Pre-season Race A Success For Chevrolet

Denny Hamlin

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – In its NASCAR Nextel Cup debut, the Monte Carlo SS race car dominated on the track this weekend at Daytona International Speedway. The new race car swept the top three finishing spots during the Budweiser Shootout and swept the front row during qualifying for the Daytona 500.

On Sunday, Chevy rookie Denny Hamlin scored his first Nextel Cup victory while also securing the first win for the Monte Carlo SS race car. Hamlin spent much of the race up front and took the checkered flag in a green-white-checker shootout ahead of fellow Monte Carlo SS drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Stewart. Hamlin becomes the fifth driver to win the Shootout in his first attempt.

"I can't believe it,” said Hamlin, driver of the No. 11 Fed Ex Chevrolet. “It wasn't but two years ago I was here. Dale Earnhardt Jr. invited me to come and stay in his motor home. That’s the only time I'd ever been to victory lane. I can’t believe it. We're coming back this year and we're going to win rookie of the year."

It was a powerful start for the Monte Carlo SS after making its official debut during Speedweeks. The new Monte Carlo SS for 2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup competition has several new features but includes the same GM small-block engine that has powered race and production vehicles for over 50 years. The legendary small-block V8 engine has helped the Monte Carlo nameplate achieve a winning heritage that spans over three decades and includes 380 NASCAR Cup wins.

Jeff Burton

Also on Sunday, Jeff Burton in the No. 31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet scored the Monte Carlo SS its first pole position while qualifying for the Daytona 500. Not only was it a special occasion for the Monte Carlo SS, it was a special day for Burton as it was his first pole in five years.

"We had a fast car out there, fortunately,” said Burton. “We knew that yesterday (Saturday), we knew we had something. We never put tires on it, we never put all the tape on it. We had not much time on the engine. I knew we had a shot a running well but I didn't know we could run that well.”

Jeff Gordon secured the second of two Daytona 500 starting spots during Sunday’s qualifying session. Burton and Gordon’s qualifying results will allow Monte Carlo SS race cars to make up the front row for Sunday’s race.

The Monte Carlo SS will aim for more strong performances as a host of Chevy drivers compete for the remaining Daytona 500 qualifying spots during the Gatorade Duels on Feb. 16.