MAZDA MOTORSPORTS EXPANDS PR TEAM

December 23, 2014 by Mazda

- Jade Gurss Joins Mazda Motorsports Program –

IRVINE, Calif. (December 23, 2014) – Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today announced the addition of Jade Gurss to its PR team. Gurss will be responsible for all communications related to the Mazda SKYACTIV Prototype program competing in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship. Gurss will work with Dean Case, who will focus on all other Mazda Motorsports Programs.

John Doonan, director of motorsports, MNAO noted, 'We're happy to announce the addition of Jade Gurss to the Mazda Motorsports team. This will be value-added for our media contacts as Jade will be 100 percent focused on our SKYACTIV Prototype program, allowing Dean Case to work much closer with our partners at the Mazda Road to Indy, Mazda MX-5 Cup, and on our grassroots programs. Jade has tremendous experience and we look forward to him joining the team at the 'Roar Before the 24' in just a couple of weeks.'

Gurss brings more than 25 years of motorsports experience with him. He founded fingerprint inc., a sports publicity company, in 1999 to direct media and public relations for clients such as Anheuser-Busch and the Budweiser NASCAR program with driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. Gurss also has served as director of communications for Andretti Autosport and Andretti Sports Marketing.

Prior to forming fingerprint inc., Gurss was in charge of marketing and publicity for Ilmor Engineering, then the race-engine design and manufacturing arm of Mercedes-Benz, and managed sports publicity for Mercedes-Benz USA while at the Cotter Group agency. His earliest role in motorsports was director of publicity at Heartland Park Topeka, a track that hosted national events with sanctioning bodies such as IMSA, SCCA, NHRA, AMA and more.

As an author, Gurss has penned two The New York Times best-sellers ('Driver #8' with Dale Earnhardt Jr., and 'DW: A Lifetime Going Around in Circles' with Darrell Waltrip). His most recent work is the critically acclaimed book, 'Beast', which details the top-secret engine built by Penske Racing and Ilmor Engineering that dominated the 1994 Indianapolis 500.

A resident of Charlotte, N.C. and native of Topeka, Kan., Gurss holds a broadcast communications degree from Washburn University, and a technical degree as a certified audio engineer. As an adjunct professor, he has taught sports and motorsports marketing at UNC Charlotte.

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For working media, Gurss can be reached via email at mazdamotorsports@icloud.com, or on (317) 517-4121. Dean Case remains at Mazdaspeed@mazdausa.com and (310) 318-4582.

About Mazda North American Operations

Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through nearly 700 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at www.mazdausamedia.com.