Evernham Chooses Valvoline

ATLANTA, Nov. 17, 2000 -- Evernham Motorsports today announced it has chosen Valvoline as a technical partner for its two-car Dodge sponsored NASCAR Winston Cup racing program beginning next season.

Valvoline becomes the official motor oil of the Evernham Motorsports Dodge Dealers Intrepid R/Ts. In addition to lubricants, Valvoline will supply Zerex® coolant technology and Eagle One® appearance products to the team. Evernham has been using Valvoline synthetic motor oil in the testing of the new Dodge Winston Cup engine program.

“This is one more important step in the road we’ve taken to assure the Dodge program has nothing but the best racing technology,” said team owner Ray Evernham. “I’ve won many races and a Winston Cup championship with Valvoline, and I couldn’t be more pleased that we have their latest technology available to us.”

“Valvoline’s high technology racing products and premium image are a perfect complement to the team we are building,” he said. "With the technology that we're putting in to help develop this engine and make horsepower, I believe we will build a competitive racing program,” says Evernham.

“We wanted to work with Ray because we knew he was building something special,” said Jim Rocco, Senior Vice President Worldwide Operations for Valvoline. “We are going to be part of NASCAR racing for a long time and this rounds out what we consider the best sponsorship program and best technology development program we’ve ever had in any series,” Rocco said.

Rocco added that associating its products with veteran driver Bill Elliott and rookie Casey Atwood in 2001 and beyond will help the company market to both loyal NASCAR fans and possibly an entire new generation of fans.

This summer Valvoline announced a landmark agreement to own its own Winston Cup team. The company will partner with MB2 Motorsports to own the No. 10 Winston Cup racecar to be driven next year by Johnny Benson. After many years as a primary and associate team sponsor, Valvoline becomes the first consumer products company to own a NASCAR team.