Best Buy Racing Enters NASCAR Nextel Cup Series as Primary Sponsor of Car Number 66; Jeff Green Joins Best Buy Haas CNC Racing as Driver of the No. 66 Car

"This is really good news for me and our team," said Green, the2000 Busch Series champion. "Joining Best Buy Haas CNC Racing is areal thrill for me. With Best Buy coming on board and our plans for anew race shop, I think we have a pretty bright future ahead of us."

Green said joining this team allows him to work with crew chiefRobert (Bootie) Barker, who he has long admired.

"We have the makings of a very good team. With Bootie as my crewchief, and a terrific crew and equipment to work with, I know I'mgoing to have a good year," said the Owensboro, Ken. native who, inaddition to his 2000 Busch Series championship, owns 16 Busch Seriesvictories and five top-5 finishes in Nextel Cup competition. "Haas CNCRacing is a top-notch organization and I think we will make someheadlines in 2006."

The Haas team has raced No.0 since 2003, and in 2006 the team'sChevrolet Monte Carlos will wear No. 66. This number was selected inrecognition of the 40th anniversary of Best Buy, which opened itsdoors as Sound of Music in 1966 and is now North America's leadingretailer of consumer electronics.

While Best Buy will serve as primary sponsor on the No. 66 for aminimum of 12 races, Mike Linton, chief marketing officer for BestBuy, anticipates the No. 66 will have full sponsorship throughout the2006 season, with additional announcements coming soon.

"Our entry into the world of NASCAR last year was a funexperience--energizing both Best Buy employees and customers," Lintonsaid. "As we looked to expand our presence this year, it was an easychoice to continue with the Haas CNC team. Anyone can do a sponsorshipbut not everyone can create a partnership and have fun at the sametime. We know it's going to be a great season and that Jeff is goingto be a great driver for the team."

The Best Buy sponsorship will be highlighted on the No. 66 car aswell as on driver and crew uniforms, trailers and merchandising items.Additionally the Best Buy Fun Zone Technology vehicle, a mobile unitfeaturing interactive technology displays, will make appearances atselect races. Best Buy stores in key locations also will host driverand car appearances throughout the season.

The Haas CNC Racing team is owned by Gene Haas, who founded HaasAutomation in 1983. Based in Oxnard, California, Haas Automation isthe largest machine tool manufacturer in the United States.

Haas said the combination of a secure sponsorship combined with achampionship-caliber driver and crew chief has created the mostexcitement at his 90-person race shop since it started in Nextel Cupracing in 2002.

"There is a lot of excitement about this season--from Best Buycoming on as primary sponsor to Jeff Green taking over the car," saidHaas. "We're looking forward to coming out of the gate strong at theDaytona 500 and being a contender for the championship."

The race team is currently based in Harrisburg, NC, where itoccupies a 40,000-square-foot building containing both the businessoffices and the garage where Haas cars are prepared for upcomingraces. The team plans to break ground on a new state-of-the-art140,000-square-foot shop on 23 acres at the Kannapolis, N.C., GatewayBusiness Park on Jan. 19.

About Best Buy Co., Inc.

Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY) is an innovative Fortune 100 growthcompany that continually strives to create superior customerexperiences. Through more than 930 retail stores across the UnitedStates and in Canada, our employees connect customers with technologyand entertainment products and services that make life easier and morefun. We sell consumer electronics, home-office products, entertainmentsoftware, appliances and related services. A Minneapolis-basedcompany, our operations include: Best Buy (BestBuy.com andBestBuy.ca), Future Shop (FutureShop.ca), Geek Squad (GeekSquad.comand GeekSquad.ca) and Magnolia Audio Video (Magnoliaav.com). Wesupport our communities through employee volunteerism and grants fromThe Best Buy Children's Foundation.