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Charlotte, NC. (March 10, 2003) - Press Pass Eclipse 2003 continues the Press Pass tradition of offering collectors the very best in NASCAR trading cards and innovative race-used memorabilia cards. New for 2003 are Under Cover Signature Series autographed event-used car cover cards. "Under Cover Signature Series cards are numbered to the driver's door number and will be available in distinct hobby and retail versions," explains Mandy Kirkland, product manager for Press Pass, a division of Racing Champions (NASDAQ: RACN). "In addition to the new Signature Series insert, Under Cover and Double Cover memorabilia inserts feature driver-specific and dual car covers of NASCAR Winston Cup teammates". Another race-used memorabilia card, Skidmarks, utilizes shavings of race-used tire as a design enhancement. Collectors won't have to look too far to find one of the many memorabilia cards in Eclipse 2003 since there are at least two memorabilia cards in each hobby box (car covers 1:18, Skidmarks 1:18).

Press Pass Eclipse includes the limited edition Press Pass Autograph program that also appears in the Press Pass 2003 brand. Exclusively in Eclispe, collectors can find Press Pass Teammates Autographs featuring driver signature pairs such as Sterling Marlin & Jamie McMurray on the same card (hobby only). Other inserts include the first installment of a special Press Pass 10th Anniversary retrospective of the top Dale Earnhardt, Sr. cards of all time. The series begins with Eclipse and will run through early 2004. These cards can be found in both a silver foil stamped version and a special hobby-only gold foil stamped version that is sequentially numbered to 250.

Press Pass Eclipse 2003 also features the yearlong memorabilia program that includes the Double Burner insert, which features a piece of race-used firesuit and glove embedded in the same card. Double Burner cards will be inserted throughout all Press Pass hobby products during the year. Triple Burner contains a piece of race-used tire rubber, sheet metal, and lugnut all embedded into one card and can be found exclusively in all Press Pass retail products in 2003. In addition, Total Memorabilia Power Pick contest cards will be inserted in all 2003 Press Pass NASCAR releases and offer collectors the opportunity to win every memorabilia card produced of top NASCAR superstars. In addition to a multi-level memorabilia and autograph program, Press Pass Eclipse 2003 provides collectors with super premium card stock that features exciting designs and superior printing technologies. Product release date is slated for March 11.

Racing Champions (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 offering includes 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 our products by linking them with highly recognized licensed properties including NASCAR, NHRA, John Deere, 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.

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