DuPont, Hendrick Extend Long-Term Relationship

DOVER, Del. (June 5, 2005) – Going on its 13th full season as a primary car sponsor that took a chance on a young man with a lot of talent, DuPont has extended its long-term commitment to the Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series team with four-time champion driver Jeff Gordon. The new contract extends the partnership through the 2008 season, with the option for two additional years. The DuPont Automotive Finishes business initiated sponsorship of the No. 24 Chevrolets in 1992 with an iconic rainbow paint scheme designed by renowned motorsports artist Sam Bass to showcase the brilliance of DuPont's paint products. Gordon made his debut that year in the season-ending race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, which ironically, was the final race for seven-time series champion Richard Petty. Since that debut, the look of the car was transformed when the "fire and flames" paint scheme was introduced in 2001. In addition, Team DuPont has accumulated 72 wins and four championships leading DuPont, Hendrick Motorsports and Gordon to recommit to furthering their mutual success both on and off the race track. "Our involvement with Hendrick Motorsports and Jeff Gordon has created a platform where DuPont can showcase its products and increase the growth and loyalty of its customer base," said Edward J. Donnelly, DuPont group vice president for coatings and color technologies. "Right from the start, we've been able to demonstrate our high performance automotive finishes by showcasing our products on the No. 24 car. "Because of the early success that we were able to realize, other DuPont brands and businesses including DuPont Tyvek™ Homewrap™ and DuPont Corian™ solid surfaces have taken advantage of the motorsports sponsorship and Gordon's celebrity power to market their products," said Donnelly. "Company-wide participation has really increased the depth of our involvement, making our sponsorship all the more valuable." "DuPont and Hendrick Motorsports have formed a terrific team for more than a decade," said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. "Week after week, we're able to pair Jeff Gordon, one of the most dynamic talents in our sport, with DuPont, a respected and well-recognized brand throughout the world. It's a relationship we take a great deal of pride in and one we're extremely excited to continue." DuPont has been the only primary sponsor of the Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 car and Gordon's Cup Series career. "DuPont has been extremely good to me," said Gordon. "I really couldn't imagine racing without that DuPont oval on the car. "Over the years, they have become family and their business ethics and standards have made them a company that I am proud to represent and that I am honored to be able to continue to represent. "Hopefully, we can pull that DuPont Chevrolet into many more victory lanes in the years to come as well as up to the main entrance at the Waldorf =Astoria in New York City as five-time NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champions."