What's New in the Industry

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What's New in the Industry

3/21/07 - Are You the Ultimate Tradesman? IRWIN Industrial Tools® and NASCAR Driver Jamie McMurray Want to Know How You Measure Up

3/17/07 - Circles of Hope/Track Force Racing Supplies

3/9/07 - How To Make Sense of Competing Performance Claims

3/8/07 - ASI Racewear Releases All New Driver Merchandise for 2007

3/6/07 - Successful test for Speedcar Series

3/5/07 - Cottage Grove to host three NSCS races

2/23/07 - Country Music Artist Releases New Song for Auto Racing Fans

2/18/07 - BRP TOUR INFORMATIONAL MEETING SCHEDULED

2/16/07 - HANS Device Offers IHRA Contingency Sponsorship

Are You the Ultimate Tradesman? IRWIN Industrial Tools® and NASCAR Driver Jamie McMurray Want to Know How You Measure Up

--Nationwide Contest Will Award Chance to Win $1.26 Million Dollar Prize in Addition to New Roush Supercharged Ford F-150 to the Ultimate Tradesman--

Huntersville, NC - (March 21, 2007) NASCAR NEXTEL Cup driver Jamie McMurray, of the #26 IRWIN Industrial Tools Roush Fenway Racing team, is joining forces with IRWIN Industrial Tools, a Newell Rubbermaid® company, to conduct a nationwide search for America's top tradesman. The IRWIN Ultimate Tradesman Challenge will launch in Texas on April 11 and follow the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series schedule into 14 racing markets throughout the United States, in addition to multiple non-racing markets around the country.

Seventy-five million adult NASCAR fans live in the United States and 27 percent of them earn a living by using tools on the job. IRWIN Industrial Tools is providing these consumers, and others, with the chance to become a millionaire. The Ultimate Tradesman grand-prize winner will receive a new 2007 supercharged Ford F-150 pick-up truck customized by Roush Performance, a dream barbeque with Jamie McMurray and the #26 IRWIN race team at their home, and the chance to win $1.26 million dollars.

"IRWIN tools and accessories are being used on job sites every day by tradesmen all over the country, so we figured, 'Why not create a fun, but competitive contest where people can show off their skills?'" said McMurray. "Speed and precision are essential for success on the race track, and contestants in this promotion will need both of these attributes to be successful in the IRWIN Ultimate Tradesman Challenge."

"Similar to that of a successful race team, Innovation and performance are two hallmarks of IRWIN Industrial Tools. In fact, our heritage is based on exceeding the expectations of the tradesman that uses our products. We created the Ultimate Tradesman Challenge to share our passion for tools and accessories with professional tradesmen and DIYers, and reach our end users where they work, play, buy and learn," said Ira Gleser, marketing communications director for IRWIN Industrial Tools.

The Ultimate Tradesman Challenge will travel around the country from April through November making stops in the following NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race markets: Atlanta, Dallas, Phoenix, Talladega, Ala., Richmond, Va., Charlotte, N.C., Pocono, Pa., Kansas City, Kan., Daytona, Fla., Chicago, Watkins Glen, N.Y., Michigan, Dover, Del. and Fontana, Calif. Additionally, local challenge events will be held in multiple markets across the country.

Contestants can visit local retailers and industrial distributors, Wednesday through Friday during race week, to enter the Ultimate Tradesman Challenge. Each participant will be asked to measure, mark and drill a piece of wood, using IRWIN tools, as quickly and accurately as possible.

Contestants with the 30 fastest times in the local market challenges will advance to regional events to be held in May (Charlotte), September (metro Los Angeles) or November (Texas). The three regional finalists will then compete against each other for the title of "Ultimate Tradesman" on November 11 during the Phoenix race weekend and the ultimate tradesman will be given a chance to win $1.26 million.

Local challenge event winners will receive race tickets to their local race and IRWIN apparel and merchandise. Regional challenge winners will receive a $10,000 cash prize, race tickets, an IRWIN racing jacket and an IRWIN tool bag filled with professional grade product.

The IRWIN Industrial Tools Ultimate Tradesman Challenge is another example of the company's commitment to its distributor partners and end users. IRWIN is constantly seeking innovative and performance tested products to make the end user experience more productive and efficient. Steadfast in its dedication to NASCAR and their partnership with Roush Fenway Racing, IRWIN Industrial Tools returns to McMurray's # 26 Ford for the 2007 season as the primary sponsor for eleven events, including races in Atlanta, Charlotte, Talladega and Daytona.

