LADYDRAGON.COM - DALE EARNHARDT JR. JOINS THE EA SPORTS FAMILY OF COVER ATHLETES ON NASCAR THUNDER 2003

Wednesday September 04, 2002

DALE EARNHARDT JR. JOINS THE EA SPORTS FAMILY OF COVER ATHLETES ON NASCAR THUNDER 2003

NASCAR® superstar Dale Earnhardt Jr. of DEI Racing will become the official cover athlete for the EA SPORTS TM franchise NASCAR Thunder TM 2003. Dale Jr. also contributed to the development of the game and his likeness will appear on all NASCAR Thunder 2003 packaging and merchandising.

"I've been a long time fan EA games, so to be on the cover of the NASCAR Thunder 2003 is quite a thrill for me," commented Dale Earnhardt Jr. "NASCAR Thunder helped me win the EA Sports 500 in Talladega this year and my first season on the circuit I would prepare for the upcoming event by racing my EA game over and over. NASCAR Thunder gives you the true experience and puts you 'in the game.'"

From the moment the 27-year-old Dale Earnhardt Jr. blasted on the scene in 1998, he was considered "the future of NASCAR." Dale is in the midst of his third full year of NASCAR Winston Cup competition for the team and is positioned nicely for another top finish in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. The 2001 season marked his first top-10 points finish in NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing with the No. 8 team, while adding three victories and multi-million dollars in winnings to his brief but impressive racing resume. This included his win at the EA SPORTS 500 at Talladega Superspeedway® on October 21, 2001.

"Dale Jr. embodies the spirit and competitive edge that EA SPORTS captures in our NASCAR Thunder video games," said Ed Martin, Director of NASCAR video game production, Electronic Arts. "His contribution to the product has been invaluable, giving us design feedback and ideas on improving features and gameplay, we couldn't have a better driver grace the cover of NASCAR Thunder 2003."