ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Jan. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Bowlin Travel Centers, Inc. (the "Company") (OTC:BWTL) (BULLETIN BOARD: BWTL) announced today that it filed a Form 15 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") to deregister the Company's common stock (the "Common Stock") under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). The Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") began consideration of the decision to deregister the Common Stock as a result of, among other things, the ongoing costs of being a reporting public company. Immediately upon the filing of the Form 15, the Company will no longer be obligated to file certain reports with the SEC, including Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. The Company expects that the deregistration of the Common Stock will become effective 90 days following the filing of the Form 15. The Common Stock is currently quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board and on the Pink Sheets. Following the filing of the Form 15, the Common Stock will no longer be eligible to be quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board. The Company anticipates that the Common Stock will continue to be quoted on the Pink Sheets after the filing of the Form 15; however, the Company can give no assurances that the Common Stock will be so quoted. The Pink Sheets system is a centralized quotation service that provides pricing and financial news and information for over-the-counter securities markets and collects and publishes market maker quotes in real time primarily through its website, http://www.pinksheets.com/. The Company's Chairman, President and CEO, Michael L. Bowlin stated, "The Company's Board of Directors unanimously approved the deregistration of the Common Stock. The costs and administrative burdens associated with being a public company have significantly increased, particularly in light of SEC and Sarbanes-Oxley requirements. In light of the lack of an active trading market for the Company's stock and the Company's intent not to access the public capital markets for its foreseeable financing needs, the advantages of being a public company are outweighed by the significant accounting, legal and administrative costs, competitive disadvantages, and the drain of management time and resources associated with the SEC reporting requirements for public companies. We believe that deregistering will significantly reduce expenses, avoid even higher future expenses, enable our management to focus more of its time and resources on operating the Company, and permit the Company to redeploy resources to the Company's core business." The Board engaged and consulted legal and financial advisors prior to making its decision. Notwithstanding the Company's decision to deregister the Common Stock, the Company intends to continue to hold annual meetings and to make available to its shareholders and the interested public quarterly and annual financial statements while the Common Stock is quoted on the Pink Sheets. The Company also intends to comply with all information and notice requirements under Nevada and other applicable law and the Company's articles of incorporation and other charter documents. The Company does not believe that deregistering the Common Stock under the Exchange Act will materially impact its current operations, current relationships with employees, customers and suppliers or its existing financing arrangements. The Company operates full-service travel centers and restaurants strategically located on major interstate highways that offer brand name food and gasoline, and a unique variety of Southwestern merchandise to the traveling public in New Mexico and Arizona. Visit our web site at: http://www.bowlintc.com/ For Further Information Contact: Michael L. Bowlin, Chairman (505) 266-5985 Rudy R. Miller, Chairman and CEO The Miller Group Investor Relations for the Company (602) 225-0505 DATASOURCE: Bowlin Travel Centers, Inc. CONTACT: Michael L. Bowlin, Chairman of Bowlin Travel Centers, Inc., +1-505-266-5985; or Investor Relations, Rudy R. Miller, Chairman and CEO of The Miller Group, +1-602-225-0505, for Bowlin Travel Centers, Inc. Web Site: http://www.bowlintc.com/

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