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< Back to News Home Team Sahlen's Phoenix Promotions celebrates 25 years of Professional Racing

Posted (04/20/2009) -

Team Sahlen's Phoenix Promotions enters their 25th year of Professional Racing in 2009.   The team will be campaigning in their all familiar Red, Yellow & Black paint scheme on their ROLEX GT #42 & #43 Corvettes as well as their KONI ST #43 Mazda.    The Nonnamaker family owns and operates Phoenix Promotions out of their Canton, Ohio base.  Through the years, Phoenix Promotions has withstood the changing times of professional sports car racing.

 

Started in 1984 by brothers Bill & Phil Pate, the team entered professional sports car racing during the infancy of Street Stock Endurance Racing.  Success came surprisingly quick for Phoenix Promotions, with the team racing a VW Golf to 4 victories and the 1984 Championship.  Another championship followed in 1987. 

 

Then in 1992, Phoenix Promotions made a transitional stage as the Nonnamaker family assumed directional control of the team.  No matter what the year, no matter what the car, and no matter who the drivers are, the one constant within Phoenix Promotions is a prevailing feeling of Family atmosphere.  The team always has a cook out for the crew at night.  Nonnamaker children are never far from the race cars, either hanging out in the motorhome, or acting as Team Mascots. 

 

"Family and Family gatherings is what Sahlen's and Sahlen hot dogs is all about.  So when we looked to become involved with a team 6 years ago, it seemed like a natural decision to team up with the Nonnamaker family at Phoenix Promotions.  With Sahlen's having existed since 1969, we can relate to the dedication it takes to persevere and grow an enterprise, especially one as adventurous as racing." - states Joe Sahlen

 

"25 Years doesn't seem like much, but its amazing to look back over the years and realize how much has occurred through the years.  There are so very few Professional Sports Car Teams, such as Dyson and Penske, from the early 80's that are still even racing.  That it puts it in perspective on how challenging it is to race for these many years. Hopefully, Phoenix Promotions can make it another 25 years as well." - states Joe Nonnamaker

 

A significant Part of Phoenix Promotions' long and successful heritage has been racing with the Grand American Road Racing Series.  Since competing within Grand American, the highlights to Phoenix Promotions history came in a streak from 2001-2004.  During this period the team captured the 2001 & 2002 KONI ST championship.  And then followed that up with the 2003 & 2004 KONI GS championship.  In total, Phoenix Promotions can list as accomplishments of: 7 Driver Titels, 7 Team Titles, 10 Manufacturer Titles, 50+ victories, 150+ podiums, 35+ Pole Positions, 35+ Fastest Race Laps, and over 700 Race Entries.  

 

"Grand American's ROLEX and KONI are fantastic series to compete in.  Our team has experienced many, many different series over the years, from the SCCA Playboy, to the Escort Endurance Series, Firestone Firehawk, IMSA Endurance Challenge and Motorola Cup.  We always felt very fortunate to have a place to race and compete.  But we are so very happy to be a part of Grand American as they lead us into the future of Sports Car racing in North America." - states Will Nonnamaker

 

So if you happen to be wandering by Phoenix Promotions' Team Sahlen paddock at the next event, stop by and say hi and share your favorite story from the past 25 years with the crew.  And you never know, maybe your favorite story might just come from that Grand American race weekend.

 

Additional Phoenix Promotions Accomplishments over the past 25 Years includes:

-          Rolex GT Bob Akin Sportsman Award: 2005

-          5 Rising Star Awards: 1991, 1996, 2002, 2003, 2004

-          4 Crew Chief of the Year: 2001, 2003, 2003, 2004

-          3 Paint Scheme of the Year: 2003, 2004, 2004

-          Top Team in Grand-Am Cup Performance Index: 2004

-          Sunoco Team Manager: 1999

-          Deringer Most Improved Position: 1999

-          Most Entries in Series: 1998, 2003, 2004, 2005

-          Series Marketing Appreciation Award: 2000

-          Amateur Regional Championships and Awards:

-        1992 SCCA WOR Rookie of the Year

-        1995 SCCA NEOHIO ITE class

-        1997 SCCA NEOHIO SSA class

 

Types of Race Cars Campaigned by Class includes:

Sports Touring

-          VW Golf

-          VW Scirocco

-          VW GTI

-          VW Corrado

-          Mazda MX-6

-          Mazda 626

-          Acura Integra GSR

-          Acura Integra Type R

-          Acura Integra LS

-          Dodge SRT-4

-          Mazda RX-8

 

Grand Sports

-          Porsche 996 3.4L

-          Porsche 996 3.6L

 

GT

-          Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

-          Chevrolet Corvette C5

-          Chevrolet Corvette  C6

 

 

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