For a full event schedule and more details on the IRWIN Industrial Tools Ultimate Tradesman Challenge, visit www.irwinchallenge.com.

IRWIN Industrial Tools manufactures and distributes professional grade hand tools and power tool accessories worldwide for trade professionals who demand superior performance and durability on the job. IRWIN Industrial Tools' brand portfolio features user-preferred category leaders such as IRWIN®, VISE-GRIP® locking tools, MARATHON® circular saw blades, QUICK-GRIP® clamping tools, SPEEDBOR® flat bits, STRAIT-LINE® marking tools, Unibit® step drill bits and HANSON® taps and dies. IRWIN Industrial Tools is a Newell Rubbermaid company. For more information about IRWIN's line of hand tools and power tool accessories, call 1-800-GO IRWIN or visit www.irwin.com.

About Roush Fenway Racing
Roush Fenway Racing is NASCAR's largest team operating 13 motorsports teams, five in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup with drivers Matt Kenseth, Jamie McMurray, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and David Ragan; five in the Busch Series with Kenseth, Biffle, Edwards, McMurray, Ragan, Todd Kluever, Michel Jourdain Jr. and Danny O'Quinn Jr.; and three in the Craftsman Truck Series with Edwards, Peter Shepherd, Travis Kvapil and Erik Darnell. For more information on any of the Roush Fenway Racing teams, log onto www.RoushFenway.com.

March 17, 2007 - My name is Steve Brandt Sr, founder of Circles of Hope, which is a
foundation that helps the children of racing families that have challenging
health issues. We hold fundraisers at various times and places both for the
children and for Circles of Hope.

We have recently teamed up with Track Force Racing Supplies of Kirksville,
Mo which sells high performance parts, tires, fuels, and builds Komet
Chassis, and are releasing the following press release for all racers to
see. Our goal is to raise money to help the children by participating in a
modified chassis Give a Way donated by Track Force Racing Supplies. The Give
a Way is worth $2500.00 and growing!

We would appreciate it if you would release this on your website for all of
your readers to read. Without help from others, we cannot succeed in our
mission to grant these children's wishes.

If you have any questions about Circles of Hope or the Give a Way please
visit our websites, www.circlesofhope.net and
www.trackforceracingsupplies.com , email me or call me. I would love to
hear from you.
Thank you,
Steve Brandt Sr.
www.circlesofhope.net
309-472-6340

3/9/07 - Background: - Head & neck restraints are highly technical products designed for one reason only - to save lives. As the industry leader in this technology HANS Performance Products is pleased to provide these guidelines for reviewing and evaluating competitive safety products like head & neck restraints.

3. Where does the product's fundamental performance rank in comparison with other products that perform the same function?

- Has the product won any peer-reviewed industry awards?

For more information on evaluating safety products or the HANS Device head & neck restraint, please contact Andrea Walker at 770-457-1046 or marketing@hansdevice.com

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ASI Racewear Releases All New Driver Merchandise for 2007

DEER PARK, NY (March 8, 2007)- ASI Racewear has released a whole new line of driver merchandise for 2007 for your favorite national dirt late model stars including the 3-time national champion Earl Pearson Jr./Bobby Labonte Motorsports new apparel. Other new driver merchandise includes apparel for national stars such as Brian Birkhofer, Matt Miller, Clint Smith, Chris Wall, Steve Francis, Shane Clanton, Wendell Wallace, Garrett Durrett and several other drivers. ASI Racewear also has plenty of the new ASI STARS and CARS 2007 Dirt Late Model Calendars still available. This professionally designed calendar is a 19 month calendar starting December of 2006 and running through June 2008. The calendar is family friendly and contains numerous late model drivers from all cross the country with each month devoted to one of your favorite drivers in dirt late models. Drivers included in this one-of-a kind calendar include Don O'Neal, Chub Frank, Billy Moyer, Dale McDowell, Rick Eckert, Brian Birkhofer, Shannon Babb, Matt Miller, Earl Pearson Jr, Clint Smith, Steve Francis, Timmy McCreadie, Josh Richards, Chris Wall, Eddie Carrier Jr, Wendell Wallace and Steve Shaver.

