ELLIOTT SADLER, M&M’S® RACING
Daytona International Speedway
February 16, 2005

CAREER MILESTONES FOR SADLER, MASTERFOODS USA AT DAYTONA

Daytona Beach, FL (February 16, 2006) – The Daytona 500 serves as the premier race of the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season with over 200,000 race fans flooding the city where the sport was founded over fifty years ago. Countless drivers have experienced career moments at Daytona International Speedway and this weekend Elliott Sadler joins the list.

When the green flag drops on the 48th Running of the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Sadler will make his 250th career start in the NEXTEL Cup Series. The Virginia native made his debut in the Coca-Cola 600 in May, 1998 for car owner Gary Bechtel. Outside of starting two events for Bechtel, Sadler has driven for only two other car owners – The Woods Brothers and Robert Yates.

In addition to Sadler’s career moment, Masterfoods USA, the stateside division of Mars, Inc. celebrates their 400th career start as a primary sponsor. Kicking off their NASCAR involvement over 15 years ago, Masterfoods pegged Snickers® as the primary sponsor for driver Bobby Hillin, Jr. After the 1992 season, Masterfoods moved to an associate position at Hendrick Motorsports returning to primary status in 1997 with driver Derrick Cope.

M&M’S® Chocolate Candies moved to the primary position at the start of the 1999 season and has remained the focal point of Masterfoods’ NASCAR involvement. This season M&M’S announced a three year partnership with the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) making their M&M’S Chocolate Candies the Official Chocolate of NASCAR.

Quoting M&M’S® Driver Elliott Sadler:
“It’s hard to believe this Sunday will be my 250th career start in the Nextel Cup Series. This is my eighth season and the time has gone by so quickly. Drivers are getting their start in the Series so early these days that you are going to see a lot of these young guys like Kyle Busch and Reed Sorenson making their 250th start by the time they are in their mid-20s.”

“To have it happen at the Daytona 500 is especially cool. This is such a huge race for our sport, so big for all the drivers and teams and sponsors. Everyone is excited when the season gets started and it is special to celebrate a milestone like this here.”

NOTES OF INTEREST…
• MFUSA Sponsorship History… Drivers for MASTERFOODS USA / Primary Sponsors
o Bobby Hillin, Jr. (1990) – Snickers
o Rick Wilson (1991) – Snickers
o Rick Wilson/Dick Trickle (1992) – Snickers
o Derrick Cope (1997) – Skittles®
o Ernie Irvan / Ricky Craven (1998) – Skittles
o Ernie Irvan/Dick Trickle/ Jerry Nadeu (1999) – M&M’S
o Ken Schrader (2000 – 02) – M&M’S
o Elliott Sadler (2003 - Present) – M&M’S
• MASTERFOODS, USA, the United States food, snack and petcare operations of Mars, Incorporated, is one of the world’s leading food manufacturers. With more than $5 billion in annual sales, the combined food, snack and petcare segments are a symbol of excellence for quality brands. Headquartered in Hackettstown, NJ, Masterfoods, USA employs more than 7,000 associates in the United States, with 15 manufacturing facilities nationwide. The company owns some of the world’s favorite brands, including M&M’S® Brand, Snickers® Brand, Uncle Ben’s® Brand, PEDIGREE® Brand Food for Dogs and WHISKAS® Brand Food for Cats.