Benson's New Valvoline
Paint Scheme

Johnny Benson’s #10 Valvoline Pontiac will sport new colors in the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup season.

Valvoline made its design of the 2002 paint scheme public Tuesday. I really like what Valvoline came up with, Benson said. This new scheme gives our team its own identity, plus I think our fans are really going to like it. It’s a little bit different than what the Valvoline car has looked like in the past, but I think everyone likes the change. Benson’s new paint scheme will make its first appearance on a race track at Daytona in February.

Jim Rocco, Senior Vice President Valvoline Company, said he reviewed over a dozen different designs commissioned by the oil company.

We took our time and listened to a lot of people, Rocco said. This was a tough decision, but we wanted something that would please our millions of customers, race fans, and our race team.

In 2001 the Valvoline Co. embarked on a landmark endeavor to become the first major consumer products company in history to own a NASCAR Winston Cup team. Valvoline shares ownership of the #10 Pontiac along with Nelson Bowers, Read Morton, and Tom Beard, the owners of MB2 Motorsports.

Benson kept the Valvoline Pontiac at the front of the field at most races in 2001. He finished third at Texas, Indianapolis and Rockingham and posted a career-best 6 top-five finishes and 14 top-ten finishes. Benson and his James Ince-led team finished 11th in driver points and led over 100 laps during the season that saw Benson earn well over $2.5 million – also a career best.

During the 2001 season Benson campaigned not only the Valvoline paint scheme, but appeared in Eagle One, Zerex, Max-Life, and specialty paint schemes like the James Dean car and the employee-designed car.

In 2002 Benson will predominantly drive the new Valvoline scheme but some specialty schemes are planned that will be announced later in the year.