USA TODAY Accepting Nominations for the Third Annual USA TODAY Dealer Innovation Award

MCLEAN, Va., Dec. 9, 2003 -- USA TODAY is now accepting nominations for its third annual USA TODAY Dealer Innovation Award. The 2003 USA TODAY Dealer Innovation Award will be awarded as a joint effort by the marketing division of USA TODAY and the Public Affairs Group of the National Automobile Dealers Association.

The 2003 Dealer Innovation Award will honor automobile retailers who have taken a leadership role in the development and implementation of community- wide safety initiatives. Programs could include, but are not limited to: theft prevention; driving safely; booster seats/child safety; buckle up campaigns; personal safety and anti-drunk/drugged driving initiatives.

A judging panel will select four regional winners after reviewing all eligible nominations submitted. One national winner will be selected from the four regional winners.

The 2003 USA TODAY Dealer Innovation Award will be presented at an awards banquet during the New York International Auto Show scheduled for April 6, 2004, in New York City. The national winner will receive a trophy, roundtrip airfare for two to New York, three days and two nights double occupancy hotel accommodations and an American Express Gift Cheque for $250. The national winner and regional winners will be featured in a congratulatory ad in USA TODAY in April.

Nominations will be accepted only from registered members of NADA in good standing at the time of nomination. Nominations must pertain to innovative programs and ideas implemented in calendar year 2003. For more information or to submit a nomination, log on to http://nada.usatoday.com/. To submit a nomination by mail simply print out and complete the Official Nomination form available at nada.usatoday.com and mail it to: USA TODAY Marketing, attn: Dealer Innovation Award, 7950 Jones Branch Dr., 6th Floor, McLean, VA 22108- 9995. Entry deadline is February 28, 2004. Nominations must be postmarked by Saturday, February 28, 2004 and received no later than Wednesday, March 3, 2004.

USA TODAY is the nation's top selling newspaper. It is published via satellite at 36 locations in the USA and four sites abroad. With a total average daily circulation of 2.3 million, USA TODAY is available worldwide. USATODAY.com is an award-winning news and information site on the Internet with more than 35 million monthly visitors. USA TODAY is published by Gannett Co., Inc. .

The National Automobile Dealers Association represents more than 19,800 franchised new car and truck dealers holding nearly 43,000 separate franchises, domestic and import.