Racing Champions(R) Announces New Licensing Agreement with PPI Racing and The Procter & Gamble Company for the #32 Ricky Craven/Tide Team

GLEN ELLYN, Ill., Feb. 11 Racing Champions announced today that a new multi-product and trackside vending license agreement has been reached through a joint licensing agreement with PPI Racing and The Procter & Gamble Company. Under the terms of this agreement, Racing Champions will produce and market apparel, souvenirs, and novelties related to the #32 Ricky Craven/Tide race team, which competes in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. The company's rights include exclusive distribution at all NASCAR Winston Cup Series events for all products. Under separate agreements, the company also has obtained rights to produce die cast, as well as rights to produce Press Pass trading cards featuring the driver and team.

Peter Henseler, President of Racing Champions, said, ``We are very excited to take our current relationships with Procter & Gamble and the PPI race team to a new and higher level. When Racing Champions entered the NASCAR die cast business in 1989, Tide was one of the very first sponsors to grant us a license. Today, for Tide to grant us the exclusive right to represent their licensed product sales at NASCAR events, is testimony to the great partnership we've had over the years''

Brian MacNamara, Tide Brand Manager, said, ``We are pleased to have Racing Champions represent us track side. We know how important it is for fans to be able to demonstrate support for their favorite drivers and teams. We have a great fan base and know Racing Champions will provide our fans with a wide array of merchandise.''

Cal Wells, President of PPI Racing, said, ``Our team is very pleased to have a partner the caliber of Racing Champions to represent us at the NASCAR Winston Cup events. It's very important to our sponsor, Tide, as well as Ricky and our team to have as equal a presence and product line at the NASCAR races as the other top teams, and Racing Champions has a great reputation for their trackside operation.''

Racing Champions ( www.rcertl.com ) is a leading producer and marketer of innovative collectibles and toys sold in multiple channels of distribution and available at more than 20,000 retail outlets. The company sells Racing Champions® NASCAR and NHRA die-cast racing replicas, souvenirs and apparel; American Muscle(TM) collectible die-cast vehicle replicas; officially licensed die-cast and preschool products based on automobiles, trucks, agricultural, heavy equipment, and powered recreational and sport vehicles under the Ertl® brand; AMT® model kits; Press Pass® trading cards; and, under the direction of its JoyRide Studios(TM) group, video game figures and vehicles. High- profile licensing partners include NASCAR, NHRA, John Deere, Case IH, Polaris, Honda, Caterpillar, Ford, GM, Chrysler, Texaco, and Warner Brothers.