Benson to Drive Nationwide “Caring Hands” Program into High Gear

(DAYTONA, Fla.) Feb. 13, 2002 – Executives from The Valvoline Company returned to Daytona today with NASCAR driver Johnny Benson to present Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) with a $50,000 check to further solidify their support of the “Caring Hands” program, which was established in 1999 to raise money and awareness for the country’s premier mentoring program. The donation represents 50,000 handprints collected from NASCAR fans nationwide, following Valvoline’s challenge last year asking supporters to either mail or fax in their handprint for a $1 donation to BBBSA.

This amount, coupled with Johnny Benson’s on-track performance incentives, which raised another $30,000 en route to an impressive 11th place finish in the 2001 Winston Cup final points standings, elevated Valvoline’s “Caring Hands” three-year fundraising total over $750,000.

Valvoline matches Benson’s performance by donating $5,000 for a win, $2,500  for a pole, $1,000 for a top ten 10 finish, $500 for a top 20 finish and $20 for each lap led. “When it comes to racing for kids, I really don’t think that there is a finish line,” added Benson. “We’re just anxious to pull out a $5,000 check from the hauler when we get our first win in the Valvoline #10 Pontiac Grand Prix.”

The most significant change to this year’s “Caring Hands” program, is the “Track Match Challenge,” which raises funds for randomly selected Big Brother Big Sisters local agencies in out of race marketers. This new wrinkle, along with the existing contributions made to the BBBSA National office after each race, essentially doubles Valvoline’s contribution to the program for the ’02 racing season.

“In 1999 from this very speedway (Dayton International Speedway), we seeded the ‘Caring Hands’ program with our first donation of $50,000 and established what was the most ambitious cause-related initiative in Valvoline’s 135 year history,” said recently-appointed Valvoline President, Sam Mitchell. “It gives me great pleasure to update the racing community on our progress and thank the Valvoline Guys, employees, NASCAR fans and motorsports media that have continually supported this prodigious undertaking for our youth.”

Following the inception of the “Caring Hands” program in ’99, Valvoline, with the support of many race tracks, has held more than 35 trackside events with a “Caring Hands Wall”, which encouraged fans to trace their handprint and support BBBSA. Since that time, Valvoline produced the first-ever industry-wide online racing auction with eBay in 2000 and offered a $1M bonus to the organization if Benson were to win a pole and a race in the same weekend in 2001.

“We are amazed by Valvoline’s ongoing commitment to BBBSA and thank them for the momentum that has been building for our organization in the NASCAR community,” said Judy Vredenburgh, president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters. “When they approached us four years ago regarding trackside fundraisers, we never imagined that the “Caring Hands” program would evolve like it has, let alone raise this much support in terms of dollars and patronage.”

Benson, a Michigan-native, enjoyed 14 top ten finishes the 2001 season. He is also a former American Speed Association (ASA) and Busch Grand National Champion. In addition to his serving as national spokesperson for Valvoline’s “Caring Hands” program, Benson is also an “Honorary Big Brother.” He will  appear in several national PSA spots this season to continue to get the message out about BBBSA and the importance of becoming a mentor.

The Valvoline Company also sponsors BBBSA’s national and local “Big of the Year” award, which celebrates individual Big Brothers and Big Sisters volunteers who excel above and beyond the call of duty. For more information about Valvoline’s “Caring Hands” program or details on how to become a volunteer mentor, call 215/567-7000 or visit www.bbbsa.org.

The Valvoline Company, a division of Ashland Inc., has been serving American motorists longer than any other motor oil company and is a leading innovator and supplier of quality, high-performing automotive and industrial products in more than 140 countries. Best known for its lubricants, Valvoline also markets Eagle One appearance products, Zerex antifreeze, SynPower Performance Products and Pyroil automotive chemicals. The company also has a stake in the growing quick-lube market with its Valvoline Instant Oil Change unit. Valvoline is a member of the Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) family of companies. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at www.valvoline.com.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America has been the nationally recognized leader in youth mentoring for almost 100 years. Big Brothers Big Sisters provides meaningful mentoring relationships for millions of children through its more than 500 affiliated agencies reaching 5,000 communities. National research studies prove that children with a Big Brother or Big Sister have more positive attitudes towards school, achieve higher grades and have better school attendance. In addition, these children are less likely to use drugs and alcohol and exhibit violent behavior. For more information, visit the BBBSA Web site at www.bbbsa.org.

