ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, October 28, 1994                   TAG: 9410280088
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

BONNETT'S WIDOW TAKES ACTION

Neil Bonnett's widow is suing two companies she says are illegally selling toy cars bearing the late NASCAR driver's name.

In a lawsuit filed in Jefferson County Circuit Court in Birmingham, Ala., Susan Bonnett claims Illinois-based Racing Champions Inc. has been distributing without her permission defective cars it obtained from Ohio-based Creative Promotions after her husband's death in February.

Susan Bonnett, executor of her husband's estate, is seeking $5 million in damages and wants to stop the sale of the 50,000 miniature cars.

The lawsuit claims Kraft General Foods Inc. backed out of an agreement with Racing Champions and Creative Promotions to distribute the cars because of manufacturing defects and improper lettering.

Susan Bonnett's attorney, Mark McKnight of Birmingham, said the companies ignored Kraft's order to destroy the cars.

Racing Champions' attorney Ron Provenzano said the lawsuit is baseless. Mike Grimm, president of Creative Promotions, said he was unaware a lawsuit had been filed.

Neil Bonnett, 47, died in a crash Feb.11 in a practice run at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.

Keywords:
AUTO RACING 


 by CNB