American Strongman Competition To Include ABF U-Pack Moving Truck Pull

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(FORT SMITH, Ark., June 28, 2006) – ABF U-Pack Moving®, a service of ABF Freight System, Inc.®, is sponsoring the Third Annual Pacifico Ford Liberty Strongman Classic. The ABF Truck Pull is a highlight of the two-day event, which serves as the third and final leg of the American Strongman Corporation (ASC) national qualifiers. The competition occurs June 30 and July 1, 2006, at the Lagoon Hotel and Entertainment complex in Essington, Penn., and at Daniel S. Frawley Stadium in Wilmington, Del.

"Normally, it takes a 500 horsepower engine to power an ABF® truck," says Kay Lynn Clay, U-Pack® business development manager. "During the Pacifico Ford Liberty Strongman Classic, however, competitors will strap themselves into a pulling harness and attempt to pull one of ABF’s tractors with sheer muscle."

The action gets underway at the Lagoon Friday at 8 p.m. when over 20 ASC professionals will vie for the final five spots in this year's ASC Nationals scheduled for July 20, 2006, in Columbia, S.C. ABF U-Pack Moving®, a service of ABF Freight System, Inc.®, is among the event’s sponsors.

Expected to compete in the qualifier will be two-time IFSA-USA champion Steve Kirit, defending IFSA-USA champion Van Hatfield, long-time competitor Jon Andersen, IFSA World finalist Travis Ortmayer and hometown favorite Walt Gogola, a former football standout for Archbishop Wood High School. Four-time World Strongest Man champion Magnus Ver Magnusson will serve as head referee.

Saturday’s competition gets underway at noon at the Lagoon. There will be a car show, exhibits and an outdoor barbecue. The event is free and open to all ages. Competitions include the ABF Truck Pull and the 800-pound Yoke Walk. The final competition occurs in Frawley Stadium, home to the Wilmington Blue Rocks minor league baseball team. The finale includes a Blue Rocks baseball game and a fireworks display.

Introduced in 1997, ABF U-Pack Moving is a self-load moving service designed for do-it-yourself consumers, as well as corporate, institutional and military relocation specialists. U-Pack® combines the economy of rental truck moving with the convenience of full-service moving.

Established in 1923, ABF is one of North America's oldest and most reputable motor carriers. Recognized as a benchmark for safety, security, technology and freight-handling standards, ABF has a distinguished record of service. In four of the past five years, ABF has earned either the Excellence in Claims/Loss Prevention Award, the Excellence in Security Award, or both from the American Trucking Associations Safety and Loss Prevention Management Council. ABF is the only carrier to have earned both awards in the same year, which it achieved in 2005 and 2001. ABF also was recognized by CIO magazine for innovative excellence in information technology, earning the 2005 CIO Enterprise Value Award for the transportation industry as well as a spot on the CIO Top 100 Companies list in both 2005 and 2004.

ABF operates an extensive network of customer service centers and distribution facilities strategically located throughout North America . Through this network, ABF provides comprehensive shipping services to all 50 states, Canada , Mexico , Guam and Puerto Rico . Globally, the carrier serves 250 ports in more than 130 countries. ABF is certified as an Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) carrier by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, as well as a Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) and Free and Secure Trade (FAST) carrier to and from Canada . Via its TimeKeeper® service, ABF provides guaranteed service for expedited or time-definite shipments.

ABF is the largest subsidiary of Arkansas Best Corporation (Nasdaq: ABFS).

Contact: Mr. Danny Loe, director of marketing & public relations
Telephone: (479) 785-8803