Coors Light Supports Marines with Paint Scheme

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (October 16, 2002) - Coors Light will honor and celebrate at Martinsville Speedway this weekend with the United States Marines as they celebrate their 227th anniversary. In support of the anniversary, the No. 40 Coors Light Dodge will sport a commemorative U.S. Marines paint scheme during the Old Dominion 500 at Martinsville Speedway.

"The Coors family and Coors Brewing Company have a long history with honoring all divisions of the United States Military. With our Marine Corp paint schematic we are paying tribute to the Marines and their unwavering nobility in defense of our country," said Carl Barnhill, Senior Vice President of Sales for Coors Brewing Company and former Marine.

Coors Brewing Company is very committed to honoring United States military services and veterans. The veteran employees at Coors came up with a plan to honor all five divisions of the military with a statue called "Defenders of Freedom." This statue stands proudly at the entrance of the brewery in Golden, Colorado. It is the only memorial that honors all five divisions of the U.S. Military to stand on corporate campus.

General James Jones, the Commandant of the Marine Corp, will be present at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, October 20 and will be recognized and address the crowd during the Winston Cup pre-race ceremonies.

Mike Bliss will drive the No. 40 Coors Light Dodge in the Old Dominion 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Bliss will be in the car for one race only; Jamie McMurray will resume driving responsibilities in Atlanta.

Bliss drives the No. 16 IWX Motor Freight/Knights Inn Chevrolet full time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. He has led the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship point standings since the Michigan 200 on July 27. Bliss has competed in seven races at Martinsville, scoring one pole in 1999, two top-5 and four top-10 finishes. He has an average finish of 8.33 at Martinsville Speedway and he is sixth in series money won at the track with $66,775.