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Hot Wheels ® Gem

Multi-platinum recording artist Nick Lachey unveils a one-of-a-kind jeweled Hot Wheels (R) car, designed by celebrity jeweler Jason of Beverly Hills at the Mattel Showroom in New York for the American International Toy Fair (R). Weighing in at nearly 23 carats, the car, the most expensive in Hot Wheels (R) history, was made in honor of the production of the 4 billionth Hot Wheels (R) car and to celebrate the brand's 40th anniversary. The one-of-a-kind car will be auctioned off by Lachey for Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Photo: Business Wire

February 15, 2008 11:57 AM Eastern Time

Hot Wheels® Kicks off 40th Anniversary with Unveil of Diamond-Encrusted Car at New York Toy Fair

Year-Long Celebration Activities Include Designer's Challenge™ Die-Cast Car Line, Cross Country Road Trip and Auction of One-of-a-Kind Jeweled Car

American International Toy Fair 2008

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hot Wheels® today announced its year-long plans to celebrate the brand’s 40-year heritage at the 105th American International Toy Fair®. Anniversary activities were kicked off with the unveiling of a custom jeweled 1:64-scale Hot Wheels® car, designed by celebrity jeweler Jason of Beverly Hills. This one-of-a-kind car, the most expensive in Hot Wheels® history, was made to commemorate the production of the 4 billionth Hot Wheels® vehicle.

The diamonds on the custom-made jeweled car, valued at $140,000, total more than 2,700 and weigh nearly 23 carats in total weight. The car is cast in 18-karat white gold with the majority of the vehicle detailed with micro pave-set brilliant blue diamonds, mimicking the Hot Wheels® Spectraflame® blue paint. Under the functional hood, the engine showcases additional micro pave-set white and black diamonds. The Hot Wheels® flame logo found on the underbelly of the car is lined with white and black diamonds. Red rubies are set as the tail lights, while black diamonds and red enamel create the “red line” tires. The custom-made case that houses the jewel-encrusted vehicle also holds 40 individual white diamonds, signifying each year in the legacy of Hot Wheels®.

“Collaborating with Mattel on the jeweled Hot Wheels car was a dream project for me,” said Jason Arasheben, president & CEO of Jason of Beverly Hills. “The car is truly spectacular and will be a brilliant addition to anyone’s collection.”

The vehicle was unveiled by multi-platinum recording artist and car enthusiast, Nick Lachey, who grew up playing with the die-cast car line. In late 2008, this unique Hot Wheels® vehicle will be auctioned off to benefit Lachey’s charity of choice, Big Brothers Big Sisters.

“Since its introduction, Hot Wheels has revolutionized boys’ toys and inspired automotive trends,” said Tim Kilpin, general manager and senior vice president, Boys and Entertainment, Mattel Brands. “The historic activities we have planned are a fitting tribute to the brand’s heritage and will allow us, and our fans, to celebrate this milestone year in true Hot Wheels style.”

In 2008, Hot Wheels® will honor the partners that have helped make the brand successful and will take to the road to celebrate the brand’s heritage with its faithful fans. These activities include:

Hot Wheels® Designer’s Challenge™

For the first time in its history, Mattel went outside of its in-house design team to seek new car designs and to honor the automotive partners that attributed to the success of Hot Wheels® cars over the years. Car designers from Dodge, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Lotus and Mitsubishi designed their version of a Hot Wheels® concept car based on the brand’s attributes of speed, power, performance and attitude. Each submitted design was created in a 1:5-scale model and unveiled this past October at the 2007 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas. In late March the 1:64-scale versions will be available at retailers nationwide as part of the Designer’s Challenge™ product line.

“I’ve been involved in multimillion-dollar concept car designs but not everyone can relate to these kinds of projects,” said Amaury Diaz Serrano, creative designer, General Motors. “But, everyone can relate to a Hot Wheels. Regardless of age, race or background, everyone has fond memories of playing with them. To be able to design for Hot Wheels is the closest I will ever get to winning an Oscar.”

Hot Wheels® Cross-Country Road Trip

This summer, fans across the country will be invited to celebrate the 40th anniversary as Hot Wheels® travels Highway 40 to bring together automotive enthusiasts of all ages. Kicking off at Mattel’s headquarters in El Segundo in mid-August, the road trip will make stops at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah; Speed, KS; Indianapolis; and Detroit, before culminating in a grand finale celebration on September 5 in Watkins Glen, NY, home to American road racing. There, Hot Wheels® will partner with the Grand Prix Festival of Watkins Glen, to participate in the annual celebratory kick-off event honoring the history of the town and race track.

At each road trip stop, Hot Wheels® will host a free event that will be open to the public. Each event will feature life-size Hot Wheels® cars, kiosks where people can create their own custom Hot Wheels® “drivers license,” family-friendly activities, and the opportunity to receive a commemorative 1:64-scale Hot Wheels® car created especially for each stop, available in limited quantities.

“40 years. 4 billion cars. It is a year of exciting milestones for Hot Wheels,” said Geoff Walker, vice president, Wheels Marketing, Mattel Brands. “We just can’t wait to get on the road to celebrate with the millions that share the Hot Wheels passion.”

For information on Hot Wheels® and its 40th anniversary activities, cruise over to www.hotwheels.com/40th.

About the Hot Wheels® Brand

Hot Wheels® cars revolutionized boys’ toys in 1968 with an original line of super-fast, customized cars built for speed, power, performance and attitude. Now, 40 years later, Hot Wheels® is a global lifestyle brand that represents the coolest cars imaginable in scales from miniature to full-size. Hot Wheels® cars are also popular collectibles for adults and each year, introduces a new line-up of innovative vehicles, track sets and playsets.

About Mattel

Mattel, Inc. (NYSE: MAT) (www.mattel.com), is the worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of toys and family products. The Mattel family is composed of such best-selling brands as Barbie®, the most popular fashion doll ever introduced, Hot Wheels®, Matchbox®, American Girl®, Radica:® and Tyco® R/C, as well as Fisher-Price® brands, including Little People®, Power Wheels® and a wide array of entertainment-inspired toy lines. Mattel is recognized as one of 2008’s 100 Best Companies to Work For by FORTUNE Magazine, among the 100 Most Trustworthy U.S. Companies by Forbes Magazine and is ranked among the 100 Best Corporate Citizens by CRO Magazine. Committed to ethical manufacturing sustainable business practices, Mattel marks a 10-year milestone in 2007 for its Global Manufacturing Principles. With global headquarters in El Segundo, Calif., Mattel employs more than 30,000 people in 43 countries and territories and sells products in more than 150 nations. Mattel’s vision is to be the world’s premier toy brands -- today and tomorrow.

About Jason of Beverly Hills

Jason of Beverly Hills caters specifically to the diamond-loving trendsetters in movies, music and sports. Jason Arasheben, President & CEO, brings a new sheen to the diamond industry at his appointment-only showroom, where clients can share their vision and design their own customized jewelry. Arasheben has worked hard to become the established jeweler of choice, creating his own niche in the high fashion jewelry market. He has earned a global reputation for creating lavish, over-the-top, diamond masterpieces for extremely selective clientele, including European and Middle Eastern royalty. He is also known for his spectacular one-of-a-kind diamond pieces for entertainment’s biggest stars including Jessica Alba, Ashton Kutcher, LeBron James, Michael Jackson, Princess Latifa Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, Lil’ Jon, Missy Elliot and others. Along with Jason of Beverly Hills creations, clients can also accessorize their wardrobe with Dunamis timepieces and more accessible gold and diamond Stessier jewelry, both available exclusively at Jason of Beverly Hills.

February 15, 2008 02:30 PM Eastern Time

Arby’s® and #17 NASCAR® Superstar Matt Kenseth Are Back on the Track in ’08 Racing for Free Curly Fries for America

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Free curly fries are back and up for grabs when Matt Kenseth makes it into victory lane this 2008 NASCAR season. Beginning with the NASCAR season opener at Daytona International Speedway on February 16 and 17, every time Matt Kenseth wins a race (Sprint or Nationwide Series), Arby’s will celebrate by giving away free medium Curly Fries the Monday – called “Matt’s Monday” -- following the race weekend.

Customers will need to bring in a printed copy of the official race results from a newspaper or web site, or a free fry coupon from arbys.com, to participating Arby's on “Matt’s Monday” to receive their free order of medium curly fries.

“I was able to win free curly fries for America three times last year, and I’m going to be racing hard to top that this season,” said Kenseth. “Arby’s is a great partner and we’re glad to have them back on board this year.”

“Matt is a true champion and we’re proud to be part of the Roush Fenway team again,” said Chris Kuehn, Senior Vice President of National Marketing, Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc. “We know he’ll bring home the victories for all of those loyal NASCAR fans hungry for some curly fries.”

Arby’s “Matt’s Monday” free Curly Fry give away is valid only on the Monday’s following a race won by Matt Kenseth, limited to one order per person with coupon, while supplies last, is not valid with any other offer and is available at participating Arby’s locations.

Arby’s is a sponsor of Kenseth’s No. 17 Ford Fusion NASCAR Nationwide Series entry.

About Arby's Restaurant Group, Inc.

Arby's Restaurant Group, Inc., based in Atlanta, is the franchisor of the Arby's restaurant system, which consists of more than 3,600 restaurants worldwide, and is owner and operator of approximately 1,100 of those restaurants located in the United States. Founded in 1964, Arby's quick service restaurants specialize in offering slow roasted and freshly sliced roast beef sandwiches as well as its Market Fresh(R) deli-style sandwiches, wraps and salads with the convenience of a drive-thru. Arby's offers guests a unique, great tasting alternative to traditional fast food with its one-of-a-kind menu items including the Beef 'n Cheddar, Curly Fries and Jamocha shakes. Arby's Restaurant Group also owns and operates the T.J. Cinnamons(R) brand and is a subsidiary of Triarc Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRY, TRY.B). To learn more about Arby's, please visit www.arbys.com

About Roush Fenway Racing

Roush Fenway Racing is NASCAR’s largest team operating 14 motorsports teams, five in NASCAR Sprint Cup with drivers Matt Kenseth, Jamie McMurray, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and David Ragan; five in the Nationwide Series with Kenseth, Biffle, Edwards, McMurray, and Ragan; and three in the Craftsman Truck Series with Erik Darnell, Joey Clanton, and Colin Braun; and one in the ARCA/REMAX Series with Ricky Stenhouse. For more information on any of the Roush Fenway Racing teams, log onto www.RoushFenway.com For sponsorship inquiries please contact Robin Johnson at 704.720.4645.

NASCAR is a registered trademark of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc.

Roush Fenway Racing Trademarks and Matt Kenseth's name and/or likeness used by authority of Roush Fenway, LLC.

