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The FansTeam Unveils its Car and Fan-First Concept at Napa 500

15 November 1997

The FansTeam Unveils its Car and Fan-First Concept at Napa 500

      Race Is On For NASCAR Fans Looking For Up Close Racing Experience
                     Sponsorship Hotline # 1-888-TEAM-064

    ATLANTA, Nov. 15 -- The FansTeam, set to hit the track in the
1998 NASCAR season,  unveiled its #64 race car and first-of-its-kind concept
today at the NAPA 500.  The FansTeam puts racing enthusiasts around the
country in a rare role normally reserved for corporate sponsors.  The race is
now on for NASCAR fans wanting to take their racing experience to the next
level - from spectator to sponsor.  The FansTeam, with support from Arby's
Restaurants, has dropped the green flag on this unique opportunity -- signing
up fan sponsors, for a limited time, through The FansTeam hotline at
1-888-TEAM-064.
    Comedian Jeff Foxworthy, an avid NASCAR fan, already has signed on as the
first FansTeam fan and will promote the one-of-a-kind NASCAR program.  "The
name says it all.  While Arby's is helping to make it happen, The FansTeam is
sponsored by NASCAR fans for NASCAR fans," says Jeff Foxworthy, Number One
FansTeam fan.  "For the first time ever, NASCAR fans can get more up close and
personal with a Winston Cup team than ever imagined before.  Racing fans are
some of the most avid and loyal fans in the world of sports.  Still, all we
could do is cheer for someone else's team -- until now."
    Fans who sign up to sponsor The FansTeam will receive several VIP perks,
including a commemorative FansTeam T-shirt and certificate, their name on the
car's transport truck and race banners, and the weekly chance to have their
name and face displayed on The FansTeam car during an entire race.  In
addition, fan sponsors will be automatically entered every week, during the
1998 Winston Cup season, for the opportunity to win tickets to key NASCAR
races, rare passes to private garage tours, VIP pit passes, weekend race
getaways, and autographed NASCAR collectibles.  Fan sponsors are even eligible
to win a Richard Petty driving experience scholarship for two.
    NASCAR veteran, Dick Bahre, who has fielded teams with Sterling Marlin,
Morgan Shepard, Michael Waltrip, and Geoff Bodine, will run The FansTeam from
his brand new racing shop in Statesville, N.C.  As FansTeam sponsors sign up,
Dick Bahre Racing will be heading up a selection process for the FansTeam
driver, who will be announced early next year.  Once enough sponsors have
signed up during the initial phase of the program, The FansTeam car will
travel to Daytona for qualifying races in February 1998.  Sponsorship
enrollment is open through the end of 1997.
    "NASCAR is the sport of mainstream America and surpasses football,
baseball and basketball as the biggest spectator sport in the country.  Arby's
is very excited about helping to provide NASCAR fans with this new opportunity
for direct participation in their favorite sport," says Robert Langley,
southeast regional president for RTM Restaurant Group, which owns and operates
Arby's.  "We look forward to hitting the track and bringing a new twist and
new level of excitement to NASCAR racing for America's biggest sports fans."
    NASCAR fans can call 1-888-TEAM-064, visit the FansTeam web site at
http://www.fansteam.com or a participating Arby's Restaurant for information on how
to sign up for The FansTeam.  Sponsorship packages begin at $195 and include
the commemorative FansTeam T-shirt, official FansTeam certificate, Arby's VIP
coupons for 10 free meals worth at least $40, and the weekly contests for an
up-close NASCAR experience.
    The RTM Restaurant Group, which owns and operates Arby's restaurants, has
annual sales of $625 million, operates 896 restaurants in 21 states and 47
markets with 20,000 employees.  The company's portfolio of restaurant concepts
includes Arby's Roast Beef Restaurants, Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken, Mrs.
Winner's Chicken & Biscuits, Shoney's Family Restaurants, and Del Taco Mexican
Restaurants.  The company is also the franchiser of 177 Mrs. Winner's Chicken
& Biscuits and Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken restaurants.

SOURCE  The FansTeam