Nascar Driver Bill Lester And Toyota To Celebrate Diversity In Auto Racing At National Urban League Conference

LOS ANGELES, CA July 18, 2004 - Bill Lester, Toyota driver No. 22 in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and one of the most successful driver of color today will be a special guest at the Festival at the Toyota National Urban League (NUL) Conference, July 21-25, 2004. The five-day gathering held at the Cobo Center in Detroit, Michigan, with the theme, Empowerment: Building on the civil rights movement. Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), the partnership with the U.S. National Urban League spans over a decade. TMS involvement this year includes co-sponsorship of the benefit concert with Kenneth Edmonds NUL โ € โ € œBabyface and the Conference Gala Dinner Final. In 1993, Toyota has expanded its commitment to the Urban League, establishing the Los Angeles Urban League Automotive Training Center. Through this important collaboration, the Center has trained more than 1,300 successful and unemployed and underemployed men and women at no cost to students and maintain a 75 percent rate of job placement. In addition to sponsoring the conference this year, Toyota NASCAR Bill Lester will make in his presentation on Thursday, July 22nd 4:00-5:00 and Friday, July 23rd 2:00-4:00 Lester will be available to meet and greet Participants NUL. โ € OEI pleased to be part of the conference so important, โ €, Lester said. โ € OEI believe in supporting the dreams and giving back, why I admire Toyota's long history of building relationships and embracing diversity. I am proud to be associated with them. The โ € Washington, DC native made his debut at the International Career Cars Motor Sports Association (IMSA) GTO race September 10, 1989 at Sears Point Raceway in Sonoma, California. Lester graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a degree in electrical engineering / computer science and is a former winner of the research and development project manager for Hewlett-Packard Co. Lester made history in 2003 as a broker the 14-ounce box of Honey Nut Cheerios, the first black and the first NASCAR Truck Series driver to receive a promotion contract in a box of cereal. Lester is currently ranking 22nd in the NCTS this year and in 2003 won his first race โ € โ € œpole position at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte and had a first career top-10 finish at Kansas Speedway. About the National Urban League, National Urban League is the oldest and largest community of nations based on empowering African-American movement to enter into the economic and social development. The National Urban League, headquartered in New York, is leading nonprofit, nonpartisan movement, while Urban League affiliates operate in more than 100 cities in 34 states and the District of Columbia. About Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. In 2003, Toyota USA has donated U.S. $ 31 million to philanthropic programs in the United States, with emphasis on training. Family literacy and technology in higher education and environmental programs, Toyota continues to form partnerships with organizations like the National Urban League, to make a difference in the national community. Headquartered in Torrance, Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc. is the sales, marketing, distribution and customer service of Toyota, Lexus and Scion in the United States. Company's main site is http://www.toyota.com. Media Contacts: Pat Tobin Tobin & Associates Cell: 213-999-1301 Diana by Joseph Toyota Motor Sales, USA Office: 310-468-4751