Discount Auto Parts, Inc. Announces Board of Director and Other Changes

    LAKELAND, Fla.--March 15, 2001--Discount Auto Parts, Inc. today announced that E.E. "Herb" Wardlow has resigned his position as an outside Board member of the Company, effective February 20, 2001. Mr. Wardlow cited health concerns as the reason for his resignation. Commenting on the announcement, Peter J. Fontaine, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer said, "Herb Wardlow has been both a mentor and a friend not only to me but to many of our team members. We greatly value the numerous contributions made by Herb, both as a director and as a coach, and wish him well in his retirement."
    Immediately following Mr. Wardlow's resignation, Donald W. Olson was named to fill the open director position. Mr. Olson is the former owner and operator of Florida-based Olson Tire Total Car Care, a chain of automotive service centers, which today has over 164 locations. Mr. Olson brings his significant experience, particularly as to the needs of the commercial sector of the automotive aftermarket, to the Discount Auto Parts board of directors.
    The Company also announced that Peter J. Fontaine, the largest beneficial owner of its stock, resigned as a trustee of the Glenda A. Fontaine Marital Trust and of certain related trusts effective as of March 9, 2001, resulting in Mr. Fontaine reducing his beneficial interest in the stock of the Company from approximately 7,079,423 shares or 42.4% to 4,103,509 shares or 24.6%. A Schedule 13D amendment will be filed shortly to reflect this change in beneficial ownership. Mr. Fontaine said, "Although, in my view, I have been able to fairly represent the interests of the beneficiaries of the trust while also acting in the best interests of Discount Auto Parts, more and more I was finding that my views of what was in the best interest of these particular trusts were different from the views of my co-trustee in this regard. By virtue of my resignation, the trusts should be able to deal with their beneficially owned Discount Auto Parts shares as they see fit while I am now left with a beneficial ownership of only that stock in the Company in which I maintain the full financial interest."
    Discount Auto Parts, Inc. is one of the Southeast's leading specialty retailers and suppliers of automotive replacement parts, maintenance items and accessories to both DIY consumers and professional mechanics and service technicians. The Company currently operates stores located throughout Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and South Carolina.