NHRA INKS MULTI-YEAR DEAL WITH SONY'S XPLOD BRAND

GLENDORA, Calif. (April 29, 2005) – National Hot Rod Association officials announced today that San Diego-based Sony Electronics and its Xplōd brand of mobile electronics products will serve as the title sponsor of its sport compact drag racing series.

The newly-named NHRA Xplōd Sport Compact Racing Series continues tomorrow and Sunday in Englishtown, N.J. at the Nitto NHRA Sport Compact Spring Nationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

“We are pleased that Sony Xplōd has increased their involvement beyond the NHRA Stylefest to also encompass sponsorship of the entire racing series,” said Gary Darcy, NHRA’s senior vice president of marketing. “Clearly, Sony has seen the value of being associated with the NHRA Sport Compact Series. Given their increased involvement in 2005 and beyond, we are confident that their expanded participation, both on- and off-site, will position the NHRA Xplōd Sport Compact Racing Series for continued growth and success.”

In addition to series sponsorship, Sony will be the presenting sponsor of the on-site NHRA Sound Challenge and the NHRA Sony Xplōd Stylefest. The Xplōd brand also will be designated as the “Official Car Audio” of the NHRA Sport Compact Racing Series.

“The fans who come out to watch the Xplōd Sport Compact Racing Series are focused on their cars and are hungry for new technology,” said Andrew Sivori, Sony’s director of marketing for mobile electronics. “They build it into their cars and they build it into their lifestyle. We expect our support of the NHRA Xplōd Sport Compact Racing Series to improve the fans overall motor sport experience.”

Under the new agreement, Sony’s Xplōd brand will have the right to promote the stylefest and sound challenge programs with advertising and promotions, which may include Sony’s retail partners.

The deal also includes extensive signage rights at all NHRA Xplōd Sport Compact Racing Series events, as well as inclusion in all series marketing, advertising and media activities. The new series logo will appear at the staging line. Sony Xplōd will have an expanded presence in the pit area and custom graphics on the NHRA Xplōd Stylefest stage. There also will be public address announcements at the event, along with Sony Xplōd recognition in both the series and related lifestyle shows, airing exclusively on ESPN2.

All 11 of the NHRA Xplōd Sport Compact Racing Series events are featured on half-hour shows on a tape-delay basis dedicated to the action on the track. In addition, ESPN2 will dedicate nine half-hour shows on consecutive weeks during the fourth quarter of 2005 focusing on the NHRA Xplōd Stylefest and one show devoted to the NHRA Xplōd Sport Compact Racing Series Award Ceremony.

The NHRA is the premier sanctioning body for sport compact drag racing. It will be presenting the 11-race, $2.1 million NHRA Xplōd Sport Compact Racing Series at eight tracks across the country from April through October. The series features the largest guaranteed sport compact event purse of more than $27,000 paid out per event. In addition, the series offers a year-end championship fund of $144,000, along with more than $1.7 million in contingency payouts.

The series is highlighted by its five championship classes (Pro RWD, Pro FWD, Modified, Hot Rod and Honda Tuning All Motor). In addition, and at all eight of the stand-alone NHRA Xplōd Sport Compact Racing Series events, the NHRA Xplōd Stylefest will bring a compliment of the lifestyle and entertainment elements synonymous with today’s sport compact scene. More information is available at nhrasportcompact.com.

Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., the NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. It presents 23 national events through its NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. The NHRA has 80,000 members and 140 member tracks. The NHRA-sanctioned sportsman and bracket racing series’ provide competition opportunities for drivers of all levels. The NHRA develops the stars of tomorrow by offering the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, NHRA Xplōd Sport Compact Racing Series, NHRA Summit Racing Series and the NHRA Street Legal Program. The NHRA also offers the NHRA O’Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League for youths ages 8 to 17.