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Safety Scholar Brings Mario Andretti to TownBridgestone Firestone essay contest winner presented with college scholarship

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (November 28, 2006) - Sometimes a simple idea can make a big difference by saving a life, sending a scholar to school and even bringing a legend to town.

Just ask Konrad Hughes, a senior at Kickapoo High School.

Hughes’ essay on youth driver safety has earned him a college scholarship as one of three grand prize winners out of nearly 22,000 entrants in the Safety Scholars national essay contest sponsored by Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT). Today, legendary racer Mario Andretti came to Hughes’ school in Springfield to present him with his $2,500 college scholarship. Hughes just hopes his idea ends up making our roads safer for everyone.

“I was really excited when I found out that I was chosen as a winner, and completely thrilled that Mr. Andretti is the one who made the presentation,” Hughes said. “I have always admired him, and this award means even more to me coming from such a racing legend and someone who has made such a difference by traveling the country talking to kids about tire and driving safety.”

BFNT and Andretti officially launched the Safety Scholars program and Safety Scholars.com Web site earlier this year as part of the company’s ongoing commitment to safety education. Andretti has a long history with the company and together they recently developed a comprehensive program called Mario Andretti’s Real Information On Safety (M.A.R.I.O.S.) to teach young drivers about the importance of tire and driver safety.

“Bridgestone Firestone strives to educate drivers on how essential tire safety is because tires are the only things connecting your vehicle to the road,” said John Gamauf, President of Consumer Tire Replacement Sales, BFNT. “We congratulate Konrad along with all of our winners on their creative ideas about how to keep young drivers safer on the roads at all times.”

Along with Hughes, the other 10 winners are:

  • Erica Franklin - Troy, N.Y.
  • Sandra Garcia - Woodbridge, Va.
  • Ricardo Hernandez - Merrillville, Ind.
  • Nathaniel Nakashima - San Jose, Calif.
  • Brittany Norman - Alpharetta, Ga.
  • Shawn de Salazar - Davie, Fla. - grand prize winner
  • Barcleigh Sandvall - Arlington, Texas
  • Adam Strom - San Antonio, Texas
  • Tom Wangard - Madison, Wis. - grand prize winner
  • Bethan Watson - Helena, Ala.

Each winner will receive a set of Bridgestone- or Firestone-brand tires and a $500 gas card. The three grand prize winners each additionally will receive a $2,500 college scholarship and new laptop computer.

Everyone who entered the contest should be commended for taking the time to offer their ideas on how to keep young people safe on the roads,” said Andretti. “Car accidents are the leading killer of teens in this country, and there’s no one better to deliver the message of safe driving to teens than teens themselves. Together, teens and BFNT can help new drivers learn good, safe habits from the very beginning.”

All of the winning essays can be accessed through the SafetyScholars.com Web site. In addition to the posted essays, the site includes a wealth of safety information available to young drivers with just a click of a mouse. Visitors to the site can download a copy of the M.A.R.I.O.S. safety booklet for new drivers. In his travels across the United States for BFNT, Andretti frequently speaks to students about the safety tips and good habits covered in the M.A.R.I.O.S. booklets, such as alert and defensive driving, tire safety and seat belt use. The site also includes information from Firestone Complete Auto Care™’s award-winning Car Care Academies, BFNT’s TireSafety.com Web site and on the innovative BFNT-sponsored teen driver training program, Driver’s Edge.

The award-winning Safety Scholars essay contest was open to students aged 16 to 21. Contestants were asked to submit an essay, 500 words or less, on automobile safety-related topics they felt are important to their peers, such as seat belt use, drinking and driving or tire safety. The submission should have discussed effective ways to improve driver safety and should also have included ideas on the best and most effective way to communicate to and educate young drivers about the safety messages discussed in the essay. Essays were accepted through July 31, 2006. Complete, official contest rules are available at www.SafetyScholars.com.

About Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC:
Nashville-based Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC 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.