Marathon To Sponsor the Petty Enterprises #45 NASCAR Team

FINDLAY, Ohio, Aug. 3, 2006 -- Marathon Petroleum Company LLC (Marathon) today announced that the company's sponsorship in the NASCAR Nextel Cup series is being moved to a new race team. The new sponsorship will begin with the Allstate 400 race at the Brickyard in Indianapolis.

"Marathon is proud to move our sponsorship to the #45 Petty Enterprises team, with driver Kyle Petty," said Mary Ellen Peters, senior vice president, Marketing. "The team is owned by Richard Petty, the man known as the 'King of NASCAR.' We believe this move provides a continued presence for Marathon in all of the remaining races this season."

In addition to the Brickyard sponsorship, the #45 car will carry the Marathon Brand as the primary sponsor for four races: Michigan, Bristol, Richmond, and Atlanta. Marathon also will be an associate sponsor on the car for this season's remaining races.

"We're grateful that Competitive Edge Motorsports is allowing Marathon Oil to transfer their sponsorship," said Kyle Petty, driver of the #45 Petty Enterprises Dodge. "We are looking forward to developing a strong partnership with Marathon, starting this weekend at one of the biggest events of the season."

Based in Findlay, Ohio, Marathon Petroleum Company LLC (MPC) is the nation's fifth largest refiner with 974,000 barrels-per-day capacity in its seven-refinery system. MPC's retail marketing system comprises approximately 5,400 locations in 17 states; nearly 70 percent are Marathon brand locations. MPC serves the Midwest and Southeast as a petroleum products marketer with 85 light product and asphalt terminals and has access to about 7,700 miles of pipeline. MPC is a limited liability company wholly owned by Marathon Oil Corporation .

Petty Enterprises resides in Level Cross, N.C., a sprawling 60,000-square foot high-tech racing facility. An engineering-based and technology driven company, it is here where the organization houses the #45 Petty Enterprises Dodge of driver Kyle Petty.