2006 Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills Competition June 27 in Dearborn

DEARBORN, Mich.--June 22, 2006--AAA/Ford:

50 Two-Man Teams from across the U.S. Will Race against the Clock to Get the Deliberately Installed "Bugs" out of 2006 Mustangs and Win $6 Million Worth of Scholarships and Prizes

WHEN:     Tuesday, June 27, 2006
          9:15 a.m.  -- Starting gun  
          Instructed to "start your engines, if you can," students 
          clad in red and black "pit crew" uniforms will run to their 
          assigned, identically bugged red, white and blue Mustang 
          convertibles.
                    
          9:15 - 10:45 a.m. - Competition
          The fastest time to diagnose and repair the cars, then drive
          across the finish line + the best written score determine 
          the 2006 champions.

          11:00 -11:15 a.m. - Todd Kluever, NASCAR driver, briefs 
          media 

          11:15 - 11:45 a.m. - Trophy Presentations to Top 10 Teams

WHERE:    Ford World Headquarters, Dearborn, Michigan
          One American Road -- Michigan Avenue and Southfield Freeway

          Free parking and refreshments on site. Video feed and photos
          available after competition.  Opportunities for interviews 
          with student competitors and officials. Check in at Media 
          Tent, off American Road.

WHY:      Skilled auto technicians are in growing demand from 
          consumers and the automotive industry.  Ford/AAA Student 
          Auto Skills showcases the nation's best young technicians 
          and encourages and enables them to pursue careers in the 
          profession.  Winners receive scholarships to help further 
          their education and training as auto technicians and 
          engineers, with the potential for substantial incomes.  More
          than 6,000 students from all 50 states vied for the chance 
          to be in the final competition.

VNR