To purchase your favorite driver apparel and the new calendars you can go to ASI Racewears website at http://www.asiwear.com/racewear_Store.htm and purchase merchandise online or you can call their offices and purchase them by phone at 1-877-ASIWEAR and speak to a customer representative directly. The new online merchandise store is completely secured and accepts major credit cards for purchases.

Fans wanting to purchase their favorite driver merchandise or the new calendars will find the ASI Racewear official vendor trailer at Columbus Speedway in Columbus, MS this weekend for the two unsanctioned dirt late model events. The ASI Racewear vendor trailer will travel to Cleveland Motor Speedway in Cleveland TN for the March 17th "Shamrock75" and then head to all three World of Outlaw Late Model Series sanctioned shows on March 23, 24 and 25th. The final weekend of March will find the ASI Racewear vendor trailer at Brownstown Speedway in Brownstown IN on Saturday March 31st.

ASI Racewear has ventured into the dirt late model industry and has caught the attention of some of the top drivers in the country. ASI Racewear is utilizing some of the latest technology in the graphic art business and creating some of the most popular T-shirt designs on the market. ASI Sportswear has been in business since 1977 and has purchased a brand new 40' vendor trailer to take to dirt late model events including the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, World of Outlaws Late Model Dirt, O'Reilly's Southern Allstar Series, MACS Series, WDRL Series, UMP sanctioned events and numerous unsanctioned events including all the crown jewel events in 2007.

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March 6th, 2007 - The first testing day of the brand new Speedcar Series has been hailed a success by drivers and engineers.

Former Formula One drivers Jean Alesi, Johnny Herbert, Stefan Johansson, and Gianni Morbidelli, were joined by American stock car racers Mike Bliss and Tony Avy, to test three of the championship's 600bhp cars at the Virginia International Raceway, USA, on Monday (March 5th), completing over 90 laps in total.

The inaugural championship is scheduled to begin in November, with 24 identical cars competing on tracks across Asia and the Middle East.

The drivers were delighted with how the first test had gone, Jean Alesi said: "It is one of the few cars I have dreamt of driving, and it's like I expected - lots of fun and really powerful! For me it's a real pleasure, and having fun in a car is so important for drivers. When you have fun with the car you have a fun championship."

Johnny Herbert agreed, he said: "It was great to finally get behind the wheel of a car that is very drivable and fun as well. I think that this will make for good racing once the series starts. The power of the car was surprisingly good, but more importantly the drivability gave great feedback. All in all we have a fantastic prospect for some great racing."

Stefan Johansson commented: "I'm pleased how well the car is performing, and how high the grip level is. I didn't expect this. So far all has gone really well and I am really excited to start racing soon."

Gianni Morbidelli added: "I am very enthused - it is the most fun car to drive, very simple, very powerful and well balanced. I am sure it will offer us the possibility of a great championship."

The series' engineers were also happy following the debut test, Benjamin Durand, Speedcar Series technical manager, said: "We are very pleased with the work done on the car and engine. It's been a good shake down with no major problems, and everybody is happy with the handling of the car. Now, the work really starts in order to be ready for November, but everything is on schedule."

Peter Guild, Speedcar Series engineer added: "From an engine standpoint, we are adjusting the fuel injection mapping, to get the best acceleration and performance. The drivers feel that the power band of the engine is very good and crisp. We are gathering more and more data that will help us to adjust the engine power band and car gear ratios for the tracks that we shall be going to."

COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. – March 05, 2007- Bob and Russell Leach’s Cottage Grove Speedway has always been an exciting stop for the Northwest’s traveling 360 sprint car racers and has long been a fan favorite. That tradition will continue in 2007 as Cottage Grove will be host to the new Northwest Sprint Challenge Series on three occasions.

Cottage Grove, a large ¼-mile, semi-banked clay oval located a short drive south of Eugene, is known for its scenic setting as well as its intense racing. Even on the sunniest and warmest days of the year, fans on the main grandstands on the front stretch get to sit in the cozy shade as the track is almost completely surrounded by trees. That makes for a near perfect setting for people to watch the sprint car action on one of the country’s fastest ¼-mile clay ovals.

All three events will also be in their usual days as in years past, the traditional Sunday show on Memorial weekend, a Tuesday show in July, and the annual Saturday show in September.

