Jim Beam(R) to Sponsor NEXTEL Cup(R) Car In 2005 Season; Robby Gordon

DAYTONA, Fla., Jan. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Jim Beam Brands Co. announced today that its flagship brand, Jim Beam(R) Bourbon, has teamed up with Robby Gordon Motorsports to sponsor the No. 7 car for the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL(R) Cup Series. Team owner and veteran driver Robby Gordon will race the No. 7 Jim Beam Chevrolet on February 20 at Daytona International Speedway. Jim Beam will be the primary sponsor for a designated number of races and serve as an associate sponsor for additional races throughout the 2005 season.

Jim Beam, the world's number one bourbon, became the first distilled spirit to sponsor a major motorsports team when it teamed-up with world- renowned Andretti Green Racing of the Indy Racing League(R) in 2003. Its entry into NASCAR provides Jim Beam with an opportunity to build on its commitment to the sport and firmly establishes its position as "The Official Spirit of Racing(TM)."

As a veteran sponsor in motorsports, Jim Beam also has an existing track-record in leveraging its drivers to raise awareness about responsible drinking with its drink smart(TM) program. Established in 1995, drink smart(TM) is an educational program that communicates the importance of responsible consumption by adults of legal purchase age that choose to drink. drink smart(TM) has been a cornerstone of the 2004 IRL Jim Beam sponsorship of Andretti Green Racing and will be a key element of its sponsorship with Robby Gordon Motorsports in NASCAR. To that end, Gordon's car and firesuit will feature the company's trademark drink smart(TM) icon.

"Not only is Jim Beam a veteran supporter of motorsports, we also have an established history of promoting social responsibility through this platform," said Keith Neumann, marketing director, Jim Beam Brands U.S. "As the world's number one bourbon, we're excited about extending our number one position in motorsports from INDY to NASCAR. Supporting both sports, positions Jim Beam as the "The Official Spirit of Racing." We will use this platform to reinforce the company's commitment to social responsibility through the Jim Beam drink smart(TM) platform."

"Robby Gordon Motorsports is excited to partner with a leading brand like Jim Beam Bourbon," said owner/driver Robby Gordon. "It means a lot to us and our fans to have a sponsor with an established interest and commitment to motorsports -- it speaks to the integrity of our combined motivations and is a great fit for both of us. Our goal is to be number one -- just as Jim Beam Bourbon is -- and with our sponsors, experienced crew and great facilities, we're on track to keep racing for the Winner's Circle every week."

"Robby is the ideal partner for Jim Beam Bourbon because he represents all the characteristics that Jim Beam and its customers associate with the Jim Beam brand," said Neumann. "He is authentic, has integrity, sincerity, is true to himself and is motivated by the right things. These are all qualities upon which the Jim Beam brand is built."

Gordon, 36, is an experienced driver who has raced across various circuits. In addition to running full-time in the Nextel Cup Series in 2004, Gordon also ran a large portion of the Busch Series schedule, driving the No. 55 Fruit of the Loom Chevrolet for Robby Gordon Motorsports. He is a six-time off-road champion, a two-time winner in CART series and won the 2004 Emerson Radio 250 NASCAR Busch Series race in Richmond. Gordon has also completed "double duty" several times by competing in the Indianapolis 500 and then flying to Charlotte to compete in the Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR event the same day. In October, he announced he would leave Richard Childress Racing and form his own Nextel Cup team for the 2005 season.

About Robby Gordon Motorsports

Based in Huntersville, N.C., and owned by Gordon, the team is coming off a successful inaugural season in the NASCAR Busch Series. The team has turned their focus to building a successful NASCAR Nextel Cup Series program to debut at Daytona 500 and expanding an already successful multi-faceted racing program that includes the Busch series and IRL.

About Jim Beam

Jim Beam Brands Co. is an operating company of Jim Beam Brands Worldwide, Inc., an international distilled spirits and fine wines company that manufactures and markets more than 80 brands in 160 countries, including Jim Beam(R) Bourbon, the #1 selling bourbon in the U.S. and the world. Jim Beam Brands Worldwide, Inc. is part of Fortune Brands, Inc. . For more information about Jim Beam and drink smart, please visit http://www.jimbeam.com/ and http://www.drinksmart.com/.