RACING CHAMPIONS ERTL AND SEAR'S CRAFTSMAN TOOLS
TO CO-SPONSOR NHRA RACE
Glen Ellyn, Ill. (SEPTMEBER 12, 2002)-Racing
Champions Ertl (NASDAQ:RACN) has partnered with Sear's Craftsman
Tools to co-sponsor the upcoming National Hot Rod Association (NHRA)
Nationals event at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois, September
26-29. The race, to be called the "Craftsman 75th Anniversary
NHRA Nationals presented by Racing Champions," is part of a
year-long celebration of Craftsman's introduction in 1927.
The event will combine the race sponsorship with TV, print, Internet,
and trackside promotional tie-ins for Racing Champions and the Sear's
Craftsman brand. In addition, Racing Champions will produce a variety
of die-cast collectibles for in-store tie-ins, starting with a 1:64-scale
die-cast replica of the Craftsman Funny Car driven by Dale Creasy,
Jr.
Featuring the unique 75th Anniversary paint scheme that Creasy has
been running at NHRA events this summer, the model will be produced
in a limited edition. While supplies last, it will be given away
to Sears customers during the Sears National Hardware Sale, September
29-October 14, with any $75 purchase of Craftsman tools.
"This agreement is an excellent example of the way we can leverage
our existing relationships to develop unique promotional ideas,"
said Peter Henseler, President of Racing Champions Ertl. "We've
worked with the NHRA for years, and we're delighted to bring them
together with another high-visibility American icon-Craftsman tools-at
this event. It's a good example of the way we can pull together
a complete turn-key promotional concept involving major partners
to everyone's benefit. We're proud to team up with Craftsman to
celebrate their anniversary by co-sponsoring the NHRA Nationals
event."
Racing Champions Ertl (www.rcertl.com) is a leading producer and
marketer of innovative collectibles and toys targeted at males of
all ages. The Company's diverse product offerings include scaled
die-cast replicas of John Deere agricultural equipment and NASCAR
stock cars, other licensed vehicle replicas, pre-teen toys, sports
trading cards, racing apparel and souvenirs, and collectible figures.
These products are sold under the Company's market-focused brand
names, including Racing Champions®, Ertl®, Ertl Collectibles®,
American Muscle™, AMT®, W. Britain®, Press Pass®,
and JoyRide Studios™. The Company reinforces its brands and
enhances the authenticity of its products by linking them with highly
recognized licensed properties including NASCAR, NHRA, John Deere,
Harley-Davidson, Case IH, Polaris, Honda, Caterpillar, Ford, GM,
Chrysler, Texaco, Warner Brothers, Gullane Entertainment, Nintendo,
Sega, and Electronic Arts. The Company's products are marketed through
multiple channels of distribution, including mass retailers and
specialty and hobby wholesalers and retailers, OEM dealers, and
to corporate accounts for promotional purposes. The Company sells
through more than 20,000 retail outlets located in North America,
Europe, and Asia Pacific.
According to a 2001 EquiTrend survey, Craftsman is rated the number-one
brand in the nation for overall quality. Sears sells more than 1,800
Craftsman hand tools, all made in America and guaranteed forever.
Sears offers Craftsman tools, merchandise, and related services
nationwide through its full-line stores, Sears Hardware, Sears dealer
stores, and Orchard Supply Hardware stores, as well as through specialty
catalogs and online at www.sears.com.
Certain statements contained in this release contain "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by the use
of forward-looking words or phrases such as "anticipate,''
"believe,'' "could,'' "expect,'' "intend,''
"may,'' "planned,'' "potential,'' "should,''
"will'' and "would.'' Such forward-looking statements
are inherently subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties.
Such uncertainties and other operational matters are discussed further
in the Company's quarterly and annual filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission. The Company's actual results and future
developments could differ materially from the results or developments
expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. The
Company undertakes no obligation to make any revisions to the forward-looking
statements contained in this release or to update them to reflect
events or circumstances occurring after the date of this release.
