#15 Playboy/Palms Ford Mustang GT Cup Car

January 31st, 2006 by CobraMatt

TCR, the agency of record for Playboy Racing, and Playboy Enterprises announced a multi-partner, multi-car deal for 2006-2008 Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Special Reserve and the Grand-Am Cup Series. The six car effort will include three Rolex Series Daytona Prototypes and three Grand-Am Cup cars which will debut at the 2006 Rolex 24 At Daytona and will run through the conclusion of the 2008 season.

TCR announced a world class partnership which includes Playboy Enterprises, Uniden Electronics, The Palms Resort & Casino and Vonage. The Ford-powered Crawford Daytona Prototype and Ford Mustang GT Cup entries will be operated by Finlay Motorsports located in
Mooresville, NC. The two Pontiac-powered Rileys will be run by the Oxnard, CA-based Pacific Coast Motorsports operation and Unitech Racing in Rosamond, CA will enter two Playboy Nissan 350Z Grand-Am Cup cars.

The #19 Playboy/Uniden/Palms Ford Crawford Daytona Prototype will be piloted by Memo Gidley and Michael McDowell, with IndyCar driver Alex Barron joining them for the season premiere Rolex 24 At Daytona. Playboy, Vonage and The Palms will support the #89 Pontiac Riley Daytona Prototype entry, which will be driven by Alex Figge and Ryan Dalziel. They will be complemented by Jon Fogarty and 2005 Grand-Am Cup Champion David Empringham for the Rolex 24 At Daytona event.

The #15 Playboy/Palms Ford Mustang GT Grand-Am Cup car will be driven by Rob Finlay and Michael McDowell. The # 35 Playboy Nissan 350Z will be driven by Tommy Constantine and Mike Borkowski and the # 33 Playboy Nissan 350Z will be driven by Blake Rosser and David Murry in the Grand-Am Cup Series.

Beginning just after the Rolex 24 in late January, Playboy, the Palms and a yet to be named cosponsor will be sponsoring a third Daytona Prototype entry. The #53 Playboy Pontiac Riley will be driven by Tommy Constantine and a yet to be named co-driver for the remainder of the 2006 season and beyond.

The program will include exclusive Event Hospitality and Entertainment venues with guest appearances by Playboy Playmates at each of the races and at Playboy-sponsored VIP “After Race” events. There will also be a Palms-sponsored year-end bash at the Palms Resort & Casino in Las Vegas at the end of the racing season.

“We are thrilled to announce this partnership with TCR and to enter the exciting world of auto racing,” said Lisa Natale, SVP of Corporate Marketing for Playboy. “Both Playboy fans and racing fans are enthusiastic and passionate so we view this partnership as a perfect branding opportunity for us. We are looking forward to the season and to working with TCR to ensure all divisions of Playboy Enterprises can participate in this tremendous program.”

“Playboy, in its 50 year history, has never participated in professional auto racing at this level,” said TCR CEO Tommy Constantine. “Our partnership is a testament to this racing series and our program. The Playboy brand is an American Icon and we are proud to be a part of it.”