AutoZone Customers to Donate $206,000 to the USO Through the Yellow Ribbon Fund to Support the Troops

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11, 2005 -- AutoZone, the nation's leading auto parts retailer, will rev up its engines to start the NASCAR racing season by donating more than $206,000 in proceeds from its Yellow Ribbon Fund to the USO. The money will be used to support programs that benefit U.S. military personnel and their families worldwide.

Michael Farley, USO's senior vice president for development, will receive the check Feb. 12 at the Daytona International Speedway from AutoZone executives and NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series drivers Ricky Rudd and Greg Biffle prior to the start of the Budweiser Shootout.

AutoZone is the title sponsor of the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, and Rudd and Biffle carry sponsorship from the U.S. armed forces on their race cars. Biffle represents the National Guard; and Rudd, the Air Force.

The contribution represents money AutoZone raised from its Yellow Ribbon Fund that started in November 2004 by encouraging its customers across the country to support the USO through in-store donations. AutoZone will continue to support the USO by offering its yellow magnetic "Support Our Troops" decals through March 13, 2005.

"The USO is very grateful to AutoZone for this special campaign, and for helping the USO to continue to provide social, cultural and educational services to boost the morale of our men and women in uniform," said Edward A. Powell, USO president and CEO.

Bill Rhodes, AutoZone's executive president for store operations, said, "We are very proud of our AutoZoners who are serving in the military. The Yellow Ribbon Fund was started in their honor to benefit all of our troops and their families through the USO."

About the USO: The USO's mission is to provide morale, welfare and recreation-type services to military personnel and their families. The USO is a nonprofit, charitable organization relying on the generosity of the American people to support its programs and services. The USO currently operates 122 centers around the world. For more information, visit http://www.uso.org/.

About AutoZone: As of November 20, 2004, AutoZone sells auto and light truck parts, chemicals and accessories through 3,448 AutoZone stores in 48 states plus the District of Columbia in the U.S. and 64 AutoZone stores in Mexico and also sells the ALLDATA brand automotive diagnostic and repair software. On the web, AutoZone sells diagnostic and repair information and auto and light truck parts through http://www.autozone.com/.