Ragan Finishes Sixth in the Gatorade Duels; Qualifies 14th for the Daytona 500
February 15, 2008
1:00 PM



DAYTONA, Fla. (February 14, 2008) – Qualifying for the Daytona 500 is like no other event. To start, every competitor must run two timed qualifying laps just like a normal race weekend. This sets the front row for the 500 and the field for “The Duels.” There are two duels consisting of 60 laps in which competitors must race their way into the Daytona 500. In qualifying on Sunday, David Ragan led the way for Roush Fenway Racing qualifying 13th, while Jimmie Johnson and Michael Waltrip claimed the front row for the Daytona 500. Ragan’s 13th place qualifying effort put him starting ninth in the second duel race. Daytona International Speedway is a restrictor-plate track and the race depends heavily on who you can draft with; not having drafting help will leave you hung out to dry and you will quickly fall to the back of the pack. Ragan survived three cautions, two red flags and partnered with the right people to shuffle his way up to a sixth-place finish.

Ragan’s first Daytona 500 experience came last year in which he survived a large wreck at the checkered flag and earned a fifth-place finish. This year Ragan has hopes of repeating the success from his rookie year. Ragan’s No. 6 AAA Ford Fusion handled well in practice and excelled in qualifying. Ragan went out early and qualified 13th, just ahead of Roush Fenway teammate Matt Kenseth. His 13th place qualifying effort placed Ragan in the second duel in the ninth starting position.

From the drop of the green flag Ragan paired up with the right people and was all the way up to the third position by the third lap. As he jockeyed for position, Ragan shuffled around inside the top 10 for the first part of the race until he report to his crew that his Ford was starting to get tight and the nose was sliding.

The first caution of the 60-lap race came out on lap 15 when the No. 27 hit the wall. Ragan came down pit road under caution for fuel, four tires and air pressure adjustment and a track bar adjustment. Ragan’s over-the-wall crew quickly made the adjustments crew chief Jimmy Fennig had requested. Ragan came to pit road in 10th, but with the help of his crew he gained valuable track position and was sitting sixth for the green flag restart on lap 22.

In just two laps, Ragan was shuffled back to the 13th position when the second caution flag came out. This time around NASCAR threw the red flag, stopping the field while they cleaned up debris. As soon as the track was cleaned up, the field returned back to racing. Ragan continued jockeying for position, remaining in the top 15 until the third caution came out on lap 57. This time, the No. 10 car made contact with the wall which resulted in another red flag while NASCAR cleaned up the debris.

The late-race caution set the field up for a green-white-checkered finish. Crew chief Jimmy Fennig knew they were close on fuel, but decided to stay out on the track instead of pitting like a few other competitors did. The call proved to be the right one. Ragan restarted eighth and crossed the finish line in the sixth position.

“That was a lot of fun,” said Ragan. “Just to have one stop and we had a full fuel run on the last set of tires. That was a true testament to how well the balance was on the AAA Ford Fusion. I don’t think we had any tire trouble all day, so it was a fun race. I can only imagine what 500 miles driving that hard is going to be like, but we had a lot of teammates in that race and got a lot of help from the 17 and 16 at different times. It was just a lot of fun. We’ll try to make our race car just a little bit better and go from there.”

About Roush Fenway Racing

Roush Fenway Racing is NASCAR’s largest team operating 13 motorsports teams. Five in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with drivers Matt Kenseth, Jamie McMurray, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and David Ragan; four in the Nationwide Series with Kenseth, Biffle, Edwards, McMurray, Ragan, Erik Darnell and Colin Braun; and three in the Craftsman Truck Series with Darnell, Braun and Joey Clanton; and one in the ARCA RE/MAX Series with Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Biffle Takes Eighth in Gatorade 150; Will Start 18th in the Daytona 500
February 15, 2008
12:14 PM



Daytona Beach, Fla. (February 15, 2008) – Greg Biffle and the No. 16 3M team qualified 24th in Sunday’s time trials for a 15th place starting position in the second of the Gatorade 150’s on Thursday afternoon. Biffle got off to a good start drafting with the outside line early in the race. He linked up with teammates Matt Kenseth and David Ragan for much of the middle portion of the event and ended up with an eighth place finish after a late-race caution allowed him to take on fresh right side tires.

Biffle got an early draw for qualifying and went out 12th turning in what would be the 24th fastest time of the day. The 24th place effort allowed him to start on the inside of row eight in the second of the Gatorade 150’s. Shortly after the drop of the green flag, however, he took the 3M Ford Fusion to the outside line which was also his preferred line in the Bud Shootout.

The first caution flag of the day flew on lap 16 as Biffle was running in the 11th position. He reported to the team that the car was tight on the bottom of the track and they made a plan for four tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment. Biffle restarted 10th on lap 23 and opted to stay out when another caution immediately followed on lap 24. Green flag racing resumed on lap 29 with a single-file restart and Biffle began to pull away with the lead pack.

Biffle made his way to the fifth position on lap 34 before the inside line gained momentum and overtook those running the outside groove. At that point, he hooked up with Kenseth and Ragan and they began gaining a little ground on the outside. Biffle had made his way up to seventh after doing a little drafting with Mark Martin when a caution came out on lap 57. After quite a bit of discussion Biffle and crew chief Greg Erwin opted for a splash of fuel and right side tires.

The green flag fell for a green/white/checker finish on lap 62 and Biffle was in the 13th position. He was able to gain five spots in the final two laps for an eighth place finish.

The eighth place finish will put Biffle on the outside of row nine for the start of the Daytona 500.

“I think we learned a little bit,” said Biffle. “The 3M Ford Fusion ran pretty well. It was just a little too tight, but I think we definitely learned something for Sunday. I’m excited. I think I’ve got a pretty good car.”

About Roush Fenway Racing

Roush Fenway Racing is NASCAR’s largest team operating 13 motorsports teams. Five in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with drivers Matt Kenseth, Jamie McMurray, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and David Ragan; four in the Nationwide Series with Kenseth, Biffle, Edwards, McMurray, Ragan, Erik Darnell and Colin Braun; and three in the Craftsman Truck Series with Darnell, Braun and Joey Clanton; and one in the ARCA RE/MAX Series with Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

And Introducing…DJ Jarrott Kirby
February 15, 2008
10:24 AM



Roush Fenway Racing’s Fan of the Year Creates Playlist for Fellow Fans

CONCORD, N.C. (February 15, 2008) – In December of last year, Roush Fenway Racing’s fans voted on who would be the first-ever Fan of the Year. The winner by a landslide, with over 100,000 votes, was Jarrott Kirby from Marshall, TX. So what was Kirby’s first official duty as Roush Fenway Racing’s Fan of the Year? Create an Apple iTunes iMix to get his fellow fans charged up for the 2008 season, of course!

“It is important to us that Jarrott be involved in creating content for his fellow Roush Fenway Racing fans, says director of internet marketing, Amy Rowell. “Our iMixes have become a popular feature on our website so we thought it would be a great idea for him to create one too. And I have to say, it’s a good one!”

I just can’t say enough how lucky we are to have Jarrott as our very first Fan of the Year. He’s just a great guy and we can’t wait to have him here with us for the Coca-Cola 600 weekend.”

Click here to purchase and download the playlist from iTunes. You can also search for the iMix in the Music section of iTunes by clicking on “iMix” and typing “Roush Fenway” into the search window.

Below are Jarrott’s selections along with some of his comments:

“The Distance” by Cake: “Because all of the Roush Fenway drivers will go the distance this season!”

“Hot Rod Lincoln” by Asleep at the Wheel

“Jerry Was a Race Car Driver” by Primus

“The Pretender” by Foo Fighters: “This is just a great song to get you going.”

“Bodies” by Drowning Pool

“Machinehead” by Bush: “Again, it's just a good song to get you pumped up.”

“Rockstar” by Nickleback: “Because we all do want to be rock stars!”

“Another One Bites the Dust” by Queen: “That's what the Roush Fenway drivers will be saying as they pass the field!”

“Mercury Blues” by Alan Jackson

“Simple Man” by Lynyrd Skynyrd: “You can always use some Skynyrd.”

The current playlist will be available until February 12, 2009. Click here to purchase and download the playlist from iTunes.

About Roush Fenway Racing

Roush Fenway Racing is NASCAR’s largest team operating 13 motorsports teams. Five in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with drivers Matt Kenseth, Jamie McMurray, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and David Ragan; four in the Nationwide Series with Kenseth, Biffle, Edwards, McMurray, Ragan, Erik Darnell and Colin Braun; and three in the Craftsman Truck Series with Darnell, Braun and Joey Clanton; and one in the ARCA RE/MAX Series with Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Darnell’s No. 99 on Daytona Pole
February 15, 2008
10:12 AM



DAYTONA, Fla. (February 15, 2007) – Erik Darnell and the No. 99 Northern Tool + Equipment team kicked off their 2008 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season in style, winning the pole position for Friday night’s 250-mile race at Daytona International Speedway.

"I knew after practice that our Northern Tool + Equipment Ford was going to be pretty good," said Darnell. "It was good in the draft, it was good by itself and I thought we'd have a shot at the pole. All the credit goes back to the guys at the shop. Qualifying here in Daytona has nothing to do with the driver and everything to do with the truck. If it wasn't for the guys back at the shop putting the truck together, we wouldn't be able to do what we've done tonight."

The pole is the second of Darnell’s career. His Roush Fenway teammates, Colin Braun and Joey Clanton, will start ninth and 11th, respectively.

"Mark [Martin, former teammate] won the pole and he won the race as well in 2006," Darnell continued. "I know we've got a pretty tough task ahead of us tomorrow night but I'm pretty confident in Matt Puccia [crew chief] and all the guys on the Northern Tool + Equipment team. I'm more worried about the race and getting the truck to run well up front in the draft. I think throughout our practice sessions, we were able to accomplish that and hopefully we can end up in victory lane on Friday night."

About Northern Tool + Equipment

Northern Tool + Equipment has been a supplier of high-quality tools and equipment for more than 26 years, selling products through direct mail, the Internet and over 60 retail locations in 11 states. Along with a deep selection of hand, power and air tools, Northern Tool + Equipment carries a wide variety of products, including generators, pressure washers, air compressors, hydraulics, small engines, trailers, water pumps, tractors, welding equipment and much more. Northern Tool + Equipment also serves as the exclusive distributor of NorthStarTM brand equipment, which is fabricated and assembled at the company’s 250,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility. For more information, visit www.northerntool.com
About Roush Fenway Racing

Roush Fenway Racing operates 13 full-time motorsports teams, five in NASCAR Sprint Cup with drivers Matt Kenseth, Jamie McMurray, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and David Ragan; four in the Nationwide Series with Kenseth, Biffle, Edwards, McMurray, Ragan, Erik Darnell and Colin Braun; three in the Craftsman Truck Series with Darnell, Braun and Joey Clanton; and one in the ARCA RE/MAX Series with Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.