“The Grove – West” will first welcome the NSCS on Sunday, May 27 as the series concludes its three-day Memorial Weekend swing through Oregon. Last year’s event under Northern Sprint Tour sanction was lost to rainfall that wiped out the entire Memorial Weekend slate for the series. In 2005, Travis Rutz of Langley, British Columbia delivered one of the most dominating performances ever seen in the Northwest, lapping everyone but second place finisher and eventual series champion Billy Nutter of Central Point, Ore.

As in the past with the Northern Sprint Tour, Cottage Grove will also be a part of Northwest Speed Week. Cottage Grove will again host the Tuesday night race on July 24. Hometown racer and reigning series champion Danny Horner sent Cottage Grove’s local fans home very happy as he won last year’s Speed Week race en route to the title. Horner also captured the 360 sprint car title at Cottage Grove in 2006. In 2005 California legend Brent Kaeding earned his second straight win of the week and in 2004 it was Roger Crockett who earned the victory in a curfew-shortened event on his way to his fourth straight NST championship.

Cottage Grove will host the final Oregon event on the inaugural NSCS season schedule on Saturday, September 8. Unlike the prior two events this race will award double points, making it even more important for the front runners to finish well and creating the potential for more competitive racing.

Seth Bergman of Snohomish, Washington captured his first series victory in last September’s event at Cottage Grove. In 2005 Andy Forsberg, who won last year’s Civil War Series championship in California, picked up his first Northern Sprint Tour win ahead of Crockett. The 2004 race was rained out and in 2003 it was Crockett who picked up the victory over Washington’s Jayme Barnes.

Grandstand admission to NSCS events at Cottage Grove Speedway is $15 for adults. More information on the Northwest Sprint Challenge Series can be found online at www.racenscs.com and Cottage Grove’s website can be found at www.cottagegrovespeedway.com.

2007 Northwest Sprint Challenge Series events at Cottage Grove Speedway – Cottage Grove, Oregon

Sunday, May 27 (Memorial Weekend finale) Tuesday, July 24 (Northwest Speed Week) Saturday, September 8 (Double-points)

Norwalk, CT, 2/23/07: Enloit Enterprises, LLC today announced the introduction of their latest product; a country music song for auto racing fans. The song, titled “Jesus Is My Spotter – The Race Car Driver’s Anthem”, was created in partnership with country music recording sensation, Tim Malchak. Released just in time for the start of the 2007 racing season, the song is currently making its international debut with a distribution to approximately 2,100 country music radio stations, worldwide.

Jesus Is My Spotter – The Race Car Driver’s Anthem is an inspirational song about the action of auto racing from the perspective of a professional race car driver who must rely on his/her faith in a time of crisis to provide much-needed confidence. Spotters are integral members of the racing team who sit atop the grandstand at race tracks and continuously monitor the action through binoculars, communicating verbal intelligence to their driver about pending danger. Drivers in stock car racing leagues can travel mere inches apart at speeds close to 200 MPH. In such tense situations, it is oftentimes valuable for the driver to gain perspective from above. “The guidance that a spotter provides to their race car driver closely parallels the sense of direction that Christians receive in everyday life from their faith”, says Tim Malchak. The role of a spotter can best be described from the lyrics to the song: “The voice that’s in my radio is guiding me on where to go to keep me safe this long, hot afternoon.”

Enloit’s Managing Partner and song co-writer, Joe McCaffrey, stated, “Jesus Is My Spotter – The Race Car Driver’s Anthem is a traditional country song with a contemporary sound. There’s other racing-themed music out there, but what’s unique about this song is that it’s written exclusively from the perspective of the professional race car driver. It captures the action of racing from the driver’s vantage point.” McCaffrey added, “The racing community, particularly the NASCAR fan base, are notoriously enthusiastic country music fans who are also deeply committed to their faith. The confluence of auto racing, Christianity, and country music is a natural fit, which is why we created this song”.

Responding to the overwhelming changes in the music industry – specifically, the consumer’s demonstrated preference of purchasing music as individual tracks, as opposed to full-length CD’s - Enloit Enterprises elected to release Jesus Is My Spotter – The Race Car Driver’s Anthem as a single compilation mini-album, which includes a full band and acoustic version of the title track, as well as the performance tracks for each. Digital versions of each track are available from various online music sites, including Apple’s iTunes store and Napster. The compact disc has a suggested retail price of $5.99 and is available directly from Enloit Enterprises’ web site, www.Enloit.com, where visitors can also preview the line of related apparel and accessory products.

