AmeriSuites Announces Primary Sponsorship in Le Mans Series

FAIRFIELD, N.J., March 10 -- Prime Hospitality Corp. , has announced that their AmeriSuites hotel brand is entering its 6th season of association with Jon Lewis and his American Spirit Racing organization. AmeriSuites' primary sponsorship is on the #12 Riley & Scott MKIIIc LMP900 prototype, powered by a Lozano Bros. Porting Lincoln V8, owned by American Spirit Racing.

Michael Lewis will once again perform the driving duties for American Spirit Racing. Lewis is a four-time SCCA national champion and has finished in the top five in 24 of 80 Trans-Am starts. In 2001, Lewis won the Johnson Controls 100 at Road America. This is Lewis' first year driving in the Le Mans series.

The second driver of our ALMS car is Tomy Drissi, who's racing career started in 1993. Drissi's most recent history is in the Trans-Am Series, where he earned "Rookie of the Year" honors in 1999 while driving for American Spirit Racing. Drissi was voted "Most Improved Driver" in 2000, and in 2002 had 5 top ten finishes and finished 8th in the final points standings.

The 2003 Le Mans series consists of 10 races with venues located throughout North America. The season commences on March 15th with the 51st Annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring at the Sebring International Raceway, Sebring, Florida. The Le Mans series will also be racing in Mexico City, Mexico, Quebec and Ontario, Canada, California, Wisconsin, Florida, Georgia and Washington D.C. In addition to LIVE coverage on CBS, NBC and SPEED Channel, the races will also be broadcast internationally on EuroSport Network (Europe), Televisa (Mexico) and ESPN Star (Asia, The Far East and the Pacific Rim) on tape delay.

"We are extremely excited about our association with American Spirit Racing in the American Le Mans Series," stated Jim Gard, Vice President of Marketing for Prime Hospitality Corp., parent Company of AmeriSuites. "This relationship has generated tremendous brand awareness for our Company over the past years and we anticipate great value from the live major network television exposure and extensive coverage of the ALMS by the Speed Channel Network.

"AmeriSuites has been and remains a valuable marketing partner with American Spirit Racing," commented Jon Lewis, President of American Spirit Racing. "As we enter a new series, we are very excited that AmeriSuites has continued their support of our organization and we look forward to generating even greater brand awareness for what we feel is the best hotel brand in North America."

"I am very proud to be associated with American Spirit Racing in the team's return to endurance racing," said Michael Lewis. "I am excited about driving in the American Le Mans Series and having the great support of AmeriSuites. I feel confident that we will finish on the podium this season."

Prime Hospitality Corp.(R), one of the nation's premiere lodging companies, owns, manages, develops and franchises over 240 hotels throughout the United States. Prime Hospitality owns and operates three proprietary brands, Prime Hotels and Resorts(SM) (full-service), AmeriSuites(R) (all-suites) and Wellesley Inns & Suites(R) (limited-service). Also within Prime Hospitality's portfolio are owned and/or managed hotels operated under franchise agreements with national hotel chains including Hilton, Radisson, Sheraton, Holiday Inn and Ramada. Prime can be accessed over the internet at http://www.primehospitality.com/ and its brands can be accessed at http://www.amerisuites.com/ and http://www.wellesleyonline.com/

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