3TEX Boat Wins Race and Best Looking Boat Award

Research Triangle Park Area, NC - July 2, 2001 - 3TEX, Inc. (www.3TEX.com), a world leader in designing and developing revolutionary 3D fabrics and composites, announced today that its PAY 2 PLAY racing boat won the 80+ mph class at the recent New York State POKER RUN race. The 45 foot SONIC USA boat, which is sponsored by both 3TEX and SONIC USA, was built using 3TEX's patented 3WEAVE™ preforms. PAY 2 PLAY also won the "Best Looking Boat" award at the race.

The recently designed boat, known as PAY 2 PLAY, is owned by Byron Unger - a world class racer who resides in Apex, North Carolina. In a special promotional venture between 3TEX, SONIC USA and Mr. Unger, PAY 2 PLAY will compete in a dozen individual POKER RUN RACES this Summer from Canada to Southern Florida.

"We are thrilled with our relationship with SONIC USA and world-class racer Byron Unger and we look forward to the other upcoming races," said Brad Lienhart, CEO of 3TEX. "SONIC USA is a leader in this industry and 3TEX is proud to be sponsoring one of their boats." Located in Hollywood, Florida, SONIC USA is recognized as a premier builder of individualized performance powerboats.

Through a long-term strategic partnership, SONIC USA expects to annually produce more than 200 premier 26-45 foot class boats using 3TEX composite products. Through the aggressive use of 3WEAVE™ preforms and a vacuum infusion process, 3TEX believes boat hull weight can be reduced by up to 20-30%, while improving overall durability and impact resistance.

About 3TEX, Inc. - Based in the Research Triangle Park Area, NC, 3TEX is a world leader in designing and developing revolutionary 3-D fabrics and composites. A spin-off from N.C. State University, 3TEX has design, product development, and production facilities in Cary and Rutherfordton, NC. With strategic alliances in place with technology centers and Universities around the world, and more than half a dozen revolutionary design patents approved or pending, 3TEX is developing next generation materials that are stronger than steel and lighter than aluminum. 3TEX was recently featured in Fortune magazine and was named a "50 to Watch" technology firm by LocalBusiness.

About Sonic USA - Sonic USA is a privately held Company, with a 25 year history as a premier builder of individualized performance powerboats. The Company is owned by those who envision, design and build Sonic USA boats. Since 1976, all of SONIC's boats have been created, designed, tested and built under the supervision of industry veteran, J. Ross.

About Byron Unger - Byron Unger is an award-winning world class racer. The Apex, NC resident owns a wide variety of racing boats and automobiles and PAY 2 PLAY is Unger's third new SONIC design in the last two years. Mr. Unger, who has over 50 1st place awards in Jet-Ski racing and placed top ten in the 1988 world Jet-Ski finals, is currently working with 3TEX to promote 3WEAVE™ preforms to all high performance boat builders. Contact: Mae Mohamed, 3TEX
Tel) 919-481-2500, ext. 104
Mae@3TEX.com