Highway To Help: Philanthropic Spinoff Of Brian Johnson Driving Role At Daytona To Benefit Battle Against Pediatric Cancer

AC/DC Lead Singer Announces Unique Partnership With Austin Hatcher Foundation

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 5, 2011) – Chattanooga, Tenn.-based Fifty Plus Racing, in tandem with Predator Performance and Alegra Motorsports, announced tonight a unique partnership with the Austin Hatcher Foundation, allowing fans the opportunity to donate money to help children with pediatric cancer throughout the 50th anniversary running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, Jan. 28-29 at Daytona International Speedway.

The aptly titled “Highway to Help” program will be driven by AC/DC lead singer Brian Johnson, who will make his Rolex Series debut in January alongside Byron DeFoor, former Rolex 24 overall winners Elliott Forbes-Robinson and Jim Pace, and former Rolex 24 class winner Carlos DeQuesada.

Throughout the race, fans can text “ACDC” to 501501 to donate $10 to the Austin Hatcher Foundation. In addition there will be a 24-hour “radioathon” throughout the event with two PSAs every hour and a live DJ promoting the event. The goal is to raise $1 million for families affected by pediatric cancer.

“This is real, this is going to happen, and we’re all happy to have the opportunity to do this,” said Johnson at the Saturday night announcement. “AC/DC fans all over the world are now rooting for the Austin Hatcher Foundation.

Texts to the “Highway to Help” campaign will be $10, but fans can also contribute by going towww.hatcherfoundation.org/highwaytohelp.

Johnson has been the front man and lead singer for powerhouse rock band AC/DC since 1980. The band’s first album with him as lead singer, “Back in Black,” became the best-selling album by any band, selling 22 million albums in the United States and 49 million worldwide.

DeFoor, a Chattanooga, Tenn., businessman, owns and races numerous high-horsepower Can-Am race cars and BMW GT cars.

The Fifth Plus team will compete with the No. 50 Dinan-prepared BMW/Riley and will take part in a Nov. 16-17 test session at Daytona International Speedway. Johnson does as many Historic Sportscar Racing events as his touring schedule allows, racing a Royale RP4 and a Can-Am Lola among other vintage cars.

“Everywhere you look in GRAND-AM right now there’s excitement and anticipation for the 2012 season and beyond,” said GRAND-AM Managing Director of Communications Herb Branham. “This latest entry into the Daytona Prototype ranks is an important component to that excitement. The involvement of an international entertainment star like Brian Johnson speaks volumes about GRAND-AM’s growth and stature.”

In addition to its Rolex 24 entry, Fifty Plus Racing expects to compete in GRAND-AM’s possible three-race endurance competition also featuring the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen and the new three-hour event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“We’re committed to running in all three events,” said Johnson. “If we have to cancel something or move something, we will.”

Forbes-Robinson – better known as “EFR” – scored overall victories in the Rolex 24 with Dyson Racing in 1997 and 1999, and won the SR class for the team in 2000. His 22 starts in the Rolex 24 include finishing fifth in the 1977 classic, co-driving a Ferrari 365 Daytona with Paul Newman. He has four Rolex Series victories, including three Daytona Prototype triumphs co-driving with Butch Leitzinger in 2004 and 2005.

Pace shared the overall victory with Wayne Taylor and Scott Sharp in 1996. The 13-time Rolex 24 competitor also won the GTU class in his first outing, running in Peter Uria’s Mazda RX-7 in 1990.

DeQuesada won GT honors in the 2007 Rolex 24, sharing the Alegra Motorsports/Fiorano Racing Porsche GT3 with Scooter Gabel, Jean-Francois Dumoulin and Marc Basseng.