Craftsman Series 150th, Chevy's 80th

SILVERADO RACING NEWS

Contact: Judy Stropus jstropus@earthlink.net GM Racing Communications 203-438-0501

Chevrolet Tops Win Column with 80 as Craftsman Truck Series Celebrates 150th

MARTINSVILLE, Va. (March 30, 2001) -- When the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series celebrates its 150th race at Martinsville Speedway on April 7, Chevrolet will join in the festivities as the winningest manufacturer since the series' inception in 1995. With 80 wins going into Martinsville (54 percent), the Chevrolet Silverado has clearly demonstrated its dominance in the series as the most dependable, longest-lasting full-sized pickup truck on the circuit.

"I congratulate every team and driver in the series who has contributed to the Silverado's success since 1995," said Maria Rohrer, assistant Silverado brand manager. "Not only are we confident that we have developed an outstanding product to help our Chevy teams win, I am proud of the exceptional engineering and technical support General Motors has provided these teams since the beginning."

Cross-town rival Ford is second on the win roster, with 52, while Dodge trails with 17.

The Silverado's success in the Craftsman series came right off the first green flag in February, 1995, with a win by Mike Skinner in the #3 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet fielded by Richard Childress Racing. Skinner went on to win a total of eight races the first year and take the first driver's championship. Chevy captured the first manufacturer's championship with 16 wins. Ford scored four, while Dodge was shut out of the victory circle.

Following the 2000 season, Chevrolet holds claim to the most series' manufacturer's championships: five in six years.

The Silverado also holds the record for most Craftsman Truck Series victories in Martinsville: Mike Skinner in 1996, Rich Bickle in '97, and Jay Sauter in '98.

Since the first season, the Chevrolet Silverado has been the equipment of choice for five of the six Craftsman driver championship efforts: Skinner in 1995...Ron Hornaday in 1996 and 1998...and Jack Sprague in 1997 and 1999. Hornaday has won the most races for Chevrolet, 25, while Sprague is second with 19, and Skinner third, with 16.

In pre-race ceremonies at Martinsville, Craftsman will honor Sprague, driver of the #24 NetZero Chevy Silverado in 2001, as the only driver who has competed in every Craftsman Truck Series race. In 149 races so far, Sprague, driving a Chevy Silverado, has completed 25,224 laps of a possible 26,370 (96 percent), and 22,200.593 miles of a possible 23,470.47 (95 percent).

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is but one of over 70 racing series where drivers compete and win with cars, trucks and motors based on Chevrolet equipment and parts. Chevrolet has the leading race-track record. No other car or truck manufacturer can match the number of NASCAR, NHRA, road-racing and off-road championships that Chevrolet has won. That's because Chevrolet has always worked hard to build performance, style and quality into dependable, long-lasting cars and trucks that go the distance, both on and off the track.

The Advance Auto Parts 250 (250 laps) on the half-mile Martinsville Speedway oval will take the green flag at 2 p.m. EST on Saturday, April 7.

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