MAHLE Clevite Expands Grassroots Racing Outreach With Sponsorship of NASCAR Corona Series

ANN ARBOR, MI--(Marketwire - April 15, 2008) - To further expand its reach into grassroots racing, MAHLE Clevite has announced its sponsorship of the NASCAR Corona Series. The three-year sponsorship agreement for the NASCAR series in Mexico will last until 2010.

"Our new agreement to sponsor Mexico's most important stock car racing series not only supports our existing relationship with NASCAR, but also gives us the opportunity to further our commitment to grassroots racing in North America," said Ted Hughes, brand and communications manager, MAHLE Clevite.

"With the addition of expanded operations in Mexico during the past year, sponsoring the NASCAR Corona series gives us the perfect platform to support our customers there," said Hughes.

Shortly after the formation of MAHLE Clevite in 2007, the MAHLE Group also completed the acquisition of the piston ring and cylinder liner business from Condumex in Mexico, providing the company with a full range of products for the Mexican market.

MAHLE Clevite is a sponsor of the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide Series and Craftsman Truck Series. Its grassroots sponsorship includes the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, NASCAR's Grand National Camping World Regional Series and Whelen All-American Series.

The company announced earlier this year that the new MAHLE white decal would take the place of the legendary Clevite blue decal throughout all NASCAR competitions. In addition to Clevite engine bearings, the company's Perfect Circle, Victor Reinz and MAHLE Original engine parts brands are all exclusive NASCAR Performance products.

MAHLE has a local presence in all important world markets. The Group has more than 40,000 dedicated employees in 110 production plants and seven research and development centers. Worldwide, nearly 2,300 development engineers and technicians work as partners for our customers on forward-thinking concepts, products and systems focused on the continuous development of the combustion engine. In 2007, the MAHLE Group expects sales of approximately EUR 5 billion (USD 7.5 billion), positioning the company among the top 30 automotive suppliers globally.

About NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR), celebrating 60 years in 2008, is the sanctioning body for one of North America's premier sports. NASCAR is the No. 1 spectator sport -- holding 17 of the top 20 highest attended sporting events in the U.S., and is the No. 2 rated regular-season sport on television. NASCAR races are broadcast in more than 150 countries and in more than 30 languages. NASCAR fans are the most brand loyal in all of sports, and as a result more Fortune 500 companies participate in NASCAR than any other sport.

NASCAR consists of three national series (the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series), four regional series, and one local grassroots series, as well as two international series. NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races at 100 tracks in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada and Mexico. Based in Daytona Beach (Fla.), NASCAR has offices in New York, Los Angeles, Charlotte (N.C.), Concord (N.C.), Conover (N.C.), Bentonville (Ark.), Mexico City, and Toronto.

Contact Information: For further information: MAHLE Clevite Inc. Ted Hughes Marketing 1350 Eisenhower Place Ann Arbor, MI 48108 USA Phone: +734/975-7936 Fax: +734/975-7936 For further PR Information: The Marx Group Gary McCoy Public Relations Director 2160 Niagara Ct. Elgin, IL 60123 USA Phone: +847/622-7228 Fax: +847/628-3949