Carl Edwards Finishes Fifth in the First Race of the Gatorade Duels
February 15, 2008
9:04 AM



Starts 50th Running of Daytona 500 in 11th

DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. (Feb. 14, 2008) – Carl Edwards, driver of the No. 99 Office Depot Ford, qualified 31st on Sunday, positioning him 15th in the first of two qualifying races known as The Gatorade Duel at Daytona International Speedway. Despite being the only Roush Fenway Racing driver in the first race and only one of three Ford Racing competitors in the race, Edwards managed to wheel his way to a fifth-place finish and an 11th-place starting spot for Sunday’s Daytona 500.

The green flag dropped, signaling the start of the 60 lap qualifying event, and Edwards, in the Office Depot Fusion, was scored in eighth place as several cars dropped to the rear. For the better part of the first 30 laps Edwards kept the No. 99 inside the top five – even leading on lap 14. Though Edwards reported that his Ford was “fine,” he would not maintain his top-five running position for much of the second half of the race.

On lap 34, Edwards brought the No. 99 down pit road for green flag servicing. Four tires and fuel were prescribed by crew chief Bob Osborne and Edwards was back on the track in 20th place – down 13 spots from seventh, due to pitting off sequence with the lead cars.

Though Edwards’ lap times were matching that of the leader, he was stuck on the track without drafting help and unable to gain positions. Edwards ran in and around 20th place for about 20 laps. A caution on lap 55 enabled Edwards to get caught up with the pack and set the stage for a three-lap shootout to the finish.

Edwards took the final green flag on lap 58 in eighth place and charged his way up to fifth position by the time the checkers waved.

For the second time in 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup competition, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was the winner. Reed Sorenson, Ryan Newman, Casey Mears and Edwards rounded out the top five.

Next up for Edwards and the No. 99 Office Depot team is the Daytona 500. The Great American Race is slated for Sunday, February 17 at 2:00 p.m. ET. FOX television and MRN radio affiliates will carry the live broadcast.

Carl Edwards Quote:

(Finished Fifth) – “We’ve got a really good Office Depot Fusion for Sunday. It’s gonna be a fun race and I’m really looking forward to the 500. I had a good time out there today, but lacked the drafting help I needed. Sunday’s race is going to be interesting. The tires are gonna fall off and then there are gonna be people that get tires, so it’s gonna be a real strategy race. It’s gonna be a lot of fun. I’m really happy about my car. It’s good.”

About Roush Fenway Racing

Roush Fenway Racing operates 13 full-time motorsports teams, five in NASCAR Sprint Cup with drivers Matt Kenseth, Jamie McMurray, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and David Ragan; four in the Nationwide Series with Kenseth, Biffle, Edwards, McMurray, Ragan, Erik Darnell and Colin Braun; three in the Craftsman Truck Series with Darnell, Braun and Joey Clanton; and one in the ARCA RE/MAX Series with Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.

McMurray Qualifies 38th for the Daytona 500 After Early Accident in Duels
February 15, 2008
9:01 AM



DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. (February 14, 2008) – Valentine’s Day at Daytona International Speedway was more heart breaking than loving for Jamie McMurray and the No. 26 team after an early accident in Gatorade Duels qualifying race.

The 60-lap shootout known as the “Duels” is the qualifying race for the famed Daytona 500. After Sunday afternoon’s qualifying session, the field is divided into two races, and based on each driver’s finish, the starting field is set. McMurray qualified 25th on Sunday afternoon, which put him starting 16th in this afternoon’s second qualifying race.

Sporting a new “Crown Royal Cask No. 16” paint scheme, the black and gold Ford Fusion took the green flag from the 16th position and after three laps still maintained the top-20 position.

The field lined up two wide entering the 31-degree banked turn one and continued that way all the way around the speedway. McMurray jostled back and forth between to the two lines, trying to find the best handling line for his No. 26 Ford Fusion.

Just 17 laps into the 60-lap event, a car ahead of McMurray became loose and skated down the race track, then back up the track directly in front of the oncoming No.26 machine. McMurray almost avoided contact with the spinning race car, when he was clipped from behind and quickly gathered into the accident.

The accident left the No. 26 team with a badly wrecked car and forced them to pull out the backup machine for this weekend’s Daytona 500.

“I’m not sure what happened,” said McMurray after being checked and released from the infield care center. “The 27 car just kind of lost it on his own. He corrected and went back across the track. I avoided him and someone ran into the back of me. It’s just unfortunate for Crown Royal and the entire team. We’re going to pull out the backup and do everything we can tomorrow in practice to make our Crown Royal Cask No. 16 Ford Fusion as fast as the one we had before all this.”

McMurray will start 38th in the 50th running of the Daytona 500 on Sunday afternoon. Coverage of the race will be carried on FOX starting at 2 pm Eastern.


About Roush Fenway Racing

Roush Fenway Racing is NASCAR’s largest team operating 13 motorsports teams. Five in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with drivers Matt Kenseth, Jamie McMurray, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and David Ragan; four in the Nationwide Series with Kenseth, Biffle, Edwards, McMurray, Ragan, Erik Darnell and Colin Braun; and three in the Craftsman Truck Series with Darnell, Braun and Joey Clanton; and one in the ARCA RE/MAX Series with Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.

About Crown Royal

Crown Royal, the number one selling whisky in the U.S. by value, has a tradition as long and distinctive as its taste. Specially blended to commemorate a grand tour of Canada made by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain in 1939, Crown Royal's smooth, elegant style reflects its aristocratic origins and is considered the epitome of Canadian whisky. For more information on Crown Royal, visit www.crownroyal.com

Kenseth Battles Handling Woes; Finishes 15th in Gatorade Duel 2; Lines Up 28th for Sunday's Daytona 500
February 15, 2008
8:57 AM



DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 14, 2008) -- Thanks to a 14th-place qualifying run on Sunday afternoon, Matt Kenseth rolled off 10th in the second of two qualifying races, known as the Gatorade Duel, on Thursday at Daytona International Speedway. On a cool, brisk day, Kenseth rumbled to the front of the 26 car field by lap 13, but battled a loose racecar that only grew more difficult to handle as the race wore on. Kenseth finished 15th, but was able to avoid disaster that may have damaged his primary car, which is still in tact for Sunday’s Daytona 500.

Kenseth started 10th thanks to a complex system that takes the times from Sunday’s qualifying session and determines the starting lineup for each of the twin 150-mile qualifying races on Thursday afternoon. Basically, Kenseth started 10th because he was ninth fastest among cars that finished in the even slots in the final 2007 owners point standings; which all started behind pole-sitter Michael Waltrip, who qualified second on Sunday. …Again, complex.

He may have started 10th, but by the time the field circuited once, Kenseth had advanced to the sixth position. By lap nine, Kenseth was running third, but reported the car as being “pretty loose” upon exiting the corners. Despite the handling concerns, Kenseth took the lead on lap 13 and was still running up front when four cars got together exiting turn four on lap 15.

Under caution, Kenseth came to pit road and for the first time in 2008, the “Killer Bees” went to work. Four tires, fuel, and several adjustments later, Kenseth peeled out of his stall with a 12.50-second pit stop, and retained the lead. Kenseth remained up front until lap 25, when he was ganged up on and passed going into turn one.

The next caution flag flew on the same lap as Kenseth was passed for the lead when a car blew an engine and spilled oil around the entire track. The race was red flagged with Kenseth in third, but on the ensuing restart, he moved back into second. But, as Kenseth ran high on the racetrack, the car began to lose the handle again, and Kenseth fell back. From lap 30 to lap 40, Kenseth fell from second to 10th and by the time he reported the car being extremely loose on lap 47, he was running in 12th place.

Just 12 laps shy of the finish, Kenseth reported that his right-rear tire might be going flat. Ten laps later, just two laps from the end, Kenseth alerted the crew that he was coming to pit road as the tire was about to rupture. But, with a fortuitous break, a blown tire by a competitor, Kenseth was able to pit under caution and keep his track position. Kenseth indeed had an issue with the right-rear tire, but returned to the track after four tires and fuel in the 16th position.

After another red flag for track cleanup, Kenseth restarted 16th, but was only able to improve one position over the final two circuits as the field finished with a two-lap, green-white-checker dash. Kenseth finished 15th and will start Sunday’s 50th running of the Daytona 500 in the 28th position.

“We learned a lot,” Kenseth said. “Our car had a lot of speed, actually, and had ourselves, I thought, in pretty good position, and did a pretty good job on pit road. We just had some handling issues. So, we think we know what we’ve got to work on tomorrow to get better in practice tomorrow.”

HAVE YOU HAD TIRE ISSUES HERE?
“Yeah, but if everybody’s experiencing them then you’ve just got to work on the car and get it handling better. We were really off on our handling today. We could only run about 10 laps very good and then it didn’t handle well, and we were tearing up tires and everything. We just kept getting our car too loose. We were just a step behind, so we’ll keep working on it tomorrow and we’ll have it good by Sunday.”


NEXT UP:
Daytona 500
2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway
Daytona Beach, Fla.
Sunday, Feb. 17, 2008
2:00 PM Eastern – Fox/MRN

Best Western International to Celebrate April Fools’ Day With ''Funny'' Online Promotion for Race Fans

The Official Hotel of NASCAR® Wants to Put a Fan’s Face on a NASCAR® Racecar

PHOENIX, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Best Western International, the Official Hotel of NASCAR®, is asking race fans across North America to plan the ultimate April Fools’ gag for a chance at NASCAR immortality.

Now through March 21, race fans are encouraged to log onto www.bestwestern.com/aprilfools to submit a “funny” picture of a friend, family member, co-worker, boss, or neighbor for a chance to have that picture displayed on the Best Western #99 Toyota Camry driven by David Reutimann at the April 11, 2008 Bashas’ Supermarkets 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series race in Phoenix, broadcast on ESPN2 at 9:30 p.m. (EST).

Images submitted during the promotion will be showcased in the photo gallery section of www.bestwestern.com/aprilfools and at the conclusion of the promotion a panel of judges will select the “funniest” image awarding it the Grand Prize.

The Grand Prize winner will receive trip for two, including airfare, accommodations, and transportation, to Phoenix for the Bashas’ Supermarkets 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series™ race. In addition, the winners will be awarded tickets to the race, as well as an exclusive, behind-the-scenes garage tour courtesy of Michael Waltrip Racing. Winners will also join Michael Waltrip and David Reutimann in a pre-race, track-side, media event as they unveil the winning image on the Best Western #99 Toyota Camry.