Race Information:

Thursday’s races begin at 1 p.m. and will be televised by TNT

l First Qualifying Race

1 Jimmie Johnson
2 Jeff Gordon
3 Ward Burton
4 Terry Labonte
5 Bill Elliott
6 Mike Wallace
7 Dale Jarrett
8 Ricky Rudd
9 Bobby Hamilton
10 Dale Earnhardt Jr
11 Brett Bodine
12 Ken Schrader
13 Sterling Marlin
14 Joe Nemechek
15 Geoffrey Bodine
16 Hut Stricklin
17 Mark Martin
18 Ryan Newman
19 Johnny Benson
20 Elliott Sadler
21 Rick Mast
22 Kurt Busch
23 Ricky Craven
24 Matt Kenseth
25 Carl Long
26 Kyle Petty*
27 Kirk Shelmerdine*

2nd Qualifying Race

1 Kevin Harvick
2 Robert Pressley
3 Robby Gordon
4 Michael Waltrip
5 Jeff Green
6 Bobby Labonte
7 Jerry Nadeau
8 Jeremy Mayfield
9 Kenny Wallace
10 Tony Stewart
11 Dave Marcis
12 John Andretti
13 Jeff Burton
14 Casey Atwood
15 Shawna Robinson
16 Rusty Wallace
17 Todd Bodine
18 Dave Blaney
19 Greg Biffle
21 Buckshot Jones
22 Jimmy Spencer
23 Bobby Gerhart
24 Hermie Sadler
25 Mike Skinner*
26 ?Norm Benning*

How to Make the Field for the Daytona 500

• NASCAR Winston Cup timed qualifying was held Saturday. Each team ran two laps with the best time of the two setting the qualifying time. The two fastest qualifiers set positions one and two and are the only guaranteed starters, filling the front row for the Daytona 500.

• The Gatorade 125 Qualifying races held on February 14, will determine positions 3 through 30. The drivers who posted the odd-number rankings in the qualifying rounds will compete in the first race which will set the inside row for the Daytona 500. The even-number rankings from the timed-qualifying will compete in the second Gatorade 125 and set the outside row. The highest finisher of the first Gatorade 125, once the Bud Pole winner is removed from the equation, will start third in the Daytona 500, the next-highest finisher will start fifth and so on through 29th position. The highest finisher of the second Gatorade 125, once the second-place qualifier is removed form the equation, will start fourth in the Daytona 500, the second-highest finisher sixth and so on through 30th position. In the event of cancellation, the top 30 positions will be set according to the NASCAR Winston Cup Rule Book.

• Starting positions 31 through 36 are determined by qualifying speeds set in one of two rounds of qualifying. The 30 cars in the field will be removed from the equation with the cars with the fastest official qualifying speeds filling the remaining six positions.

• Starting positions 37 through 42: Provisionals assigned starting with the car owner ranked highest in the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup car owner point standings who did not qualify for positions 1 through 36 and assigned in descending order until all provisional spots are filled.

• Starting Position 43: Provisional assigned to any car owner who has the current or a past NASCAR Winston Cup Champion driver who participated as a driver in the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup season, failed to qualify for one of the first 36 starting positions and did not receive a provisional starting spot from the above procedures. The most recent past champion driver not assigned a position will then receive this starting spot. If the 43rd position remains unused it will be assigned to the next eligible owner.

Note:

• The Daytona 500 pole position and second-starting position are the only positions guaranteed in first-round qualifying. These drivers are also guaranteed pole positions for each of the Gatorade 125 Qualifying races, the fastest qualifier gaining the pole for the first Gatorade 125 and the second fastest the pole for the second Gatorade 125.

• A second round of qualifying is held prior to the start of the Gatorade 125s. Drivers who post faster times in the second round may not gain a better starting position in the Gatorade 125’s. Drivers who attempt second-round qualifying may attain a better time of record which may qualify them for the Daytona 500 in positions 31 through 36 as explained above.