Winning students and a parent will join Force, crew chiefs Austin Coil and Bernie Fedderly, and the entire Castrol GTX racing team at NHRA events in the following metropolitan areas (race times and dates will be determined upon completion of the NHRA 2003 schedule): Baytown, Texas (Houston); Las Vegas, Nevada; Bristol, Tenn.; Englishtown, N.J. (New York); Joliet, Ill. (Chicago); St. Louis, Mo. ; Denver, Colo.; and Clermont, Ind. (Indianapolis)

In addition to spending an entire race day with the Castrol GTX Funny Car team, each regional winner will receive two tickets to the final races on Sunday, a Castrol GTX Top Techs hat and t-shirt, a Mac Tools toolbox filled with $1,000 of new tools, and donations of Castrol GTX motor oil and Castrol GTX High Mileage motor oil for use in the winning students' vocational education programs.

A national winner – chosen from the eight regional winners – will receive a $7,500 scholarship to continue his or her automotive service education. Primedia, a leading publisher of automotive enthusiast magazines, has generously donated $2,500 toward the scholarship prize. In addition, the national winner will win a trip, including travel and hotel accommodations, to the prestigious Car Craft awards banquet in Indianapolis in August 2003 – drag racing's "People's Choice" award competition, attended by all the greats of drag racing.

According to Mark Kerstens, director of brand management for Castrol North America, the Castrol GTX Top Techs program "recognizes automotive service students who require the diagnostics skills of a doctor, the dedication to craftsmanship and quality of a fine carpenter and the entrepreneurial skills of the savviest business leader."

Kerstens added that the Castrol GTX Top Techs program also highlights the important role vocational education programs play in keeping America's vehicles moving. "It's no secret that we're facing a huge shortage of automotive technicians. The only way we'll overcome that shortage is by encouraging more students to consider automotive service as a career and then giving them the skills they need to succeed. Teachers are the ones that ultimately make all that happen."

John Force, the winningest driver in drag racing history, reigns as the sport's greatest star and main attraction. He has captured more than 100 victories and 11 NHRA Funny Car championships – both unmatched drag racing marks that may never be equaled. A firm believer in the need to encourage young men and women to consider automotive service careers, Force has teamed with Castrol GTX to recognize students and to thank the teachers who have dedicated their lives to teaching others about automobile service.

Austin Coil and Bernie Fedderly have achieved their own renown as perhaps the greatest team of technicians in the history of drag racing. Coil and Fedderly also represent two of the automotive service profession's finest ambassadors, reflecting the unique combination of hands-on knowledge, technical capabilities and the willingness to continually learn and innovate as equipment becomes more complex and technology-driven.

Students or educators with questions about the program can call 312-397-6037 or e-mail their questions to anthony.astran@ogilvypr.com. Castrol is a global leader in marketing premium automotive product brands such as Castrol GTX, Castrol Syntec, Castrol Syntec Blend and Castrol Super Clean. Castrol North America markets its lubricants and services to lube operators, automotive service providers and select retailers in North America. Castrol, the automotive marketing and technology leader with more than 100 years' experience, offers world-class retailer and installer support under one united global brand. Call 1-888- CASTROL or visit www.castrolusa.com. upon request.**