Marlin Fire Suit Up For Auction
Chip Ganassi Racing to auction off race-worn Target fire suit on Ebay

Mooresville, N.C. (November 21, 2001)– Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates and Target Stores are auctioning off the fire suit Sterling Marlin wore during the Aug. 25 NASCAR Winston Cup Series’“ Sharpie 500” at Bristol Motor Speedway. Fans can bid on the one-of-a-kind, Marlin-autographed fire suit from November 21 to December 1 on Ebay (www.ebay.com). The Ebay item number for the suit is 1036841924 and the auction will end December 1 at 12 p.m. ET. Proceeds from the auction will go to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a long-time partner of Target and Chip Ganassi Racing.

“ It’s not every day that a racing fan gets the opportunity to own the actual fire suit that a driver has worn in a race,” Chip Ganassi said. “ Target and I have had a long relationship with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the auction is a unique way to raise money to help the fight against childhood diseases.”

Target, which served as title sponsor of the No. 40 Dodge Intrepid R/T for the Aug. 25 race at Bristol Motor Speedway, created Marlin’s fire suit especially for use in the“ Sharpie 500”. The suit shares the same design and colors (red with yellow lightning bolts) worn by Target Chip Ganassi Racing drivers Memo Gidley and Bruno Junqueira, who race in the Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) FedEx Series. Marlin piloted his Target car to a ninth place finish while wearing the fire suit in the“ Sharpie 500”.

Marlin is enjoying one of his most successful seasons in NASCAR Winston Cup. He currently ranks fourth in Winston Cup driver points and captured Dodge’s first victory since 1977 (Pepsi 400 at Michigan International Speedway). His second win of the season came in the UAW-GM Quality 500 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Marlin is the only driver to rank in the top-10 in driver points the entire season.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
St. Jude is the single largest center in the United States for the treatment and research of pediatric cancer and other life-threatening childhood diseases. To date, Target and its customers have helped raise more than $10 million for St. Jude and Target House®, a comfortable, home away from home for St. Jude patients and their families.

Target Corporation
Minneapolis-based Target Stores, with 1,019 stores in 46 states nationwide, and target.com, the online business of Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT), provide guests with an upscale discount retail environment by delivering today’s best retail trends at affordable prices. Whether visiting a Target store or shopping online at target.com, guests enjoy a fun and convenient shopping experience with access not only to thousands of unique and highly differentiated items, but also to Target’s highly successful registry programs (Club Wedd and Lullaby Club), information on Target’s philanthropic initiatives, including Take Charge of Education, and the option to apply for a Target Guest Card. Target Stores is the largest division of Target Corporation, the nation’s fourth largest retailer.

Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates
Chip Ganassi made a decision to build on his success in CART– four consecutive CART FedEx Championships (five total) and two Indianapolis 500 victories– and move into NASCAR Winston Cup racing by acquiring 80 percent of Team SABCO. Ganassi fields the No. 40 and No. 01 Dodge cars driven by Sterling Marlin and rookie Winston Cup driver Jason Leffler. Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates is enjoying its inaugural season, bringing Dodge its first victory in 16 years at the Pepsi 400 and helping Marlin become the only driver to rank in the top-10 in NASCAR Winston Cup driver points the entire season.

-CGR-