RUDD LOOKS FOR A STRONG FINISH AT HISTORICAL INDIANAPOLIS

CHARLOTTE, NC (July 24, 2007) – After enjoying the final weekend off of the 2007 season, the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series returns to action this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. Ricky Rudd and the #88 Snickers® Racing team hope that this weekend’s race at Indianapolis will provide a strong performance and finish especially since Rudd is a past champion at the track. Rudd is the only simultaneous owner and driver to have won at Indianapolis in the NASCAR Cup Series. Rudd won the1997 Brickyard 400 while he was the owner and driver of the #10 Ford. Sunday’s race will mark the 14th time the NASCAR Cup Series has raced at Indianapolis Motor Speedway which is the second-oldest active track in the world.

Quoting Snickers Driver, Ricky Rudd:
What makes Indianapolis Motor Speedway such a unique place to race at?

“Well for me personally it’s just the history of the facility that makes it unique. Going there as a young kid and seeing the museum and taking the tour around the speedway when I was 11 or 12 years old really left a lasting impression on me. I just remember going there as a kid and thinking about how I was going to race there one day since at the time I was kind of heading down the open-wheel racing route. We did eventually come back to the Brickyard and we were lucky enough to be one of the teams that was selected to go and run one of the first tire tests there in the early 90’s for NASCAR and that was a pretty neat experience to actually come to this facility and drive. “

What makes winning at Indianapolis Motor Speedway so exciting?

“For me it just goes back to when I was younger, there weren’t a lot of races that were televised at that time, but the Indianapolis 500 was always televised. Where I grew up in Virginia we were a little more familiar with stock car racing rather than Indy car racing. I just remember watching a lot more of the Indy car races on tv when I was a kid so I think I had it in my mind even as a child how important any race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway was. Even though I knew that stock cars and Indy cars were different, there are a lot of similarities when it comes down to winning at Indy. I think what helps make wining at the Brickyard such a unique experience is that fact that for many years they only had the one race with the Indianapolis 500 and with that one race there was just so much prestige in a victory there. It’s just such a historical facility and I think that’s why it carries so much glory when you have the chance to win there.”

• NOTES OF INTEREST:

* Rudd is the only driver/owner combination to win a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race at Indianapolis * Rudd has an average starting position of 19.2, and an average finish of 21.9 at Indianapolis * Rudd has completed 1,756 of 1,921 laps at Indianapolis (91.4 percent) and has led 33 laps * Rudd’s best start at Indianapolis was in 2000 from the pole position * Rudd’s has one victory at Indianapolis which happened in the 1997 Brickyard 400

• ABOUT MARS US:

Mars US is the United States food, snack and pet care operations of Mars, Incorporated, one of the world's leading food manufacturers. With more than $7 billion in annual sales in the U.S., the combined food, snack and pet care segments are a symbol of excellence for quality brands. Headquartered in Hackettstown, New Jersey, Mars US employs more than 9,000 associates in the United States, with 52 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.

• CHASSIS #77

Chassis #77 is the car the #88 Snickers Racing team will be running this weekend for the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. This is the same chassis the team ran at Pocono for the rain-shortened Pocono 500 on June 10, 2007.