Team Valvoline 2009 Lineup a Collection of Winners
Contact: David Ferroni DMF Communications 612-805-8718 Team Valvoline '09 Lineup a Collection of Winners LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 2, 2009) -- What does Team Valvoline do for an encore in 2009 after winning 60 professional races and two championships in 2008? "It's simple -- win more," said Blair Boggs, Valvoline's vice president -- global brands. Considering the technical partnerships that Valvoline has put together for the NASCAR and NHRA '09 campaigns, there is good reason to be optimistic. The NASCAR lineup, which will represent the iconic motor oil and lubricant brand, is highlighted by Richard Petty Motorsports and Roush Fenway Racing. On the NHRA side, the Valvoline teams will be Don Schumacher Racing, Alan Johnson Racing, Team Wilkerson Racing, Vandergriff Motorsports, Ron Krisher Racing and Jay Payne Racing. ²For more than 100 years the racetrack has been a laboratory for Valvoline," offered Boggs. "We¹re proud of our technical partnerships with the best teams in motorsports. In fact, more NASCAR Sprint Cup and Top NHRA crew chiefs use Valvoline than any other brand of motor oil. That more crew chiefs trust Valvoline in their race cars is important to us, but we¹re most proud of the fact that more of these experts use Valvoline in their personal cars as well. For us, this is proof positive that our efforts in racing directly apply to Valvoline¹s everyday customers who want the best in their engines, too.² Headlining Team Valvoline's driver roster is Tony Schumacher, auto racing's 2008 Driver of the Year. Schumacher received the prestigious honor after winning a record 15 times en route to his fifth consecutive and sixth overall NHRA Top Fuel season title. The NHRA team also includes two-time Top Fuel champion Larry Dixon, who is the driver for the new Alan Johnson Racing team. Johnson was Schumacher's crew chief the past six seasons. Valvoline's driver lineup in NASCAR is equally impressive with former Sprint Cup champion Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards, who was runner-up in points last year in both the Cup and Nationwide divisions. Edwards' 2008 record included 16 wins -- nine in Cup and seven in Nationwide. Valvoline's primary paint scheme schedule includes seven Cup races on the No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Dodge Charger driven by Reed Sorenson and two Cup events on the No. 26 Roush Fenway Racing Ford Fusion driven by Jamie McMurray. Valvoline's NHRA primary sponsorship will all be with Don Schumacher Racing -- 10 races on Jack Beckman's Funny Car and two races each on Cory McClenathan's Top Fuel dragster and Matt Smith's Pro Stock Motorcycle. The high-profile Valvoline team of drivers, who will showcase the red and blue Valvoline V in 2009, are as follows: Valvoline Racing Team: Team/Drivers Richard Petty Motorsports, NASCAR AJ Allmendinger Kasey Kahne Elliott Sadler Reed Sorenson Roush Fenway Racing, NASCAR Matt Kenseth Greg Biffle Carl Edwards Jamie McMurray David Ragan Colin Braun Erik Darnell Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Robby Gordon Motorsports, NASCAR Robby Gordon Yates Racing, NASCAR Travis Kvapil Bobby Labonte Alan Johnson Racing, NHRA Larry Dixon, Top Fuel Del Worsham, Funny Car Don Schumacher Racing, NHRA Tony Schumacher, Top Fuel Cory McClenathan, Top Fuel Jack Beckman, Funny Car Ron Capps, Funny Car Matt Hagan, Funny Car Matt Smith, Pro Stock Motorcycle Jay Payne Racing, NHRA Jay Payne, Alcohol Funny Car Ron Krisher Racing, NHRA Ron Krisher, Pro Stock Team Wilkerson Racing, NHRA Tim Wilkerson, Funny Car Vandergriff Motorsports, NHRA Bob Vandergriff Jr., Top Fuel Horsepower Ranch Racing Team, GRAND-AM Hugh Plumb, KONI Challenge Jack Roush, Jr., KONI Challenge About Valvoline Valvoline, a business of Ashland Inc., has been serving American motorists longer than any other motor oil marketer and is a leading innovator and supplier of quality, high-performing automotive and industrial products in more than 100 countries. Best known for its lubricants, Valvoline also markets Eagle One® appearance products, Car Brite® car restoration products, Zerex® antifreeze, SynPower® performance products, Pyroil® automotive chemicals and MaxLife® products created for higher-mileage engines. Valvoline also has a stake in the quick-lube market with its Valvoline Instant Oil Change® unit.
