Motorsports
USF2000 Series Names Cooper Tire Official Tire and Presenting Sponsor
FINDLAY, OHIO, NOVEMBER 13, 2009 - COOPER TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY (NYSE:CTB) — Just three weeks after the announcement of the revival of the USF2000 National Championship, the Indy Racing League-sanctioned series has its first sponsor.
Dan Andersen, chief executive officer of the series, announced today that Cooper Tire & Rubber Company will be its presenting sponsor and exclusive tire supplier for the next four years.
Cooper will provide slick and rain tires co-branded COOPER/F2000 for the series' entrants. A minimum of three sets will be available for purchase per car at each event, and a minimum of four sets of tires per car will be available at official test dates. Cooper will provide trackside mounting service and tire engineering support at each race and test.
The company will also present the winner of each race's pole position with $500, which will be called the "Cooper Tires, Don't Give Up a Thing Award."
"Cooper Tire is proud to be the official tire of the USF2000 National Championship," said Chris Pantani, director of motorsports for Cooper Tire. "We are excited to be associated with Dan Andersen and to help him realize his vision of re-creating the F2000 entry level open-wheel racing series which has been such a vital step in the careers of so many young racing talents. We're sure the series will serve many other young racers to come, and we're pleased to be able to help these drivers realize their dreams."
"I am very pleased to have this opportunity to renew a relationship with Cooper Tire as part of the revival of what was last known as the Cooper Tire F2000 series," said Andersen. "They were an excellent partner back then, and I know from experience the high quality of the products they supply as well as the superb service and the totally professional marketing and promotion efforts they put forth. It will be an exciting series with Cooper Tire on our side."
The USF2000 National Championship's Web site is under development at usf2000.com.
About Cooper Tire & Rubber Company
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company is a global company that specializes in the design, manufacture, marketing and sales of passenger car and light truck tires and subsidiaries that specialize in medium truck, motorcycle and racing tires. With headquarters in Findlay, Ohio, Cooper Tire has manufacturing, sales, distribution, technical and design facilities within its family of companies located in 10 countries around the world. For more information, visit Cooper Tire's web site at: www.coopertire.com.
Company Contact: Michelle Zeisloft, 419-424-4251