The annual NASCAR Pit Crew Challenge provides an opportunity for Cup Series crews to compete against each other proving who the best of the best is; however the No. 12 Penske Racing pit crew must first face off against Charlotte’s best Avis pit crews in a series of physical and mental challenges.

The Avis Pit Crew Challenge is a friendly competition between members of the No. 12 Penske Racing pit crew, the 2007 NASCAR Pit Crew champions, and the newly developed Avis Pit Crews at select Avis locations. Race fans are invited to the first in the series of competitions nationwide on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Avis Charlotte-Douglas International Airport location. Entry is free to all and special racing-themed activities and giveaways will take place at the event. Fans are also invited to meet members of the No. 12 Penske pit crew and driver, David Stremme. The first 100 attendees will receive a photo of the Avis Dodge Charger, signed by David Stremme.

“I think this is a great idea,” commented the driver of the No.12 Penske Dodge, David Stremme. “Avis is a great partner to our team and I love that they are using our team to help promote the importance of teamwork and quality performance. I am looking forward to seeing my crew guys go against the Avis employees to see if they really have what it takes. It is going to be a fun event and will be something different for the fans to witness while they are in Charlotte.”

The challenge will include two segments where Avis Quality Assurance (QA) pit crews and Avis Maintenance and Damage (M&D) crews will have the opportunity to take on the No. 12 team in Avis’ areas of expertise. The QA challenge involves a checklist of items the crews will need to clean and repair on their respective rental cars. The winner will be selected based on speed of completion plus the ability to identify and correct the most QA items. The M&D segment will require competitors to complete maintenance tasks such as tire changing, adjusting brakes, etc.

Although this is a friendly competition, there is more than just bragging rights at stake. The winning team will receive a commemorative trophy, while losing team will be required to perform “The Pit Crew Dance” for the crowd in attendance.

In support of the Avis sponsorship of the No. 12 Penske Racing Car, Avis will be offering event attendees $12 off a weekend rental, valid at participating neighborhood and airport locations in the greater Charlotte area.

“We’re delighted that the No. 12 Penske Racing pit crew has taken up the challenge,” said Bob Lambert, senior vice president of commercial sales for Avis Budget Group, parent company of Avis. “This event is not only a way to showcase the Avis world-renowned ‘We Try Harder’ service; it’s also an opportunity to provide Penske Racing and NASCAR Cup Series fans with a money-saving offer to experience the service first-hand.”

Four challenges are planned for the 2009 race season; each coinciding with NASCAR Cup Series race weeks and will promote the “We Try Harder” quality and performance Avis is known for. Visit www.avis.com/pitcrewchallenge for additional details. For information on special fan discounts, visit http://www.avis.com/AvisWeb/html/bridge/go.ex?W009404

Avis Rent A Car System, LLC and its subsidiaries operate one of the world’s leading car rental brands, providing business and leisure customers with a wide range of services at approximately 2,200 locations in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the Latin American / Caribbean region. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Avis Budget Group, Inc. (NYSE: CAR). For more information, visit www.avis.com.

Penske Racing is one of the most successful teams in the history of professional sports. Competing in a variety of disciplines, cars owned and prepared by Penske Racing have produced over 300 major race wins, more than 350 pole positions and 21 National Championships.