Kodak Names New Driver for NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program

ROCHESTER, N.Y., April 19 -- Eastman Kodak Company today announced it will sponsor Chris Bristol of High Point, N.C. in the Drive for Diversity® driver development program, which is endorsed as NASCAR’s leading on-track diversity initiative. Bristol will pilot the No. 99 Kodak Chevrolet for Ken Schrader Racing in the 2006 NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series.

Bristol, a native of Columbus, Ohio, was chosen after qualifying in the annual Drive for Diversity Testing and Evaluation Combine, where potential drivers compete for opportunities in the Drive for Diversity program. Kodak has sponsored a team in Drive for Diversity since the program began in 2004.

Terms of the sponsorship were not disclosed.

Bristol earned a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina A&T State University in 1999. He began his racing career at age 11, competing in 80cc motocross cycling events sanctioned by the American Motorcycle Association. A veteran of the NASCAR Goody’s Dash Series, Bristol joined the Joe Gibbs/Reggie White Driver Development Program in 2004, earning Rookie of the Year honors in Caraway’s Late Model Stock Car Division. In 2005, he became the first African-American to win a race and lead the point standings at Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway, earning three victories, 15 top 10 finishes, and three pole positions during the track’s 17-race season.

“Drive for Diversity is a terrific ‘next step’ in my racing career, and Ken Schrader’s guidance from years of Nextel Cup racing experience is a real benefit to my development as a driver,” said Bristol. “I’m excited to have Kodak as my sponsor, and we’re looking forward to doing great things together in the Dodge Weekly Series.”

Bristol succeeds Kodak-sponsored Joe Henderson III, who left the Drive for Diversity program after two seasons.

Drive for Diversity® is an ethnic and gender minority driver and crew member development program created and managed by Access Marketing & Communications, a Charlotte-based multicultural marketing firm founded in 2003 by The Radiate Group and Calhoun Enterprises. In 2006, the program will support eight drivers in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series and crew members in the NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Drive for Diversity is an initial step in a long-term solution to diversify NASCAR’s participant and audience base. For more information, please visit www.drivefordiversity.com.

“The Drive for Diversity program helps create winning opportunities for emerging drivers and crew members from many backgrounds,” said Essie L. Calhoun, Kodak’s Chief Diversity Officer and Director of Community Affairs, and a Kodak vice president. “The program also helps us showcase the participants as positive role models. Last year, we were proud that our driver could join us at the National Urban League’s annual conference in Washington, D.C. and at the Tom Joyner Family Reunion event at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla. We’re looking forward to a great relationship with Chris and his team.”

For a photo of the above individual, please contact Jackie Bray, Eastman Kodak Company, at 585-724-2681 or jackie.bray@kodak.com.

About Eastman Kodak Company

Kodak is the world’s foremost imaging innovator, providing leading products and services to the photographic, graphic communications and healthcare markets. With sales of $14.3 billion in 2005, the company is committed to a digitally oriented growth strategy focused on helping people better use meaningful images and information in their life and work. Consumers use Kodak’s system of digital and traditional image capture products and services to take, print and share their pictures anytime, anywhere; Businesses effectively communicate with customers worldwide using Kodak solutions for prepress, conventional and digital printing and document imaging; Creative Professionals rely on Kodak technology to uniquely tell their story through moving or still images; and leading Healthcare organizations rely on Kodak’s innovative products, services and customized workflow solutions to help improve patient care and maximize efficiency and information sharing within and across their enterprise.
More information about Kodak (NYSE: EK) is available at www.kodak.com. 2006

Contact Information

Jackie Bray

Eastman Kodak Company

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