Bill Lester to Drive No. 8 Dodge Dealers Ram Truck for Bobby Hamilton Racing

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Nov. 16 -- Dodge Motorsports and Bobby Hamilton Racing today announced that Bill Lester will join the 2001 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Manufacturers title-winning Dodge factory racing program for the 2002 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS). Lester will drive the No. 8 Dodge Dealers Ram 1500 for Bobby Hamilton Racing.

Lester was selected from a number of experienced candidates. The 40-year- old Oakland, Calif. native and current Atlanta resident tested with the Hamilton team and competed in five races in Hamilton's No. 4 Dodge Ram during the 2001 NCTS season.

``This is simply a dream come true,'' Lester said. ``I've wanted to be a full-time professional racing driver for a long time and I've worked hard for a lot of years for just this kind of opportunity. My wife and I have made many sacrifices in pursuit of my goal and I am pleased to reward both her support and belief in me. I look forward to driving the No. 8 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Dodge Ram for Bobby Hamilton Racing, and I hope to do both Dodge and Bobby Hamilton proud.

``I could not ask to be a part of a better racing team than Bobby Hamilton Racing. They already feel like my second family. I get along great with everybody, and I feel right at home there. I know that I am joining a very accomplished and successful team and would like nothing more than to bring a greater level of accomplishment and pride to this organization by winning Rookie of the Year honors and vying for the NCTS Championship, while helping Dodge defend its 2001 Manufacturer of the Year title.''

Bobby Hamilton Racing, with three wins and a third-place finish in the standings, outperformed most NCTS teams this year, but sees the full-time addition of Lester as an opportunity to further enhance his team's competitiveness in 2002.

``I'm looking forward to next year,'' said Bobby Hamilton, owner, Bobby Hamilton Racing. ``Lester will be a great addition to the Dodge one-team family. He will be a great spokes-person for Dodge and their dealers across the country. After a lot of testing over the last year, I feel like Lester has both on-track talent and off track presence. That can help him be a successful addition to not only this team, but the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.''

In its second year of operation, the Dodge Motorsports Diversity Program creates a development process for enhancing the racing careers of both minority drivers and racing technicians. As part of the diversity initiative, Dodge will serve as primary sponsor of the Hamilton-owned Dodge Ram 1500 that Lester will drive in the 2002 NCTS season.

``Dodge and DaimlerChrysler have been very proactive in ensuring that our workforce is diverse,'' said Ray Richard, Dodge Motorsports NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Program Manager. ``When we met with NASCAR at the beginning of 2000 to announce our return to the Winston Cup, one of our goals was to create a program that could bring the same diversity we see in our workforce into motorsports.''

``Having a factory backing with Bobby Hamilton Racing, which is obviously one of our best teams, is going to provide Bill Lester with an opportunity that a lot of people yearn for,'' added Richard. ``And, if he does well, he'll be in a good position to move up to Cup or Busch.''

Dodge also has funded a scholarship program that provides important training in the racing field and offers graduates placement opportunities within the Dodge Motorsports family. Yet another example of Dodge's commitment to achieving diversity in NASCAR, the Dodge Motorsports scholarship program gives aspiring minority students a hands-on, NASCAR-based racing technology education. Annually, up to six scholarships are awarded to deserving students.

This year's scholarship winners are currently enrolled at the Houston Campus of Universal Technical Institute (UTI) -- the only technical school in the nation that is officially licensed by NASCAR. The students are in the first phase of study, which involves a 45-week program tailored to give them a thorough understanding in general automotive theory and practice.

Upon receiving their diploma, scholarship recipients enroll in a specialized six-week, NASCAR-specific elective program currently offered only at UTI's Houston campus. The program provides students an intensive NASCAR curriculum, including the sport's history, rules and regulations, engine building and development, and chassis theory.

When the NASCAR Technical Institute (NASCAR Tech) opens in Charlotte, N.C., in summer of 2002, a scholarship recipient may alternately elect to complete studies there, in place of an existing UTI campus. The course schedule at NASCAR Tech will offer students a 13-month program, which will include the basic nine-month general automotive training program currently available at UTI, along with a more comprehensive four-month NASCAR-specific course. NASCAR studies include chassis fabrication, paint and bodywork, engine building, and integration of hands-on race team programs.

Application information for 2002 Dodge diversity scholarships will be posted on the http://www.4aDodge.com website early next year.