Rush Enterprises, Inc. Announces Stock Offering to Finance Planned Acquisition of American Trucksource, Inc.

SAN ANTONIO--Sept. 20, 2004--Rush Enterprises, Inc. , operator of the largest network of Peterbilt heavy-duty truck dealerships in North America and a John Deere construction equipment dealership in Texas, today announced its filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission to register 7,250,000 shares of Class A common stock. The proceeds from the sale of stock will be used to finance its acquisition of American Truck Source, Inc. (ATS). Rush also intends to grant to the underwriters in connection with the offering an option to purchase up to an additional 1,087,500 shares of Class A common stock solely to cover over-allotments, if any. Based on the most recent close price of $11.50, the total value of the offering is approximately $83.4 million, excluding over-allotment. Credit Suisse First Boston will act as the sole lead manager for the offering. Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc., and BB&T Capital Markets will act as co-managers for the offering.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any shares of Class A common stock or any other security and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offering would be unlawful.

Copies of the prospectus relating to the offering, when available, may be obtained from the offices of Credit Suisse First Boston LLC, Prospectus Department, One Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010 (telephone no. 212-325-2580).

About Rush Enterprises

Rush Enterprises operates the largest network of Peterbilt heavy-duty truck dealerships in North America and a John Deere construction equipment dealership in Houston, Texas. Its current operations include a network of dealerships located in Texas, California, Oklahoma, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Alabama and Florida. These dealerships provide an integrated, one-stop source for the retail sale of new and used heavy-duty and medium-duty trucks and construction equipment; aftermarket parts, service and body shop facilities; and a wide array of financial services, including the financing of truck and equipment sales, insurance products and leasing and rentals. For additional information on Rush Enterprises, Inc., please visit www.rushenterprises.com.

Certain statements contained herein, including those concerning industry conditions, are "forward-looking" statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Because such statements include risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, competitive factors, general economic conditions, cyclicality, economic conditions in the new and used truck and construction equipment markets, customer relations, relationships with vendors, the interest rate environment, governmental regulation and supervision, seasonality, distribution networks, product introductions and acceptance, technological change, changes in industry practices, onetime events and other factors described herein and in filings made by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.