Stable of Quaker State drivers positioned for charge to NASCAR championship

HOUSTON (Oct. 9, 2009) – As the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season shifts gears to the final 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Hendrick Motorsports and the other Quaker State motor oil-sponsored teams continue to show dominance in one of the most competitive seasons since the birth of the Chase format in 2004. Five of the top 12 teams competing for this season’s title are from the Quaker State racing family. Leading the Chase standings is three-time and defending NSCS champion, Jimmie Johnson, who scored his fifth win of the season this past weekend at Auto Club Speedway. Johnson is going for a record-setting fourth consecutive championship. His Hendrick Motorsports teammate, Mark Martin, also has five victories to-date in the 2009 season, including the first race of the Chase at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon. A third Hendrick driver, four-time NSCS champion Jeff Gordon, is currently in 5th place. In addition to teaming up with Hendrick Motorsports, Quaker State has found success by joining forces with Stewart-Haas Racing. Drivers Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman have had stellar performances for their newly-formed team throughout the season with Quaker State oil in their engines. Stewart, a two-time NSCS Champion, and Newman both earned spots in the Chase field with Stewart winning last weekend’s third Chase event at Kansas Speedway. “Quaker State engineers work diligently throughout the season to analyze and adjust the motor oil formulations in order to maximize on-track success for our race teams,” said Luis Guimaraes, general manager, Americas, Shell Lubricants. “We are thrilled to be part of the excitement of the Chase by ensuring Quaker State racing oils excel under grueling conditions on the track, while using similar technological strategies to benefit consumers during their everyday drive.” Hendrick Motorsports team owner Rick Hendrick, who prides himself on choosing only the best people, equipment and processes to win championships, said, “The engine department at Hendrick Motorsports works closely with Quaker State scientists in developing the highest possible grade of racing oil for our race teams. We do our part by testing the product on the racetrack to ensure that their oils meet the demands of extreme conditions. The folks at Quaker State then make those same advantages available to the consumer in the product they buy off the shelf.” Quaker State’s nearly 15-year-old sponsorship of Hendrick Motorsports has grown over the years into a championship-winning technical team. Quaker State is working to develop that same success through its new alliance with Stewart-Haas Racing. The relationship includes becoming the official motor oil of Tony Stewart Racing. Tony Stewart Racing fields cars in both the United States Auto Club (USAC) and the World of Outlaws (WoO). Tony Stewart Racing is the defending WoO championship team with three-time and reigning series titlist Donny Schatz. Schatz currently leads the 2009 WoO championship standings. “We are pleased to have Quaker State become one of our sponsors at Stewart-Haas Racing,” Stewart said. “Quaker State has been a part of many championships in many forms of motorsports and they obviously have a quality product that we want to use in our cars.” With Quaker State oil under the hood, Hendrick Motorsports has scored 140 NASCAR wins; seven NSCS championships; one NASCAR Nationwide Series championship and three NASCAR Truck Series championships. Add to that the three wins from first-year team Stewart-Haas Racing and it is obvious that Quaker State oil has the durability to help teams win races and championships. Quaker State is proud to be associated with Hendrick Motorsports and Stewart-Haas Racing, and looks forward to continuing its winning tradition in the 2009 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. For more information on the full line-up of Quaker State’s durable motor oils, visit www.QuakerState.com.