Hammonds Takes Time Off From Circuit to Regroup

HOLT, FL, Jun 19 (MARKET WIRE) --
Tom Hammonds Enterprises, LLC (THE) announces it will take time off from
racing on the NHRA Pro Stock circuit to regroup by seeking primary
sponsorship and filling key team positions.

"We have decided to take a break because we need to regroup and get our
priorities in order as far as our team is concerned," says Tom Hammonds,
president and driver for THE. "Our number one priority right now, like
every other team, is to look for primary sponsorship for our race team."

Team Hammonds has been operating without a primary sponsor for two
seasons, and it has taken a toll on the team's performance. Without
primary sponsorship, Hammonds was forced to concentrate on other primary
duties, which compromised his performance on the track. He has qualified
only twice this season.

"It is not easy at all when you have been doing as many things, such as
serving as the crew chief and the marketing person at races, in addition
to driving and owning the team, as I have been doing. It makes it tough on
one person, but that is what we needed. This decision gives us a chance to
maybe be in a position where we can find that sponsor who will allow us to
bring in a capable crew chief and be a part of our race team for the
present and beyond, while producing favorable and consistent results."

"My most successful year was in 2001, when I had a great primary sponsor
and good crew chief, and my sole responsibility at the races was to pack
the parachutes and drive the car, which resulted in two final rounds back
to back, in Dallas and Las Vegas. While not at the races, I concentrated
on business matters. We were competitive and only ran eight races for the
season. So a direct correlation between having a primary sponsor and
having key positions filled is important. I know this from experience."

Hammonds feels that THE offers a top notch facility and organization both
on and off the track that should attract sponsors. They have the THE's
Engine Program, which is a program that rents performance drivers custom
built engines for competition. THE engine program rented engines to two
drivers on the NHRA pro stock circuit this season. Both drivers qualified
consistently with the engines, with one making it to the pole for the
first time in his career. THE also started Tom Hammonds Race for
Achievement, which is a program dedicated to rewarding middle school
students for their achievement in the classroom, while building positive
behavior towards education, self-esteem and confidence that build strong
students and ultimately good citizens.

While drag racing is Hammonds' profession, he keeps in mind it is a
business. As the owner, he understands that he had to make this tough
decision. He is financing the team solely from his personal money in which
he has invested into THE.

"Drag racing is a professional sport just as basketball is a professional
sport, and both are businesses. When I played professional basketball, my
job was to play basketball, and I got paid to do it. While there were some
decisions that team owners had to make for the business of basketball, I
did not have to worry about those things. Now as owner and driver of a
race team, my number one job is to go out and win races, and make sure we
have the financial support to do what we need in order for the program to
be successful. If you do not have the financial support to do this, then
you have to take a step back and regroup until you do."

"I do not think of this as a set back, but as something we have to do in
order to move forward -- take one step back to take two steps forward.
With me being the only African American owner and driver in professional
motorsports, combined with what we have going with our state of the art
facility, engine program, and our achievement program, I would not think
it would be very long before someone comes on board as a primary sponsor
and then as crew chief."

Hammonds' goal is to be back on the track racing Labor Day weekend in
Indianapolis, if not sooner.

For companies interested in being a primary sponsor for Tom Hammonds
Racing, please contact Tom Hammonds Enterprises, LLC at 850-537-2021 or
email, partnerships@tomhammondsracing.com.

About Tom Hammonds

As an achiever in his own right and racing since the age of 16, Chevrolet
backed Tom Hammonds made a triumphant return to full-time drag racing at
the Gatornationals Gainesville Raceway in March 2007. He is the only
African American owner (Tom Hammonds Enterprises, LLC) and driver of a
race team in professional motor sports. Previous owner of a Chevrolet
dealership, Hammonds was drafted 9th overall in the 1989 NBA draft and
enjoyed his career with Washington, Denver, Charlotte, and Minnesota,
where he completed his career. Before his illustrious NBA career, he
played college basketball at Georgia Tech, where his jersey was retired
for being the fourth all time leading scorer and received a bachelors of
science in business management. A native of Crestview, Fla., he was
inducted into the All Sports Association Hall of Fame of Fort Walton
Beach, Fla. in March 2007.

About Tom Hammonds Enterprises, LLC (THE)

Tom Hammonds Enterprises, LLC (THE) is located in Holt, Fla. and was
formed in 2005. THE takes pride in promoting high performance and safety
in the sport of drag racing. Housing such programs as Tom Hammonds
Engines, a program specifically for performance drivers to rent custom
built engines, and Tom Hammonds Race for Achievement, a school program
dedicated to revving the engines of education through student
achievement, the company's mission is to make an impact on the sport of
drag racing. THE is the only African American owned and driven team in
professional motor sports.

Contact:
Tonita Perry
Eaddy Perry & Associates, Inc.
704-965-6956
tperry@eaddyperry.com
for Tom Hammonds Enterprises, LLC

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