Sunoco Revs Sponsorship Engine at Daytona 500

10-Year NASCAR Partnership Fuels Programming Launch

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Feb. 11 -- Building on more than a century as one of America's leading independent petroleum and petrochemical companies, Sunoco, Inc. will celebrate its Official Fuel of NASCAR sponsorship with a variety of consumer program initiatives in 2004.

The largest manufacturer of racing gasolines in the world, Sunoco has a rich motorsports heritage ranging from the Indianapolis 500 to short track "bullrings" and from the Sports Car Club of America's amateur and professional series to the quarter-mile drag racing series and venues.

"We're proud of our tradition, proud of our involvement with more than 30 racing series and particularly pleased to be NASCAR's Official Fuel for the NASCAR Nextel Cup, NASCAR Busch and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for the coming decade," said Bob Owens, Sunoco senior vice president of marketing, as he outlined the company's 2004 initiatives.

"One of our prior involvements with NASCAR was through sponsorship of Billy Hagan's team and driver Sterling Marlin in the late '80s and early '90s with our Ultra brand. We are delighted with our new role in NASCAR and look forward to sharing our company's racing heritage with new generations of fans who will use our gasoline."

Sunoco's 2004 consumer initiatives include the use of seven-time NASCAR champion, Richard Petty, in radio advertising that will air during the Daytona 500 race weekend and throughout racing season. In addition, the "Sunoco Fuel Force" (comprised of three teams in Sunoco-branded trucks) will be out in the Daytona community for three days launching Sunoco-branded T-shirts to racing fans via air pressure "cannons." The Sunoco Fuel Force will also participate in both the Busch and Nextel opening parade laps.

"Since our company was originally named the Sun Oil Company of Ohio in 1890, we have been one of America's leading petroleum companies," Owens pointed out. "In addition, we've built a reputation over the last four decades for producing high-quality racing gasoline through our dedicated manufacturing facility in Marcus Hook, Pa. NASCAR's outstanding performance- based competition and our high-quality, consistent racing gasolines are a perfect match. Like our street gasolines, our racing fuels are made to demanding standards."

Through team, series, event and venue sponsorship programs, Sunoco's motorsports involvement has long been an integral part of the company's marketing mix.

"Racing has been an important part of our company's identity -- even before Sunoco went to the winner's circle in the 1972 Indianapolis 500 with a McLaren owned by Roger Penske and driven by the late Mark Donohue," Owens said. "We have been involved in almost every racing series in America in one form or another over the decades and our new 'Official Fuel' status with NASCAR and its premier racing series adds yet another chapter to our history book."

Sunoco distributes gasoline to more than 400 race tracks in the United States and is the authorized gasoline manufacturer for more than 30 racing series.

Headquartered in Philadelphia, Sunoco has refining capacity for 890,000 barrels per day of refining capacity, and over 4,500 retail sites selling gasoline and convenience items. The company also has interests in almost 11,000 miles of domestic crude oil and refined products pipelines and 33 product terminals.

The company also produces approximately 6 billion pounds of annual petrochemical sales, largely chemical intermediates used in the manufacture of fibers, plastics, film and resins. Using proprietary technology, Sunoco also manufactures two million annual tons of high-quality blast-furnace coke for use in the steel industry. Additional information may be obtained at Sunoco's website, www.sunocoinc.com .

Three racing gasoline brands -- Sunoco Race Fuels, Turbo Blue Racing Gasolines and TRICK Racing Gasoline -- are provided through Sunoco Performance Products' distributor network. More information can be obtained at the following websites: www.racegas.com , www.turboblue.com and www.trickgas.com .