MBNA 400 Will Honor American Heroes on 60th Anniversary of D-Day; `The MBNA 400: A Salute to Heroes' at Dover International Speedway on June 6

DOVER, Del., May 4, 2004 -- MBNA, the largest independent credit card lender in the world and the recognized leader in affinity marketing, today announced that the MBNA 400 NASCAR race at Dover International Speedway on Sunday, June 6 will be known as, "The MBNA 400: A Salute to Heroes," in honor of the 60th anniversary of D-Day. Pre-race activities will honor those Americans whose heroism in the liberation of Europe earned them the title, "The Greatest Generation."

"The MBNA 400: A Salute to Heroes," a part of the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, takes place at Dover International Speedway. Pre-race activities on June 6 will include a fly-over of World War II-era military aircraft, including the world's only B-29 bomber still in flight. D-Day veterans will participate in pre-race ceremonies and Peter Thomas, the former voice of the History Channel and himself a veteran of Omaha Beach, will read General Dwight Eisenhower's Order of the Day of June 5, 1944. As Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force, Eisenhower issued this order on the eve of the D-Day invasion. The order includes the inspiring line, "We will accept nothing less than full victory."

When drivers take the green flag at 1:00 p.m. (broadcast live on FX television and MRN radio), Bobby Labonte, driver of the MBNA-sponsored Chevrolet Monte Carlo (#18) of Joe Gibbs Racing, will press the accelerator on a car that has been re-painted in a style reminiscent of World War II military equipment. Beginning next month, NASCAR race fans and collectors will be able to support two charities by purchasing a 1:24 scale die-cast replica of Labonte's MBNA racecar. The model will feature the same World War II color scheme and design as Labonte's car.

MBNA will donate a portion of its royalties from sales of the die-cast to the D-Day Memorial Foundation and to the Armed Forces Family Scholarship and Assistance Fund (AFFSAF), administered by the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation (MCLEF).

"MBNA Motorsports has a history of building patriotic tributes into race themes. We expect that NASCAR fans will enthusiastically embrace the chance to honor the courageous people who fought for our country in World War II," said John Cochran, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MBNA America Bank. "We think that recognizing this important anniversary date in our nation's history fits nicely with the love of country and the affinity for their sport that all NASCAR fans share."

"The upcoming MBNA 400 race weekend will be one of our most memorable ever," said Denis McGlynn, president and CEO of Dover International Speedway. "The 60th anniversary tribute to the soldiers who participated in D-Day is sure to be impressive, and one that our fans will not want to miss."

"The race theme is a worthy reminder of the valor, fidelity, and sacrifice of the Allied Forces on D-Day, and a commendable example of the patriotism of both MBNA as sponsor and Dover International Speedway as host," said William A. McIntosh, President of The National D-Day Memorial Foundation. The foundation has become an important charitable recipient in 2004. The D-Day Memorial is cradled in central Virginia in the small town of Bedford and is emblematic of the many communities whose sons did their duty in the cause of freedom on June 6, 1944. For more information, visit www.dday.org.

Former U.S. Marine Corps officers administer the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation, that has its headquarters in New York City. The charitable organization concentrates on scholarship fund-raising for youngsters who have lost a family member in the line of duty. MCLEF donates funds in their entirety, with no administrative costs. Information on AFFSAF fund-raising can be found by visiting www.AFFSAF.org.

About MBNA Corporation

MBNA , the largest independent credit card lender in the world and the recognized leader in affinity marketing, is an international financial services company providing lending, deposit, and credit insurance products and services to more than 50 million Customers. MBNA credit cards and related products are endorsed by more than 5,000 organizations worldwide. MBNA employs more than 29,000 people, each of whom is committed to satisfying the Customer. For more information, visit the company's web site at www.mbna.com.

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