“As the first and only Official Hotel of NASCAR® we have a responsibility to help race fans enjoy the NASCAR season whether that be in our hotels or at the race track,” said Dorothy Dowling, senior vice president of marketing and sales for Best Western International. “To many fans, NASCAR is a spectator sport but Best Western is giving fans a chance to be a part of the excitement through this special April Fools’ online promotion where one lucky fan will have their face on the Best Western #99 Toyota Camry.”

For official rules, fans should visit www.bestwestern.com/aprilfools.

ABOUT BEST WESTERN INTERNATIONAL

Best Western International is THE WORLD'S LARGEST HOTEL CHAIN®, providing marketing, reservations and operational support to over 4,0001 independently owned and operated member hotels in 801 countries and territories worldwide. An industry pioneer since 1946, Best Western has grown into an iconic brand that hosts 400,0001 worldwide guests each night. Best Western's diverse property portfolio, its greatest strength, stems from a business model designed to give owners maximum flexibility to address market-specific needs. Equally committed to the business and leisure traveler, Best Western recently embarked on a five-year mission to lead the hotel industry in customer care. Since 2004, Best Western has served as the Official Hotel of NASCAR®. For more information or to make a reservation, please visit www.bestwestern.com.

1 Numbers are approximate and can fluctuate.

February 15, 2008 05:16 PM Eastern Time

Henry Ford Museum Hosts Discussion on Edison’s Inventions

Author Alan Axelrod to Discuss Edison’s Innovations as Business Inspiration during March 1 Lecture and Book Signing

DEARBORN, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Henry Ford will host best-selling author Alan Axelrod, Saturday, March 1 at 1 p.m. to discuss the value of studying Thomas Edison’s inventions to stimulate and produce creativity and innovation in today’s business world. This event, part of The Henry Ford’s “Ideas & Innovations” Lecture Series, will be held in the plaza of Henry Ford Museum. The lecture is free and open to the public. For more information call (313) 982-6001 or go online to www.thehenryford.org.

Axelrod will discuss the topics broached in his soon-to-be released book, Edison on Innovation: 102 Lessons in Creativity for Business and Beyond (Jossey-Bass, March 2008), which utilizes Edison’s inventions – such as the telephone and typewriter – as a way of promoting good mental habits to help even the least creative people to generate new ideas, technologies and creative breakthroughs.

Axelrod is most widely known for his Business Week best sellers, Elizabeth I, CEO: Strategic Lessons in Corporate Leadership from a Woman Who Built an Empire and Patton on Leadership: Strategic Lessons for Corporate Warfare. He is president of The Ian Samuel Group, Inc., a creative services and book-packaging firm, and has served as speaker or consultant to numerous government agencies, educational institutions, museums and cultural institutions.

About The Henry Ford

The Henry Ford, located in Dearborn, Michigan was founded in 1929 by automotive pioneer Henry Ford. This history destination includes Henry Ford Museum, Greenfield Village, The Henry Ford IMAX® Theatre, The Benson Ford Research Center and The Ford Rouge Factory Tour. The Henry Ford, America's Greatest History Attraction, is the history destination that brings the American experience to life. For more information visit www.thehenryford.org

February 15, 2008 08:21 AM Eastern Time

Coca-Cola Recycling LLC Revs Up

Recycling Efforts at the Daytona 500

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NASCAR fans will have the opportunity to recycle this weekend at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series™ Daytona 500, with support from Coca-Cola Recycling.

Coca-Cola Recycling will debut its new 24-foot interactive trailer, designed to educate fans on the benefits of recycling, and encourage them to drop their plastic bottles and aluminum cans in designated bins as they head into the track. The trailer will feature interactive media, including new public service announcements from members of the Coca-Cola Racing Family, such as: Tony Stewart, Mark Martin, Dale Jarrett, Greg Biffle and Kyle Petty. Fans who visit the Coca-Cola Recycling trailer will be eligible to win prizes, and for every bottle and can recycled, a donation will be made by Coca-Cola to The NASCAR Foundation, which supports a wide variety of charities that support the core values of the entire NASCAR family.

“We are excited to join forces with NASCAR to promote recycling at this year’s Daytona 500,” said John Burgess, president and chief executive officer, Coca-Cola Recycling. “After enjoying one of our beverages, we would like for our packaging to be seen as a valuable resource for future use. By reclaiming bottles and cans, we can divert them from area landfills and keep our communities clean and sustainable.”

“It is essential that we all do our part for the environment and Coca-Cola’s recycling program is one easy step," said Marcus Jadotte, managing director of public affairs, NASCAR. "NASCAR fans are passionate about the sport and the world we live in, and we encourage them to take full advantage of this opportunity to recycle.”

Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. (NYSE: CCE), is the world’s largest marketer, distributor and producer of Coca-Cola products across most of North America and western Europe. In 2007, CCE established Coca-Cola Recycling LLC with a mission to recover and recycle the packaging materials developed and used by the Coca-Cola system in North America. Through establishing centralized recycling centers at CCE’s major production facilities across the country, and creating innovative collection programs at large-scale events like the Daytona 500, Coca-Cola Recycling is committed to increasing recycling rates and ensuring that our system has ready access to recycled material.

February 14, 2008 08:38 PM Eastern Time

NASCAR Driver Kertus Davis Ready for Third Daytona Start

''New Cars, New Shop, New Team Owner and Excellent Test Results Set Stage''

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NASCAR Nationwide series driver Kertus Davis is optimistic about Saturday’s first race of the 2008 season. “We’re putting a brand new Chevrolet Monte Carlo '0' car on the track that has performed exceptionally well for me during testing,” comments Davis. The team will also field a Chevrolet car '01', to be driven by Dwayne Leik. Davis’ car will showcase sponsors Race Girl and Americano Beach Resort.

JD Motorsports team owner Lori Morgan has been instrumental in acquiring equipment including two new chassis, a car hauler and a new shop. Morgan notes, “Davis had impressive runs and fast laps during testing at Daytona recently and we’re excited to put him in a car that allows him to maximize his driving skills.” Davis recently returned from Bondurant School of High Performance Driving in Arizona where he has been honing his road racing and driving skills.

Davis and the JD Motorsports team have been working with one of the highest government offices in the nation along with Military Order of the Purple Heart to identify men and women around the country who will be honored by team JD Motorsports at each race during the 2008 Nationwide series. Saturday, Davis will honor Stephen Pyle.

He will be named an honorary crew member for the day. “Kertus is just as excited about honoring Stephen as he is about racing Daytona. It thrills him to say thank you to those who deserve it and he loves to share the thunder and excitement of what he does all year long with people who have never experienced NASCAR from the inside,” said Johnny Davis, team General Manager and father of Kertus.

About JD Motorsports

JD Motorsports is a woman-owned NASCAR Nationwide series race team owned and operated by Lori Morgan. The team was announced in 2008 and fields the Chevrolet Monte Carlo #0 and #01 cars.

About Military Order of the Purple Heart

Formed in 1932 for the protection and mutual interest of all who have received the decoration, the organization is composed exclusively of Purple Heart recipients, it is the only veteran’s service organization comprised strictly of “combat” veterans. www.purpleheart.org

For sponsor inquiries, contact CAR PR USA, cindy@carprusa.com

Front Page

Stacey David, automotive expert and host and producer of Stacey David GearZ(TM), shown with his custom 1932 Ford roadster - Rat Roaster - to be featured in the 2008 season on SPEED.

Photo: Business Wire

February 14, 2008 02:11 PM Eastern Time

Stacey David’s GearZ™ Premieres on the SPEED Network, Saturday, February 23rd

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rattletrap Productions is pleased to announce the move of Stacey David’s GearZ™, formerly introduced in the early spring of 2007 on ESPN2s “Garage Block,” to the SPEED network effective Saturday, February 23rd. The popular show, hosted by Stacey David, will now be shown on SPEED’s Saturday morning automotive programming, the “Castrol Oil Engine Block”, at 9:00 EST.

Stacey David, former longtime host of Trucks! shown on the Spike network, introduced this high energy 30 minute show last year to millions of automotive enthusiasts gathering rave reviews for a show that invigorated the “how-to” automotive program format. David’s unique on-air style, mechanical expertise, and broad coverage of high profile vehicles, is the exception to traditional automotive ‘how-to’ programming. The inaugural season available to over 90 million subscribers to ESPN2 was a strong success despite the lack of a consistent air-time. Now, fans of Stacey David’s GearZ throughout North America and Canada will be able to watch this eye-popping show every Saturday morning at 9:00 EST.

“The success of GearZ,” says David, “is that we cover it all from muscle cars to hot rods, to trucks and bikes. If it is mechanical, you’ll probably see it on GearZ. We’re very excited about our premiere on SPEED, as it is the network that is solely dedicated to motorsports and everything automotive. The consistent airtime, block promotions and coverage in Canada precipitated our move to the SPEED network.”

The premiere show on SPEED is a behind the scenes look at one of the classic car chase movies of all time – Smokey and the Bandit, with some very special time with music legend, Jerry Reed. True to the format that has made Stacey David’s GearZ a hit from the first day it aired, this season promises to be the most exciting yet, featuring interviews with the people associated with high profile vehicles, installations that will make you want to go out and build it yourself, and the historical background about vehicles that give depth to the story.

For more information, visit www.gearztv.com, or contact Randy Stoecker, Director of Business Development, at 615.868.6203, or via e-mail at rstoecker@rattletrapproductions.com

February 14, 2008 06:40 AM Eastern Time

Automotive Paints And Coatings is An Authoritative Treatment of All Stages of the Coating Process

DUBLIN, Ireland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Research and Markets ( http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c82831 ) has announced the addition of “Automotive Paints and Coatings” to their offering.

Now in its second edition and still the only book of its kind, this is an authoritative treatment of all stages of the coating process -- from body materials, paint shop design, and pre-treatment, through primer surfacers and top coats. New topics of interest covered are colour control, specification and testing of coatings, as well as quality and supply concepts, while valuable information on capital and legislation aspects is given.

Invaluable for engineers in the automotive and paints and coatings industry as well as for students in the field.

- Since publication of the first edition (edited by Prof. Fettis, Univ. of York, UK, 1994; now out of stock), important new developments in the areas of environment friendly technologies and market demand for special optical effects have triggered process innovations that should now also be covered by literature.

- Complements our successful colors and coatings cluster very well. - The 1st edition had very good sales: 800 copies altogether, 720 in the first three years.

