DULUTH, GA — October 01, 2005 — Time is nearing for the No. 23 Challenger racecar to make its debut at the Atlanta Motor Speedway's Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 race on Sunday, October 30.  A partnership between the Duluth, GA-based Challenger brand (AGCO Corporation) and Bill Davis Racing represents a unique synergy between NASCAR and agriculture. 

Since 2002, when AGCO acquired the highly respected line of Challenger tracked tractors from Caterpillar and formed an agreement with the Cat dealers to market and service its full line of Challenger agricultural machinery, there has been a strong relationship between Caterpillar and Challenger.  This primary Challenger NASCAR sponsorship, combined with the existing associate sponsorship with Caterpillar on the No. 22 car, will expose the Challenger brand to millions of race fans.  The Challenger brand joined Bill Davis Racing and Caterpillar as a sponsor for the 2005-2006 racing season due to a shared winning drive and ambition for success whether on the track or in the field.   

"With our world headquarters just north of Atlanta, we're particularly excited about seeing the No. 23 Challenger car race in front of the "home" crowd at the Atlanta Motor Speedway," said Doug Durand, Challenger Brand Marketing Manager. "A large segment of our core customer base are huge fans of stock car racing, and we're confident that the No. 23 car will make a great showing." 

Johnny Benson, the driver of the No. 23 car, will be outfitted in a specially designed
Challenger fire suit.  Johnny is a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan and is a three-time rookie of the year, winning the honor in the ASA ACDelco Challenge Series, the Busch Series and the Cup Series in the 90's.  He will be taking the No. 23 car through Atlanta Speedway's 24-degree banking turns with a track distance of 1.54 miles.

The No. 23 car was designed to exemplify the Challenger brand, with black and yellow
striped graphics, and product images, including an MT800B track tractor on the hood, and a combine and an MT600B tractor on either side of the car.  The tagline, "We're up to The Challenge" appears across the trunk and back bumper, and the Challenger logo is prominently displayed on every principal location for increased brand awareness – and the pit crew will be donning Challenger Racing CREW shirts on race day. 

 For more information on the Challenger brand full line of agricultural products, visit
www.challengerag.com.

About AGCO
AGCO Corporation, headquartered in Duluth, Georgia, is a global manufacturer and distributor of agricultural equipment and related replacement parts.  AGCO products are distributed in more than 140 countries.  AGCO offers a full product line including tractors, combines, hay tools, sprayers, forage, tillage equipment and implements through more than 3,900 independent dealers and distributors around the world.  AGCO products are distributed under the various well-known brand names AGCO®, Challenger®, Fendt®, Gleaner®, Hesston®, Massey Ferguson®, New Idea®, RoGator®, Spra-Coupe®, Sunflower®, Terra-Gator®, Valtra®, and White™ Planters.  AGCO provides retail financing through AGCO Finance.  In 2004, AGCO had net sales of $5.3 billion.