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Bill Davis Racing, Petty Enterprises on Board For Dodge's Return to NASCAR Winston Cup in 2001

19 February 2000

It's Official: Bill Davis Racing and Petty Enterprises on Board For Dodge's Return to NASCAR Winston Cup in 2001

      Ward Burton, Dave Blaney, Kyle and Adam Petty, and John Andretti,
          Will Pilot Dodge Intrepid R/Ts at Next Year's Daytona 500

    DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Feb. 19 -- Dodge officially announced
today the complement of Winston Cup teams and drivers slated to help carry the
Dodge banner in its celebrated return to NASCAR Winston Cup racing beginning
with the 2001 Daytona 500.
    Bill Davis Racing and Petty Enterprises have been named to partner with
Evernham Motorsports, which under the direction of Ray Evernham has been hard
at work developing the company's Dodge Intrepid R/T Winston Cup program since
it was announced last October.
    Today's announcement brings to total seven Dodge Intrepid R/Ts that will
debut at next year's Daytona 500, led by drivers Ward Burton and Dave Blaney
in the Davis Racing camp and Kyle Petty, John Andretti and Adam Petty in the
Petty Enterprises camp.  Drivers for the Evernham Motorsports' two-car effort
will be announced at a later date.
    "We have created a strategic alliance that blends some of the very best
racing minds and driving talent in Winston Cup racing today," said Jim Julow,
Vice President - Dodge Division.  "Our driver lineup features a healthy blend
of established Winston Cup stars and emerging stars of the future.  The three
great racing organizations they represent will help carry the championship
motorsports heritage of the Dodge brand well into the 21st Century."
    It was a pair of legendary Pettys -- Lee and Richard -- who had much to do
with Dodge's first successful run in the NASCAR Winston Cup ranks from the
1950s through the 1970s.  Along with notable drivers such as David Pearson and
Buddy Baker, the Pettys helped Dodge amass 160 Winston Cup victories and two
manufacturers titles.
    As the clock continues to count down toward the 2001 season, Dodge has
positioned itself on the fast track to a new, successful era in stock car
racing's most popular series with the collective resources of Dodge
Motorsports, the Evernham, Petty and Davis organizations, and the unique
support of Dodge's network of almost 3,000 U.S. dealers.
    "We've joined hands to fight the world," said Evernham, the former crew
chief for three-time Winston Cup champion Jeff Gordon.  "It's certainly a
monumental task -- the biggest thing I've ever been involved in in all my
years of racing.  But, judging by the progress we've made in just a little
over 120 days, we have a perfect mix of all the right people and resources in
all the right places."
    "We've taken a page out of our successful NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
playbook, operating the Dodge NASCAR Winston Cup program as one team,
regardless of whose name is on the side of the car," said Lou Patane, Vice
President, Motorsports and Mopar Performance Parts.  "All three of our teams
will share the full technical expertise of Dodge's engineering group and the
lessons learned in testing and development.  Under Ray Evernham's leadership,
we believe that taking a different approach will yield on-track results."
    The Dodge Intrepid R/T Winston Cup show car, the program's first major
milestone, was unveiled at last month's North American International Auto Show
in Detroit, less than 100 days since the program was announced.
    And the development effort continues in earnest.
    Three-eighths-scale model wind tunnel testing is well underway.  The first
full-scale model goes to the wind tunnel for its first of 22 scheduled test
days later this month.
    On track testing is set to begin late next month with a shakedown run at
Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte for a Dodge Intrepid R/T powered by a Dodge
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series motor.  As race car and Winston Cup engine
development continues, some 12 track tests are scheduled from then until early
Summer, when Dodge officially presents its race car and engine package to
NASCAR for approval.
    "We will have outstanding on-track presence with this historic Dodge
program," Julow said.  "The anticipation will continue to build through this
season as we move along with our testing and development program.  Today is a
significant day in that we have begun to introduce the names and faces for
Dodge owners, Dodge dealers and our employees to begin rallying behind.  I
have every reason to believe we will, in time, have the most competitive team
in Winston Cup racing."

                "Dodge 500 Countdown to the 2001 Daytona 500:
                        365 days, 2 hours, 45 minutes"