Content:

INTRODUCTION

Historic Development

Legislation

Automotive and Automotive Paint Market

MATERIALS AND CONCEPTS IN BODY CONSTRUCTION

Introduction

Methods of Body Construction

Principles of Design

Materials

Manufacturing Methods

Joining Methods

PRE-TREATMENT OF MULTI-METAL CAR BODIES

Car Body Construction Material

Pre-Treatment Process

Car Body Pre-Treatment Lines

Properties and Specifications of Zinc Phosphate Conversion Layers

Environmental Legislation

ELECTRODEPOSITION COATINGS

Physico-Chemical Basics of the Deposition Process

Data for Quality Control

Resins and Formulation Principles

Film Performance of Cathodic Electrocoatings

Design of Electrocoating Lines

Defects During Application and their Prevention

Electrocoatings and Similar Process Used in Automotive Supply Industry

PRIMER SURFACER

Requirement Profiles

Raw Materials

Liquid Primer Surfacer

Powder Primer Surfacer

Process Sequence

TOP COATS

Pigments and Colour

Single Stage Topcoats

Basecoats

Clearcoat

Consolidated Process

POLYMERIC ENGINEERING FOR AUTOMOTIVE COATING APPLICATIONS

Polyacrylic Resins

Polyester Resins

Polyurethane Dispersions

Polyurethane-Polyacrylic-Resins

Epoxy Resins

Crosslinking Agents and Network Forming Coating Systems

PAINT SHOP DESIGN AND QUALITY CONCEPTS

Coating Process Steps

General Lay Out

Coating Facilities

Paint Drying

Quality Aspects

Economic Aspects

COATINGS FOR PLASTIC PARTS

Exterior Plastics

Interior Plastics

ADHESIVE BONING -

A UNIVERSAL JOINING TECHNOLOGY

Fundamentals

Bonding in Car Manufacturing

IN-PLANT REPAIR

SPECIFICATIONS AND TESTING

Colour and Appearance Measurement

Weathering Resistance

Corrosion Protection

Mechanical Properties

SUPPLY CONCEPTS

Quality Assurance

Supply Chain

OUTLOOK

Status and Public Awareness of the Automotive Painting Process

Legislation Trends

Customer's Expectations

Innovative Equipments and Processes

Innovative Business Ideals

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c82831

Roush Fenway Racing and Turner Sports Announce Partnership
February 13, 2008
7:32 PM



Concord, N.C. (February 14, 2008) –Roush Fenway Racing and Turner Sports announced today that they have formed a strategic partnership that will culminate in the re-launch of RoushFenway.com on February 14, 2008. RoushFenway.com will have an updated design and layout and will include exclusive on and off track video clips, daily editorial content, real time standings, breaking news and enhanced sponsorship opportunities.

“We are very excited about our new partnership with Turner Sports,” said Torrey Galida, chief marketing officer for Roush Fenway Racing. “The alliance will allow us to provide offerings to our fans that no other team currently has access to. We look forward to the opportunities that the newly re-vamped RoushFenway.com will offer to our sponsors, teams and drivers.”

“Roush Fenway Racing is one of the leading teams in NASCAR racing today, and we’re extremely proud to partner with them to launch a new innovative team site that strengthens their brand both on the track and online,” said Scott Doyne, Turner Sports new media business manager. “The re-launched RoushFenway.com will offer new and unique features that provide an interactive fan experience that you can’t find anywhere else.”

Roush Fenway Racing has been working with Turner Sports to establish a partnership to create the most dynamic team site in NASCAR. Roush Fenway Racing will have the distinct privilege of being the only team able to provide exclusive on-track content on their Web site. In addition, site offerings will also include daily editorial content, real time standings, schedules, results, statistics and breaking news.

The re-designed RoushFenway.com will provide sponsors with the opportunity to leverage the loyalty of the NASCAR fan base with a highly targeted digital media platform. The site will also provide fans with access to the most cutting edge content and functionality. Overall a winning combination that will keep Roush Fenway Racing at the front of the field.

The partnership adds to Turner’s extensive portfolio of online properties, which includes NASCAR.COM, the official Web site of the sport.

About Roush Fenway Racing

Roush Fenway Racing is NASCAR’s largest team operating 13 motorsports teams. Five in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with drivers Matt Kenseth, Jamie McMurray, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and David Ragan; four in the Nationwide Series with Kenseth, Biffle, Edwards, McMurray, Ragan, Erik Darnell and Colin Braun; and three in the Craftsman Truck Series with Darnell, Braun and Joey Clanton; and one in the ARCA RE/MAX Series with Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

About Turner

Turner Sports New Media, the interactive division of Turner Sports, is the provider of a number of leading sports Web sites, including NASCAR.COM, PGATOUR.com and PGA.com, as well as the popular broadband channels TBS Hot Corner on MLB.com, TNT OverTime on NBA.com, NASCAR 24/7 on NASCAR.com and Live@ on PGATOUR.com. The division also operates PlayON! Sports, providing broadband coverage of non-televised Olympic-type sports across a myriad of Web sites.

Turner Sports acquired all of NASCAR’s interactive rights in October 2000 and became the exclusive producer of NASCAR.COM in January 2001. One of the fastest growing sports league Web sites, NASCAR.COM is home to broadband news coverage, fantasy games and the NASCAR.COM SuperStore. The site consistently ranks among the top sports league sites and was named one of the best sports Web sites on the Internet by BusinessWeek (October 2005).

In 2006 NASCAR.COM was nominated for an Emmy® by the National Television Academy for its TrackPass RaceView application and was awarded an Emmy® in 2003 for TrackPass PitCommand.

Turner Sports, Inc. presents some of the best and most popular sporting events worldwide and is a leader in televised sports programming. With events airing on TBS and TNT, Turner Sports’ line-up includes NASCAR and NASCAR.COM, the NBA, Major League Baseball (MLB), professional golf, PGATour.com and PGA.com.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

February 13, 2008 05:41 PM Eastern Time

Central Florida Becoming Bike Week Central

"New Reasons to Come to Bike Week Have Surfaced and We Are Back to How It All Began," Says Orlando Harley-Davidson Owner Anne Deli

Research Shows It is Back to the Basics

It is about the RIDE


ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Why are they coming to Florida for Bike Week February 29th-March 9th? Popular belief is that people come to Bike Week to hang out on Main Street in Daytona. Orlando Harley-Davidson shares results of new quantitative research which indicates that’s simply not the case. In fact, hanging out on Main Street is one of the least desired things to do, right up there with paying for parking. According to a survey conducted among Central Florida motorcycle owners on January 24, 2008, nearly 70% of the respondents stated that riding with friends and family is why they come to Bike Week.

Now more than ever before, riders are enjoying all of the festivities in the entire region. This includes the newly created Olde Florida Ride, 125 miles of backroads with scenic views which will get you back to why you ride in the first place. Trade road hogs for pig farms and swap traffic for trees. Gazing at the scenery has its rewards. After your ride, answer 5 scavenger hunt questions correctly and receive a commemorative patch. And, you’ll be automatically qualified to win a $1,500 Orlando Harley-Davidson gift card. For details, visit www.oldefloridaride.com

Bike Week Orlando Features Lots of Reasons to Rock and Roll. Orlando is welcoming riders with open arms and a Free lunch.

Free Lunch - Southern hospitality! Ride in and you’ll receive lunch for FREE from 12 pm-4pm (while supplies last,) February 29th – March 9th.

Ride-In Bike Show - It’s the Showdown in O-Town with cash prizes totaling $16,000 on Thursday, March 6th.

Free Concerts Daily - Ten Days of FREE Concerts with the best in local and regional bands. Go to www.orlandoharley.com to listen to Bike Week bands music samples and check out the schedule.

Other Reasons to Attend - Gear Head Vendors, Biker Fashion Shows from the Runway to the Roadway, FREE GAS: to be given away on March 1st and March 6th (register to win) and Exclusive Commemorative PIN RUN.

For more information, call 407-423-0346 or visit our website at www.orlandoharley.com

February 13, 2008 07:35 AM Eastern Time

Cycle Trader Goes Full Throttle with eStara

Leading Cycle Marketplace Empowers Dealers to Generate, Capture and Measure Leads

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--eStara, the leading provider of e-commerce optimization services, today announced that CycleTrader.com, the leading provider of classified ads for motorcycle, PWC and snowmobile buyers, is rolling out a dealer solution based leveraging Click to Call and Call tracking from eStara. Dubbed Full Throttle, the solution is designed to maximize sales conversion and measurement for Cycle Trader dealers.

“Cycle Trader is focused on providing maximum value and functionality to its growing network of 2000+ dealers,” said Jim Jensen, Brand Manager at CycleTrader.com. “Our Full Throttle Solution, based on technology from eStara, provides dealers unique tracking numbers for online and offline advertising efforts and click to call functionality for online listings. Cycle Trader dealers now have the ability to optimize their online efforts, avoid lost leads and measure the effectiveness of their online and offline advertising all through a single, familiar portal.”

The Full Throttle Solution leverages an array of solutions from eStara including Click to Call which allows motorcycle buyers to navigate seamlessly from the Web to phone from Web sites, emails or directory listings. Dealer listings are Click to Call-enabled by embedding a button on their listing and in turn, offer prospects a channel to immediately connect by phone. For consumers who choose to research online but prefer to purchase offline, Click to Call provides an instant connection, with immediate personal contact and support.

eStara Call Tracking quantifies incoming leads for easier acquisition, retention and sourcing. Cycle Trader will consolidate its multi-vendor call tracking with eStara to receive a 360 degree view of every caller, call recording and dynamic call routing, ensuring advertisers receive local leads by geo-targeting where inbound calls are being initiated.

eStara’s full suite will be integrated with Cycle Trader’s inventory management system to provide dealers a single and familiar repository for all caller data and reports. As the final component of its Full Throttle solution, Cycle Trader will be adding Save & Send in the near future; this will allow users to save listings on their preferred devices and forward them to potential buyers, acting as a referral tool.

“Increasingly, tracking and measuring the impact of online and offline initiatives in a single view is helping smart marketers like Cycle Trader prove ROI and add value to its dealer network,” said Shari Solis, vice president, media at eStara. “eStara Click to Call and Call Tracking provide Cycle Trader the tools they need to build a loyal and growing dealer network without requiring them to adopt a new system or manage multiple vendor relationships. It provides them a far more detailed look at effort versus results, far beyond traditional call measurement capabilities.”

About Cycle Trader

CycleTrader.com is part of the Dominion Enterprises network, a leading network of websites serving buyers and sellers in the new and used vehicle marketplace. Categories include Boat, RV, Collector and Specialty Vehicles, Motorcycles, ATVs, Equipment, and General Merchandise. CycleTrader.com is an operating unit of the Electronic Media division of Landmark Communications. Dominion Enterprises motorcycle and power sports publications include Cycle Trader® and Walnecks®.

