Dallas Fall event sponsor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: NHRA Communications (818) 914-4761

REVELL-MONOGRAM TO SPONSOR FALL NHRA NATIONAL EVENT AT DALLAS

GLENDORA, Calif. -- Revell-Monogram Inc., one of the world's largest manufacturers of plastic model kits and die- cast replicas, has reached an multiyear agreement with the National Hot Rod Association to sponsor the NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series national event in October at Texas Motorplex, NHRA President Dallas Gardner announced. The Revell Nationals is scheduled for Oct. 16-19, 1997 at the Motorplex, a state-of-the-art facility located in Ennis, Texas, just outside Dallas. The race is the 20th event of the 22-event, $30-million NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series in 1997. This event started in 1986 at the Motorplex. "We believe that by combining the Revell name with this top-notch NHRA racing event, both parties will gain," said Revell-Monogram President Ted Eischeid. "Texas Motorplex will benefit from having a highly regarded sponsor whose products, for decades, have allowed people to live their passion for automobiles and to benefit from the learning and growth opportunities that the hobby provides. "By building and collecting, enthusiasts can experience the thrill of a race right at their fingertips. Revell- Monogram wants to convey its commitment to the sport of drag racing and to all of its fans through this new sponsorship." This sponsorship marks a return to NHRA Winston Drag Racing for Revell. The company sponsored many Funny Car drivers in the 1970s, including Gene Snow in the Revell Snowman and Ed "The Ace" McCulloch in the Revellution. McCulloch won the prestigious U.S. Nationals twice in the Revellution. "We've long considered a return to NHRA sponsorship," Eischeid said. "The skyrocketing attendance at drag racing events convinced us that the time was now and the place was Ennis." Said Gardner: "We welcome Revell back as a sponsor of our great sport. Their return is a strong vote of confidence for NHRA Winston Drag Racing. We also think that Revell's commitment will attract new fans to the sport and help the fall event at Texas Motorplex to remain one of the premier races on the NHRA schedule." The Revell Nationals is one of two NHRA national events to take place at Texas Motorplex in 1997, as the inaugural Lone Star Nationals were held May 1-4. "We are very pleased to host the NHRA Revell Nationals," said Billy Meyer, Texas Motorplex owner and president. "This event is one of the largest and fastest-growing events on the NHRA Winston tour. With the rate of growth of the fall event we felt we needed a national company to get the best exposure. Revell is the national and global leader in model kits as well as die-cast collectibles, so it was a natural fit. "Revell-Monogram actually built the model of my 7- Eleven/Chief Auto Parts Ford Mustang Funny Car in 1985, so I feel like I am being reunited with some old friends. I am sure that a lot of our fans will be equally excited about this partnership. The NHRA Revell Nationals will be one of the cornerstone events of the Texas Motorplex for years to come. "We are looking forward to building a great promotional partnership with Revell," Meyer said. "They have the most extensive selection of kits in motorsports and automotive as well as aircraft and ships. All the hobbyists and model enthusiasts, both young and old, should be excited about this partnership. Over the next couple of months we are going to being working on some very interesting and exciting promotions with Revell to promote the NHRA Revell Nationals in October." Revell-Monogram, with headquarters in Morton Grove, Ill., manufactures more than 600 different scale die-cast reproductions and plastic kits for all ages, interests and abilities. Products under the Revell Racing, Revell Collection, Revell-Monogram and ProModeler brand names are distributed in nearly every major country in the world. The company is part of Binney & Smith Inc., makers of Crayola* products and a division of Hallmark. -30- 5/3/97-GR23-067