Jimmy Fennig Leads IRWIN Crew Chief of the Year Honors

Halfway Through the Season, No. 97 Crew Chief Jimmy Fennig Leads 
IRWIN Crew Chief of the Year Standings 
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> VERNON HILLS, Ill., July 23, 2002 - Midway through the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup season, Jimmy Fennig, crew chief of the No. 97 Rubbermaid Ford, leads a tightly contested race for the IRWIN Crew Chief of the Year honors.  Winston Cup crew chiefs qualify for the honor by winning the weekly > "> IRWIN Rough to the Finish> ">  Award, which recognizes the crew chief who managed to help his team to a strong finish despite a tough day in the pits.  Fennig has won this weekly honor three times this season (Subway 400, MBNA Platinum 400 and New England 300).  
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Each week, IRWIN, makers of professional power tool accessories like MARATHON PLUS saw blades and SPEEDBOR flat bits, partners with Performance Racing Network to award that week's hardest working crew chief.  The "IRWIN Rough to the Finish Award" includes an assortment of tools for the crew chief and a $250 check donated to the Ellerbe, NC Educational Fund in the racing team's name, with the year-end winner of the crew chief points standings receiving a $5,000 check donated to the Fund.  The standings as of July 23 are as follows (five points awarded with each honor):

	1.	Jimmy Fennig, No. 97 Rubbermaid Ford, 15 pts.
	2.	Chad Knaus, No. 48 Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse Chevrolet, 10 pts.
	2.	Bill Wilburn, No. 12 Miller Lite Ford, 10 pts.
	4.	13 crew chiefs tied for fourth-place with 5 pts.

> "> 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.> "> 
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> 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.
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> 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.  American Tool's product portfolio includes branded hand tools such as VISE-GRIP® locking tools, QUICK-GRIP® clamping tools and STRAIT-LINE® marking tools in addition to power tool accessories, such as IRWIN® drill bits and MARATHON® saw blades.  
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> American Tool is a division of Newell Rubbermaid Inc., a global marketer of consumer products with 2001 sales of nearly $7 billion and a powerful brand family, including Sharpie®, Paper Mate®, Parker®, Waterman®, Rubbermaid®, Blue Ice®, Calphalon®, Little Tikes®, Graco®/Century®, Levolor®, Kirsch®, Shur-Line®, and Eldon®. The company is headquartered in Freeport, Illinois and employs 49,000 people worldwide. > 
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