Tim Malchak is an accomplished country music recording artist. With a career in song-writing and record-making that spans nearly three decades, Tim Malchak has performed with a veritable “who’s who” in the entertainment industry and earned numerous honors including placement on Billboard Magazine’s Top 10 New Country Artists in 1987. Tim Malchak’s musical career has repeatedly landed him on the country charts with such hits as, I Could Love You in a Heartbeat, Easy Does It, Colorado Moon, Restless Angel, Not Like This, and If You Had a Heart. McCaffrey adds, “The song, Jesus Is My Spotter – The Race Car Driver’s Anthem, mixes Tim’s country roots with a light Christian theme to create an inspirational and memorable tribute song that is sure to be a favorite amongst the nearly 100 million strong motor racing fan base.” Tim Malchak has also released several albums in the Christian genre and operates a ministry in Bluffton, SC that bears his name (www.TimMalchak.com).

Enloit Enterprises, based in Norwalk, CT, is a market-leading brand merchandising company serving the Christian racing fan market. Enloit’s wholly-owned subsidiaries include JesusIsMySpotter.com and ChristianRacingFan.com. Additional information about the song, including the lyrics and a sample audio clip, as well as the remarkably inspirational story about the making of the song, are available at www.Enloit.com/Song.

February 18, 2007 - The BRP Modified Tour will have an informational meeting for all Big Block Modified drivers on Saturday, February 24th. The meeting will be held at Big Daddy’s Speed Shop located at 139 Gasper Road, Grove City, PA. Big Daddy’s Speed Shop is approximately 1.5 miles south of Exit 24 of I-80. The meeting will begin promptly at 9:00AM.

Modified Tour Board Members will be discussing the tentative 2007 Tour schedule as well at the Tour’s plans for the future. The Modified Tour Board Members need and are encouraging input from the area’s Modified competitors as they attempt to increase the Big Block Modified Division’s exposure in the Tri-State area.

Any individuals unable to attend the meeting are encouraged to contact Modified Tour Director, Ed Sanner at esanner@zoominternet.net with issues they would like addressed.

In addition the BRP Modified Tour is also updating their e-mail address list. Drivers, media representatives, fans and other interested parties that would like receive the Tour’s press releases are asked to forward their information to Marcie Barlow at Marcie@modifiedTourInc.com.

For all of the latest news on the BRP Modified Tour’s stop by the series website at www.modifiedtourinc.com.

The Modified Tour Inc. racing series is a non-profit organization established to give the V-8 Modifieds in the Western Pennsylvania area a chance to compete with one another for a higher purse structure and for a point fund for the races that are run. Started in 1998 by Tim Engles, Lon and Pam Baker and Randy Myers the Modified Tour has had great success at bringing the local cars together at the area racetracks.

Atlanta, Georgia (February 16, 2007) - HANS Performance Products joins IHRA's contingency sponsorship program for 2007.

The HANS Device program covers IHRA National Pro classes. Winners in Top Fuel, Pro Modified, Funny Car Alcohol, Funny Car Nitro, and Pro Stock can claim $500 cash awards. Runners up qualify for $100.

Mark Stiles, HANS Performance Products' CEO, commented, "IHRA has been very responsible in mandating head and neck restraints in Pro classes for 2007. By far, HANS Devices lead the industry in performance, and this program gives us a direct way of supporting the foremost IHRA competitors as they respond to the need for increased safety measures."

Mark added, "New recruit Jeff Garvin brings tremendous industry experience to our team. He is focused entirely on programs to help our dealers better understand the needs of their drag racing customers. Jeff will also provide racers with specialty support at the strip throughout the year."

HANS Devices are available throughout North America via a network of over 150 dealers. South Carolina based Factory Trained dealer Vickery's Speed Shop will be in the midway at most IHRA National events to provide specialty sales and support.

Details and information about IHRA are available on their website www.ihra.com or by calling 419-663-6666.

Details and information about Vickery's Speed Shop are available on their website www.vickeryspeedshop.com or by calling 864-224-5388.

Contingency decals and other details and information about HANS Performance Products are available on the company’s website www.hansdevice.com or by calling 770-457-1046 or 1-888-HANS-999.

The acronym HANS and its derivative styles (uppercase, lowercase, logo, etc.) is a trademark, registered in the U.S. and other countries worldwide to Hubbard/Downing, Inc., d/b/a HANS Performance Products, Atlanta, Georgia.