Lowe's will sponsor Nextel Cup champion Jimmie Johnson in both of his planned Grand-Am Rolex Series outings at Daytona next season.
Johnson has already confirmed that he will join Riley-Matthews Motorsports for the Rolex 24 at Daytona next month, and will return to the team for the July Brumos Porsche 250. Jim Matthews, Marc Goossens and Ryan Hunter-Reay will be the American's co-drivers in the #91 Riley-Pontiac.
"This is going to be a lot of fun - Lowe's has been such a great sponsor in NASCAR that it's pretty cool that I can go sports car racing with them," Johnson smiled, "I wanted to do this deal for several reasons. First, I want to win the Rolex 24 at Daytona and, second, the experience will help me in road course racing. The Rolex Series is just a fun place to race."
The Riley-Matthews team will begin testing at Daytona on 4 January, giving Johnson limited preparation before making his third appearance in the Rolex Series'event after finishing second in 2005.
"One of the coolest things I have ever done in my career is watching the sun come up over the Daytona Speedway from behind the wheel of a prototype," he said, "That was such a beautiful sight and such a peaceful, cool feeling. I'm going to make sure I am in the car when the sun comes up this year."
The July race at Daytona will be held on the Thursday night before Saturday's Nextel Cup race, giving Lowe's a strong presence throughout the weekend.
Johnson has already confirmed that he will join Riley-Matthews Motorsports for the Rolex 24 at Daytona next month, and will return to the team for the July Brumos Porsche 250. Jim Matthews, Marc Goossens and Ryan Hunter-Reay will be the American's co-drivers in the #91 Riley-Pontiac.
"This is going to be a lot of fun - Lowe's has been such a great sponsor in NASCAR that it's pretty cool that I can go sports car racing with them," Johnson smiled, "I wanted to do this deal for several reasons. First, I want to win the Rolex 24 at Daytona and, second, the experience will help me in road course racing. The Rolex Series is just a fun place to race."
The Riley-Matthews team will begin testing at Daytona on 4 January, giving Johnson limited preparation before making his third appearance in the Rolex Series'event after finishing second in 2005.
"One of the coolest things I have ever done in my career is watching the sun come up over the Daytona Speedway from behind the wheel of a prototype," he said, "That was such a beautiful sight and such a peaceful, cool feeling. I'm going to make sure I am in the car when the sun comes up this year."
The July race at Daytona will be held on the Thursday night before Saturday's Nextel Cup race, giving Lowe's a strong presence throughout the weekend.