Hardee's to Sponsor the Inaugural Craftsman Truck Series Event at Lowe's Motor Speedway

Hardee's Food Systems, Inc. and Lowe's Motor Speedway today inked a deal to have Hardee's as the exclusive title sponsor of the nationally televised Hardee's 200 Inaugural Craftsman Truck Series Race on May 16, 2003 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The three-year deal includes Hardee's signage at the speedway, pace truck sponsorship and the Hardee's Star featured in the event logo. Hardee's will also install a Hardee's Star sign at the entrance to Pit Road at the Lowe's Motor Speedway, calling it the "Hardee's Drive Thru."

"We are thrilled to form a partnership with Lowe's Motor Speedway," said Andy Puzder, president and CEO of CKE Restaurants, Inc., parent company of Hardee's. "We're excited to have this opportunity to show our support for the Craftsman Truck Series and to continue Hardee's heritage in the Carolinas."

Hardee's Food Systems, Inc., headquartered in St. Louis, is a wholly owned subsidiary of CKE Restaurants, Inc. of Anaheim, Calif. CKE Restaurants, Inc., through its subsidiaries, franchisees and licensees, operates more than 3,400 restaurants, including 2,325 Hardee's restaurants; 979 Carl's Jr. restaurants; 100 La Salsa Fresh Mexican Grills; 34 Green Burrito restaurants; and 27 Timber Lodge Steakhouses, in 44 states and 15 foreign countries.