Coast Guard Partners with Labonte Motorsports in Busch Series

Washington, DC, (December 17, 2003) -- The United States Coast Guard announced today
that it is entering into a partnership with Labonte Motorsports and driver Justin Labonte for a
15-race schedule in the 2004 NASCAR Busch Series. Justin's father, two-time Nextel Series
champion Terry Labonte and his uncle Bobby Labonte, winner of the 2000 Nextel
championship and 1991 NASCAR Busch Series championship, will participate in the
program which is aimed at enhancing the Coast Guard's recruiting and outreach missions.

Justin, 22, recently won the 2003 Late Model Stock Championship at Caraway Speedway in
Asheboro, N.C., duplicating the feat accomplished by Bobby Labonte in 1987. Justin posted
impressive statistics in his title run with 7 wins in 24 starts, to go along with 19 top-five and
21 top-ten finishes.

"This partnership offers a unique opportunity to showcase the Coast Guard and tell our story
to an unprecedented audience of potential recruits and those that influence them," said
Admiral Thomas Collins, commandant of the Coast Guard. We are delighted to welcome the 
Labontes to our Coast Guard Family."

Justin Labonte is excited to be representing the men and women of the United States Coast
Guard. It is an honor for me to be associated with such a great military service as the Coast 
Guard," he said. I am privileged to have the opportunity to foster a better understanding of 
all the Coast Guard does and what it represents, and I am committed to using the vast array
of outreach venues NASCAR affords to do just that.

"Our whole family has spent a lot of time learning about the Coast Guard and the more we
see the more impressed we are about our association with such dedicated men and women
and the many things they do that impact our lives and national security," he said.

Terry Labonte expressed similar sentiments, stating, Bobby, my wife Kim and I are proud to 
have our family support the Coast Guard, and to have them supporting Justin. We are
looking forward to the ways we can bring to light the many missions they accomplish that
make a big difference for all of us on a daily basis. Now that they are part of the Department
of Homeland Security it is more important than ever that we citizens understand how the
Coast Guard helps us -- and how we need to help the Coast Guard. We couldn't be more
pleased with this relationship," he said.

The 2004 Team Coast Guard Racing/Labonte Motorsports #44 Dodge will be powered by the
Labonte Motorsports in-house motor development group, Labonte Racing Engines, Inc.,
headed by Freddie Turza. Bryant Frazier will be the team's crew chief. He was the crew chief
for Steve Grissom during his Busch Series championship season in 1993 and later served as
crew chief for Bobby
Labonte in several of his Busch Series victories.