Champion(R) Spark Plug Claims Victories in Sunday's NASCAR Winston Cup, NHRA Events

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., April 9 -- Chalk up two more wins for "The World's Favorite Spark Plug," as cars powered by Champion(R) spark plugs claimed top honors in Sunday's NASCAR Winston Cup and NHRA POWERade competition. Champion spark plugs are manufactured and marketed by Federal- Mogul Corporation.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s first Winston Cup win of the year, in the Aaron's 499 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, marked the Champion brand's fifth event title in just eight 2003 Cup races. In spite of a last-place start due to a race-day engine change, Earnhardt quickly climbed back into contention -- and avoided major damage during a wild 27-car pile-up on lap five -- en route to his fourth consecutive win at Talladega. He also won Saturday's Aaron's 312 Busch Series race on the famed 2.66-mile oval.

Another Champion-powered car -- Larry Dixon's Miller Lite Top Fuel Dragster -- won Sunday's SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway. Dixon's 6,000-plus horsepower nitromethane- fueled dragster beat Doug Kalitta by 87-thousandths of a second in an all- Champion final. Brandon Bernstein, another Champion-powered Top Fuel entry, lost in the semis.

"There's a huge difference in engine and spark dynamics between Winston Cup and Top Fuel vehicles; yet the Champion brand came out on top in both types of racing. That's a huge statement about the technology and quality represented in every Champion plug for every engine," said Champion Marketing Director Garth Cole.

Champion is the brand of choice for many of the most aggressive young drivers in NASCAR Winston Cup racing, including Earnhardt Jr., Matt Kenseth (#17 Ford), Bobby Labonte (#18 Chevrolet), Tony Stewart (#20 Chevrolet), Kurt Busch (#97 Ford), Kyle Petty (#45 Dodge), Steve Park (#1 Chevrolet), and John Andretti (#43 Dodge).

In NHRA drag racing, the leading drivers and teams in Top Fuel (Dixon, Bernstein, Kalitta, and Tony Schumacher) and Funny Car (Whit Bazemore, Ron Capps, Tommy Johnson Jr., Scotty Cannon, and Gary Scelzi) choose Champion plugs over all other brands.

Champion also is the number-one brand among professional technicians who service all makes and models. It is easier to rely on Champion for any automotive tune-up through the enhanced technology and expanded coverage of Champion Double Platinum(TM) spark plugs. Available for nearly 300 additional late-model General Motors models, Champion Double Platinum plugs feature exclusive Heat-Active(TM) alloy electrodes that quickly reach optimal operating temperature and maintain stable temperatures under varying heat loads. Each plug also utilizes a precision-welded fine wire center electrode for a more focused spark, producing greater power for quicker acceleration and a smoother idle.

For more information on Champion spark plugs, contact your nearest Champion supplier or write to: Champion Marketing, Federal-Mogul Corp., 26555 Northwestern Highway, Southfield, MI 48034. Product and promotional information also are available online at: www.federal-mogul.com/champion .

Federal-Mogul is a global supplier of automotive components and sub- systems serving the world's original equipment manufacturers and the aftermarket. The company utilizes its engineering and materials expertise, proprietary technology, manufacturing skill, distribution flexibility and marketing power to deliver products, brands and services of value to its customers. Federal-Mogul is focused on the globalization of its teams, products and processes to bring greater opportunities for its customers and employees, and value to its constituents. Headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, Federal-Mogul was founded in Detroit in 1899 and today employs 47,000 people in 24 countries. For more information on Federal-Mogul, visit the company's web site at http://www.federal-mogul.com/ .