Loony Tunes to return at Phoenix.

The desert racetrack will get a little hotter this fall when Warner Bros.' legendary Looney Tunes characters again team up with top NASCAR drivers to rev up their engines and continue their highly successful and exciting association.

For the third consecutive year, the Looney Tunes will return to the world of NASCAR, racing into Phoenix International Raceway with cars emblazoned with special paint schemes based on Looney Tunes: Back in Action, the upcoming live action feature film from Warner Bros. Pictures, which is slated to hit movie theatres November 14, 2003. The film stars Brendan Fraser, Jenna Elfman, Heather Locklear and Steve Martin.

"It's fast company," said legendary star, Bugs Bunny. "But we're faster."

"I've certainly kept the weight off," added Daffy Duck.

Several top Chevrolet drivers, including four-time NASCAR Winston Cup champion Jeff Gordon, who has a cameo role in Looney Tunes: Back in Action, will team up with the irreverent Looney Tunes characters for some "Action on the Track" throughout the October 31st-November 2nd race weekend in Phoenix, AZ.

This year's program will cross all three series that make up the NASCAR racing experience - the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the NASCAR Busch Series and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. "So many series you'd think it was another network," Bugs commented.

The announcement was made today, as Gordon and actress Jenna Elfman, one of the stars of Looney Tunes: Back in Action made a driving entrance down Brownstone Street on the Warner Bros. lot. Gordon piloted his Looney Tunes-branded #24 DuPont Chevrolet Monte Carlo, which will run in this year's race and Elfman was behind the wheel of the official "Spy Car" from the upcoming film.

Following the drive, Elfman and Gordon joined Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and executives from Warner Bros., Chevy and Action Performance in front of the Steven J. Ross theater to announce this year's program and officially unveil the Looney Tunes: Back in Action-themed pace car, which will lead the parade lap in this November's race. "This is beyond horsepower," Daffy proclaimed. "This is pure duck muscle."

"The fans always win when Chevrolet and the Warner Bros.' Looney Tunes team up for a NASCAR event," said Jim Campbell, marketing director for Chevy Racing and Monte Carlo. "You just can't beat the power, the colour or the excitement that comes together when some of our finest Chevy NASCAR teams pair up with one of those highly-animated cartoon characters. The races at Phoenix International Raceway will be fun for every member of the family."

"Did I mention, I'm available for endorsements," Daffy added.

In the Looney Tunes: Back in Action NASCAR Winston Cup race, Gordon will team up with Yosemite Sam on his Looney Tunes-branded Chevrolet, along with driver Joe Nemechek who will feature graphics of Bugs Bunny on his #25 UAW-Delphi Chevrolet. Kerry Earnhardt will join forces once again with Yosemite Sam in the NASCAR Busch Series race where he will drive his #12 Supercuts Chevrolet, and for the first time ever, a NASCAR Craftsman Truck event will be even more animated when Kevin Harvick hooks up with his favourite Looney Tunes teammate, the Tasmanian Devil on his #6 Chevrolet truck. "Yeah, he added the spin to the bump and grind to create a NASCAR dance sensation," quipped Bugs.

"For the third year in a row, we are teaming with Chevy and Action Performance for another successful Looney Tunes-themed NASCAR race weekend," said Jordan Sollitto, Executive Vice President of Worldwide Marketing, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. "With the film coming November 14th, this year's promotion promises to be even more fun because the race will reflect the movie's theme."

Televised nationally on NBC, this exciting promotional event will also introduce highly collectible merchandise featuring the Looney Tunes: Back in Action characters and car graphics.

"We knew that the Looney Tunes would get quite a reception from the NASCAR faithful when we brought them to Richmond for the first time two years ago," noted Fred Wagenhals, Action Performance's chairman, president and CEO. "Now, to see the Looney Tunes program expand to Action's 'home' track here in Phoenix is a real treat. I look forward to experiencing and sharing all of the energy and enthusiasm that only the Looney Tunes can bring to the races with fans in Phoenix."

The Looney Tunes characters first partnered with NASCAR at Richmond International Raceway in 2001, when several NASCAR teams featured Looney Tunes graphics on their Chevrolet Monte Carlos in the Winston Cup race. In 2002, the relationship was expanded to include not only Winston Cup but Busch Series drivers as well, and the award-winning program was the largest race-related NASCAR promotion ever. "And what've I got to show for it?" Daffy asked. "Thirty-seven souvenir key chains shaped like a rabbit."

Elements of the program will include television, print and broadcast campaigns, online and radio promotions, on-site exposure and initiatives, point-of-purchase displays and much more.