CARQUEST Joins No. 5 Team with Multi-Year Pact

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Dec. 29, 2004) – Hendrick Motorsports today announced a multi-year agreement that will feature CARQUEST Auto Parts as a major associate sponsor of the No. 5 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series team with driver Kyle Busch. Along with associate-sponsorship status on the No. 5 Kellogg’s Chevrolets throughout the schedule, the pact will showcase primary CARQUEST color-schemes on the car in 10 NEXTEL Cup events, divided equally between the 2005 and 2006 seasons. “All of us at CARQUEST Auto Parts are proud to continue our association with Hendrick Motorsports as their Official Auto Parts Supplier,” said Art Lottes III, president of CARQUEST. “Hendrick Motorsports is a world-class organization and we look forward in 2005 to continued success with Kyle Busch and our new relationship with the No. 5 team.” Raleigh-based CARQUEST, the Official Auto Parts Supplier of Hendrick Motorsports since 2002, began its association with Busch this past season as primary sponsor of Hendrick’s No. 84 NEXTEL Cup effort. The six-race initiative marked the series debut of Busch at his hometown track of Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March, along with additional events at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, California Speedway, Kansas Speedway and Atlanta Motor Speedway. “I’m real excited to have CARQUEST back on the hood in 2005,” said Busch, who will compete for the 2005 NEXTEL Cup Raybestos Rookie of the Year award. “They’ve been a great supporter of my racing career with Hendrick Motorsports and I look forward to continuing that relationship in my rookie year in the NEXTEL Cup Series with the No. 5 team.” In his first full season of NASCAR Busch Series competition, Busch earned top rookie honors en route to a second-place finish in the championship standings in 2004. At 19, he will once again be the youngest full-time competitor in any of NASCAR’s three major touring series in 2005. ABOUT CARQUEST: CARQUEST Auto Parts supplies the professional automotive service repair industry with import, foreign and domestic auto parts, tools and equipment. CARQUEST Auto Parts also are available to motorists who choose to do their own repairs, although due to the advanced technology in today’s automotive vehicles, it is CARQUEST’s recommendation that auto repairs be done by professional automotive service technicians. Any CARQUEST Auto Parts Store will be happy to recommend qualified repair centers. For the nearest CARQUEST location, visit www.CARQUEST.com. CARQUEST COLOR-SCHEMES – 2005 NEXTEL CUP DATES: Feb. 27, California Speedway April 3, Bristol Motor Speedway May 29, Lowe’s Motor Speedway Oct. 9, Kansas Speedway Nov. 6, Texas Motor Speedway