EXHIBIT 16 Office of the Chief Accountant Securities and Exchange Commission 450 Fifth Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20549 March 22, 2002 Dear Sir or Madam: We have read the first, second, third and fifth paragraphs of Item 4 included in the Form 8-K, dated March 18, 2002, of Action Performance Companies, Inc. (Commission File Number: 0-21630) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and are in agreement with the statements contained therein. /s/ Arthur Andersen LLP Copy to: R. David Martin, Chief Financial Officer Action Performance Companies, Inc.