About eStara

eStara is a leading provider of e-commerce optimization services designed to enhance online sales and ebusiness initiatives. Delivered in a software-as-a-service model, eStara powers the world’s most recognized brands -- including Continental Airlines, Chrysler, Dell Financial Services, and Superpages.com – to help them engage customers with the right form of contact at the right time to increase revenue, reduce Web site abandonment and improve customer satisfaction. eStara is owned by ATG (Art Technology Group, Inc., NASDAQ: ARTG). For more information, visit www.eStara.com

This press release contains forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Further details on these risks are set forth in ATG's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These filings are available free of charge on a website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov Additional risk factors related to the subject matter of this press release include: the possibility that eStara’s product and service deployments will not be successful, on time or significantly enhance the user's Internet experience; the need to adapt to rapid changes so products and services do not become obsolete; the possibility of errors in eStara’s software products and services; the possibility that eStara’s offerings will not enhance its customers’ online sales or otherwise provide the expected benefits to its customers; and the possibility that eStara's product strategy may change in the future. eStara and ATG undertake no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this press release.

Roush Fenway Racing Daytona Preview

February 13, 2008
4:52 PM

The 2008 season opens this weekend in Daytona with the Chevy Silverado 250 on Friday, the Camping World 300 on Saturday and the 50th running of the Daytona 500 on Sunday.

Fast Facts | RFR Track History | NSCS Advances | NNS Advances | NCTS Advances

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series:
50th Running of the Daytona 500
Sunday, February 17
2:00 PM Eastern TV - FOX
3:20 PM Eastern RADIO - MRN

David Ragan No. 6 AAA Ford Fusion
Greg Biffle No. 16 3M Ford Fusion
Matt Kenseth No. 17 DEWALT Ford Fusion
Jamie McMurray No. 26 Crown Royal Cask No. 16 Ford Fusion
Carl Edwards No. 99 Office Depot Ford Fusion

NASCAR Nationwide Series:
Camping World 300
Saturday, February 16
12:00 PM Eastern TV - ESPN2
1:15 PM Eastern RADIO - MRN

David Ragan No. 6 Discount Tire Ford Fusion
Greg Biffle No. 16 CitiFinancial Ford Fusion
Matt Kenseth No. 17 Ritz Ford Fusion
Carl Edwards No. 60 Scotts Ford Fusion

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series:
Chevy Silverado 250
Friday, February 15

7:30 PM Eastern TV - SPEED
8:00 PM Eastern RADIO - MRN

Colin Braun No. 6 Con-Way Freight Ford F-150
Joey Clanton No. 09 Zaxby’s Ford F-150
Erik Darnell No. 99 Northern Tool + Equipment Ford F-150

FAST FACTS

David Ragan

• Competed in his first Daytona 500 in 2007 finishing fifth and finished 12th in July's Pepsi 400.

• Finished second in the 2007 Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year race to Juan Pablo Montoya.

• Earned two Nationwide Series poles in 2007, one at Fort Worth and another at Homestead and completed the Nationwide season with five top-10 and four top-five finishes.

• Finished fifth in the Nationwide Series point standings in 2007.

• Won Raybestos Rookie-of-the-Year in 2007 in the Nationwide Series.

Greg Biffle

• Greg Biffle took his first-ever Cup Series win at Daytona on July 5th, 2003 during his rookie season.

• Biffle also took his first-ever Cup Series pole at Daytona when he topped the speed charts during qualifying for the 2004 Daytona 500.

• In addition to Biffle's Cup win at Daytona, he also has a pair of second-place Nationwide finishes at the 2.5-mile oval.

• Other than the catch can position, Biffle's entire 2008 pit crew is new to the No.16 3M team.

• Had three top-five and 10 top-10 finishes in 31 of 35 NASCAR Nationwide Series starts in 2007

• This season Biffle has been reunited with former car chief Bobby Bakeeff who has taken over a crew leader role. Bakeeff and Biffle worked together for several years including the 2005 season during which he captured six wins.

Matt Kenseth

• Matt Kenseth enters 2008 coming off a fourth-place points finish in 2007, that included two wins and a season ending five consecutive top-five finishes which culminated in the season finale win in the Ford 400.

• The 2008 version of the "Killer Bees" (the over-the-wall crew) welcomes a new face over the wall, front-tire carrier Garret Reding, who's been with the team since 2005. Of the 22 race-day crew members on the No. 17 team, 18 returned from 2007.

• Kenseth has three top fives and six top-10 finishes in the past 10 restrictor-plate races.

• Kenseth finished fifth last year in his respective race in the Gatorade Duel, marking the fourth straight season he has finished sixth or better.

• A flat tire, which occurred just a few hundred yards from taking the green flag during his solo qualifying run in 2006, had Kenseth slotted 57th out of 57 cars after qualifying.

• Kenseth will pilot the No. 17 Ritz Ford Fusion, Saturday, Feb. 16 in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race, the Camping World 300.

Jamie McMurray

• McMurray has one victory, two top-five and three top-10 finishes in his last five starts at Daytona International Speedway.

• McMurray is the defending race winner at DIS after winning by .005 seconds in the July 2007 race.

• In 10 starts, when finishing on the lead lap, McMurray has produced three top-10 finishes - otherwise, McMurray has finished 31st or worst.

• McMurray will pilot the No. 26 Crown Royal Cask No. 16 Ford Fusion. This is a special paint scheme promoting a new blend of Crown Royal.

Carl Edwards

• Will make his seventh NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start at Daytona International Speedway. In six Cup Series starts at Daytona, Edwards has one top-five, one top-10 and one top-15 finish.

• Best finish at Daytona came last July in the Pepsi 400 when he finished fourth, while pushing teammate Jamie McMurray to victory.

• Edwards has one win at Daytona International Speedway: in February 2004 he drove the No. 99 Superchips F-150 to his first truck win of the season.

ROUSH FENWAY RACING TRACK HISTORY

NSCS ADVANCES

David Ragan
Team: No. 6 AAA Ford Fusion
Crew Chief: Jimmy Fennig
Chassis: RK-525 Brand new chassis
RK-522 Last outing: Talladega, October ’07 – finished 34th

Ragan on racing at Daytona International Speedway:
"I'm excited to get the season underway and I think Daytona is a pretty good place for us to start. We had two good runs here last year so hopefully we can go back and start off the year on a good foot. Our team hasn’t changed all that much from last year, which is good since our pit crew really started working well together towards the second half of the season last year. It is pretty cool to be a part of the 50th running of the Daytona 500 as hopefully it will be a memorable race for our team."

Crew Chief Jimmy Fennig on racing at Daytona International Speedway:
"We had some disappointing weekends toward the end of last season, but managed to finish up in Homestead on a good note. We also plan to start on a good note in Daytona next week. David has improved a lot as a driver since his first Daytona 500. Over the off season he has been around the shop quite a bit spending time with the team and has been working with a trainer to get himself in better physical condition. We are taking a brand new car down there so we will be in good shape and can hopefully bring home another top five this year."

Greg Biffle
Team: No. 16 3M Ford Fusion
Crew Chief: Greg Erwin
Chassis: RK-528 Last outing: Backup for Talladega '07

Biffle on racing at Daytona International Speedway:
"We had a decent test at Daytona last month. I'm still a little concerned with visibility issues with these new cars but we'll all be on a level playing field I guess. It should be a good race and being in the Shootout will hopefully help us because with these new cars, every bit of track time helps. Handling is more important than it's ever been at Daytona. Roush Yates engines give us the horsepower we need and we just have to find the rest. As is always the case at Daytona, if we can stay out of trouble, I think we can run up front and get a solid finish to start the season."

Crew Chief Greg Erwin on racing at Daytona International Speedway:
"We're definitely going to focus on race setup from the time we get there. It seems like qualifying matters less and less every year. We decided to bring this car for the 500 because it tested a little better than the car we took to Talladega as our primary. They were both brand new cars but this one just seems better suited for Daytona. We weren't really happy with the way our cars drafted at the test so we came back and changed a few things based on the data we gathered there. I think we're all moving together as a team in the right direction and hopefully that will show at Daytona."

Matt Kenseth
Team: No. 17 DEWALT Ford Fusion
Crew Chief: Chip Bolin
Chassis: RK-518 Last outing: Talladega, Oct. '07 - finished 26th after lap-146 wreck (Tested Daytona in Jan. '08)
RK-545 Last outing: Never raced (Built at end of '07; tested Daytona in Jan. '08)

Kenseth on racing at Daytona International Speedway:
"The Daytona 500 is the biggest race of the year. I think as anybody growing up being a stock-car racing fan, or especially aspiring to be a driver; the Daytona 500 is the biggest race. That's what you dream about as a kid, so the 50th running is obviously probably going to be the biggest Daytona 500 there's been and hopefully we'll have a chance at it.

"I'm looking forward to this season. We've got some changes, but not a lot. Our core group of guys is still in place. Chip (Bolin) is the crew chief now and we've worked together for nine years and if we can't communicate by now, we've got a major problem. We've been working together for a long time and he's been a very, very huge piece of the 17 team since its inception. Chip actually did the 500 last year, and the next three races, so he's kind of ready for it.

"It's going to be good to get back to the track this weekend and start racing again. We've done a lot work this off season and tested a lot over the past two months, so we should be ready for the season and we'll see how well our preparation pays off in the next few weeks."

Crew Chief Chip Bolin on racing at Daytona International Speedway:
"The difference between last year, when I filled in for Robbie, and this year is that last year I didn't have time to get nervous. This year, it's my responsibility to do the prep work to make sure everything is loaded on the truck that we may need and that the cars are ready and that this team is ready to go to Daytona. Before, I just worried about the car.

"Calling a super-speedway race is pretty easy by comparison to other tracks, because there's not a lot of strategy involved. You pit when everyone else pits. We're fortunate enough to have four more team cars to where everyone gets pretty close to the same fuel mileage and we have enough cars that we can all pit together if necessary. We'll usually pit with teammates, or at least the ones we're running around.

"Daytona is a lot different than Talladega although both are often compared to one another. At Talladega, you just focus on getting the car trimmed down to the least drag configuration and don't worry much about handling. But, Daytona has bumps and different grooves and there's much more suspension travel, so you have to treat your setup a lot like you would on intermediate tracks."

Jamie McMurray
Team: No. 26 Crown Royal Cask No. 16 Ford Fusion
Crew Chief: Larry Carter
Chassis: RK-542 Last outing: Brand-new Chassis; Daytona Testing - Jan. 2008
RK-549 Last outing: Brand-new Chassis; Daytona Testing - Jan. 2008

McMurray on racing at Daytona International Speedway:
"It's the Daytona 500 - our biggest race of the year. It's what you think about every week during the off-season; it's what all the guys in shop prepare for weeks leading into the race. And this year, after winning the race at Daytona in July, I'm really excited to get back out there. It always seems that I'm running in the top five or 10 with less than five laps to run at Daytona and something then always happens. Last year, I think we were three laps from the end and I was caught in an accident coming out of turn four, and the year before I was caught in a wreck with just a few laps to go.

