Universal's Monsters Creep Into Atlanta Motor Speedway with UPS Racing

Ghouls and Goblins Unite!

To help race fans get into the Halloween spirit, UPS Racing, Robert Yates Racing and Action Performance Companies Inc. today unveiled a "monstrous" new race car - the No. 88 UPS/Universal Monsters Ford Taurus - that Dale Jarrett will pilot during the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race on Oct. 31, 2004 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

The UPS/Universal Monsters Ford, also unveiled today on www.racing.ups.com, features classic characters of horror lore, including Dracula, The Mummy, The Wolf Man and Frankenstein, who adorns the car's hood. The brown and orange car also is "stitched" together via a design that replicates Frankenstein's famous sew marks.

"Halloween is a fun time of year - something, I think, every family looks forward to," Jarrett said. "With this special paint scheme and with the race actually falling on October 31, it should certainly be a little more interesting than usual. Anytime you're able to run a special paint scheme, the race becomes a little more exciting for the team and the fans. UPS has put together a good program with Action and Universal, and hopefully we'll be able to put the UPS/Universal Monsters Ford in victory lane."

In addition to the UPS/Universal Monsters Ford, Robert Yates Racing also will field a No. 38 M&M's^® Brand/Halloween Ford for the 500-mile NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race on Halloween. Both team cars will include a special "Team Halloween" logo designed by Action Performance.

"Universal's Monsters are the most recognized characters in the horror genre, and Action Performance has been fortunate to showcase them in a variety of racing events over the last few seasons," noted Fred Wagenhals, Action's chairman, president and CEO. "Now, the Monsters are teaming up with Dale Jarrett and UPS Racing for a Halloween race-day treat made for NASCAR fans. This October, look for Jarrett, UPS Racing and the Monsters to scare up a win at Atlanta Motor Speedway."

Action Performance will produce commemorative die-cast replicas of the No. 88 UPS/Universal Monsters Ford Taurus in a variety of collector scales. The collectibles, as well as other Robert Yates Racing team memorabilia, will be available through Action's usual distribution channels, including the 16-member Action Racing Collectables distributor network and the Racing Collectables Club of America. To locate an ARC distributor, please call 1-800-411-8404. To join RCCA, call 1-800-952-0708 or visit www.goracing.com.

About UPS:
UPS has been the official express delivery company of NASCAR since 2000 and the primary sponsor of the No. 88 UPS Ford Taurus driven by Dale Jarrett for Robert Yates Racing since 2001. Building on the sport's growing popularity and fan loyalty, UPS has been recognized for a strong marketing platform that links its services to the speed, precision and reliability of NASCAR racing. UPS continues to build new business opportunity directly within the racing community, related automotive and supplier industries and with new revenues through licensed product merchandising. Visit www.racing.ups.com for more information about UPS Racing and the No. 88 team.

About Universal Studios Consumer Products Group:
Universal Studios Consumer Products Group (USCPG) is responsible for global licensing and retail strategies as well as building brand recognition. USCPG is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Vivendi UNIVERSAL Entertainment (VUE) (www.universalstudios.com), the U.S.-based film, television and recreation entity of Vivendi Universal, a global media and communications company.

About Action Performance Companies:
Action Performance Companies Inc. (NYSE: ATN) is the leader in the design, promotion, marketing and distribution of licensed motorsports merchandise. The Company's products include a broad range of motorsports-related die-cast replica collectibles, apparel, souvenirs and other sports-inspired memorabilia. Action Performance markets and distributes products through a variety of channels including the Action Racing Collectables network of wholesale distributors, the Racing Collectables Club of America, QVC, goracing.com, trackside at racing events, direct corporate promotions, mass retail and department stores, specialty dealers and select online retailers. For more information about Action Performance and its many subsidiaries, please visit the company's corporate Web site at www.action-performance.com.