Western Union and Duesenberg Team to Compete in NBS in 06

Two American Icons, Western Union and Duesenberg Team, Bring a “Duesie” to Compete in NASCAR in 2006

Jay Sauter, Dwayne Leik and Keith Duesenberg

ASHEVILLE, N.C., Oct. 11, 2005 - Two legendary names are combining forces to compete in the NASCAR Busch Series. Western Union, a global leader in money transfer services, today announced that it is teaming up with Keith Duesenberg & Leik Motorsports, one of the proudest names in racing history for the 2006 NASCAR Busch Series. Western Union will be the primary sponsor of the #01 Western Union Speed Team Chevrolet Monte Carlo beginning with the 2006 NASCAR Busch Series season.

Keith Duesenberg, grand nephew of Fred and Augie Duesenberg and Indy Racing League Infiniti Pro Series team owner has teamed up with Dwayne Leik, former business manager of Marcis Racing and part-time NASCAR Busch Series driver, to form Keith Duesenberg & Leik Motorsports.

Keith Duesenberg & Leik Motorsports will be operating in its newly constructed state-of-the-art facility just south of Asheville in Fletcher, N.C. The team moved into its new facility Oct. 1.

“Starting a new team is a daunting task, but when I started my IPS team my dad made it clear to me that the name had to be respected and if the team was going to say Duesenberg, I had to build a first-class program,” Duesenberg said. “I believe I lived up to that in IPS, and I plan on doing the same in NASCAR.”

Western Union has a history of motorsports sponsorship with Duesenberg Racing, including the Indy Racing League Menards Infiniti Pro Series where they finished second in the Championship in 2003 and 2004. This partnership marks the company’s debut on a NASCAR Busch circuit. The company first got involved in motorsports in 2000 with Duesenberg Racing. The Duesenberg Racing family has long-standing traditions in the sport, dating to 1914 when Duesenberg Brothers Racing was first established.

“The continued support we get from a leading brand like Western Union is the type of relationship racing teams covet,” said team owner and managing partner Keith Duesenberg. “We have been given a great opportunity with Western Union, and we plan on making a real impact on and off the track.”

“Our values of speed, reliability and trust map perfectly to the experience NASCAR delivers to its fans,” said Christina Gold, president of Western Union. “We are pleased to partner with Duesenberg with its rich heritage in motorsports to introduce the fans to our Speed Team and compete in America’s fastest growing sport.”

Keith Duesenberg & Leik Motorsports plans on fielding cars to run the full NASCAR Busch series schedule in 2006. “I know that Keith and I share the same vision for a first class competitive team” stated Dwayne Leik, also team owner and managing partner. “We may be a new team in name, but we all have a lot of experience in racing and we have put together a team that we know can produce impressive results.”

On his venture into NASCAR Keith states, “My family has a long history in open wheel racing but you cannot ignore the fact that NASCAR is booming and I look forward to being in the thick of it.”