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NASCAR Winston Cup Series NAPA 500 Preview: #00, Buckshot Jones

10 November 1997

 
 #00 Buckshot Jones, Aquafresh Pontiac Grand Prix
 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
 NAPA 500 Advance
 Atlanta Motor Speedway

        BUCKSHOT JONES TO MAKE NASCAR WINSTON CUP DEBUT AT NAPA 500

HAMPTON, GA - Every race car driver looks forward to the day when he will 
compete in the biggest race of his career. For Buckshot Jones, that day has 
arrived. Jones will make his NASCAR Winston Cup debut in his hometown of 
Atlanta, Ga., in the "NAPA 500" on November 16, 1997. 

"This is going to be a special day for all of us," said Jones. "Our goal was
to compete in one Winston Cup race in 1997, but we wanted to wait for the 
right time and place. To come home to Atlanta, with all of our friends and
family supporting us, seemed the best time and place to make this career 
move."

Aquafresh will serve as primary sponsor of Jones for the Atlanta debut and
will remain on the Winston Cup car during the 1998 season for eight NASCAR
Winston Cup races in which the team plans to compete. 

"I think we are ready to get our feet wet in the Winston Cup Series,"
commented Jones. "We plan to run a full Busch season next year and be a
contender for the championship, but I think we have the confidence to start 
moving ahead. I'm giving up my rookie status by running eight Winston Cup
races, but if that means I can learn that much more by running a few extra 
races I feel I need to do it.

"Our team has grown over the last year and we have learned so much about these
tracks. We don't want to move too quickly, but I have always been the type of 
driver that looks ahead at what else we can be learning." 

Jones competed for the first time at Atlanta Motor Speedway last spring at the
NASCAR Busch Series "Stihl Outdoor Power Tools 300" where he qualified 16th
and finished fourth.  

"We got our first top-five finish of the season at Atlanta last March, but 
everything will be different when we return this time," said Jones. "I will
not only be driving a much faster car, but the changes to the track will play
a big part in everyone's performance. Everything we have learned in the past 
will be obsolete. I will be competing against drivers who have raced at 
Atlanta numerous times, but they will be adjusting to the changes just like
me." 

Securing sponsorship for 1998 has not been a struggle for Buckshot Racing.
Aquafresh has returned for a third season, but will now be primary support for
the new Winston Cup effort. Bayer and Alka-Seltzer have been designated the 
primary sponsors of the Busch Series program and Brunswick Indoor Recreation
has joined the team as an associate sponsor on both the Winston Cup and Busch
Series entries. All look forward to an exciting year with Buckshot Racing. 

"We have been so fortunate when it comes to our sponsorship deals," said
Jones. "We have built a strong foundation with Aquafresh and our relationship 
grows stronger everyday. They have supported us through the good times and 
bad. 

"Brunswick is joining us as associate sponsor on the Busch and Winston Cup
programs and they are excited about next year. "This is their first venture in
racing and we are so happy that they chose our team. Our sponsors help us 
achieve our goals and we hope they enjoy the ride." 

The Buckshot Racing team is sure to experience a wave of emotion when they
start their Winston Cup engine for the first time, but having the hometown
support of fans, friends and family will give them the winning confidence 
they need.


By Events & Outings, Inc.