"Every year, it's my goal to finish Daytona. It would be amazing to win, but to finish the Daytona 500 for me would be an accomplishment. I know Larry (Carter) and all the guys at the shop have been working hard since Daytona testing to get these cars ready. We have a special paint scheme that we are running at Daytona - it's the Crown Royal Cask No. 16 Ford Fusion. It's a great looking racecar that isn't the signature Crown Royal purple; it's a black and gold car that I'm a huge fan of. Hopefully, we can go out there on Sunday, have a good showing for Crown Royal and finish the race."

Crew Chief Larry Carter on racing at Daytona International Speedway:
"It's hard to believe that the off-season is over and we are getting ready for the Daytona 500. We spent three days down in Daytona last month getting our new cars ready for all three races. It's very helpful to everyone that Jamie is running in the Shootout, and then of course we have the Duels to get everything ready for the race. Our engineers and R&D guys have spent a lot of time with the new car and I think we, as a company, have come a long way with our setups and handling issues that were a challenge last season. The entire No. 26 Crown Royal team is excited to get back to the track and start off the season on a good note."

Carl Edwards
Team: No.99 Office Depot Ford Fusion
Crew Chief: Bob Osborne
Chassis: RK-529, a brand new car

Edwards on racing at Daytona International Speedway:
"The Daytona 500 is the biggest race of the year and I am stoked to race my Office Depot Ford Fusion. My entire team has worked so hard in the off-season preparing for 2008 and I am excited to get started. I am confident in my team and am optimistic that we'll be competitive all year."

Crew Chief Bob Osborne on racing at Daytona International Speedway:
"I can't wait to see the entire Roush Fenway Racing team race together in the Daytona 500. We've worked really hard in the off-season as a team to improve and develop strong Fords and I'm looking forward to seeing our work pay off. I'm sure the race, as always, will be very exciting and I hope to be able to celebrate in victory lane with my Office Depot team once the race is over."

NNS ADVANCES

David Ragan
Team: No. 6 Discount Tire Ford Fusion
Crew Chief: Mike Kelley
Chassis: RK-344 Last ran at Daytona, Jul. '07, finished 34th; Ran at Daytona, Feb. '07, finished 43rd

Ragan on racing in the Nationwide Series at Daytona:
"I am extremely focused for Daytona. I am still annoyed by our disappointing finishes here last year, so we definitely want to start off the season with a good run. We had a solid test session here and I want to really show everyone what kind of team we have. This is one of the biggest races of the year and this Discount Tire team is ready for the challenge. A win is the only thing on my mind this early in the season."

Crew Chief Mike Kelley on racing at Daytona:
"David has proved he is a threat at any restrictor-plate race. The Discount Tire team has worked hard preparing a fast racecar that sets up nicely for this track. We are confident in our speedway program and the plan we have put in place for Saturday's race. We have high expectations for our team this year. Our goal is to win races and contend for a championship. I think we left a lot on the table last year and now it is time to clean up. I am confident we have the team to pull off a memorable finish on Saturday."

Greg Biffle
Team: No. 16 CitiFinancial Ford Fusion
Crew Chief: Eddie Pardue
Chassis: RK-541 (new chassis)

Biffle on racing in the NNS at Daytona International Speedway:
"I can't wait to get to Daytona with the CitiFinancial team. Eddie Pardue and all of the guys have been working really hard all winter to get ready for the 2008 season. Last year we had such bad luck - our results definitely didn't show what we were capable of. I'm excited to get a fresh start. I'm also really excited to welcome CitiFinancial to the team. This will be their Roush Fenway Racing debut and I'm confident we'll give them a strong run."

Crew Chief Eddie Pardue on racing in the NNS at Daytona International Speedway:
"I'm excited to get back to Daytona. I was really happy with our test there a few weeks ago. We're taking a brand new car and I feel confident that Greg will keep it running up front all day. The CitiFinancial team is really looking forward to the new season and starting the year off strong. We've worked hard all winter and we're ready to go."

Matt Kenseth
Team: No. 17 Ritz Ford Fusion
Crew Chief: Drew Blickensderfer
Chassis: RK-334 (new chassis)

Kenseth on racing at Daytona International Speedway:
"It should be fun to get back in the No. 17 Ritz Ford Fusion. I really enjoy Nationwide races, especially at a place like Daytona where I've won before. Drew Blickensderfer and the guys work really hard and they always give me great cars. Going back to last year we've finished in the top five the last three races, so hopefully we can make it four in a row. I'm really excited to have Ritz on the car this weekend. Kraft is a great sponsor and I'm proud to represent the Ritz brand. I couldn't think of a better way to start the year!"

Crew Chief Drew Blickensderfer on racing at Daytona International Speedway:
"I'm looking forward to getting to Daytona. We had good test there a few weeks ago. The guys have been working really hard all winter and I think we'll put a strong run together in Daytona. It's a great track for Matt, he really runs well there. If we can stay out of trouble I definitely think you'll see the Ritz Ford Fusion fighting for the win at the end."

Carl Edwards
Team: No. 60 Scotts Ford Fusion
Crew Chief: Pierre Kuettel
Chassis: RK-368 First run for the No. 60 team

Edwards on racing in NNS at Daytona International Speedway:
"It was just awesome to get back in the car for testing a few weeks ago at Daytona. We have a very fast car and the whole team is pumped. We have Scotts back with us and we are all very excited about that. I can't wait to start racing and defend my championship. We need to stay out of the "big one" and draft well. We need to come out of Daytona with a top 10, or better, and be consistent all year. Daytona is a big race and it would just be awesome to win there. That would be a great start for the year. Racing at Daytona is always a blast and I can't wait to get started with the 2008 season. It should be a great one!"

Crew Chief Pierre Kuettel (P.K.) on racing in NNS at Daytona International Speedway:
"It's hard to believe it's Daytona already. This Scotts team is very motivated and we are ready to start defending the championship. We just need to start the year out strong and be consistent throughout. We are very excited about racing at Daytona; we just need to stay out of trouble. This year is going to be awesome."

NCTS ADVANCES

Colin Braun
Team: No. 6 Con-way Freight Ford F-150
Crew Chief: Mike Beam
Chassis: RK-52 Last outing: Finished third at Daytona in February '07 with Travis Kvapil

Braun on racing at Daytona International Speedway:
"We've done a lot of testing in the off-season and now it's time to get down to business. Although we had an accident in testing, the guys have worked hard to make the truck just as good, if not better than it was. All the Roush Fenway teams showed they were fast at the test since we were 1-2-3 on the first day. I just really have to adjust to the aero of the truck. It is still something I have to consciously think about - how the trucks around me affect the aero of my truck.

"Running up front at Daytona is important, but our goal is to finish the race. I want to run all the laps, and gain all the experience I can. It's easy to lose sight of the big picture when you are fast and up front. You gotta be there at the end."

Crew Chief Mike Beam on racing at Daytona International Speedway:
"We should have a really good truck for Daytona. It was fast at the test, but we had to replace the right side and the front clip after the accident the first day of testing. Based on the wind tunnel data, I feel confident the truck will be every bit as good, if not better, than it was at the test. Colin is learning more about the trucks every time he takes a lap, so after the Daytona and Atlanta tests last month, I think he's ready for this challenge."

Erik Darnell
Team: No. 99 Northern Tool + Equipment Ford F-150
Crew Chief: Matt Puccia
Chassis: RK-31 Last outing: Talladega, October '07 - finished 29th (Raced as the No. 50 driven by Carl Edwards at Daytona last year)

Erik Darnell on racing at Daytona International Speedway:
"We had a very successful test at Daytona last month, we were consistently fast over the course of the three days we were down there. Matt Puccia and all the guys on this Northern Tool + Equipment team worked really hard over the off-season to get the most they could out of these speedway trucks. I think we've got a shot at it if things go our way. Hopefully we'll be able to do what we need to do, and be there at the end."

Crew Chief Matt Puccia on racing at Daytona International Speedway:
"We put quite a bit of emphasis on running well at Daytona. It's important to start out the season strong. We had a good test at Daytona last month, and we think that we've done a few things to make our F-150 even better since then. If we can stay out of the wrecks and have a clean race, we should be a factor at the end."

Joey Clanton
Team: No. 09 Zaxby's Ford F-150
Crew Chief: Chad Norris
Chassis: RK-30 Last outing: Talladega, October '07 - finished 26th (Won at Daytona and Talladega in 2006)

Joey Clanton on racing at Daytona International Speedway:
"I'm looking forward to getting to Daytona and getting things off to a great start with Roush Fenway Racing. We had a great F-150 here in testing last month. It's as good if not better than it was before the wreck we were involved in down there. I think we've got a great chance to put all three Roush Fenway Fords at the front of the field on Friday night."

Crew Chief Chad Norris on racing at Daytona International Speedway:
"We had a really strong truck when we were in Daytona last month for the test, but we got caught up in a wreck early in the session. We used some of what the No. 99 team learned and applied it to this truck when we hung the new body on it. We feel like we've got a great chance to run up front and lead some laps on Friday night."

Front Page

Winnebago Industries Chairman of the Board and CEO Bruce Hertzke (center), President Bob Olson (right of Hertzke), and key Company executives rang the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange February 12 in honor of the Company's 50th anniversary.

Photo: New York Stock Exchange

February 12, 2008 04:55 PM Eastern Time

Winnebago Industries Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary

FOREST CITY, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Winnebago Industries, Inc. (NYSE: WGO), a leading United States motor home manufacturer, celebrated its 50th anniversary by ringing the closing bell on the New York Stock Exchange today. Key executives were on hand to commemorate this special occasion. Winnebago Industries was incorporated on February 12, 1958.

From small beginnings, Winnebago Industries has grown into an RV giant. With just 15 employees and a dream of bringing recreation vehicles to the American people, the Company’s founder, John K. Hanson, turned Winnebago Industries into an American icon. The Company started making travel trailers in 1958. Eight years later in 1966, the first self-contained motor home rolled off the assembly line. Today, Winnebago Industries builds approximately 10,000 motor homes a year. Recently, the Company celebrated the production of its 400,000th motor home.

“Today is a very special day for our Company,” said Winnebago Industries’ Chairman of the Board and CEO Bruce Hertzke. “Fifty years ago today, the most recognized name in motor homes was born. We are extremely proud of our Company, products, dealers and most importantly the people that have made this Company what it is today. We look forward to the next 50 years with promise and the pledge to continue to bring innovative motor homes to the American people.”

