12-1-2006 - Colin on Grand Am web site front page

Memorable 2006 Rolex Series Season Garners Host of SPEED Performance Award Nominations

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (December 1, 2006) -- The 2006 Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Special Reserve season was chock full of memorable moments. Now, motorsports fans worldwide can preserve the memories forever, as voting for the annual SPEED Performance Awards is now open, with many categories including nominations from this past Rolex Series season.

One of the headline awards this season is the RACER magazine 'Rookie of the Year' award, recognizing the young pilots in the motorsports world that made indelible marks in their respective racing disciplines.

Colin Braun, who finished fourth in the final Daytona Prototype driver standings, is nominated for the award after a breakout season in 2006. Scoring back-to-back wins at Daytona International Speedway in June and Barber Motorsports Park as a 17-year-old in July in the No. 76 Krohn Racing Ford Riley, including his first career pole at Barber, the young Texan also helped co-driver Jörg Bergmeister capture the driver's championship.

Braun is up for the award against the IRL's Marco Andretti, ChampCar's Dan Clarke, USAC's Bryan Clausen, NASCAR's Denny Hamlin and F1's Robert Kubica.

Also nominated, under the "Biggest Hit" category, is Joey Hand, for his spectacular crash in the No. 21 Matt Connolly Motorsports BMW M3 in the EMCO Gears Classic presented by KeyBank at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in June. Hand was relatively unhurt in the incident, although his No. 21 machine flipped nose-over-tail numerous times before coming to rest on its roof along the back straightaway.

A third Rolex Series moment that earned a nomination, under the "Temper, Temper" category, was the altercation between JC France and Chris Bingham in the Mexico City 250 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in March.

There are a total of nine fan-vote categories for the 2005 SPEED Performance Awards, which will be unveiled at the SPEED Performance Awards show, February 11, 2007 at 8:00 p.m. ET. The show will conclude with the presentation of the Mario Andretti Trophy to the inaugural SPEED Performer of the Year.

SPEED will carry full coverage of the event. Fans can vote now for most categories at www.SPEEDtv.com.