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Bridgestone/Firestone Official 2002 SEMA Media Center Sponsor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
Bridgestone/Firestone Media Hotline
877/201-2373
Rosemarie Kitchin, rosemariek@sema.org
SEMA, 909/396-0289, ext. 104


BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE OFFICIAL 2002 SEMA MEDIA CENTER SPONSOR

DIAMOND BAR, Calif. (Oct. 4, 2002) - Bridgestone/Firestone North 
American Tire, LLC, will be the sponsor of the 2002 SEMA Show media 
center. The Bridgestone/Firestone Media Center, a facility near the 
show floor specifically designated for the working journalists who 
cover the show -- reporters, writers, photographers, broadcast and 
internet media producers -- provides access to the various SEMA Show 
exhibitors' publicity and press materials, and has newsroom 
equipment for those men and women who file stories during the SEMA 
Show.

"The SEMA Show has grown significantly in importance over the past 
few years. We want to support SEMA and its efforts within the 
automotive industry," said Phil Pacsi, executive director, consumer 
tire brand marketing, North American Consumer Tire Sales Group. 
"Sponsorship of the SEMA Show media center is a wonderful 
opportunity for us to promote our performance passenger car and 
light truck tire lines to the more than 700 members of the worldwide 
automotive press who will be attending this show."

"We are delighted that Bridgestone/Firestone is once again the 
sponsor of our SEMA Show Media Center," said Christopher Horn, vice 
president of communications for SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market 
Association. "Our SEMA Show is the source of many major automotive 
and lifestyle stories these days, and we appreciate 
Bridgestone/Firestone's support in our efforts to tell people about 
the benefits of the products that are exhibited at our show."

As part of the high-profile sponsorship, Bridgestone/Firestone brand 
recognition will be featured on billboard kiosks inside the media 
center and throughout the Las Vegas Convention Center, on convention 
signage and directionals, in various pre-SEMA Show attendee 
marketing pieces and in pre-show publicity.

The Bridgestone/Firestone Media Center, located in Rooms S219-221 of 
the Las Vegas Convention Center, will open at noon, Sunday, Nov. 3. 
Hours of operation are Sunday noon to 6 p.m.; Monday, Nov. 4, 7 a.m. 
to 6 p.m.; Tuesday, Nov. 5, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Wednesday, Nov. 6, 8 
a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday, Nov. 7, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Friday, Nov. 
8, 8 a.m. to noon.

Nashville-based Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC 
(BFNT) is a subsidiary of Bridgestone/Firestone Americas Holding, 
Inc., whose parent company, Bridgestone Corporation, is the world's 
largest tire and rubber company. BFNT develops, manufactures and 
markets Bridgestone, Firestone, Dayton and associate and private 
brand tires. The company is focused on wholesale and original 
equipment markets, supplying passenger, light truck, commercial 
vehicle, off-road, agriculture and other tires to its customers in 
the Americas.

SEMA represents the $26 billion specialty automotive industry. The 
trade association has approximately 4,500 member companies. It is 
the authoritative source of research data, trends and market growth 
information for automakers and the specialty auto products industry. 
The industry provides appearance, performance, comfort, convenience 
and technology products for passenger cars, minivans, trucks, SUVs 
and recreational vehicles. For more information, contact SEMA at 
1575 S. Valley Vista Dr., Diamond Bar, CA, 91765-3914; call 909/396-
0289; or visit www.sema.org or www.enjoythedrive.com.

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