Bobby Wilson captures "Jim Trueman Scholarship Award" from Stars of Tomorrow as 2003 Top Karting Racer COLUMBUS, OH - National ICC (125cc Shifter) point champion Bobby Wilson has been named the winner of the first annual Jim Trueman Scholarship Award for the 2003 Snap.on Champ Car Stars of Tomorrow presented by RACER karting series. Wilson, the 22-year-old karting veteran from Dousman, Wis., was awarded with a $25,000 prize to be used towards his 2004 racing program that will include a full-ride on the 18-race Formula Ford 2000 Zetec Championship with Cape Motorsports of St. Petersburg, Fla. The Trueman Award is named for Jim Trueman, the founder of the CART championship and Indy 500-winning Truesports racing teams who was renowned throughout the motorsports community in assisting young drivers for decades including the likes of Bobby Rahal, Willy T. Ribbs, Ed Pimm, Steve Millen and many others. Trueman, a Can-Am champion driver himself, lost his battle with cancer in 1986 but his family continued his legacy by assisting drivers in the CART system. Barbara Trueman, Jim's widow, earlier this year announced that the Trueman Family has continued Jim's commitment to support young, upcoming North American drivers with the establishment of the new award. The "Jim Trueman Scholarship Award" is a $25,000 "final dollar" cash payment to a top driver annually from Stars of Tomorrow. The recipient comes from either the ICC or ICA category and will be chosen from the season-long Stars participants. "We are pleased to present Bobby Wilson with the Jim Trueman Scholarship for 2003," said Ms. Trueman. "This award continues Jim's commitment to help many up and coming drivers in developing their talents to reach their ultimate racing goals. We wish Bobby a successful future in motor racing." "The Trueman Award is a great prize for karting drivers and I am very thankful to the Trueman family for this award," said Wilson, who dominated the ICC division in Stars of Tomorrow with his Mobil 1/First Kart/Hi-Tech/Pavesi/Vega kart. "We enjoyed a great and consistent season. There were many highlights this year including coming from 33rd to third at BeaveRun, coming back to win at Road America and winning both races at Norway and Jacksonville. I want to thank my team and our sponsors for the super season." Wilson won five Stars regional races in addition to the Grand Prix of Windsor and collected two seconds, a third and a fifth in his ten 2003 Stars of Tomorrow starts. Last weekend, Wilson wrapped the national ICC title by taking close second to Darren Elliott in the exciting Stars Karting Championships at Moran Raceway in Beaumont, Calif. "We are very excited to present the Jim Trueman Scholarship Award to Bobby Wilson this year," said Rahal, the three-time CART champion and 1986 Indy 500 winner. "Bobby enjoyed a tremendous season on the Stars karting tour and he shows the talent that will take him to new heights in motor racing. We owe the Trueman family a great gratitude for their passion and commitment to our sport. It is a cash award like the Jim Trueman Scholarship that can help take a young driver's career to that important next step. The award continues Jim's legacy and helps develop our young racing stars like Bobby." The Trueman Family has been instrumental in helping CART drivers for the past 15 years by presenting the CART "Rookie of the Year" award annually. Previous winners of the "Jim Trueman Rookie of the Year" include Juan Pablo Montoya, Alex Zanardi, Kenny Brack, Nigel Mansell, Jacques Villeneuve and Gil de Ferran. The Snapon.com 'Stars of Tomorrow' karting series is the official first level in CART's driver development system and an officially sanctioned series of WKA/SCCA Pro Racing. Founded by Herta and now owned in conjunction with a group of racing veterans, including Rahal, the Stars of Tomorrow serves as the first step for the CART driver development ladder. Stars focuses on recognizing the skills of the drivers rather than the technology development within the machines, using FIA/CIK International standards. More information can be found at www.cartstars.com. Snap-on Incorporated is a leading global developer, manufacturer and marketer of tool and equipment solutions for professional tool users. Product lines include hand tools, power tools, automotive diagnostics and shop equipment, tool storage products, automotive diagnostics software and other solutions for the transportation service, industrial, government, education, agricultural, and other commercial applications, including construction and electrical. Products are sold through its franchise dealer van, company direct sales and distributor and Internet channels. Founded in 1920, Snap-on is a $2+ billion, S&P 500 company headquartered in Kenosha, Wisconsin and employs approximately 14,000 worldwide. More information can be found at www.snap-on.com.