Matt Kenseth and Smirnoff Ice Team No. 17 Announce Race for Charity With RADD at NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Pop Secret 500 Race

FONTANA, Calif., Sept. 3 -- Smirnoff Ice team No. 17 announced today they will again team up with RADD, The Entertainment Industry's Voice For Road Safety, to save the lives of everyday drivers on America's roads.

The collaboration will involve RADD celebrity messengers, who include recording artists, actors and athletes, appearing at the track to deliver lifesaving messages, honor National Association for Stock Car Auto (NASCAR) driver Matt Kenseth and Smirnoff Ice team No. 17 for their dedication and commitment to remind racing fans to drive like Matt by always wearing a safety belt, maintaining control behind the wheel and never driving impaired.

For several years, NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series driver Matt Kenseth and the Smirnoff Ice team have generously made RADD the beneficiary of the Smirnoff Ice Race for Charity, and will do so again this year at the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Pop Secret 500 race on September 5, 2004 at the California Speedway in Fontana.

"Safety is NASCAR's number-one priority and we're pleased that RADD and Smirnoff Ice are taking a leadership role in promoting automobile safety to millions of Americans," said Gary Nelson, NASCAR Vice President for Research and Development.

RADD President Erin Meluso added, "NASCAR fans represent a large cross- section of Americans who love motorsports and music. RADD appreciates the opportunity to let our celebrity voices provide road safety tips in a hip, non-judgmental way that resonates with NASCAR fans of all ages."

This collaboration is a prime example of RADD's ability to reach audiences where they live, work and play, using both national efforts through its work with the Ad Council and local grassroots activities with celebrity messengers like Matt Kenseth to bring life saving messages to consumers nationwide.

"We all have the same mission -- automobile safety, and no one knows the value of safety belts better than the men and women who drive on NASCAR's raceways," said DOT's National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator Jeffrey Runge, M.D. "Unfortunately, too many young drivers still fail to emulate their racing heroes. Nearly 72 percent of males, under the age of 35, killed in car crashes were not buckled up. I appreciate RADD and Smirnoff Ice for their leadership in driving home our lifesaving message among all racing fans."

RADD is a current NHTSA grantee and longtime partner with NHTSA, DOT, Ad Council and National Association of Broadcasters in the acclaimed "Friends Don't Let Friends Drive Drunk" media campaign. RADD earned DOT's prestigious "Public Service Award" in 1997 for recruiting hundreds of celebrity volunteers to speak out about road safety and was recognized with a DOT "Award of Excellence" the following year for leading the RADD Challenge Coalition, a public/private project that engaged the hospitality industry, music retailers, law enforcement, insurance, convenience stores and media in a designated driver awareness campaign that generated $2 million in donated media and distributed 28 million RADD Designated Drivers License (TM) reward cards.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) - NASCAR traffic safety alliance leverages the national organizations combined resources to encourage all race fans to take the same common sense approach to auto safety that NASCAR follows on the track.

RADD (Recording Artists, Actors and Athletes Against Drunk Driving), The Entertainment Industry's Voice for Road Safety, is an internationally recognized non-profit organization that empowers celebrities and media partners to create positive attitudes about road safety. Founded in 1986, RADD advocates the use of designated drivers, seatbelts and safe driving through control behind the wheel, making responsible behavior the norm. RADD's messages are non-judgmental, hip and positive. www.radd.org