Stockerz's Stunning Exaggerated Car Styles Stamp Strong Start to 2004 Hot Wheels NASCAR Stable; ``Young Guns,'' Gordon Among Drivers Exclusive to New Hot Wheels Racing Design

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--Feb. 1, 20043, 2004--As the green flag drops on the 2004 NASCAR(R) Nextel Cup season, Hot Wheels(R) Racing will mark its own new season of official team vehicles and collectibles featuring the series' top drivers. Leading the way is the introduction this month of Stockerz, a bold, new car styling created by Mattel's designers that turns NASCAR(R) stock cars into stocky cars.

Stockerz resemble NASCAR(R) vehicles on steroids. These big-wheeled, bulked-up cars feature broad exaggerated bodies and low-profile cockpits that make the stock Ford, Dodge and Chevrolet models look like race cars from a future generation.

Each Stockerz vehicle is precisely colored with each race team's logos and decorated with virtually all of their sponsors' official logos on down to the associate sponsors. Additionally, Stockerz feature pullback motors that propel the cars to race to the line -- just across the table or man-made finish line on the living room floor.

Available in 3 inches for racing action or the 8-inch collectible version, Stockerz are sure to stand out in any NASCAR(R) fan's die-cast garage. Cars featured in the Stockerz collection are:

-- Ryan Newman's #12

-- Matt Kenseth's #17

-- Kurt Busch's #97

-- Jeff Gordon's #24

Stockerz are shipping to retailers nationwide this month and will be available at track. The 3-inch die-cast vehicle will retail for $4.99 and the 8-inch for $14.99.

From the "Young Guns" to NASCAR(R) veterans, the 2004 Hot Wheels(R) Racing team features many of the circuit's top drivers, including the exclusive rights to the Roush Racing team. In all, eight of the top-12 points leaders from 2003 will be featured in the Hot Wheels(R) Racing line: Matt Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Ryan Newman, Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch and Jeff Burton.

Additional NASCAR-themed Hot Wheels(R) Racing vehicles will be introduced throughout the 2004 season.

Stockerz are among several bold new Hot Wheels(R) auto designs introduced in 2004, many of which are featured among the 100 new 2004 First Edition(TM) cars in the basic line, including Hardnoze(TM), Blings(TM), 'Tooned(TM), Crooze(TM) and Fatbax(TM).

About Mattel

Mattel, Inc. , www.mattel.com, is the worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of toys and family products, including Barbie(R), the most popular fashion doll ever created. Leading the toy and game market, the Mattel family is comprised of such best-selling brands as Hot Wheels(R), Matchbox(R), American Girl(R), Tyco(R) R/C and Scrabble(TM), as well as Fisher-Price brands (www.fisher-price.com), including Little People(R), Rescue Heroes(TM), Power Wheels(R) and a wide array of entertainment-inspired toy lines. With worldwide headquarters in El Segundo, Calif., Mattel employs more than 27,000 people in 36 countries and sells products in more than 150 nations throughout the world. The Mattel vision is to be the world's premier toy brands -- today and tomorrow.

Hot Wheels(R) and associated trademarks are owned by Mattel.

Product images available upon request.