For immediate Release

           NASCAR TO EXPAND WITH NEW RACING LEAGUE...
               THE ULTIMATE MULTlPLAYER Expert



=09Daytona Beach Fla. (May 17 1996) -- Utilizing cutting edge=20
technology. the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing=20
(NASCAR) and Sierra On-Line lnc. have developed the ultimate=20
application of technology within professional sports the "NASCAR=20
Racing League" a multi player experience. The new interactive online=20
racing service is easily accessible from your home or office=20
computer, providing fans worldwide with the opportunity to compete in=20
authentic sanctioned NASCAR competition against a full field of=20
racers connected by computer modem. NASCAR will sanction and=20
officiate the racing league to ensure the competitive and=20
entertaining environment NASCAR has delivered for the past fifty=20
years.
=09
Following on the heels of the award winning CD ROM simulation "NASCAR=20
Racing" by Papyrus (a division of Sierra), which has=20
proven itself the most popular and authentic race simulation for the=20
personal computer the NASCAR Racing League allows fans to take their=20
love of the sport to an unprecedented level to truly experience every=20
facet of auto racing. From race car set up and track conditions to=20
qualifying and race strategy, to each  competitor's actions, every=20
part of NASCAR racing is experienced.
=20

The NASCAR Racing League is taking the number one race=20
simulation game to the ultimate level...NASCAR sanctioned multi-
player competition. Thousands of users can easily dial into a central=20
computer network, choose from 16 different NASCAR Winston Cup Series=20
tracks, and compete against thirty-one other competitors calling in=20
from different locations around the country.

The concept of anyone being able to race against a group of=20
friends who are each calling in from a different neighborhood, city=20
or virtually anywhere is incredible, said Bill France, President of=20
NASCAR. "All age groups now can play a 'pick up game' of their=20
favorite sport and compete in a NASCAR sanctioned event. That s an=20
opportunity that has never existed in our sport.

Sierra On-Line and Papyrus development teams have worked with=20
NASCAR officials to create the true NASCAR environment online=20
ensuring that all design elements are consistent with NASCAR's rules=20
of competition.

This project basically creates a new series within NASCAR=20
and certainly goes beyond a traditional licensing relationship, said=20
Mike Helton, NASCAR Vice President for Competition. The competition=20
department has been involved from the beginning in this project and=20
will continue to be involved. We will take the competition aspect of=20
the racing league just as serious as any other NASCAR division."
=20

Many people will often race just for fun. Others, however,=20
will compete every week in a structured racing series where they earn=20
championship points just like Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt in the=20
NASCAR Winston Cup Series, said Hilton. The NASCAR Racing; League=20
goes beyond the traditional game environment to a serious racing=20
experience, so the same fair competitive system that NASCAR has=20
always tried to deliver is very important.

=09Fans will be able to compete at virtually any time, day or=20
night,within multiple pick up races based on competitors skill level.=20
in addition, fans can create their own private series where a group=20
of friends ::an compete against each other at preset times each week.=20
The ultimate experience will be when fans enter an official NASCAR=20
Racing League Championship Series and compete for series points week=20
in and week out against other drivers worldwide.

NASCAR can use new technology like this to create new fans=20
for the sport, said France. We have learned through testing that the=20
experience is so authentic that the user becomes educated on all=20
aspects of the sport, and we think that will translate to a greater=20
awareness and interest in watching or attending a NASCAR event.

The NASCAR Racing League is NASCAR's most recent application=20
of technology within the sport. NASCAR Online, NASCAR's lnternet=20
world wide Web site was launched in February 1, 1996 and already has=20
seen more than two million hits in one day, in part because NASCAR's=20
new, advanced computerized timing and scoring system is accessible by=20
fans through NASCAR Online.
=20


NASCAR has made a commitment to utilize technology to bring=20
the fan closer to the sport. said France. We are seeing more and more=20
technology companies become involved in our sport and we are starting=20
talks with various computer, telecommunications and other companies=20
who want to apply their technology within NASCAR. We have a tremendous=20
audience, and that is not going unnoticed within their industry.

The NASCAR Racing League will be available to ail users of=20
NASCAR Racing by Papyrus and the new NASCAR Racing II sequel,=20
available in the Fall of 1996, on IBM PC CD ROM at computer stores=20
everywhere and NASCAR Thunder retail stores for an estimated retail=20
price of $59.95.

Founded in 1979, Sierra Online is one of the original=20
developers and largest worldwide publishers of interactive=20
entertainment, educational and productive software. The company s=20
common stock is traded on the NASDAQ under the symbol SIER. Sierra's=20
corporate headquarters are located in Bellevue, Washington.
=20

The NASCAR Racing League is the newest initiative by NASCAR=20
designed to build the sport nationwide and provide unique marketing=20
opportunities for NASCAR sponsor and licensees. The array of projects=20
include the newly opened NASCAR Thunder retail stores and unique=20
projects which include NASCAR Cafe and the NASCAR SpeedPark/All-
American Sportspark ventures.






For More information:
       John Griffin, NASCAR Public Relations
          (904} 947-6834 or griffin@race.nascar,com
       Matthew O Connor, NASCAR Pubio Relations (904) 947-6843
       Rebecca Buxton, Sierra On-Line (206) 649-9800 ext. 5891




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Jack Durbin                                   indy500@freenet.tlh.fl.us
Motorsport News International                      jackd@motorsport.com
(Moderators for "rec.autos.sport.info")
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