISIT FLORIDA, they have a very unique partnership that works so well at so many levels, and we couldn’t be happier than to grow this relationship to the next level.”

Another exciting announcement came earlier today during a press conference with GRAND-AM and VISIT FLORIDA at Daytona International Speedway to announce that VISITFLORIDA.com has been named the presenting sponsor of the inaugural North American Endurance Championship.  This special three-race competition begins with this weekend’s Rolex 24 At Daytona, followed by the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen on July 1 and concludes when the endurance championship winners will be honored on the Victory Podium at the Super Weekend at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 27.

“This inaugural championship is an exciting addition to the Rolex Series season and now we have a great presenting sponsor to make the package complete,” said GRAND-AM CEO Ed Bennett. “We obviously have a nice fit here, with VISITFLORIDA.COM. The state of Florida is home to the Rolex 24, Daytona Beach is the birthplace of GRAND-AM and our corporate headquarters – and Florida is a great tourism destination. People who visit Florida usually have one thing in common: they fall in love with it and keep coming back. The same thing applies for people who check out GRAND-AM.”

“Partnering with GRAND-AM as presenting sponsor of this new championship is a terrific way to share our passion for Florida fun with race fans around the country,” said Chris Thompson, VISIT FLORIDA President and CEO. “And I can’t think of a better way to kick it off than here at the famed World Center of Speed for the 50th Anniversary of the Rolex 24 Hours At Daytona.”

Be sure to check out the live Rolex 24 At Daytona coverage this weekend on SPEED Channel.  Coverage begins at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and picks up again at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday.  You can also watch live steaming coverage, as well as up-to-the-minute timing and scoring, during the 24 hour race online at SPEED.com.  Here are some Twitter feeds you might enjoy, too: @GoDempseyRacing, @Rolex24Hours, @RolexSeries, @SPEED, @DISupdates and, of course, @VISITFLORIDA.