About Winnebago Industries, Inc.

Winnebago Industries, Inc. is a leading U.S. manufacturer of motor homes which are self-contained recreation vehicles used primarily in leisure travel and outdoor recreation activities. The Company builds quality motor homes under the Winnebago, Itasca and ERA brand names with state-of-the-art computer-aided design and manufacturing systems on automotive-styled assembly lines. The Company's common stock is listed on the New York and Chicago Stock Exchanges and traded under the symbol WGO. Options for the Company's common stock are traded on the Chicago Board Options Exchange. For access to Winnebago Industries' investor relations material, to add your name to an automatic email list for Company news releases or for information on a dollar-based stock investment service for the Company's stock, visit, http://www.winnebagoind.com/investor.html

February 12, 2008 10:05 AM Eastern Time

For Teens, Driving and Finances Should Go Hand in Hand

New Survey from USAA Suggests Learning to Drive is the Perfect Time to Learn Financial Responsibility

SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A new survey released today by USAA indicates that learning to drive is the ideal time for parents to begin teaching teens the basics of personal money management.

Despite the common perception of teens’ financial dependence on their parents, 76 percent of teens indicate that they do, in fact, contribute to the cost of driving, and nearly half of teens cover the cost of gas largely on their own. With gas prices consistently on the rise, it’s all the more crucial that teens are equipped with the necessary knowledge and tools to cover this and other regular expenses.

“Learning to drive is a major milestone in a young person’s life and with it comes major responsibilities,” said June Walbert, USAA Certified Financial Planner®. “Safety will always be the first priority, but driving a car also has financial implications, so it’s the perfect time for parents to introduce the concept of responsible money management and help teens establish a strong foundation for their future financial success.”

Walbert encourages parents to remember what she refers to as The ABCs of Teen Driving Finances:

Act – Parents and teens must acknowledge the cost of driving and think about how those costs will be paid.

Budget – How much will parents pay and what will the teen contribute? Plan a budget and stick to it.

Communicate – Discussing these expenses and keeping the lines of communication open will help prevent surprises.

“Through honest dialogue, parents and teens can work together to avoid common financial issues that often come with driving while, at the same time, help prepare the teens to make smart financial decisions in the years ahead,” said Walbert.

The good news is that the majority of teens and parents feel good about their teen obtaining a driver’s license, because driving provides teens with the chance to become more responsible. The survey finds 74 percent of teens and 88 percent of parents believe driving allows teens to take on more responsibility. The bad news is that teens don’t have a clue about what’s involved in saving, budgeting and paying for driving costs.

Teens and Parents Need to Talk

More than 90 percent of teens claim to understand the financial responsibilities of driving, but USAA found that many teens lack important direction from their parents on the ultimate cost of driving. Nearly one-third of teens (31 percent) said they have never had a conversation with their parents about costs related to driving, such as car payments, insurance, registration, maintenance, gasoline and other expenses.

Teens Need to Build a Strong Financial Foundation

In addition to talking openly about financial issues, parents need to help their teens become familiar with the financial resources and tools available to them. According to the survey, even teens who pay for all or part of their driving expenses themselves haven’t even begun to assemble some of the necessary tools for building a solid financial future.

68 percent don’t have a checking account
It’s standard for financial institutions to require parental involvement with regard to their teen’s checking account, if the teen is under the age of 18. And it’s typically advantageous for teens to open an account with their parents, as this often makes them eligible for additional benefits from the bank that they may not receive on their own.

50 percent don’t have a debit card through a checking account
By teaching them to properly transact with a debit card and use a checking account, parents can show teens how to monitor and manage cash flow. In turn, this prepares teens for the regular costs they will incur once they get behind the wheel.

Parents Need to Plan for Expenses

The survey also revealed that 76 percent of parents significantly contribute to or cover the cost of their teens’ driving. However, most parents don’t save enough for this expense. In fact, despite the high cost of driving, more than half of parents surveyed aren’t saving at all. When you add up the cost of the car and the ongoing costs described earlier, operating a vehicle costs an average of $8,0001 a year. That’s roughly $2,000 more than the average annual cost of tuition at a four-year public university2, and with gas prices at an all-time high, the expense will only increase.

“While the costs of driving can be significant, parents can avoid theses headaches if they develop a long-term savings plan and stick to it,” says Neale Godfrey, founder, Children’s Financial Network. “It can be as simple as watching a movie at home instead of going to the theater or bringing a brown bag lunch to work — it all adds up and will ensure that you can help your child with their driving expenses.”

The founder of an organization dedicated to the financial literacy of youth, Ms. Godfrey recognizes the importance of communication about finances between parents and their teens. “The USAA study highlights the need — and desire — for dialogue about financial responsibility,” says Ms. Godfrey. “As parents hand their teens the keys to a car, they also need to hand them the keys to a strong financial future.”

One final – but important – tip for parents is to explore all resources available to them with regard to educating their teens about finances. The USAA Educational Foundation (http://www.usaaedfoundation.org) provides families with credible and objective information on how to deal with all of life’s financial situations. One of the Foundation’s many programs is an initiative called Keeping Every Youth Safe (K.E.Y.S.), which provides teens and parents with useful information to begin to understand the full extent of the costs of driving, including the responsibility of insuring the vehicle, ongoing maintenance and the importance of maintaining a good driving record.

About the Survey

The survey was conducted on behalf of USAA by Harris Interactive Service Bureau between Aug. 27 and Sept. 4, 2007. The national sample included 1,000 respondents – 500 teens age 16-18, and 500 parents of teens age 16-18. All teens and parents surveyed had their driver’s license or were preparing to obtain their license within the next year. The results have a margin of error of +/- 4.4 at the 95 percent level of confidence. For More information about the survey, visit www.usaa.com

About USAA

USAA, a diversified financial services company, is a leading provider of competitively priced financial planning, insurance, investments, banking and retirement products. The member-based organization serves those in the military, veterans and their families. For membership and eligibility information, please visit www.usaa.com

About The USAA Educational Foundation

The USAA Educational Foundation is a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization that provides consumer information to the military community and the general public. Since 1989, The USAA Educational Foundation has published information on important personal and financial issues. Educational content, publications and national safety initiatives have been developed for you, the consumer. The founder and sponsor of The USAA Educational Foundation is USAA, a San Antonio, Texas-based financial services company providing auto, homeowners and life insurance products, banking and investment services. The USAA Educational Foundation, however, does not promote or endorse the products or services of any commercial entity.

About Children’s Financial Network

Children's Financial Network, Inc. (CFN) is a company dedicated to worldwide financial literacy through the education of our youth and their parents about money and the values and life skills they'll need to be successful in the world. Financial education is one of the critical keys to success. We actively make our material available to schools both public and private, as well as after-school programs and community based organizations. Our Chairman is Neale S. Godfrey who, after a successful career in the financial world, founded CFN.

1 American Automobile Association’s 2007 edition of Your Driving Costs

2 College Board’s Trends in College Pricing 2006

February 11, 2008 10:00 AM Eastern Time

UPS Awards $75,000 in Scholarships to NASCAR Technical Institute Students

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--UPS (NYSE: UPS) today awarded $75,000 in scholarships to five minority students with NASCAR ambitions. The scholarships demonstrate UPS’s continued commitment to helping NASCAR better reflect a changing workforce and fan base.

The UPS Racing Technical Edge Scholarship awards $15,000 to minority students demonstrating strong academic performance, leadership, participation in community activities and automotive-related career goals and work experience.

“We’re proud to support the career goals of these talented individuals,” said Ron Rogowski, UPS director of sponsorship and events. “UPS and NASCAR are committed to promoting diversity on and off the track.”

Since 2002, UPS has awarded scholarships totaling $450,000 to 30 minority students attending the NASCAR Technical Institute (NTI).

Candidates for the UPS Racing Technical Edge Scholarship must meet the admission criteria of the NTI, which is located in suburban Charlotte, N.C. Designed as the premier training ground for NASCAR hopefuls, NTI is an extension of Arizona-based Universal Technical Institute and combines an automotive technology curriculum with NASCAR-specific coursework.

This year’s recipients of the UPS Racing Technical Edge Scholarship include:

Anthony Asiegbunam, Orlu, Nigeria

Asiegbunam has been fascinated with the automobile industry most of his life. Before moving to the United States in 2004, Asiegbunam worked in the industry for several years in Nigeria. He started attending NTI in 2005 and plans to continue his automotive education after he graduates in March.

Ricardo Barbosa, Los Angeles, Calif.

Barbosa is currently studying automotive technology at NTI, where he has been listed on the Director’s Honors List 10 times. He also is an Alpha Beta Kappa nominee and a winner of the Student of the Course award. After graduating from NTI, Barbosa hopes to work with a race team and offer opportunities to other minority race fans to follow their own NASCAR aspirations.

Aaron Gardner, San Antonio, Texas

Gardner decided to pursue his passion for cars after leaving the military. In addition to being a full time student at NTI, Gardner is working with pit crews in the modified and legends series of racing. He also builds custom grill guards and constructs body lifts for trucks and other 4x4 vehicles. Gardner aspires to own a vehicle maintenance and repair shop known for its commitment to quality service.

Philip Jeffers, Dudley, N.C.

Jeffers’ interest in the automotive industry began when he was a child working with his father on his family’s cars. He even pulled and replaced his first motor when he was only 15. Now a full time student at NTI, Jeffers is an active member of Leaders in NTI Community and a three-time Student of the Course winner. After graduation, Jeffers hopes to work in the performance development unit at Audi.

Rickie Mozie, Jr., Winnsboro, S.C.

Mozie is currently a full-time student at NTI and a Student Diesel Technician at Mack Truck Sales, Charlotte. He has received various academic awards, including the Imagine America Scholarship, NTI’s Live Your Passion Scholarship and 2007 Auto Tech Student of the Year. After completing the program at NTI, Mozie plans to become a Master Certified Technician and work with an established automotive dealership.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., UPS is the world's largest package delivery company and a global leader in supply chain services. Each day, the UPS pit crew of more than 425,000 dedicated employees delivers to more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. For more information, log onto www.racing.ups.com. To get UPS news direct, visit www.pressroom.ups.com/RSS

Front Page

Coronado, Calif. (Oct. 8, 2006) - Historic racecars of group 8 (1966-72 Trans-am cars) complete the first lap during the SRT Coronado Speed Festival at Naval Air Station North Island. Over 200 racecars from 1925 to 1976 competed in 8 classes over the weekend. A display area featured a car show, aircraft and other military units. Speed Fest, held Oct. 7-8, is one of the many events taking place during San Diego Fleet Week.

U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Alan Warner