NASCAR WCUP: Valvoline Named Official Motor Oil of Daytona

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

July 10, 2001

Valvoline has entered into a multi-year agreement with Daytona International Speedway that will make Valvoline an official corporate sponsor of the Daytona 500. As a track sponsor, Valvoline will be the official motor oil of both Daytona International Speedway and Daytona USA, the "ultimate motorsports attraction."

The announcement was made July 7, prior to the Pepsi 400 NASCAR Winston Cup race.

"We're thrilled with our partnership with Valvoline," said John Graham, president of Daytona International Speedway. "To bring a sponsor like Valvoline, which has a long-standing relationship with motorsports, to the 'World Center of Racing' is something special."

Valvoline President James O'Brien said: "From Valvoline's standpoint, we have always wanted to associate our company, our products and our brands, with the excitement and the high-performance sport of racing." O'Brien said Valvoline will integrate the sponsorship into its marketing in innovative ways. Valvoline's Zerex and Eagle One brands also are included in the Daytona sponsorship.

This year, Valvoline became the first major consumer products company to co-own a Winston Cup team, the No. 10 Valvoline Pontiac, driven by Johnny Benson.

Update: Another Daytona 'Almost' for Benson

Johnny Benson almost won the Daytona 500 last year, and came close again in last Saturday night's Pepsi 400. Benson's Valvoline Pontiac led 10 laps and was in front for the final restart, but typical restrictor-plate action in the closing laps forced him back to 13th. He's now eighth in Winston Cup points going into this weekend's inaugural Tropicana 400 at the new Chicagoland Speedway.

In Pomona, Darrell Russell made it to the semifinals in the Valvoline/Keystone Automotive Top Fuel car. Ron Krisher also made the semis in the Eagle One Chevrolet Cavalier in Pro Stock, while Matt Hines lost in the second round of Pro Stock Motorcycle competition on the Eagle One Suzuki.

Text provided by Michael Knight

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