Busch to sport new paint scheme at Bristol

Winston Cup's Kurt Busch returns to Bristol for the Sharpie® 500 sporting new Sharpie look.
-Sophomore driver won his first career Winston Cup Race in March with special Sharpie paint scheme, hopes luck continues.

(Bellwood, Ill. August 8, 2002) The Sharpie brand, the world's most popular family of permanent markers and title sponsor of the Sharpie 500, today unveiled a special paint scheme for Kurt Busch's No. 97 Ford, defending Bristol Motor Speedway (BMS) champion. The special one-time look will be featured at the Sharpie 500 on Saturday, August 24 under the lights.

Busch is betting on another Sharpie paint job to help him take the checkered flag once again at Bristol. Busch won the Food City 500 in March at BMS, his first Winston Cup career victory, driving a special paint scheme that officially kicked off the Sharpie "You Could Win A $1,000,000" program and race to the Sharpie 500.

"Returning to Bristol and the Sharpie 500 feels a lot like going back home," said Busch. "We won in Bristol in March with the `Sharpie Million Dollar' car, and I hope this new look gives us a little luck to do it all over again."

The design features a red Sharpie permanent marker, which is one of the most popular of the more than 12 colors made by Sharpie. Sharpie chose to feature red because the color means speed.

The Sharpie 500 will not only have a car carrying its name, but also play host to what could be a million dollar giveaway. Sharpie, in its second year of title sponsorship of the Bristol Night Race, will be bringing 10 individuals from its national sweepstakes that ends August 13 to BMS on August 24 for a chance at what could be $1 million.

On Saturday night before the Sharpie 500, one of the 10 semifinalists will randomly draw a qualified driver from the field of 43. If that driver wins, the lucky finalist pockets $1 million; $100,000 for 2nd through 5th place; $50,000 for 6th through 10th place; and $10,000 for any finish outside of the top 10.

"We're thrilled to be back at the Sharpie 500 as Kurt Busch attempts a repeat of his win early this year," said Jeff Werner, vice president of marketing at Sanford North America, makers of Sharpie. "The Sharpie 500 will be `racin' the way it ought'a be' and possibly where someone can walk away with $1 million. It will be a weekend to remember."

About Sanford®
Sharpie, invented in 1963, is the world's most popular family of permanent markers. Sanford is the maker of Sharpie permanent markers and a division of Newell Rubbermaid Inc. (NYSE: NWL). The Company is a worldwide leader in the manufacturing and marketing of writing instruments, including such well known brands as Paper Mate®, Colorific®, Sharpie®, Parker®, Waterman® and uni-ball®, among others. Sanford makes more than 3,000 products ranging from markers, pens and pencils to professional art products and fine writing instruments. Headquartered in Bellwood, Ill., the Company has approximately 10,000 employees worldwide.

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