Jimmy Fennig Wins "IRWIN Crew Chief of the Week" Honors

 VERNON HILLS, Ill., February 26, 2002 - After posting a strong qualifying
time for last weekend's Subway 400, Kurt Busch and the No. 97 team suffered
a bit of bad luck immediately following Saturday's final practice when a
part failure was discovered in the engine.  Due to the newly instituted
"one-engine rule" by NASCAR, the team was forced to abandon its
seventh-place starting position and begin at the back of the field. Despite
this setback, the team's crew chief, Jimmy Fennig, was confident that they
had a car capable enough to post a strong finish and be a top competitor in
the race.  Busch managed to gain a total of 31 track positions throughout
the course of the race and cross the finish line in 12th position, helping
earn Fennig this week's "IRWIN Rough to Finish Award."  

"The team did an outstanding job this past weekend, especially given the
circumstances we were faced with," Fennig said. "I knew that we had a great
car.  We just had to be patient and work our way through the field. This
award is a credit to our whole team, not just one individual."

Each week throughout the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup season, IRWIN, makers of
professional power tool accessories like MARATHON PLUS saw blades and
SPEEDBOR flat bits, is partnering with Performance Racing Network to honor
the crew chief who had the toughest day in the pits, but still managed to
help his team to a strong finish.

"IRWIN is proud to honor the hard-working crew chiefs of NASCAR Winston Cup
Racing with this award," said Chris Connington, Vice President, Marketing,
IRWIN.  "Much like our line of bits and blades optimize a power tool's
performance, these professionals have had to perform in all types of
conditions, with many surprises and under intense pressure.  Through the
course of the race the selected crew has been able to optimize their car's
performance."

The IRWIN Rough to the Finish Award includes an assortment of tools for the
crew chief and a $250 check donated to the Connie Parsons Memorial Fund in
the racing team's name. The year-end winner of the crew chief points
standings will win a $5,000 check donated to the Fund.

In addition to the crew chief award, IRWIN is also sponsoring the weekly
nationally syndicated radio show, "Fast Talk with Benny Parsons", throughout
the upcoming year.  

"Working with Benny Parsons and the PRN family is a natural fit for the
IRWIN bits and blades line," said Connington.  "The NASCAR fan-base is a
hands-on group of people that are driven to do it themselves, if they can.
IRWIN bits and blades are engineered to last long and provide precise cuts
that will help professionals and DIYers do their best work."

IRWIN offers a complete line of saw blades and drill bits. From framing to
the finest trim work; the performance of your bit and/or blade can be the
difference between a long, hard day or one that runs smooth and easy.  IRWIN
specializes in the engineering and the manufacturing of these high
performance bits and blades.  Each is engineered to last, to deliver
precision cuts and to optimize the output of your power tool.  IRWIN drill
bits includes SPEEDBOR wood boring bits, TURBOMAX drill bits, UNI-BIT step
drill bits, and the unique IRWIN multi-purpose drill bits that penetrate
various materials such as brick, marble, plastic, metal, cement and wood.  A
complete list of IRWIN products and capabilities is online at
www.irwintool.com.

IRWIN is a brand of American Tool Companies, Inc., a global manufacturer and
marketer of top-quality hand tools, power tool accessories, clamping tools
and marking tools. American Tool Companies employs more than 4,000 people at
facilities in Illinois, Nebraska, Ohio, Wisconsin, Maine, New York and in 11
other countries.

Other American Tool product lines include VISE-GRIP® locking tools,
QUICK-GRIP® clamping tools, STRAIT-LINE® marking tools and RECORD® hand
tools. For company information, customers can visit www.americantool.com.

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