Advance Auto Parts to File Registration Statement

ROANOKE, Va., Oct. 17, 2002-- Advance Auto Parts, Inc.announced today that the Company has received notice from Sears, Roebuck and Co. that it is exercising its rights to demand a registration covering the sale of its 8,423,937 shares of common stock of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. in the form of an underwritten offering.

The Company anticipates filing a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission within the next few weeks.

Freeman Spogli & Co. LLC, a private investment firm, which owns approximately 23% of Advance's common stock, has indicated that that they will not participate in the offering.

The shares in the offering will be offered only by means of a prospectus. A registration statement relating to these securities has not been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These shares may not be sold, and offers to buy may not be accepted, before the registration statement is declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell, nor a solicitation of an offer to buy, any shares of the Company's common stock.