'A Winning Combination': Challenger, Caterpillar and NASCAR Put Racing and Agriculture into High Gear

DULUTH, Ga.--Aug. 5, 2005--The Challenger(R) brand, which already graces a full line of quality tractors, combines and hay tools, will soon make its appearance in a whole new venue--on the NASCAR NEXTEL CUP racing circuit. Through an agreement with Bill Davis Racing, the Challenger brand is a new associate sponsor on the No. 22 Caterpillar(R) NASCAR race car, driven by Scott Wimmer, through the end of the 2006 racing season - and, in addition, is the primary sponsor on the No. 23 NASCAR NEXTEL CUP entry, driven by Johnny Benson, in the Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway this October.

"We are pleased that Challenger has decided to join us as one of our sponsors for the 2005-2006 racing season," says Bill Davis, team owner and president of Bill Davis Racing. "We approached them because we believe they have the same drive and ambition toward their goals as Bill Davis Racing has towards winning on the track."

Doug Griffin, director of Challenger sales and marketing for North America, says he's particularly excited about seeing the No. 23 Challenger car race in front of the "home" crowd at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. However, he believes the partnership with Caterpillar on the No. 22 car will be just as fulfilling to Challenger customers and NASCAR fans.

"Since 2002, when AGCO Corporation acquired the highly respected Challenger line of track tractors from Caterpillar, there has been a strong partnership between the two brands," he explains. "We're proud to continue this synergy as an associate sponsor on the No. 22 Caterpillar car and are excited at the opportunity to expose the Challenger brand to millions of NASCAR fans."

Ironically, this won't be the first association between NASCAR and Challenger. For the past two years, HOLT CAT in Dallas, Texas, has supplied the Texas Motor Speedway with several Challenger wheel tractors that are used for year-round maintenance of the 1,500-acre complex.

"In many ways, the history of NASCAR parallels that of our own company," Griffin adds. "During its 57-year history, NASCAR has been transformed from road-going 'stock' cars to the sleek, high-tech machines you see today. It also has strong roots in the rural community, but has since grown to appeal to a full cross-section of America. So, we're looking forward to an exciting and prosperous relationship in the months ahead," Griffin concludes.

The first race, the Allstate 400, is set to run Sunday, August 7 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway - televised on NBC at 2:00 p.m., "Brickyard" time (CST).

For more information on any of Challenger's full line of agricultural products visit www.challengerag.com. For more information on Bill Davis Racing, and to follow the Caterpillar and Challenger cars, log onto www.billdavisracing.com.

About AGCO

AGCO Corporation, headquartered in Duluth, Georgia, is a global manufacturer and distributor of agricultural equipment and related replacement parts. AGCO products are distributed in more than 140 countries. AGCO offers a full product line including tractors, combines, hay tools, sprayers, forage, tillage equipment and implements through more than 3,900 independent dealers and distributors around the world. AGCO products are distributed under the various well-known brand names AGCO(R), Challenger(R), Fendt(R), Gleaner(R), Hesston(R), Massey Ferguson(R), New Idea(R), RoGator(R), Spra-Coupe(R), Sunflower(R), Terra-Gator(R), Valtra(R), and White(TM) Planters. AGCO provides retail financing through AGCO Finance in North America and through Agricredit in Australia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, and Brazil. In 2004, AGCO had net sales of $5.3 billion.