Visit Florida returns to Spirit of Daytona in a big way for 2015

Daytona Beach, FL - What's in a name? A lot when you are referencing one of the best-known sponsors in the IMSA Tudor United SportsCar Championship. For the past two seasons the familiar blue and white VisitFlorida.com liveried Chevrolet Corvette C7 DP from Spirit of Daytona has proven to be one of the best in sports car racing.

Honoring the relationship with Visit Florida, team owner Troy Flis announced that Spirit of Daytona is rebranded as VisitFlorida.com Racing in 2015, a move he addressed with great enthusiasm.

"This has been a remarkable partnership," said Flis. "Visit Florida joined our team for the 2013 Rolex 24 and they have been with us for the last two seasons. We've had great success with them and are excited to rebrand our team as VisitFlorida.com Racing."

When our team switched to Chevrolet in 2012 we became perennial contenders in the DP class,

Troy Flis

In addition to their partnership with the No. 90 Corvette DP, Visit Florida also supports numerous racetracks on the IMSA Tudor United SportsCar Championship schedule.

"Visit Florida is the most active team sponsor in the series," said Flis. "They have activations at several of the venues on the schedule, and fully utilize our series as a way of promoting all of the reasons to visit the state of Florida. We're just happy to be a part of all the excellent things that Visit Florida does that benefit sports car racing in the United States."

VisitFlorida.com Racing will have Richard Westbrook and Michael Valiante behind the wheel of the No. 90 Corvette C7 DP for the full Tudor Championship with Mike Rockenfeller joining the tandem for the Rolex 24 at Daytona, Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta to conclude the season.

The same triumvirate of drivers competed together in the VisitFlorida.com Corvette last year, giving Flis added optimism in the familiarity heading into the 2015 Tudor United SportsCar Championship.

"There is a lot of excitement going into 2015," said Flis. "Having the same three guys return to the No. 90 Corvette C7 DP is a big deal for everyone on our team. We have a full understanding of what they are looking for when we get to each event this year, and following a strong season in 2014 we certainly expect to compete for the championships in 2015.

In addition to the familiarity with their three drivers, VisitFlorida.com Racing will also be entering their fifth season with Chevrolet performance, a relationship that Flis believes is key to their success.

"When our team switched to Chevrolet in 2012 we became perennial contenders in the DP class," said Flis. "I can't overstate the importance of the relationship we have with Chevrolet, ECR Engines and Pratt and Miller Engineering, they really are a key to our teams success."

The team finished third in the 2014 IMSA Tudor United SportsCar Championship standings last season after posting a victory in the Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen and four podium finishes on the year. The team finished only two events outside the top-6.

The VisitFlorida.com Racing team will be on-track at Daytona International Speedway January 9-11, 2015 for the 'Roar Before the 24'. The 2015 IMSA Tudor United SportsCar Championship official begins on January 24, 2015 with the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

Spirit of Daytona Racing