June 30, 2004

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Joliet FanFest!

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JOLIET, IL The Joliet City Center Partnership has reached an agreement with the Save A Life Foundation (SALF), making the nonprofit organization the benefiting sponsor of this year's Joliet FanFest event held on July 8, 2004, prior to the NASCAR weekend at the Chicagoland Speedway.

"We are ecstatic about the partnership that we have created with the Save A Life Foundation," said Tom Mahalik, Vice President of the Joliet City Center Partnership. "This year's event will be really special, knowing that the City of Joliet is not only providing NASCAR fans a fun, free night of entertainment and excitement, but that we are also raising awareness about the very important programs provided by Save A Life Foundation."

   
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Save A Life Foundation is an affiliate of Citizen Corps at the national level.  It helps local EMS professionals teach school children, from kindergarten through high school, the life-supporting skills of First Aid, CPR, and the Heimlich maneuver. These children, armed with basic skills, are able to help themselves and those around them in times of emergency until professional help arrives.

"We at SALF could not be more excited to be working together with the Joliet City Center Partnership during the 2004 Joliet Fan Fest, benefiting SALF," said Save A Life Foundation President Carol Spizzirri. Both NASCAR and SALF share our great local EMS professionals. The same people that would tend to Jeff Gordon at the track on Sunday will be teaching local kids to do the same in the classroom on Monday, as an SALF instructor.

"We are also honored to have partners at Ronald McDonalds House Charities, Associated Firefighters of Illinois, Nextel Communications and the Centers for Disease Control from Atlanta, GA joining us in this emergency awareness event," stated Spizzirri.

The 2004 Joliet FanFest, Benefiting Save A Life Foundation will be held in downtown Joliet, IL from 5pm - 11pm. The event includes an exclusive concert inside the Rialto Theatre, sponsored by Budweiser, and will be highlighted by a special appearance from Dale Earnhardt Jr. Visitors will also be able to enjoy live entertainment on the AOL for Broadband/IRL outdoor concert stage, experience NASCAR simulators, peruse classic cars from the area and meet famous NASCAR drivers. Vendor booths and great food will be provided by City Center Restaurateurs, along with a newly remodeled "Kid Zone" will also add to the total experience.

In addition to the Joliet FanFest, the Chicagoland Speedway and the Joliet Jackhammers Professional Baseball Club will be hosting the "Racing the Bases" Celebrity Charity Softball Game at Silver Cross Field in downtown Joliet during the main event.

The Joliet FanFest, Benefiting Save A Life Foundation is a partnership that combines the excitement of NASCAR with the EMS professionals, who are SALF instructors, in turn, giving fans a fun experience while helping with a great cause that empowers the community, teaches essential skills, supports EMS, and ultimately leads to the saving of lives.

Joliet's New City Center is centrally located to attract visitors from the Chicago suburbs, as well as downstate tourists in search of quality entertainment, dining, and accommodations. More than 1,000,000 people populate Joliet's 20-mile market radius.

Since 1997 SALF has trained almost 1,000,000 Illinois schoolchildren at no cost. For more information on SALF, The "Race for Life" and how to participate, go to www.salf.org or call Dane Neal at (847) 344-9265 or (847)-928-9683.

Comet Sports Marketing, LLC. is the public relations and marketing firm of record for the Joliet FanFest event associated with the 2004 NASCAR race weekend. For more information regarding sponsorship opportunities, please 919-387-1684.