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October 23, 2003
SCOTT RIGGS TO DRIVE NO. 10 VALVOLINE PONTIAC
CONCORD, N.C. (Oct. 23, 2003) – MBV Motorsports announced today that Scott Riggs has signed a multi-year agreement to drive the No. 10 Valvoline Pontiac in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, beginning with the 2004 season-opening Daytona 500. The announcement was made by James Rocco, designated team owner and senior vice president of The Valvoline Company.
Riggs replaces Johnny Benson, who will complete the 2003 season in the No. 10 car. “Johnny Benson is a tough, talented driver with a lot of heart," said Rocco. “He gave the team its first win and is a good ambassador for Valvoline Racing. We wish him the best.”
“Scott Riggs is a winner,” Rocco said. “He is a hard-charger who has excelled in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the NASCAR Busch Series. He has the talent to compete at the NASCAR Nextel Cup level and continue Valvoline’s winning legacy.”
Riggs, 32, began his racing career on two-wheels in motocross competition. He moved into NASCAR’s Mini Stock Division at age 17 and posted 12 wins in just three years. The Bahama, N.C., native conquered Late Model Stock Cars next and was named track champion at Southern National Speedway in Kenly, N.C., twice before joining the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2000. In 2001, Riggs finished fifth in points with five wins, 14 top-five finishes, 16 top-10 finishes and five pole positions in 24 events.
Riggs moved into the NASCAR Busch Series in 2002. He earned Rookie of the Year honors after winning two events and scoring 13 top-10 finishes en route to a 10th place finish in the series point standings. This season, Riggs has led the Busch Series points several times and posted wins at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway and Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Ill. With four races remaining in the 2003 NASCAR Busch Series schedule, he is in a tight battle for the championship, only 44 points behind the current leader.
“I’ve been blessed to have had some great rides in my racing career and some great people helping me along the way,” Riggs said. “I explored several excellent NASCAR Nextel Cup opportunities as well as offers to remain in the Busch Series and I decided the Valvoline Pontiac was the best place for me to be at this stage of my career."
“I appreciate the confidence Valvoline and MBV Motorsports have placed in me,” Riggs explained. “I’m going to work with the team to get everything I can out of the cars and hope to reward them with some wins.”
In 2001, Valvoline became the first consumer products company to own a NASCAR team when it joined forces with MB2 Motorsports to create MBV Motorsports. MB2 Motorsports also owns the No. 01 U.S. Army racing team. The Valvoline Company is a division of Ashland Inc.
SCOTT RIGGS TO DRIVE NO. 10 VALVOLINE PONTIAC
CONCORD, N.C. (Oct. 23, 2003) – MBV Motorsports announced today that Scott Riggs has signed a multi-year agreement to drive the No. 10 Valvoline Pontiac in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, beginning with the 2004 season-opening Daytona 500. The announcement was made by James Rocco, designated team owner and senior vice president of The Valvoline Company.
Riggs replaces Johnny Benson, who will complete the 2003 season in the No. 10 car. “Johnny Benson is a tough, talented driver with a lot of heart," said Rocco. “He gave the team its first win and is a good ambassador for Valvoline Racing. We wish him the best.”
“Scott Riggs is a winner,” Rocco said. “He is a hard-charger who has excelled in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the NASCAR Busch Series. He has the talent to compete at the NASCAR Nextel Cup level and continue Valvoline’s winning legacy.”
Riggs, 32, began his racing career on two-wheels in motocross competition. He moved into NASCAR’s Mini Stock Division at age 17 and posted 12 wins in just three years. The Bahama, N.C., native conquered Late Model Stock Cars next and was named track champion at Southern National Speedway in Kenly, N.C., twice before joining the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2000. In 2001, Riggs finished fifth in points with five wins, 14 top-five finishes, 16 top-10 finishes and five pole positions in 24 events.
Riggs moved into the NASCAR Busch Series in 2002. He earned Rookie of the Year honors after winning two events and scoring 13 top-10 finishes en route to a 10th place finish in the series point standings. This season, Riggs has led the Busch Series points several times and posted wins at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway and Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Ill. With four races remaining in the 2003 NASCAR Busch Series schedule, he is in a tight battle for the championship, only 44 points behind the current leader.
“I’ve been blessed to have had some great rides in my racing career and some great people helping me along the way,” Riggs said. “I explored several excellent NASCAR Nextel Cup opportunities as well as offers to remain in the Busch Series and I decided the Valvoline Pontiac was the best place for me to be at this stage of my career."
“I appreciate the confidence Valvoline and MBV Motorsports have placed in me,” Riggs explained. “I’m going to work with the team to get everything I can out of the cars and hope to reward them with some wins.”
In 2001, Valvoline became the first consumer products company to own a NASCAR team when it joined forces with MB2 Motorsports to create MBV Motorsports. MB2 Motorsports also owns the No. 01 U.S. Army racing team. The Valvoline Company is a division of Ashland Inc.
