Armour Vienna Sausage-Eating Contest

The two fastest growing sports in America will converge on May 28, 2005, when the Armour® Vienna Sausage Eating World Championship is held at NASCAR’s Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte, NC.

There will be $8,500.00 in prize money on the line, divided up as follows: $3,500.00 for first place; $2,000.00 for second place; $1,500.00 for third place; $1,000.00 for fourth place; and $500.00 for fifth place.

Headlining the field of gurgitators will be the #1 ranked eater in America, 105 lb. Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas.

“Armour Vienna Sausage is extremely popular in the Southeast, which is the heart of NASCAR country,” said Dode Simonson, Director of Marketing for the Armour brand. “Armour is thrilled to bring this unique and exciting brand of entertainment to local residents and NASCAR enthusiasts.”

“Given the rise in popularity of both NASCAR and the sport of competitive eating, it was only a matter of time before the two came together,” said David Baer, Director of Global Expansion for the International Federation of Competitive Eating. “The speed of Sonya Thomas during the Armour Vienna Sausage Eating World Championship will perhaps only be matched by the speed of the drivers on the Lowe’s Motor Speedway track.”

Armour Vienna Sausage is a favorite in the American marketplace, and is produced and manufactured by The Dial Corporation, a subsidiary of the Henkel Group. Henkel is also a sponsor of NASCAR, Greg Biffle and the Brewco Motorsports team.

The Dial Corporation, a subsidiary of the Henkel Group/Germany, is headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., and is one of America's leading manufacturers of consumer products, including Dial® soaps, Purex® laundry detergents, Renuzit® air fresheners and Armour® Star canned meats. Dial products have been in the American marketplace for more than 100 years. For more information about The Dial Corporation, visit the Company's Web site at www.dialcorp.com.

“Henkel – A Brand like a Friend”. Henkel is a leader with brands and technologies that make people's lives easier, better, and more beautiful. The Henkel Group operates in three strategic business areas--Home Care, Personal Care, and Adhesives, Sealants, and Surface Treatments. More than 50,000 employees work for the Henkel Group worldwide. People in around 125 countries around the world trust in brands and technologies from Henkel. For more information on Henkel, visit the Company's Web site at www.henkel.us.