Benson Advance: Points Comparison After Eight Races 2001 vs. 2000

Third-Place Johnny Benson One of The Most Improved in 2001 Benson, Sadler, and Nadeau Biggest Gainers Comparing Points In 2001 Vs. 2000

In the preseason, #10 Valvoline Pontiac driver Johnny Benson and his Valvoline Racing teammates made getting off to a good start in the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup season a priority. The team tested at several tracks on the first part of the schedule and finished car preparation weeks before each race.

That work has paid off. Benson is third in driver points, tied with Sterling Marlin.

Benson along with Elliott Sadler and Jerry Nadeau have turned in the most improved performances compared to their points at this time last year. At the same time, some of the sport’s biggest stars are struggling compared to their points at this time last year.

Point Comparison After First Eight Races 2001 Vs. 2000

2001 2000 Points Points Gain/Loss Gainers Elliott Sadler 924 583 341 Jerry Nadeau 864 574 290 Johnny Benson 1049 816 233 Steve Park 1039 808 231 Bobby Hamilton 995 765 230

Decliners Mark Martin 747 1210 -463 Bobby Labonte 806 1246 -440 Jeff Burton 705 1104 -399 Ward Burton 892 1159 -267 Jeremy Mayfield 773 994 -221

Benson On 2001 vs. 2000 Points:

“Last year we missed Atlanta so when you look at those numbers you see that we have had one more race this year than we did last year at this time. I think that is why we are up in the top three. But we have been talking about getting off to a good start all winter. There were a lot of reasons for that. We had Valvoline coming on as a new sponsor and owner, and because we just want to do as well as we can. Because we missed a race last year we had to play catch up most of the year and came up short of making the top ten. This year we want to end the year in the top six so we knew getting a good start was crucial. We are pretty happy so far. Third in points is tough to beat. But we know that won’t last long if we don’t keep at it. We are pretty confident, but there is a heck of a lot of competition behind us who want the same things we want.

“It’s an awful long season and I can imagine how frustrated guys like Mark and Bobby are, considering where we think they ought to be in the points, but I have no doubt you are going to hear from those guys a lot as the summer goes on. You can’t keep good teams down like that for long. I expect as the season drags on the good teams will rise to the top.”

THE RACE: Talladega 500 Winston Cup Race #9 of 36 for the 2001 season ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----

Race: Sunday, April 22, 2001 in Talladega, AL

NOTE: Talladega is located in the Central Time Zone, all times listed here are in Eastern Time Zone (1 hour ahead)

TV: Fox 1:00pm/et(pre-race at 12:30pm/et)

Announcers: Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds

Pit Reporters: Dick Berggren, Matt Yocum, Steve Byrnes, Jeanne Zelasko

Posted Awards/Purse: $3,842,807 (was $2,904,027 in 2000)

Entry List: Entry List for the: Talladega 500 from NOL

2000 Race Winner: Jeff Gordon, 161.157mph

Track Race Record: Mark Martin, May 1997, 188.354mph

Track/Race Length: 2.66-mile tri-oval, 188 laps, 500.08 miles

Pit Road Speed: 55mph

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- Practice

Practice: Friday, Apr 20th from 12:00noon - 2:30pm/et

Happy Hour Practice: Saturday, Apr 21st from 11:00am - 12:30pm/et, TV-FX at 12:00noon/et

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- Qualifying

Qualifying Draw: Friday, Apr 20th at 11:00am/et

Qualifying: 2 laps for positions 1-36, Friday, Apr 20th at 4:00pm/et, TV-FX tape delayed at 7:00pm/et and live via MRN radio/internet

NASCAR.com will have live lap-by-lap coverage of Winston Cup qualifying via the web using it's Racecast feature

Second-Round Qualifying: there is no longer a 2nd round of qualifying

Track/Event Qualifying Record(no restrictor plate): Bill Elliott, April 1987, 212.809mph

Track/Event Qualifying Record(Restrictor Plate): Bill Elliott, May 1990, 199.388(15/16th inch plate)

Last Year's Pole Sitter: Jeremy Mayfield, 186.969mph

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- Track Specs: Superspeedway: 2.66-mile trioval 48 feet wide (12-foot apron) Turns: Banking: 33 degrees Length: 3,750 feet Radius: 1,100 feet Trioval: Banking: 18 degrees Frontstretch: Chute length: 2,150 feet (from turn to middle of trioval) Total length: 4,300 feet Banking: Minimal for drainage only Backstretch: Length: 4,000 feet Banking: Minimal for drainage only(Talladega Website)

###O Drew Brown 1335 Torrence Circle Davidson, NC 28036 704-895-3651 H 704-906-7992 C drew_brown@mindspring.com