Hershey Foods Is Off To The Races - With The Koolerz 300, PayDay And Reese's Racing

HERSHEY, Pa., Feb. 12 -- Hershey is driving its involvement in NASCAR to a new level in 2003. Hershey will enter the 2003 NASCAR Busch Series as the primary sponsor of the No. 21 PayDay Chevrolet Monte Carlo and Kevin Harvick, the 2001 NASCAR Busch Series Champion. Harvick will drive the No. 21 PayDay car in 15 of the 34 scheduled events, and current Richard Childress Racing Busch Series driver Johnny Sauter will compete in the remainder of the events.

In addition, Hershey Foods kicks off the start of the racing season as title sponsor of the Koolerz 300 at the Daytona International Speedway on February 15. The Koolerz 300 is expected to be the best-attended and highest- rated television event on the NASCAR Busch Series schedule. "Koolerz is excited and proud to have an association with the time-honored tradition of Daytona. We feel it's a great opportunity to sponsor the hottest race on the Busch Series with the coolest gum," said Bob Gavazzi, Marketing Manager, Koolerz brand.

Also in 2003, the Reese's brand is back on track in the Winston Cup Series. Reese's is returning to the country's most popular motorsports series with the sponsorship of Harvick, the GM Goodwrench team and Richard Childress Racing. Reese's will enter into its first year as an associate sponsor of the No. 29 GM Goodwrench Service Chevrolet, previously sponsored by the Hershey's brand.

Hershey Foods entered the world of auto racing ten years ago as a Reese's associate sponsor of Roush Racing and Mark Martin, and has visited victory lane seven times in the past decade.

Many of Hershey's consumers are NASCAR fans, making Hershey's participation in the sport a natural fit.

Hershey Foods has developed web sites, which contain exclusive car and driver information as well as exciting promotional details. The URL addresses are: www.KoolerzRacing.com, www.PayDayRacing.com, www.ReesesRacing.com

About Hershey Foods

Hershey Foods Corporation is the leading North American manufacturer of quality chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery and chocolate-related grocery products. Some of the company's most popular products include HERSHEY(R)'S chocolate and HERSHEY(R)'S chocolate with almonds bars, HERSHEY(R)'S KISSES(R) chocolates, REESE'S(R) peanut butter cups, JOLLY RANCHER(R) and TWIZZLERS(R) candies, HERSHEY(R)'S cocoa, and HERSHEY(R)'S syrup. The company also is a market leader in the gum and mint category with such well-known brands as ICE BREAKERS(R), BREATH SAVERS(R), and BUBBLE YUM(R).

Source: Hershey Foods Corporation

CONTACT: Howard Williams of Keystone Marketing Co., +1-336-778-2308
ext. 239; or Sue Karli of Hershey Foods Corp., +1-717-534-7631

Web site: http://www.koolerzracing.com/

Web site: http://www.paydayracing.com/

Web site: http://www.reesesracing.com/

Web site: http://www.hersheys.com/