Die-Cast John Deere Tractor Named a 'Toy of the Century' by the Toy Industry Association

    GLEN ELLYN, Ill., Feb. 5 -- The Die-Cast John Deere
Tractor produced in 1947 by The Ertl Company (now
Racing Champions Ertl ) has been named to the Toy Industry
Association's "Century of Toys" list of the one hundred top toys produced in
the 20th century.
    According to Peter Henseler, President of Racing Champions Ertl, the honor
is particularly gratifying because of the long-term staying power of the
Company's entire John Deere product line. "Without question, the 'Century of
Toys' list includes the most memorable and creative toys produced in the last
hundred years," he said.  "They're truly the best of the best, and our Die-
Cast John Deere Tractor definitely belongs on this list."  He added, "We're
especially proud that even after more than fifty years our Die-Cast John Deere
Tractors and related products are still going strong and remain a leading and
successful category in the toy and collectibles industry worldwide."
    Among the criteria used by the judges in selecting toys for the list were
longevity in the market, incorporation of new technologies, introduction of a
new play pattern, consumer demand, creation of an industry trend, and impact
on both the toy industry and the children who played with these toys.

    About Racing Champions Ertl
    Racing Champions Ertl ( http://www.rcertl.com ) is a leading producer and
marketer of innovative collectibles and toys targeted at males of all ages.
The Company's diverse product offerings include scaled die-cast replicas of
John Deere agricultural equipment and NASCAR stock cars, other licensed
vehicle replicas, pre-teen toys, sports trading cards, racing apparel and
souvenirs, and collectible figures. These products are sold under the
Company's market-focused brand names, including Racing Champions(R), Ertl(R),
Ertl Collectibles(R), American Muscle(TM), AMT(R), W. Britain(R), Press
Pass(R), and JoyRide Studios(TM). The Company reinforces its brands and
enhances the authenticity of its products by linking them with highly
recognized licensed properties including NASCAR, NHRA, John Deere, Harley-
Davidson, Case, Polaris, Honda, Caterpillar, Ford, GM, Chrysler, Texaco,
Universal Studios, Warner Brothers, Hit Entertainment, Nintendo, Sega, and
Electronic Arts. The Company's products are marketed through multiple channels
of distribution, including mass retailers and specialty and hobby wholesalers
and retailers, OEM dealers, and to corporate accounts for promotional
purposes. The Company sells through more than 20,000 retail outlets located in
North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.
    Certain statements contained in this release contain "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking
words or phrases such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "expect," "intend,"
"may," "planned," "potential," "should," "will" and "would."  Such forward-
looking statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks and
uncertainties. Such uncertainties and other operational matters are discussed
further in the Company's quarterly and annual filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. The Company's actual results and future developments
could differ materially from the results or developments expressed in, or
implied by, these forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no
obligation to make any revisions to the forward-looking statements contained
in this release or to update them to reflect events or circumstances occurring
after the date of this release.

    CONTACT:  Curt Stoelting, CEO, +1-630-790-3507, ext. 133, or Jody Taylor,
CFO, +1-630-790-3507, ext. 158, both of Racing Champions Ertl