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Bridgestone Firestone And Bigfoot 4x4 Announce Five-Year Sponsorship And Display ProgramBigfoot® monster truck continues to ride on Firestone brand tires

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (February 20, 2006) – Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT) recently announced its continued sponsorship of the Bigfoot® monster truck team through 2010.

"Our promotional sponsorship of Bigfoot is an important part of the company’s marketing effort to consumers and light truck enthusiasts," said Phil Pacsi, executive director, North American consumer tire marketing, BFNT. "For the past 14 years we have had a wonderful working relationship with Bigfoot, and we are very excited about continuing our association with this high-profile, well-known brand."

Since 1991, Team Bigfoot has been using Firestone® tires exclusively on its fleet of monster trucks. “The tires’ construction and tread pattern provide unmatched traction and durability,” says Jim Kramer, vice president of operations for Bigfoot 4X4, Inc. “We can’t imagine running our trucks on anything else.”

In addition to running on Firestone brand tires since 1991, Team Bigfoot has used Firestone themed monster truck bodies since 1997, starting with the introduction of the Firestone Wilderness™ Bigfoot truck.

As part of Firestone’s 100th anniversary in 2000, Bigfoot unveiled the Firestone Centennial paint scheme on Bigfoot 15, which won the inaugural championship of the ISC/Truxpo - Professional Monster Truck (ProMT) Racing Series.

"Firestone tires have played a huge role in helping Bigfoot win more than 10 championships in monster truck racing,” said Bob Trent, vice president of sponsorships and events of Bigfoot 4X4, Inc. “Firestone tires help us win!”

With the launch of the Firestone Destination™ brand of light truck tires in 2003, Bigfoot unveiled a Firestone Destination paint schemed monster truck, which continues to tour the country today.

Aside from the Firestone Destination race vehicle, Bigfoot also maintains a dedicated Firestone Destination display truck that visits Firestone's retail stores throughout the year to promote the Bigfoot/Firestone relationship. In 2004 alone, the Bigfoot fleet logged 517 display days at Firestone dealerships, with another 505 days in 2005.

Bigfoot 4X4, Inc. was founded by Bob Chandler who created the first monster truck, christening it "Bigfoot," in the mid 1970s. Through the years, it has remained perhaps the best-known of all the monster trucks.

For a complete schedule of Firestone Destination Bigfoot appearances, check www.bigfoot4x4.com.

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

For a downloadable image, please visit: http://www.bridgestoneamericas.com/corporate/news/releaseimages/bigfootpics.htm