BUSCH: Shell Pike's Peak Release

STEWART LIKES CHANCES AT PIKES PEAK INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY

FOUNTAIN, CO - Tony Stewart likes his chances to capture his first NASCAR Busch Grand National Series win at Pikes Peak International Raceway. The June 14 LYCOS.COM 250 will mark the first-ever Busch event at the one-mile oval, one of two new tracks on the 1998 schedule.

“Very few of the Busch teams have tested at Pikes Peak,” stated Stewart. “Although the Shell team didn’t have the opportunity to test, I’ve tested and raced there in my Indy car. In fact, I got my first IRL (Indy Racing League) win at the inaugural race last summer. I think that is a good omen. This race will be the inaugural race for the Busch Series. It would be the perfect scenario to get our first win with the Shell team.

“The track is similar to Richmond,” he continued. “It has gentle banking in the corners. Both the front and back straights are just slightly banked. It is wide, smooth and fast. There is ample room to race side-by-side and pass. No two tracks are alike, but we tested for three days earlier this spring at Richmond. We should be able to transfer much of what we learned there to the Colorado track The additional practice day NASCAR added to the schedule will give us greater opportunity to fine-tune the car.

“We just keep getting closer and closer to our first Busch Series win,” Stewart concluded. “The Shell team has been working to develop consistency in qualifying and race performance. Their efforts reflect the finishes we had in our last two races at New Hampshire and Dover. Continuing to build on the momentum developed by those strong finishes are what ultimately will get us to victory lane. A first-win in any series is special but it would add a little extra if the Shell Pontiac could get to victory lane at the first race on a new track.”

The LYCOS.COM 250 is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday, June 14. The race will be televised live by ESPN. MRN will broadcast the race to over 420 radio station affiliates nationwide.

SHELL OIL PRE-RACE FACT SHEET AND DRIVER QUOTES

WHO:        Joe Gibbs Racing/Shell Oil Products Company Pontiac
        Driver:  Tony Stewart - Crew Chief:  Bryant Frazier

WHAT: LYCOS.COM 250 250 laps - 250 miles Race 15 of 31 - NASCAR Busch Grand National Series

WHEN: June 11-14, 1998

WHERE: Pikes Peak International Raceway Fountain, Colorado