Westbrook and Crown Royal/NPN/Level 5 Racing Drives to Podium Finish in Rolex 24 at Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The Crown Royal/New Performance Nutrition Racing team, led by team owner and starting driver Scott Tucker, secured a solid third-place podium finish in the 48th edition of the grueling Rolex 24 At Daytona, to successfully kick off the 2010 GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 season.

Tucker started the race in extreme conditions - a heavy downpour - and Ryan Hunter-Reay finished the round-the-clock event in the No. 95 Crown Royal/NPN Level 5 Motorsports BMW Riley, giving the team its second-ever visit to the podium. Its first came at Watkins Glen International in the Crown Royal 200 in August 2009.

Level 5 Motorsports’ other car, the No. 55 Crown Royal/NPN BMW Riley co-driven by Tucker, came home ninth in DP competition. Tucker is the only driver in the illustrious history of the Rolex 24 At Daytona to race two different Daytona Prototypes during the endurance event.

The third-place finish at Daytona finish pleased Crown Royal executives.
“A podium finish in an epic sports car endurance race like the Rolex 24 at Daytona is certainly a moment worthy of toasting responsibly with Crown Royal,” said Rob Mason, Senior Brand Manager for Crown Royal. “We congratulate Scott Tucker and the entire team on a stellar performance to start the season.”

Only the second appearance for Level 5 Motorsports in Daytona Prototype competition, the Rolex 24 podium put the No. 95 team in third place overall in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series standings heading to Homestead-Miami Speedway in March.

Tucker, Christophe Bouchut, Hunter-Reay, Lucas Luhr and Richard Westbrook celebrated their podium finish in Victory Lane at Daytona International Speedway, the “World Center of Racing,” Sunday afternoon

“I am tremendously proud of the effort put forth by this Crown Royal/NPN Level 5 Motorsports team,” Tucker said. “I’ve really got to take my hat off to all of the guys — Ryan and all of the rest of the drivers did a fantastic job, as did the team and the organization. The competition here at Daytona is so tough. I’m really proud of everybody and all the work that they’ve done.”
Bouchut, Tucker’s regular teammate during the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series season, relished the podium finish for the Crown Royal/NPN Level 5 Motorsports team.

“This was certainly a very good start to the season for this team,” Bouchut said. “I’m very happy for the team.”