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                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.4

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                 CONTACT:  Marina Ein
                                                           (202) 223-2922


     DART GROUP ANNOUNCES BUYBACK OF SHARES FROM RONALD S. HAFT, CONVERSION OF 
NON-VOTING COMMON STOCK TO VOTING COMMON STOCK, APPOINTMENT OF RICHARD B. STONE
AS CHAIRMAN AND ADOPTION OF SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN


         Landover, Maryland, February 17, 1998...Dart Group Corporation (NASDAQ:
DARTA) announced today that it has taken a number of actions which, among other
things, bring to an end the involvement of the Haft family in the ownership and
management of the Company. The Company bought back from Ronald S. Haft all
shares of the Company that were previously owned by Mr. Haft. The 407,818 class
A non-voting shares and 222,294 class B voting shares acquired by the Company
had been subject to the terms of a voting trust agreement between Dart and Mr.
Haft, the voting trustee of which was Richard B. Stone. Simultaneously with the
closing of the purchase of such shares, the voting trust agreement was
terminated.

         In connection with the buyback of shares from Mr. Haft, Dart amended
its certificate of incorporation to abolish the dual class common stock
structure that previously existed. All shares of class A non-voting stock and
shares of class B voting stock were converted into a single class of voting
common stock on a one-for-one basis. All of the common stock of the Company will
now have one vote per share. Previously, the Haft family and its affiliates held
all of the voting stock of Dart and public stockholders held only non-voting
class A shares.

         The Company purchased the stock by tendering notes representing
indebtedness owed to the Company by Mr. Haft in an aggregate amount of
$77,642,235 and paying approximately $800,000 in cash. Such indebtedness had
been incurred by Mr. Haft to acquire the shares held in the voting trust.

         Richard B. Stone, who had been serving as acting chief executive
officer of the Company and its subsidiaries, has become the chairman of the
board and chief executive officer of Dart Group and Crown Books Corporation
(NASDAQ: CRWN) and is expected to become chairman of the board of Trak Auto
Corporation (NASDAQ: TRKA). Mr. Stone is also serving as Chief Executive Officer
of Trak Auto Corporation. In addition, the Company announced that Ronald Rice,
formerly the Assistant Vice President - Finance of Dart Group, has been promoted
to Vice President Finance of Dart Group and that Robert Fishbein has been
promoted to Assistant Vice President Finance of Dart Group.

         The Company also announced that, in addition to abolishing its dual
class common stock structure, it had amended its certificate of incorporation
and bylaws in certain other respects, including to require that stockholder
action be taken only at annual meetings of stockholders and special meetings of
stockholders called by the Chairman of the Board or the President of Dart and to
require timely prior notice for director nominations or other business that a
stockholder wishes to properly bring before a meeting of stockholders.



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         Immediately after the effectiveness of the amendment to its certificate
of incorporation, the Company's board of directors declared a dividend
distribution of one preferred stock purchase right on each outstanding share of
its common stock. The rights will not become exercisable, and will continue to
trade with the common stock, unless a person or group acquires 15 percent or
more of Dart's common stock or announces a tender offer, the consummation of
which would result in ownership by a person or group of 15 percent or more of
Dart's common stock. Shareholders who own more than 15 percent of Dart's common
stock as of February 17, 1998 will not trigger exercisability of the rights
unless any such shareholder acquires more common stock after such date. Each
right will entitle a stockholder to buy one one-thousandth of a share of a newly
created Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of the Company at an
exercise price of $400 per one one-thousandth of a share.

         If a person or group acquires 15 percent or more of Dart's outstanding
common stock, each right will entitle its holder (other than the acquiring
person or group) to purchase, at the right's then-current exercise price, a
number of shares of Dart's common stock having a market value of twice that
price. In addition, if Dart is acquired in a merger or other business
combination transaction after a person has acquired 15 percent or more of Dart's
outstanding common stock, each right will entitle its holder to purchase, at the
right's then-current exercise price, a number of the acquiring Company's common
shares having a market value of twice that price.

         Following the acquisition by a person or group of 15 percent or more of
Dart's common stock and prior to an acquisition of 50 percent or more of the
common stock, the Board of Directors may exchange the rights (other than rights
owned by such person or group), in whole or in part, for consideration per right
consisting of one-half of the common stock that would be issuable upon exercise
of one right. Alternatively, the rights may be redeemed for 1/10th of a cent per
right, at the option of the Board of Directors, prior to the acquisition by a
person or group of beneficial ownership of 15 percent or more of Dart's common
stock.

         The non-taxable dividend distribution will be made on March 3, 1998,
payable to stockholders of record on that date. The rights will expire on
February 16, 2001.

         "The Board believes that the stock purchase rights plan represents a
sound and reasonable means of safeguarding the interests of stockholders," said
Senator Stone, in explaining the rights' issuance.

         In unrelated news, in response to various press reports, the Company
confirmed that it had received an indication of interest to acquire its
subsidiary, Shoppers Food Warehouse, from a group that included Appian Advisors,
LLC, Leucadia International and Hamilton Morgan. Senator Stone said that the
Dart board would consider such indication of interest in due course. However, it
is the Company's policy not to comment on press reports, market rumors or the
status of negotiations related to extraordinary transactions. Therefore, the
Company does not intend to make any future announcements with respect to press
reports, market rumors or negotiations concerning extraordinary transactions
involving the Company.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995: The statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are
forward looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those
projected in the forward looking statements, which statements involve risks and
uncertainties. Investors are directed to the other risks discussed in documents
filed by Dart Group Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission.



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