Second Classic 24 Hour At Daytona, Presented by IMSA Set For Nov. 12-15, 2015
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (June 27, 2014) – Many venues that host International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) events, such as Watkins Glen International, site of this Sunday’s Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen, are steeped in tradition and motorsports history.
In fact, racing in the Watkins Glen area dates all the way back to 1948, when races took place on a combination of country roads and streets in the small town in New York’s Finger Lakes region before the facility we now know as Watkins Glen International hosted its first event in 1957.
Daytona International Speedway is another venue with a long sports car racing history, dating all the way back to 1962. IMSA’s history goes back to 1969, but it wasn’t until 1971 that the organization began sanctioning sports car races.
So, why the history lesson? Because IMSA is taking another step in embracing its rich history in announcing today a new strategic alliance with Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) that makes IMSA the presenting sponsor of HSR’s Classic 24 Hour At Daytona.
The second Classic 24 Hour At Daytona, presented by IMSA, is scheduled for Nov. 12-15, 2015. The event debuted in 2014 at Daytona International Speedway.
“What we saw when we walked around the garage at the first Classic 24 Hour At Daytona last fall was many, many classic sports cars carrying the original IMSA logo,” said IMSA President Scott Atherton. “In some cases, these cars were being fielded by teams that compete regularly in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship or other IMSA-sanctioned series, or were being driven by current or former IMSA drivers. There’s a natural connection between our two organizations that we could not pass up.”
As part of the alliance, IMSA will activate its marketing resources for the HSR Classic 24 Hour At Daytona, presented by IMSA in the month leading up to the event. As the event draws near, the IMSA.com website also will include “Throwback Thursday” features on prominent past IMSA race cars expected to compete in the event, as well as other featured content on participating cars and drivers.
“It is an absolute honor and privilege for HSR to have IMSA involved in this exciting new event,” said HSR President David Hinton. “The Classic 24 Hour is a rolling museum of the last 40 years of not only the 24-hour race at Daytona International Speedway, but IMSA history also. We look forward to welcoming back cars, drivers and race fans of the past and the present once again this November.”
Next up for IMSA and the TUDOR Championship is the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen on Sunday, June 28. The race will be televised live on FOX Sports 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET, followed by live coverage on FOX Sports 2 from 2 to 4:30 p.m. ET.
ABOUT HSR
HSR was formed in the mid-’70s with an event at Road Atlanta. There was one goal then and it remains true today: to celebrate the race cars from our past. As a “time machine” of sights and sounds, HSR provides a venue for competitors and spectators alike to share in the wonderful history and excitement created by the cars that competed at race tracks around the world. HSR currently sanctions seven vintage and historic racing events at some of the world’s most renowned race tracks, including Road Atlanta, Sebring International Raceway, Daytona International Speedway, and the Grand Prix of the Americas. The complete schedule and full event information can be found on HSR’s website, the Classic 24 Hour has a dedicated website www.classic24hour.com, please visit our Facebook, Twitter – @HSR_race and @HSRClassic24 – and YouTube pages for additional information.
ABOUT IMSA
The International Motor Sports Association, LLC (IMSA) was originally founded in 1969 with a long and rich history in sports car racing. Today, IMSA is the sanctioning body of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, the premier sports car racing series in North America. IMSA also sanctions the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge and the Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda, as well as four single-make series: Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama; Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin; Ferrari Challenge North America; and Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America. IMSA – a company within the NASCAR Holdings group – is the exclusive strategic partner in North America with the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) which operates the 24 Hours of Le Mans as a part of the FIA World Endurance Championship. The partnership enables selected TUDOR Championship competitors to earn automatic entries into the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans.
HSR Contact:
(727) 573-1340
registrar@hsrrace.com
IMSA Contact:
Nate Siebens
Senior Manager, IMSA Communications
(386) 310-6568
nsiebens@imsa.com
James Redman
General Manager
Historic Sportscar Racing
Direct: 772-713-7322
JRedman@HSRrace.com
