NASCAR (CHARLOTTE) - 2008 NASCAR Pets Calendar Features Six Fresh Faces

Drivers’ Pets Take Center Stage With Proceeds To Benefit The Greg Biffle Foundation

NASCAR Fans can once again spend the year with some of their favorite NASCAR celebrities – drivers’ pets! The 2008 NASCAR Pets Calendar is now on sale at select Kmart stores and NASCAR.com.

This is the third year The Greg Biffle Foundation has produced the NASCAR Pets Calendar, which has proven to be very popular with fans. The calendar features NASCAR drivers and their pets and net proceeds benefit The Greg Biffle Foundation.

“The NASCAR Pets Calendar is unique in that it shows drivers off the track with some very special family members – their pets – and it really resonates with our fans,” said Greg Biffle, driver of the No. 16 Ford and founder of The Greg Biffle Foundation. “The calendar’s success and the fan support allows us to help shelters across the country that need our help.”

The 2008 calendar features returning NASCAR personalities such as Greg Biffle with his four dogs Foster, Gracie, Savannah and Daisy; Dale Earnhardt Jr. with his Boxer Killer; Matt Kenseth with cats Lars and Charlotte; Jamie McMurray and golden Labrador Jake; Casey Mears and black Labrador Nacho and Tony Stewart with dogs Kayle and Deuce. Some of the new faces in this year’s calendar include Kurt Busch, David Gilliland, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Jarrett and David Ragan.

This year, the calendar holds special poignancy for the entire NASCAR community. Former NASCAR Chairman Bill France Jr., who passed away in June, is featured with his wife, Betty Jane France, and their four dogs Will, Lizzie, Annie and Maxwell. Under Mr. France’s stewardship, NASCAR grew from a regional sport to become the nation’s No. 1 spectator sport with 75 million fans.

With a $25,000 donation to The Greg Biffle Foundation, NASCAR partner Pedigree has signed on, once again, to sponsor the monthly pet tips. The tips are helpful to dog owners looking for ways to improve their canines’ fitness and health.

“Everything we do at PEDIGREE is because of our love for dogs so a partnership with The Greg Biffle Foundation is a natural fit,” said Rob Leibowitz, vice president, marketing Mars Pet Care U.S. “Both The Foundation and Pedigree are committed to helping millions of homeless dogs find loving homes by encouraging dog adoption and supporting shelters and breed rescue organizations nationwide.”

As part of the launch for the calendar, Greg Biffle will make a special autograph appearance at the Kmart store located near Dover International Motor Speedway on Thursday, Sept. 20.

The autograph session will take place from 5-7pm inside the Kmart store located on 515 North DuPont Highway. Adopt a Boxer Rescue will be in attendance with pets available for adoption. Many of these pets were left without homes after Hurricane Katrina and are still in need of good homes. The Adopt a Boxer Rescue organization is unique in that they maintain close contact to the dogs after they are placed in homes and have a “no-questions-asked” return policy.

These events are free, and open to the public. For more information on The Greg Biffle Foundation’s NASCAR Pets Calendar, visit www.gregbifflefoundation.com or www.NASCAR.com/foundation.

About The Greg Biffle Foundation The Greg Biffle Foundation was founded in 2005 by Greg Biffle and Nicole Lunders to create awareness and serve as advocates to improve the well-being of animals by engaging the power and passion of the motorsports industry. For more information on the Greg Biffle Foundation, visit www.gregbifflefoundation.com.

About Pedigree

PEDIGREE is the No. 1 brand of dog food in the world, offering a wide variety of products for different dog life stages. As an innovative market leader, PEDIGREE is at the forefront of pet nutrition and understands pet owner needs by providing a range of innovative products and resources.

About MARS NA Mars North America is a unit of Mars, Incorporated, one of the world’s leading food manufacturers. Headquartered in Hackettstown, N.J., Mars North America employs more than 12,000 associates in the United States, with 54 facilities nationwide. With more than $7 billion in annual sales, the combined food, snack and pet care segments are a symbol of excellence for quality brands. Mars, Incorporated, is a privately-held company that produces some of the world’s leading confectionery, food, petcare, beverage, and health and nutrition products, and operates in more than 65 countries. Headquartered in McLean, Va., Mars employs more than 43,000 associates worldwide with more than 100 manufacturing facilities globally. The company’s global sales exceed $21 billion annually. The company owns some of the world’s favorite brands, including M&M'S® Brand, SNICKERS® Brand, UNCLE BEN'S® Brand, PEDIGREE® Brand Food for Dogs, WHISKAS® Brand Food for Cats.