AAA Chicago Parent Company ACG Sponsors NASCAR Racecar Driver Carl Edwards

DEARBORN, Mich., Jan. 19, 2005 -- The Auto Club Group (ACG), the largest AAA affiliate in the Midwest, has signed a contract with Roush Racing to sponsor the No. 99 AAA Ford Taurus, driven by Carl Edwards, at NASCAR Nextel Cup Series races in 2005.

"Sponsorship of a car and driver on the hugely popular NASCAR racing circuit will help raise AAA's profile with the many fans of this major spectator sport. The sponsorship ties very nicely into AAA's century-long commitment to supporting continued improvement in vehicle safety," said Steve JN Bernth, AAA Chicago President & COO.

"Many of the safety features we take for granted on today's passenger vehicles, such as lap-and-shoulder safety belts and hydraulic brakes, were introduced and perfected in racecars," Bernth added. "NASCAR races will continue to be the proving ground for new safety equipment, and the AAA clubs that comprise The Auto Club Group are pleased and proud to help support that progress."

The Auto Club Group, based in Dearborn, Michigan, is the largest AAA affiliate in the Midwest and includes the Auto Club Insurance Association as well as six AAA clubs: AAA Chicago, AAA Michigan, AAA Minnesota/Iowa, AAA Nebraska, AAA North Dakota and AAA Wisconsin, which serve approximately 4.1 million members in eight states. ACG is the first AAA affiliate to sponsor a car in the Nextel Cup Series.

"Roush Racing welcomes AAA to the No. 99, Carl Edwards driven, NASCAR Nextel Cup Racing program for 2005," said Jack Roush, owner, Roush Racing. "We are certain Carl and his Roush Racing Team will find success both on the race tracks and in the market place with AAA as a new Roush Racing sponsor marketing partner. Roush Industries shares AAA's enthusiasm for developing safe driving techniques and technologies, both on our racetracks and on our public highways.

"Roush Industries has become a major developer and supplier of driving simulators for both government and private agencies who are committed to overall driving safety interests," Roush said.

Edwards, 25, is one of the young stars of the NASCAR circuit. Over the last 11 years, Edwards has raced his way into NASCAR history with two NASCAR- sanctioned track championships, three Rookie-of-the-Year honors and 78 feature wins while racing on both dirt and pavement tracks across the country.

"We are very excited to have AAA on board as a primary sponsor in 2005," Edwards said. "We're delighted AAA chose the No. 99 team. We look forward to representing them and helping in their effort to educate motorists on driver safety. Safe driving is important not only to NASCAR drivers like me, it is important to every person out on the road. I'm both proud and honored to be a part of AAA's team."

"Carl Edwards is definitely one of the rising stars in NASCAR racing," noted Bernth. "The Auto Club Group is extremely pleased that we will be the primary sponsor of his car No. 99 in three Nextel Cup Series races this year, and that his car and racing gear will carry the AAA logo as a sponsor in each of the other 35 races in which he is scheduled to compete."

Edwards will make some personal appearances at special events sponsored by ACG clubs in their respective service areas, including the Chicago Auto Show, which kicks off next month at Chicago's McCormick Place. At those events, a replica of the No. 99 AAA Ford will be displayed, and visitors will have an opportunity to compete with one another in a racecar simulator.

The ACG-Roush agreement calls for ACG to be the primary sponsor of Edwards' No. 99 Ford at races on June 19 and August 21 in Michigan and August 7 in Indianapolis. ACG will be a senior associate sponsor July 10 in Chicago and an associate sponsor in the other Nextel races.

AAA Chicago offers automotive, travel, insurance and financial services. It is part of The Auto Club Group (ACG), the largest affiliation of AAA clubs in the Midwest, with 4.1 million members in eight states. ACG clubs belong to the national AAA federation, a not-for-profit organization, with more than 45 million members in the United States and Canada.