Universal Forest Pr. : OPEN JOIST(R) Promotes Speed and Strength, Teams Up with Kasey Kahne Racing, Dodge Motorsports

02/19/2007| 04:00pm US/Eastern

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Universal Forest Products (Nasdaq:UFPI) today announces they will team up with NASCAR superstar Kasey Kahne and Dodge Motorsports to promote Open Joist as the company's first major motorsports initiative. Universal's Open Joist floor joist system will serve as the primary sponsor on Kasey Kahne Racing's No. 9 World of Outlaw Series team.

In addition, Open Joist will be a major sponsor on the No. 79 and No. 99 United States Auto Club Midget Car and Sprint Car Teams, as well as a co-primary sponsor on Bobby Hamilton Racing's No. 4 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Team.

?With the support I have received from Mopar and the Dodge brands, and now from Open Joist and Universal Forest Products, we certainly have the resources to win championships,? says Kahne. ?It will be my job as team owner to ensure speed does, in fact, meet strength as we showcase Open Joist's superior product in winning both the World of Outlaws Series and USAC Series Championships this year.?

?We're excited about the opportunity to work with Kasey Kahne, KKR, and Dodge Motorsports. We believe this relationship will be key to maximizing our brand recognition and building our sales,? says Brian Ellenberger, Vice President of Operations for Open Joist. ?Kasey's family comes from the wood products industry, so he's a natural fit for our goals, our customers, our employees and our messaging. In addition, Dodge is about superior engineering and reliability, and we are pleased to showcase our product with their superior vehicles.?

Open Joist is a versatile, open-web alternative to I-joists, dimension lumber and fixed-length, metal-plated trusses. The product offers exceptional strength and load-bearing capabilities, making it an ideal choice for longer joist spans, wider joist spacing and reduced framing costs. Open Joist features an open-web design for quick and easy installation of mechanical systems. Trimmable trusses offer flexibility at the building site, allowing builders to quickly compensate for dimensional changes. Open Joist is manufactured by Universal Forest Products and is available nationally through major building materials distributors. For more information on Open Joist products, visit www.openjoist.com or call toll free at 866-242-1691.

Universal Forest Products markets, manufactures and engineers wood and wood-alternative products for D-I-Y retail home centers; structural lumber products for the manufactured housing industry; engineered wood components for the site-built construction market; and specialty wood packaging and components for various industries. Universal also provides framing services for the site-built sector. The Company launched a consumer products division in 2005, which quickly has grown to include wood and wood-composite decking and railings; decorative balusters and post caps made of metal and Tiffany-style glass; and other outdoor living products for the spectrum of tastes and budgets.

Universal has approximately 10,000 employees who work in more than 100 locations throughout North America. Sales for 2006 were $2.66 billion. In late 2006, the company announced a growth strategy that calls for it to achieve $4 billion in sales by 2010. For more information about Universal Forest Products, visit the Company's Web site, www.ufpi.com, or call 888-Buy-UFPI.

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