Bridgestone/Firestone Goes Cross-Country Skiing

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Nov. 21, 2002) – Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC announced it is teaming up with the Subaru Factory Team, an elite group of cross-country skiers who compete primarily in North America but also in Europe.

Bridgestone’s Blizzak® tires will be the official tire of the Subaru Factory Team (comprised of Olympic competitors from Team USA and the Czech Republic) and will be used exclusively on all Team vehicles, trucks and trailers. The Team will rely on Blizzak’s winter technology to transport team competitors safely to races across the northern United States, Alaska and Canada.

The Subaru Factory Team consists of 13 champion athletes, including four 2002 Olympians and two 1998 Olympians, who have won 28 US Championship titles. The team will compete in more than thirty events this winter while trying to extend their unprecedented eight-year domination of the American Ski Marathon Series Champions Cup. To complement their race schedule they will aid the skiing public with over fifty consumer ski clinics throughout the year.

“We are honored that the Subaru Factory Team will be relying on Bridgestone Blizzaks this winter,” said Phil Pacsi, Executive Director NA Consumer Tire Brand Marketing. “Blizzak’s innovative design promotes increased mobility for drivers on snow- and ice-covered surfaces. Considering the snowbound locations where they compete, the Subaru team will likely encounter these conditions on a day-to-day basis.”

“The Subaru Factory Team is excited to have Bridgestone as a partner and we look forward to educating the winter driving public on the benefits that Blizzak tires can provide, while having the mobility and security of Blizzaks on all of our vehicles.” said Andrew Gerlach, Subaru Factory Team director.

Nashville-based Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC 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.

Endurance Enterprises, Inc. a lifestyle-marketing firm based in Bozeman, MT manages the Factory Team. Subaru is the title sponsor of the Factory Team. The Factory Team’s mission is to show America’s snowbound populace how cross-country skiing can maximize their enjoyment of winter, while introducing them to and educating them on our sponsors brands, products and services. For more information on the Subaru Factory Team, visit www.dreamofit.com or call 406-585-2660.