NAASCAR: Benson #10 Pontiac Reaction To Pontiac's Black Flag

The following is #10 Pontiac driver Johnny Benson's reaction to
today's announcement that General Motors will consolidate its resources in
NASCAR to exclusively support the Chevrolet Monte Carlo in 2004.

Benson drove Pontiacs at Bahari' Racing in 1996 and 1997 and has driven
Pontiacs since the 2000 season. Benson won Rockingham last October in a
Pontiac. Benson was in Homestead, Fla today tire testing when he made the
following comments.

"This is a surprise. I have driven a Pontiac in all but two seasons since I
started in '95. I might have driven the most races of anyone in a Pontiac in
recent years. Obviously, I have mixed emotions hearing this news. I guess it is
disappointing we are going to lose a car in the series. If General Motors isn't
going to support the Pontiac next season then I doubt you will see too many
teams running Pontiacs. I would guess that most of the Pontiac teams will
switch to Chevrolets and I hope GM continues to support them the way they did
when they were running Pontiacs. You know we heard some rumors at the beginning
of the season about Pontiac not continuing. But, I dont think anyone would have
guessed that it would come this soon. I suspected they would eventually throw
all their support behind the Monte Carlo but I figured it would be in a few
years. The Pontiac was a good make. I think they were always just a touch
behind, not a lot behind the Monte Carlo and others. But it was a good car and
it was a pleasure to drive for them."