MBNA RacePoints 400 - Mike Bliss Notes

BEST BUY READIES FOR FIRST NASCAR NEXTEL CUP RACE AS PRIMARY SPONSOR

Haas CNC Racing Entry Will Spotlight Best Buy, Pay Tribute to Retailer’s Gulf-Area “Hurricane Heroes”

HARRISBURG, N.C. – NASCAR NEXTEL Cup driver Mike Bliss will be behind the wheel of the Best Buy Chevrolet Monte Carlo for the first time this season as the Haas CNC Racing team heads to Dover (Del.) International Speedway for this Sunday’s MBNA NASCAR RacePoints 400.

Best Buy has been a co-primary sponsor on the No. 0 Haas CNC Racing entry all year. The event this weekend at “The Monster Mile” will mark the first time in which the No. 0 Haas CNC Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo arrives at the track and ready for action featuring the bold blue and yellow colors of Best Buy, North America’s leading consumer electronics retailer. In addition, the trunk of the Monte Carlo also will feature a tribute to the more than 1,200 Best Buy associates in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi who were displaced by Hurricane Katrina. The message reads, “Hats off to Best Buy’s hurricane heroes,” followed by a listing of the affected stores and their markets.

Best Buy had 12 stores that were affected by the hurricane, including four that remain closed. All employees who were displaced by the disaster have been accounted for, and many now are helping to rebuild their stores and their communities. Best Buy stores nationwide are collecting customer donations to the American Red Cross, and matching these donations with up to $2 million from the Best Buy Children’s Foundation.

“We feel extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with the folks at Best Buy all year, and we’re looking forward to seeing the Best Buy Chevrolet at the track this weekend” said Joe Custer Haas CNC General Manager. “Best Buy is obviously a first-class organization and we couldn’t do what we do without them. We’ve worked together to make sure all the parties involved get everything we can out of our partnership and this is just another example of that coordination. Best Buy has put together a great racing program including store events, showcar appearances and the Best Buy Fun Zone, which is located at right at the track during most race weekends, and as well as this team has been running recently, we’re confident this weekend’s event will be one of our best together. We’d also like to give those Best Buy associates that were affected by Hurricane Katrina something to cheer for.”