Discover Card Extends Sponsorship with HAAS CARTER Motorsports For Remainder of Season

    STATESVILLE, N.C.--July 9, 2002--HAAS CARTER Motorsports announced today that Discover(R) Card, one of the nation's leading credit card companies, has extended its primary sponsorship for the remainder of the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season. Todd Bodine will continue as the primary driver of the No. 26 Ford.
    "Discover Card and HAAS CARTER Motorsports are moving toward a successful season," said Carl Haas, co-owner of HAAS CARTER Motorsports. "Discover Card's sponsorship is giving our team the opportunity to focus on racing at a competitive level. In just five events, our performances have steadily improved. With a strong seventh place showing at Daytona, this program is back on track."
    Forging ahead for the balance of the 2002 NASCAR season, the Discover Card Racing program will not only hit the race track every week, but also starting July 14th, the credit card company joins NBC as the title sponsor of the network's pre-race show. Plus, Discover Card race fans will enjoy riding with Todd Bodine courtesy of in-car cameras at all of the races.
    "NASCAR's national growth and popularity remains undeniable," said Richard Lalley, vice president of Advertising at Discover Financial Services, Inc. "For six races, we have participated in a race program that has allowed us to build our brand awareness and we are excited to remain on board with HAAS CARTER Motorsports. With our new association with NBC and our continued sponsorship of the No. 26 race team, we are building strong relationships with our merchant partners as well as passing along the benefits of this sponsorship to our Cardmembers."
    Initially, the Chicago-based credit card company agreed to sponsor the No. 26 HAAS CARTER Ford for six races, beginning on June 2 at Dover International Speedway. It was the first sponsorship of its kind for Discover Card in any form of motorsports. The program also included commercial buys during the FOX LIVE broadcasts as well as in-car cameras.
    Travis Carter, co-owner of HAAS CARTER Motorsports went on to add, "I strongly believe our two organizations can work together to achieve goals needed to have a successful racing program as well as a marketing campaign to put Discover Card in the hands of every NASCAR fan in America. NASCAR fans are incredibly loyal and Carl, myself, as well as the entire No. 26 team, are looking forward to a successful season."

    About Discover Financial Services

    Discover Financial Services, a business unit of Morgan Stanley, operates the Discover Card brands and the Discover Business Services network for its more than 50 million Cardmembers. Discover Business Services is the largest independent credit card network in the United States with approximately 4 million merchants and cash access locations.