Labonte Gears Things Up in a Race for BOOKS!
More Than 26,000 Books Already Earned For Disadvantaged Children

Davidson, N.C. (September 29, 2006) – Bobby Labonte, driver of the #43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge, has a reason to be excited heading into this weekend’s race in Kansas. His seventh place finish last weekend in Dover means he has already helped Cheerios® Spoonfuls of Stories® donate more than 26,000 books to kids in need all across the country through nonprofit partner First Book®.

The “Race for BOOKS!” kicked off two weeks ago in New Hampshire. Labonte was racing towards the top 10 when he was taken out of contention in a wreck. Labonte, however, rebounded for his fifth top-10 finish of the season last weekend and completed all 400 laps. For every lap Labonte completes the rest of the season, Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories will donate 43 books in an effort to call attention to the importance of reading and getting books to children. Depending on how many laps Labonte completes, Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories could distribute more than 135,000 books to kids as the result of his efforts.

“It looked like we were on the right track in New Hampshire,” said Labonte. “But, we had some problems at the end. That was frustrating for a lot of reasons, but we made a lot of noise at Dover. We completed all 400 laps, and with the help of Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories, we earned a lot of books that day. I’m really proud of doing that. I know the importance of reading and I’m looking for another strong run this weekend.”

This is the fifth year of the Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories program, and in addition to the 43 books-per-lap Labonte will help raise for children in need, Cheerios is also giving away more than FIVE MILLION books free in boxes of Cheerios cereal, on shelves from fall 2006 through early spring 2007. Cheerios is also working with First Book to donate a year’s worth of books to each child participating in one of 50 selected reading programs across the country.

As of this fall, Cheerios, through the Spoonfuls of Stories program, will have donated more than $2 million to First Book (www.firstbook.org), and given more than 25 million books to children free inside boxes of Cheerios cereal. For more information on the Race for Books and Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories, see www.cheerios.com.