DON SCHUMACHER RACING

2006 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FUNNY CAR DRIVER BAZEMORE HITS THE ROAD FOR MATCO TOOLS

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (Mar. 18, 2006) -- Whit Bazemore, who usually drives the Matco Tools Iron Eagle Dodge Charger Funny Car in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series at over 330 mph, took a detour to shadow Don Bailey of Green Cove Springs, Fla., on his daily route as a Matco Tools distributor.

Don Bailey and Bazemore In Florida for the NHRA Gatornationals this last weekend at Gainesville Raceway as the defending event champion, Bazemore participated in the activities of a Matco Tools distributor on Thursday, visiting customers and selling tool boxes.

Bazemore, who's made about five of these trips since Matco Tools came on board as his sponsor in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series in 2000, and plans to make three per year, finds the ride-along trips to be an interesting way to learn what a day in the life of a Matco Tools distributor entails. "Usually it's a lot of fun," he said. "Matco Tools has 1600 franchisee distributors, and they are an important part of our racing program, so we try to give back to them as much as we can.

"One way to do that is to go on truck rides with them as they go through their work day and do their business. We get to meet their customers, the end-user, the professional mechanic.

"It's really a beneficial thing for Matco Tools, and something I love doing," Bazemore added.

John Torok, manager of motorsports marketing for Matco Tools, who rode along with Bazemore, sees these trips as a great way to interact with the customers and to reward top Matco Tools distributors. "It was great going to the shops and seeing the fans come out to the truck," he said. "It was really a rewarding experience for the distributor and for Whit.

"We ended up closing a tool box deal for Don while we were out on the truck, so that was cool.

"Mechanics have Whit sign their tool boxes and other items. They're real fans out there. They enjoy Matco Tools, and they really enjoy their NHRA POWERade Series drag racing."

This week's lucky distributor Don Bailey is a top-150 seller for Matco Tools and serves the Green Cove Springs, Fla., area.