Racing Legend Ray Evernham Takes on a Partner

STATESVILLE, NC (Aug. 13, 2007) - Ray Evernham and George N. Gillett Jr. have announced the creation of Gillett Evernham Motorsports (GEM), a partnership combining Evernham Motorsports and the Gillett family where Evernham will remain a substantial owner and retain the title of chief executive officer. The strength of Evernham's championship on-track performance and Gillett's off-track sports business experience creates a high-performance, high-energy platform to establish GEM's value and appeal to fans and sponsors.

Recognizing that the rate of change off-track has exceeded the change on-track in the past few years, Evernham forged a relationship with Gillett, whose diverse holdings offer unique business-to-business opportunities, sponsorship activation and fulfillment that will revolutionize what sponsors can expect from a NASCAR team. GEM will benefit from Gillett's existing network of sports and entertainment properties, resorts, auto dealerships and auto franchises, offering unique access to sponsors and partners and a powerful global connection that no other team can offer.

Gillett owns the Montreal Canadiens National Hockey League team and is a co-owner of the Liverpool Football Club in the English Premier League. Gillett's other business interests include the Bell Centre, home of the Montreal Canadiens and Gillett Entertainment Group (GEG), producers of some 700 sporting and entertainment events in numerous venues throughout Canada and the United States.

Evernham, whom motorsports media voted "The Greatest Crew Chief of All Time" in 2006, spearheaded Dodge's re-entry into NASCAR in 2001 and earned a pole position in Dodge's debut at the Daytona 500 with driver Bill Elliott. Prior to founding Evernham Motorsports, Evernham served as Jeff Gordon's crew chief, earning three NASCAR NEXTEL Cup championships and 47 wins in just 216 starts.

"It's very exciting for me to deliver to sponsors and fans the opportunity to align with a worldwide sports leader," says Evernham. "This will allow me to focus on our racing operations and team performance, while the Gillett family will focus on our business operations. It certainly allows us to capitalize on our strengths and position GEM for long-term success, both on and off the track."

(Source: Gillett Evernham Motorsports)