Bridgestone/Firestone Official 2002 Sema Media Center Sponsor

DIAMOND BAR, Calif. (Oct. 4, 2002) – Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC., will be the sponsor of the 2002 SEMA Show media center. The Bridgestone/Firestone Media Center, a facility near the show floor specifically designated for the working journalists who cover the show -- reporters, writers, photographers, broadcast and internet media producers -- provides access to the various SEMA Show exhibitors’ publicity and press materials, and has newsroom equipment for those men and women who file stories during the SEMA Show.

“The SEMA Show has grown significantly in importance over the past few years. We want to support SEMA and its efforts within the automotive industry,” said Phil Pacsi, executive director, consumer tire brand marketing, North American Consumer Tire Sales Group. “Sponsorship of the SEMA Show media center is a wonderful opportunity for us to promote our performance passenger car and light truck tire lines to the more than 700 members of the worldwide automotive press who will be attending this show.”

“We are delighted that Bridgestone/Firestone is once again the sponsor of our SEMA Show Media Center,” said Christopher Horn, vice president of communications for SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association. “Our SEMA Show is the source of many major automotive and lifestyle stories these days, and we appreciate Bridgestone/Firestone’s support in our efforts to tell people about the benefits of the products that are exhibited at our show.”

As part of the high-profile sponsorship, Bridgestone/Firestone brand recognition will be featured on billboard kiosks inside the media center and throughout the Las Vegas Convention Center, on convention signage and directionals, in various pre-SEMA Show attendee marketing pieces and in pre-show publicity.

The Bridgestone/Firestone Media Center, located in Rooms S219-221 of the Las Vegas Convention Center, will open at noon, Sunday, Nov. 3. Hours of operation are Sunday noon to 6 p.m.; Monday, Nov. 4, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday, Nov. 5, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Wednesday, Nov. 6, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday, Nov. 7, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Friday, Nov. 8, 8 a.m. to noon.

Nashville-based Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT) is a subsidiary of Bridgestone/Firestone Americas Holding, Inc., whose parent company, Bridgestone Corporation, is the world’s largest tire and rubber company. BFNT develops, manufactures and markets Bridgestone, Firestone, Dayton and associate and private brand tires. The company is focused on wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle, off-road, agriculture and other tires to its customers in the Americas.

SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association, represents the $26 billion specialty automotive industry. The trade association has approximately 4,500 member companies. It is the authoritative source of research data, trends and market growth information for automakers and the specialty auto products industry. The industry provides appearance, performance, comfort, convenience and technology products for passenger cars, minivans, trucks, SUVs and recreational vehicles. For more information, contact SEMA at 1575 S. Valley Vista Dr., Diamond Bar, CA, 91765-3914; call 909/396-0289; or visit www.sema.org or www.enjoythedrive.com.