Joliet’s Annual Race Fan Rally Attracts Major Sponsorship from CitiFinancial and AAA

Kick -off event celebrating NASCAR race weekend in Chicagoland continues to grow

JOLIET, Ill. – February, 27 2007 – Organizers of the seventh annual Joliet Race Fan Rally announced today the two largest sponsorship agreements in the event’s history. Both the title and presenting sponsors were secured for the 2007 event set to take place on Thursday, July 12. The new partnership has officially changed the name of the event to The CitiFinancial Race Fan Rally presented by AAA.

“A great deal of the credit for the growth and popularity of this event goes to our corporate sponsors and partners,” said Tom Mahalik, vice president of the Joliet City Center Partnership. “Sponsors like CitiFinancial and AAA support us in so many ways like bringing famous drivers, exciting showcars and simulators, as well as helping promote the event through their marketing efforts.”

The increased corporate support continues the strong growth trend of the event. In 2003, event organizers estimated 8,000 fans in attendance. Over the last three years the event has steadily grown to an estimated average of 30,000 attendees each year, including last year’s event which was estimated to eclipse the 40,000 mark.

CitiFinancial is bringing the number 90 Ford Fusion showcar and its NASCAR driver Stephen Leicht to the event. AAA, returning for their third straight year, will once again bring its number 6 AAA Ford Fusion and its NASCAR driver David Ragan. Both companies are planning multiple promotions and giveaway opportunities adding even more excitement to the CitiFinancial Race Fan Rally presented by AAA.

“We have been very impressed by this event’s growth, popularity and most of all its high level of execution,” said Michael Jones, vice president of marketing and sponsorship, CitiFinancial. “Motorsports and the people of the Chicagoland area are very important to us so we are thrilled to be a part of this special event.”

AAA Director of Motorsports Michael Yost agreed, “We look forward to participating in this event every year. It is such a special night because it rewards the great motorsports fans of Joliet, Chicagoland and the Midwest with a free, family fun festival.” Yost added, “To take this step up as the presenting sponsor was a natural progression in our growth as partner of Downtown Joliet.”

About Race Fan Rally – The CitiFinancial Race Fan Rally presented by AAA is a family-friendly festival that is free of charge and open to the public. The CitiFinancial Race Fan Rally presented by AAA includes live bands, driver appearances, show cars and other motorsports exhibits. The 2007 Race Fan Rally takes place in Downtown Joliet, Ill. on Thursday, July 12.

About CitiFinancial – C iti, the leading global financial services company has some 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 100 countries, providing consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, and wealth management. Major brand names under Citi's trademark red arc include Citibank, CitiFinancial, Primerica, Citi Smith Barney and Banamex. Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com, or www.citi.com or by calling 1-877-561-7283.

About AAA Chicago – AAA Chicago offers automotive, travel, insurance and financial services.  It is part of The Auto Club Group (ACG), the largest affiliation of AAA clubs in the Midwest, with 4.1 million members in eight states.  ACG clubs belong to the national AAA federation, a not-for-profit organization with 50 million members in the United States and Canada.