No. 24 Robert Graham Special Unveiled Today for 99th Indianapolis 500 with Driver Townsend Bell

No. 24 Robert Graham Special Unveiled Today for 99th Indianapolis 500 with Driver Townsend Bell

Topics: Townsend Bell, Indianapolis 500

No. 24 Robert Graham Special Unveiled Today for 99th Indianapolis 500 with Driver Townsend Bell

Tom Blattler
Dreyer & Reinbold
Kingdom Racing
May 8, 2015

For Immediate Release

“Unique Look” of Chevy Machine Latest in Long Line of Dreyer & Reinbold Family Cars

INDIANAPOLIS (May 8, 2015) – Dreyer & Reinbold - Kingdom Racing today unveiled its latest race car at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the 99th running of the Indianapolis 500 set on Sunday, May 24, 2015.

The “Unique Look” of the No. 24 Robert Graham Special fits perfectly with luxury clothing brand from New York City as veteran driver Townsend Bell will make his ninth start in the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” in the Chevrolet-powered Dallara DW12 machine.

Bell, 40, has shown outstanding speed during his racing career at the “World’s Great Racing Facility” including running second in the 2014 Indy 500 with just 15 laps remaining before a rear suspension part failed. Bell’s best finish at Indy is fourth in 2009.

This latest Indy 500 version of the Dreyer & Reinbold family machinery continues a great legacy that dates back to 1927 when the legendary Floyd “Pop” Dreyer, Dennis Reinbold’s grandfather, served as a mechanic and crewman in the Benny Shoaff/Babe Stapp-driven Duesenberg. Dreyer, a factory motorcycle racer in 1920s, later became a renowned race car builder including constructing bodies for the three cars on the front row of the 1931 Indy 500 as well as many series and race-winning sprint cars and midgets.

Today, both the 2015 No. 24 Robert Graham Special and the 1938 AAA Eastern Championship-winning “Pop” Dreyer sprint car driven by Duke Nalon were displayed side-by-side to provide the heritage of the Dreyer & Reinbold family racing history over the decades.

“I am very proud and excited to unveil our family’s latest entry in the Indianapolis 500,” said Reinbold, who entered his first 500 as a car owner in 1999. “Our No. 24 Robert Graham Special has one of the most unique paint schemes in the 2015 field and I am pleased that we can show my grandfather’s championship-winning car next to our newest model. In addition to be a great-looking race car, we believe it will be fast for Townsend on May 24 too.”

“Robert Graham is a luxury clothing line and a great partner with the Dreyer & Reinbold – Kingdom team,” said Bell, the 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring champion. “Robert Graham styling fits right in with the essence of the Indy 500. The Robert Graham Special will once again sport a very distinctive look at IMS this May.”

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In addition, the Robert Graham Special will salute NASCAR legend and Indiana favorite Jeff Gordon in his final full-season in motorsports. The 24 script on Bell’s Indy 500 mount will match the No. 24 of Gordon’s Chevrolet race car.

“We felt it was appropriate to salute Jeff’s tremendous career at the Brickyard by running the number he’s made so famous,” said Bell. “Today’s unveiling is a tribute to Jeff during May that the fans will enjoy.”

In addition to the No. 24 script matching Gordon’s NASCAR Chevrolet, Bell also developed a photo montage of Jeff’s five Brickyard 400 victories for his race car’s cockpit.

On May 24, Gordon will drive the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Pace Car for the 99th Indianapolis 500.

“I want to thank Townsend, Dennis and the Dreyer & Reinbold – Kingdom team for their salute to my success at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in this year’s Indy 500,” said Gordon, the first Brickyard 400 winner in 1994. “While I have had great success at The Brickyard as a NASCAR driver, the Indy 500 has always been a special event for me and this year’s race presents a very cool, unique opportunity – one that I will surely never forget. I cannot wait to lead Townsend and the other competitors to the green flag on May 24 in the Chevrolet Corvette Z06."

Bell and the No. 24 Robert Graham Special will run their first official 2015 Indy 500 laps Monday, May 11, in practice with qualifications set for Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17. The famed 500-mile classic will start at 12:15 p.m. EDT on Sunday, May 24.

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Contact: Tom Blattler, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, 317-525-5692

About Townsend Bell: Townsend Bell was the Indy Lights Rookie of the Year and championship runner-up in 2000. The following year he captured the Indy Lights title. He also made his Champ Car debut in 2001 contesting two races for Patrick Racing with a best showing of 12th at Rockingham, England. In 2002, Bell made nine starts for Patrick Racing with a best finish of fourth in Portland. Heading overseas in 2003, he competed in the FIA Formula 3000 Championship placing ninth in the standings with a best showing of third at Hungary. He also tested for BAR-Honda and the Jaguar Formula One teams in 2003. Bell made his IndyCar debut in 2004 competing in 10 events for Panther Racing recording five top-10 finishes including an IndyCar career high of fifth at Nashville in his second start. He made one IndyCar start in 2005 competing at Michigan for Panther, made the one start at Indy in 2006 and did not compete in 2007. Bell made seven starts in 2008 with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing with a best finish of eighth in Richmond. He has only contested seven IndyCar events since 2009 running the Indy 500 six times and contesting one race at Kentucky Speedway, but has been a consistent competitor in the American Le Mans Series and now the United SportsCar Championship. He won the 12 Hours of Sebring in 2012. In 2014, won the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2014 (GTB class) and won the Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup with AIM Autosport. He currently competes full-time in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship’s GT Daytona class with Scuderia Corsa in a Ferrari 458 Italia GT3. He is also a color commentator for NBCSN’s IndyCar broadcasts.

About Dreyer & Reinbold Racing: Dreyer & Reinbold Racing was founded in 2000 by Indianapolis car dealer Dennis Reinbold andthe legacy of the Dreyer-Reinbold family dates back to the 1920s with Reinbold’s grandfather, the legendary Floyd “Pop” Dreyer, a former factory motorcycle racer. Dreyer served as a crewman and mechanic on the famed Duesenberg driven by Benny Shoaff and Babe Stapp in the 1927 Indy 500. Dreyer went on to build Indy 500 cars in the 1930s which many started on the front row. In addition, Dreyer constructed championship-winning sprint cars and midgets as well as kid cars. Dreyer & Reinbold Racing captured its first win in 2000 with driver Robbie Buhl at Walt Disney World Speedway in Orlando, Fla., and has fielded a variety of drivers including Buhl, Buddy Lazier, Sarah Fisher, Buddy Rice, Ryan Briscoe, Al Unser Jr., Townsend Bell and, most recently, Sage Karam in the 2014 Indy 500. Dreyer & Reinbold Racing will field Bell in the 2015 Indy 500 with the No. 24 Robert Graham Special.

About Kingdom Racing: Kingdom Racing is a race and ministry team, also will serve as joint entrant of the Robert Graham Special in this year’s Indy 500. Kingdom has competed in the IndyCar series since 2008, including seven Indy 500 races with a mission is to Deliver God’s Word through Motorsports.