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Woodside Clinches First International NASCAR Championship

21 November 1999


November 21, 1999 (Motegi City, Japan) - Sean Woodside and Bill McAnally 
Racing participated in making history today by clinching the first-ever 
NASCAR championship to be determined at a racetrack outside of North America. 
 With a strong top five finish, the team took the championship at today's 
Coca-Cola 500 at Twin Ring Motegi.

The team had settled on running conservatively until the championship was 
finalized, and then pushing for a strong finish.  Woodside held back and ran 
between 12th and 19th place for the first half of the race, then started 
moving up through the pack.  He was up to second place when a late-race 
incident on a restart resulted in minor damage to the front and rear of the 
race car, and held him back to a fifth place finish.

"It was a great season," said Woodside, following the race.  "The 
championship just caps off all the team's hard work and the great support 
from NAPA."

He continued, "It will be a lot nicer sitting at the center table than at the 
side table, like I have the last couple of years."  Woodside finished second 
in the championship race in both the 1997 and 1998 NASCAR Winston West 
seasons.  

Team owner Bill McAnally commented, "I'm happy for the team and happy for 
NAPA.  A lot of experience in previous years and a lot of hard work this year 
went into winning this championship.  Sean's experience brought a lot to the 
effort.  I'm very glad that we got this championship together that we've all 
worked so hard for."

"With the great support this year from NAPA and their manufacturers, anything 
other than the championship would be less than they deserve."

The Coca-Cola 500 is scheduled to air in the United States on Saturday, 
December 11, beginning at 3 p.m. EST, and will be telecast live in Japan by 
Fuji Television.

Bill McAnally Racing (BMR) owns and operates the No. 16 NAPA Auto 
Parts/Martin Senour Automotive Finishes/NAPA Filters/California Integrated 
Waste Management Recycled Oil Program Chevrolet Monte Carlo NASCAR Winston 
West team with Sean Woodside as driver. In addition to winning the 1999 
NASCAR Winston West championship, they led the series in the Gatorade Front 
Runner Award, the Clevite Engine Builder Award and Bud Pole Award races, laps 
led, laps completed and best average finish. Current season results include 
two wins, five top fives and ten top ten finishes and two Bud Pole Awards.

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