Ernie Irvan Visits Special Tree Rehabilitation Center Following L.A.P.S. Walk at Michigan International Speedway

BRIGHTON, Mich., Aug. 15, 2006 -- NASCAR legend Ernie Irvan will participate in a cookout with the children at Special Tree Rehabilitation Center in Romulus to show his support for the children and his dedication to raising awareness for the prevention of Traumatic Brain Injury -- the injury that prompted his early retirement, and has changed the lives of many children at Special Tree.

Former NASCAR driver Jerry Nadeau will accompany Irvan on this visit that is scheduled for Friday, August 18th 2006, from 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. The event will start with Irvan speaking to the children about his experience with Traumatic Brain Injury and his unyielding dedication to raising funding and awareness in order to prevent TBI from needlessly changing the lives of millions of Americans. Following lunch, Irvan and Nadeau will drop the green flag to start Special Tree's children's wheelchair race. After the race, Irvan and Nadeau will visit the NeuroCare Center to speak individually with children with continuing medical needs due to Traumatic Brain Injury.

This visit to Special Tree follows the second annual L.A.P.S. Walk event that will happen on Thursday, August 17th at the Michigan International Speedway in which participants will walk the racetrack with Ernie, Jerry and other NASCAR legends including Greg Biffle, Kevin Lepage, Scott Wimmer, Rusty Wallace, Bobby Allison, and Ernie's former Crew Chief and Fox Sports Broadcaster Larry McReynolds. The L.A.P.S. Walk event will take place from 10:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. and will include a walk around the racetrack, an autograph session with the NASCAR participants, and a Domino's Pizza lunch.

Registration for L.A.P.S. Walk is available online at http://www.lapswalk.org/ until 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 16th, or at MIS in the L.A.P.S. Walk area in turn 4 of the infield starting at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 17th. AAA Michigan will be the presenting sponsor of the 2006 L.A.P.S. Walk at MIS, and join such organizations as Special Tree Rehabilitation, the Dale Jarrett Foundation, Domino's Pizza, AutoLiv, 106.7 The Fox, The NASCAR Foundation, Clear Channel Communications, Culligan Water, Automotive Occupant Restraints Council, and the Brain Injury Association of Michigan, in supporting the cause.