Action Performance Names Hasbro President to Board of Directors.

Business Editors

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 15, 2000

Action Performance Companies Inc. (Nasdaq: ACTN) today announced that Herbert M. Baum, president and chief operating officer of Hasbro Inc. (NYSE:HAS), has formally joined its board of directors.

Baum, who has been with Hasbro since January 1999, brings a wealth of experience and knowledge from a variety of notable industries to Action Performance's board of directors. In 1999, Hasbro and Action extended the terms of their established domestic retail alliance, which had catapulted Hasbro's Winner's Circle(R) brand to the No. 1 racing-inspired die-cast line in mass retail.

Under the agreement, Action is the exclusive licensing acquisitions agent for Hasbro's extensive range of toys, games and puzzle product lines across all forms of motorsports worldwide, including NASCAR, NHRA, Formula One and more.

"We are extremely pleased to welcome Herb Baum to our board of directors," said Fred W. Wagenhals, Action chairman, president and chief executive officer. "His extraordinary achievements, leadership and experience in such diverse national and international enterprises will be a tremendous asset to our Company and an important resource for our management team."

Before joining Hasbro, Baum served as chairman and chief executive officer of Quaker State Corp. since 1993. Under his leadership, the company's sales more than doubled and earnings grew seven-fold. He also spearheaded numerous acquisitions and the introduction of many innovative consumer products.

Prior to Quaker State, Baum spent 15 years at Campbell Soup Co., where he held many positions, including executive vice president of the corporation and president of Campbell North and South America. At Campbell, Baum guided the introduction of Prego Spaghetti Sauce, Campbell's first new product introduction, which has since become the nation's second leading brand.

During the memorable "Soup is Good Food" advertising campaign, Baum led Campbell's United States soup business. Before Campbell, Baum worked at Needham Harper & Steers advertising agency.

Currently, Baum also serves as director on the boards of Hasbro Inc.; Dial Corp.; Fleming Companies; Whitman Corp.; Midas Inc.; and Meredith Corp. He has received numerous awards including the American Marketing Association's 1992 Charles Coolidge Parlin Award, the AMA's Edison award and was elected to the Sales and Marketing Executives International Hall of Fame in May 1998.

Hasbro Inc., with more than $4 billion in annual revenue, is a worldwide leader in children's and family leisure-time entertainment products and services, including the design, manufacture and marketing of games and toys ranging from traditional to high-tech.

Both internationally and in the United States, its Playskool, Kenner, Tonka, OddzOn, Super Soaker, Milton Bradley, Parker Brothers, Tiger, Hasbro Interactive, Microprose, Galoob and Wizards of the Coast brands and products provide the highest quality and most recognizable play experiences in the world.

For more information on Hasbro's Winner's Circle(R) and other Hasbro products, visit www.thewinnerscircle.com or www.hasbro.com.

Action Performance Companies Inc. is the leader in the design, marketing, promotion and distribution of licensed motorsports merchandise. The Company's products include a broad range of motorsports-related die-cast car replica collectibles, apparel, souvenirs and other memorabilia.

Action markets and distributes products through a variety of channels, including the Racing Collectables Club of America (RCCA), online at goracing.com, trackside at racing events, within mass retail department stores as well as a worldwide network of wholesale distributors and specialty dealers.