(Columbus, OH) 11 June 2008--Fans of the No. 60 Michael Shank Racing Ford Riley of Mark Patterson and Oswaldo Negri will notice a new look this weekend, as Ohio-based Westfield Insurance has re-joined the team as the primary sponsor for the EMCO Gears Classic presented by Key Bank event at Mid-Ohio during the June 20-21 race weekend.

The race partnership marks the second time that Westfield has teamed with Michael Shank in 2008, as Westfield was also the title sponsor for the season-opening Rolex 24 event, which saw the No. 60 Westfield Insurance machine take a record-setting pole position on the way to a fighting ninth place overall finish.

While the Ohio connection is a prominent one between Columbus-based Michael Shank Racing and Westfield Insurance, another link that the two share is a passion for performance.

“We are excited to have a partnership with a professional organization like Mike Shank’s race team,” said Westfield Insurance Chief Operating Officer Roger McManus. “Knowledge and a promise of protection are two important qualities that our customers expect from us when it comes to protecting their families and belongings, and obviously they are important factors for race teams as well!”

Westfield is growing its marketing presence to reach new customers, and has engaged Mid-Ohio in that effort, serving as the presenting sponsor for the IRL event at the track, and also signing on as the “Official Insurance of the Mid-Ohio School.” The Westfield Insurance Ford-Riley will be making a number of in-market appearances in the lead-up to the Rolex event at Mid-Ohio, including a stop at Westfield’s corporate offices in Westfield Center, Ohio.

“Our involvement with Mid-Ohio has been very successful, and we are proud to be part of Michael Shank Racing’s effort this weekend,” continued McManus. “We hope to make this partnership a success on and off the track!”

With over $3.4 billion in consolidated assets, Ohio-based Westfield Insurance provides personal and commercial insurance, and surety services to customers in 28 states. As one of the nation’s 50 largest property and casualty insurance groups, Westfield Insurance dates back to 1848 and its beginnings as Ohio Farmers Insurance Company. Today the company operates via a network of 1,200 independent agents. They have been recognized as one of the 10-Best employers in Ohio in addition to winning awards from the National Association for Employee Recognition Best Practices Award and winner of the 2007 ACORD Innovative Implementation award and the External Integration Business Value award, among others.

Based in Columbus, Ohio, Michael Shank Racing (MSR) was formed in 1989 when Michael Shank first began driving racing cars professionally. The nucleus of the team was formed during races at Mid-Ohio before Shank retired from the cockpit in 1997 to focus his efforts on running the team. With several race wins under his belt, Shank was named as Team Owner of the Year twice in four years. MSR joined the Rolex ranks in 2004. MSR scored a debut Rolex Series win in 2006 and fans selected the victory as the 2007 Rolex “Moment of the Year”.

“We were proud to carry the Westfield name on our cars in the Rolex 24 earlier this year and tremendously happy with the performance we showed,” said team owner Mike Shank. “We have been working to build on that start to be in a competitive position in the championship heading to our home race. We’d love nothing more than to score another podium result this year carrying Westfield with us on the car. Mid-Ohio is where this team first got started and we will have tons of friends and family here with us this weekend, so it would be extra special to take a trophy home for Westfield and everyone who is going to be out at the track rooting us on!"

Contact:
Matt Cleary, Sunday Group Management, 317.908.2975, media@sundaymanagement.com

Terri Grimm, Westfield Insurance, 330.887.0515, TerriGrimm@westfieldgrp.com